CBAN

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. Achieved the targeted 1.20% operating ROA following the successful integration and cost-saving realization from the TC Federal systems conversion. Operating net income growth was primarily driven by continued margin expansion, improved non-interest income, and a reduction in operating expenses. Maintained strict pricing discipline on new and renewed loans, with weighted average rates increasing to 7.14% despite a highly competitive lending environment. Prioritized 'deposit-first' relationships to maintain a steady cost of funds, focusing on core operating accounts to offset seasonal deposit runoff. Strategic hiring of experienced bankers in key markets like Columbus and Savannah is intended to drive organic market share gains from larger regional competitors. The SBSL division showed pre-tax improvement and stabilizing charge-offs, though management notes significant remaining opportunity for operational recovery. Expects modest margin expansion of a few basis points per quarter, contingent on stable funding costs and continued upward repricing of the loan portfolio. Anticipates loan growth may land slightly below the 8% threshold as the bank prioritizes underwriting standards and pricing over volume in a rising rate environment. The First Reliance merger is on track for a Q4 legal close, with full cost efficiencies expected to be realized following systems conversion in mid-2027. Management projects the second half of the year will see stronger fee income performance, particularly in mortgage and SBSL business lines. Long-term efficiency targets aim for a net non-interest expense to average assets ratio of 1.45% or better, driven by revenue growth and post-merger scale. Operating earnings were adjusted for an outsized $700,000 BOLI death benefit received during the second quarter. Identified a softening loan pipeline due to a rising rate outlook and shifting borrower behavior regarding floating versus fixed-rate preferences. Acknowledged that while legal close for First Reliance is imminent, significant operational scale benefits are deferred until the 2027 systems integration. Reported a 14% decline in classified loans, indicating improving credit quality trends within the core portfolio. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. Management confirmed that securing deposit relationships is 'priority one' to support the balance sheet in a rate-sensitive environment. Private banking additions are specifically designed as a deposit and assets-under-management play rather than just lending capacity. Incremental gains are expected from asset repricing and a recovery in fee-based businesses like SBSL and mortgage. The bank is willing to accept lower organic growth to protect higher margins, which funds reinvestment in technology and talent. Management sees significant opportunity to capture customers in markets like Columbus where larger regional bank mergers have created service disruption. The strategy focuses on growing faster than the market by acquiring 'disenfranchised' clients from larger competitors. Merchant services is being used as a 'consultative' entry point to win primary deposit relationships from competitors with poor service levels. First Reliance represents a significant growth opportunity for this business as their current merchant services are largely outsourced and under-penetrated.

Interested in Colony Bankcorp, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Colony Bankcorp reported stronger second-quarter operating performance, with operating ROA reaching 1.20% and operating net income rising by more than $1.5 million from the prior quarter thanks to margin expansion, better non-interest income and lower expenses. Net interest margin expanded to 3.52% as earning asset yields rose, while loan growth remained positive at about 8.5% annualized; however, management said near-term growth could come in slightly below its 8% target floor as it emphasizes pricing and underwriting discipline. The company is making progress on its First Reliance Bank merger, with applications filed and an expected legal close in the fourth quarter, while integration savings from the TC Federal deal helped reduce operating expenses by about $550,000. Colony Bankcorp (NYSE:CBAN) reported improved second-quarter operating performance, with management highlighting margin expansion, lower operating expenses and progress toward its planned merger with First Reliance Bank. Chief Executive Officer Heath Fountain said the quarter included the first full period following the TC Federal systems conversion and customer integration completed in the first quarter. Fountain said the company reached its goal of a 1.20% operating return on assets after realizing targeted cost savings from that transaction. → Could Truth API Become Trump Media’s First Meaningful Revenue Driver? “We believe this puts us in a good position to improve on that operating ROA going forward,” Fountain said. He said operating net income increased by more than $1.5 million from the prior quarter, driven by continued margin expansion, improved operating non-interest income and lower operating non-interest expense. Fountain said loan growth during the quarter was about 8.5% annualized, bringing year-to-date annualized loan growth to approximately 7%. He said production improved from the first quarter, