Waterstone Financial, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026

WAUWATOSA, Wis., April 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $6.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Net income totaled $7.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.

“We started 2026 on a strong note due to continued net interest margin expansion and increased loan origination volumes at the mortgage banking segment,” said William Bruss, Chief Executive Officer of Waterstone Financial, Inc. “The community banking segment had a record first quarter net interest income of $15.2 million, which represented a $2.8 million, or 22.8%, increase compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2025, as net interest margin grew to 2.97% for the quarter. The increases were primarily due to continued growth in yield on our loans held for investment and reduction of our cost of funds. We did increase our allowance for credit losses due to certain external qualitative factors even though asset quality metrics continue to stay strong. The mortgage banking segment increased pre-tax income $2.2 million due to an increase in loan origination activity as rates decreased periodically throughout the quarter. We increased our book value per share $0.33 during the quarter with continued strong earnings and the share repurchase program, prior to declaring an increased quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share. In total, $7.3 million was returned to shareholders through buybacks and dividends in the quarter.”

Highlights of the Quarter Ended March 31, 2026

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)

  • Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $6.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to net income of $3.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.
  • Consolidated return on average assets (annualized) was 1.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 and 0.57% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Consolidated return on average equity (annualized) was 6.88% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 and 3.61% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Dividends declared during the quarter ended March 31, 2026 totaled $0.17 per common share.
  • During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, we repurchased approximately 246,000 shares at a cost (including the federal excise tax) of $4.4 million, or $17.89 per share.
  • Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.35% at March 31, 2026, 0.29% at December 31, 2025, and 0.35% at March 31, 2025.
  • Past due loans as a percentage of total loans was 0.58% at March 31, 2026, 0.86% at December 31, 2025, and 0.67% at March 31, 2025.
  • Book value per share was $19.19 at March 31, 2026 and $19.03 at December 31, 2025.

Community Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $7.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which represents a $1.4 million, or 23.7%, increase compared to $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Net interest income totaled $15.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which represents a $2.8 million, or 22.8%, increase compared to $12.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Average loans held for investment totaled $1.68 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which represents an increase of $3.8 million, or 0.2%, compared to $1.67 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due to increases in multi-family, construction, and commercial real estate mortgages offset by a decrease in single-family mortgages. Average loans held for investment decreased $33.3 million compared to $1.71 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in single-family real estate mortgages.
  • Net interest margin increased 50 basis points to 2.97% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 2.47% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, which was primarily driven by an increase in weighted average yield on loans receivable and held for sale and decreases in the cost of borrowings and weighted average cost of deposits. Net interest margin increased eight basis points compared to 2.89% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, which was primarily driven by an increase in weighted average yield on loans receivable and held for sale and decreases in the cost of borrowings and weighted average cost of deposits.
  • Past due loans at the community banking segment totaled $6.9 million at March 31, 2026, $10.4 million at December 31, 2025, and $7.6 million at March 31, 2025.
  • The segment had a provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $240,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to funded loans of $314,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The current quarter increase was primarily due to increases in multi-family and construction loan balances along with an increase in multi-family external qualitative factors. The provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments was $44,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to a negative provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments of $204,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The provision for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 was due primarily to an increase of the loan pipeline balance at quarter end.
  • The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP ratio, was 52.48% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to 59.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Average core retail deposits (excluding brokered and escrow accounts) totaled $1.33 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, an increase of $54.8 million, or 4.3%, compared to $1.28 billion during the quarter ended March 31, 2025 due primarily to increases in money market and demand deposits balances. Average core retail deposits increased $8.7 million, or 2.6% annualized, compared to $1.32 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The segment had an average of $110.2 million in brokered certificate of deposits during the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to $97.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Mortgage Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $22,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to a pre-tax loss of $2.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Loan originations increased $120.6 million, or 31.1%, to $508.3 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $387.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 73.9% of originations for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to 87.5% of total originations for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Mortgage banking non-interest income increased $3.4 million, or 21.5%, to $19.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $15.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Gross margin on loans sold totaled 3.65% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to 3.98% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Total compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits increased $2.4 million or 20.1%, to $14.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2026 compared to $12.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The increase primarily related to increased commission expense, manager pay expense, production incentive expense, and salary expense.
  • Professional fees decreased $1.2 million, or 88.9%, to $152,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The decrease was primarily related to legal services and the finalization of a settlement during the three months ended March 31, 2025.

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank, a community-focused financial institution established in 1921. WaterStone Bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and operates 14 branch locations across southeastern Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is also the parent company of WaterStone Mortgage Corporation, a national lender licensed in 48 states.

With a long-standing commitment to innovation, integrity, and community service, Waterstone Financial, Inc. supports the financial and homeownership goals of customers nationwide. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to wsbonline.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.” Any such statements are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies; and other factors, including risk factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management uses non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Company’s performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results of operations with prior periods. The Company’s management believes that investors may use this non-GAAP measure to analyze the Company’s financial performance without the impact of unusual items or events that may obscure trends in the Company’s underlying performance. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in this measure and that different companies might calculate this measure differently.

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
     
  For The Three Months Ended March 31,  
  2026     2025  
  (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Interest income:              
Loans $ 25,951     $ 25,078  
Mortgage-related securities   1,454       1,191  
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments   1,610       1,486  
Total interest income   29,015       27,755  
Interest expense:              
Deposits   10,373       11,332  
Borrowings   3,179       3,847  
Total interest expense   13,552       15,179  
Net interest income   15,463       12,576  
Provision (credit) for credit losses   264       (558 )
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses   15,199       13,134  
Noninterest income:              
Service charges on loans and deposits   374       593  
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance   549       481  
Mortgage banking income   18,950       15,728  
Other   355       295  
Total noninterest income   20,228       17,097  
Noninterest expenses:              
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   19,842       17,047  
Occupancy, office furniture, and equipment   1,966       1,929  
Advertising   617       723  
Data processing   1,258       1,212  
Communications   258       235  
Professional fees   383       1,736  
Real estate owned   2       (10 )
Loan processing expense   1,029       920  
Other   2,520       2,558  
Total noninterest expenses   27,875       26,350  
Income before income taxes   7,552       3,881  
Income tax expense   1,555       845  
Net income $ 5,997     $ 3,036  
Income per share:              
Basic $ 0.35     $ 0.17  
Diluted $ 0.34     $ 0.17  
Weighted average shares outstanding:              
Basic   17,373       18,267  
Diluted   17,430       18,280  

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
           
  March 31,     December 31,  
  2026     2025  
  (Unaudited)          
Assets (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Cash $ 38,759     $ 63,560  
Federal funds sold   5,598       7,255  
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions and other short term investments   296       292  
Cash and cash equivalents   44,653       71,107  
Securities available for sale (at fair value)   237,024       230,848  
Loans held for sale (at fair value)   144,350       145,057  
Loans receivable   1,684,312       1,675,552  
Less: Allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) – loans   17,709       17,478  
Loans receivable, net   1,666,603       1,658,074  
               
Office properties and equipment, net   19,273       18,855  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost)   18,760       19,804  
Cash surrender value of life insurance   77,902       77,353  
Real estate owned, net   318       424  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   42,335       37,985  
Total assets $ 2,251,218     $ 2,259,507  
               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity              
Liabilities:              
Demand deposits $ 181,758     $ 175,595  
Money market and savings deposits   342,527       329,031  
Time deposits   914,502       932,646  
Total deposits   1,438,787       1,437,272  
               
Borrowings   413,034       412,258  
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes   11,128       2,996  
Other liabilities   40,058       57,589  
Total liabilities   1,903,007       1,910,115  
               
Shareholders’ equity:              
Preferred stock          
Common stock   182       184  
Additional paid-in capital   74,488       78,014  
Retained earnings   296,027       292,957  
Unearned ESOP shares   (9,199 )     (9,496 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes   (13,287 )     (12,267 )
Total shareholders’ equity   348,211       349,392  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,251,218     $ 2,259,507  
               
Share Information              
Shares outstanding   18,146       18,360  
Book value per share $ 19.19     $ 19.03  

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
     
  At or For the Three Months Ended  
  March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,  
  2026     2025     2025     2025     2025  
  (Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                      
Net interest income $ 15,463     $ 15,711     $ 14,739     $ 13,708     $ 12,576  
Provision (credit) for credit losses   264       (558 )     (269 )     (9 )     (558 )
Total noninterest income   20,228       21,459       22,302       24,329       17,097  
Total noninterest expense   27,875       27,677       27,466       28,377       26,350  
Income before income taxes   7,552       10,051       9,844       9,669       3,881  
Income tax expense   1,555       2,338       1,918       1,942       845  
Net income $ 5,997     $ 7,713     $ 7,926     $ 7,727     $ 3,036  
Income per share – basic $ 0.35     $ 0.44     $ 0.45     $ 0.43     $ 0.17  
Income per share – diluted $ 0.34     $ 0.44     $ 0.45     $ 0.43     $ 0.17  
Dividends declared per common share $ 0.17     $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
                                       
Performance Ratios (annualized):                                      
Return on average assets – QTD   1.10 %     1.35 %     1.42 %     1.39 %     0.57 %
Return on average equity – QTD   6.88 %     8.74 %     9.14 %     9.04 %     3.61 %
Net interest margin – QTD   2.97 %     2.89 %     2.76 %     2.60 %     2.47 %
                                       
Return on average assets – YTD   1.10 %     1.19 %     1.13 %     0.99 %     0.57 %
Return on average equity – YTD   6.88 %     7.62 %     7.23 %     6.32 %     3.61 %
Net interest margin – YTD   2.97 %     2.68 %     2.61 %     2.54 %     2.47 %
                                       
Asset Quality Ratios:                                      
Past due loans to total loans   0.58 %     0.86 %     0.50 %     0.69 %     0.67 %
Nonaccrual loans to total loans   0.44 %     0.37 %     0.35 %     0.49 %     0.45 %
Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.35 %     0.29 %     0.27 %     0.37 %     0.35 %
Allowance for credit losses – loans to loans receivable   1.05 %     1.04 %     1.03 %     1.07 %     1.08 %

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY AVERAGE BALANCES AND YIELD/COSTS
(Unaudited)
     
  At or For the Three Months Ended  
  March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,  
  2026     2025     2025     2025     2025  
Average balances (Dollars in Thousands)  
Interest-earning assets                                      
Loans receivable and held for sale $ 1,788,736     $ 1,842,908     $ 1,809,600     $ 1,812,065     $ 1,768,617  
Mortgage related securities   183,980       180,434       178,063       173,220       170,947  
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short term investments   137,861       133,781       131,165       131,710       123,004  
Total interest-earning assets   2,110,577       2,157,123       2,118,828       2,116,995       2,062,568  
Noninterest-earning assets   108,366       107,462       103,434       105,382       105,030  
Total assets $ 2,218,943     $ 2,264,585     $ 2,222,262     $ 2,222,377     $ 2,167,598  
                                       
Interest-bearing liabilities                                      
Demand accounts $ 90,133     $ 92,292     $ 90,015     $ 89,548     $ 87,393  
Money market, savings, and escrow accounts   343,416       339,368       334,300       320,908       300,686  
Certificates of deposit – retail   817,019       823,586       823,274       830,550       818,612  
Certificates of deposit – brokered   110,192       105,496       61,814       72,533       97,101  
Total interest-bearing deposits   1,360,760       1,360,742       1,309,403       1,313,539       1,303,792  
Borrowings   377,438       419,541       440,968       437,784       397,053  
Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,738,198       1,780,283       1,750,371       1,751,323       1,700,845  
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   88,975       89,673       88,799       85,665       80,372  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities   38,073       44,688       39,136       42,669       44,905  
Total liabilities   1,865,246       1,914,644       1,878,306       1,879,657       1,826,122  
Equity   353,697       349,941       343,956       342,720       341,476  
Total liabilities and equity $ 2,218,943     $ 2,264,585     $ 2,222,262     $ 2,222,377     $ 2,167,598  
                                       
Average Yield/Costs (annualized)                                      
Loans receivable and held for sale   5.88 %     5.85 %     5.84 %     5.73 %     5.75 %
Mortgage related securities   3.21 %     3.09 %     3.04 %     2.90 %     2.83 %
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short term investments   4.74 %     4.54 %     4.74 %     4.74 %     4.90 %
Total interest-earning assets   5.58 %     5.54 %     5.53 %     5.43 %     5.46 %
                                       
Demand accounts   0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.11 %
Money market and savings accounts   2.25 %     2.09 %     2.04 %     2.07 %     2.10 %
Certificates of deposit – retail   3.68 %     3.78 %     3.92 %     4.11 %     4.33 %
Certificates of deposit – brokered   3.82 %     3.89 %     4.11 %     4.35 %     4.18 %
Total interest-bearing deposits   3.09 %     3.12 %     3.19 %     3.35 %     3.52 %
Borrowings   3.42 %     3.51 %     3.86 %     3.67 %     3.93 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities   3.16 %     3.21 %     3.36 %     3.43 %     3.62 %

COMMUNITY BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
     
  At or For the Three Months Ended  
  March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,  
  2026     2025     2025     2025     2025  
  (Dollars in Thousands)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                      
Net interest income $ 15,226     $ 15,521     $ 14,617     $ 13,640     $ 12,403  
Provision (credit) for credit losses   284       (518 )     (276 )     (19 )     (518 )
Total noninterest income   1,153       1,305       1,359       1,686       1,348  
Noninterest expenses:                                      
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   5,575       5,646       5,036       5,027       5,212  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment   1,103       1,026       907       920       1,076  
Advertising   212       250       213       219       171  
Data processing   765       741       733       806       712  
Communications   112       103       108       99       100  
Professional fees   228       185       200       196       347  
Real estate owned   2       (298 )     4       (8 )     (10 )
Loan processing expense                            
Other   598       630       617       466       596  
Total noninterest expense   8,595       8,283       7,818       7,725       8,204  
Income before income taxes   7,500       9,061       8,434       7,620       6,065  
Income tax expense   1,538       2,063       1,518       1,400       1,427  
Net income $ 5,962     $ 6,998     $ 6,916     $ 6,220     $ 4,638  
                                       
Efficiency ratio – QTD (non-GAAP)   52.48 %     49.23 %     48.94 %     50.40 %     59.66 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD (non-GAAP)   52.48 %     51.76 %     52.71 %     54.78 %     59.66 %


 

MORTGAGE BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
     
  At or For the Three Months Ended  
  March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,  
  2026     2025     2025     2025     2025  
  (Dollars in Thousands)  
Condensed Results of Operations:                                      
Net interest income $ 214     $ 205     $ 103     $ 53     $ 152  
Provision (credit) for credit losses   (20 )     (40 )     7       10       (40 )
Total noninterest income   19,121       20,172       20,985       22,643       15,731  
Noninterest expenses:                                      
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   14,471       15,489       15,716       16,312       12,054  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment   863       798       781       833       853  
Advertising   405       446       499       527       552  
Data processing   490       465       475       507       498  
Communications   146       129       141       158       135  
Professional fees   152       33       180       303       1,373  
Real estate owned                            
Loan processing expense   1,029       571       688       817       920  
Other   1,777       1,586       1,271       1,230       1,751  
Total noninterest expense   19,333       19,517       19,751       20,687       18,136  
Income (loss) before income taxes expense (benefit)   22       900       1,330       1,999       (2,213 )
Income tax expense (benefit)   10       244       382       531       (588 )
Net income (loss) $ 12     $ 656     $ 948     $ 1,468     $ (1,625 )
                                       
Efficiency ratio – QTD (non-GAAP)   99.99 %     95.78 %     93.66 %     91.15 %     114.18 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD (non-GAAP)   99.99 %     97.56 %     98.17 %     100.63 %     114.18 %
                                       
Loan originations $ 508,314     $ 534,646     $ 539,404     $ 588,838     $ 387,729  
Purchase   73.9 %     78.9 %     90.1 %     91.7 %     87.5 %
Refinance   26.1 %     21.1 %     9.9 %     8.3 %     12.5 %
Gross margin on loans sold(1)   3.65 %     3.80 %     3.87 %     3.84 %     3.98 %
                                       

(1) Gross margin on loans sold equals mortgage banking income (excluding the change in interest rate lock value) divided by total loan originations.

Contact:

Mark R. Gerke
Chief Financial Officer
414-459-4012
[email protected]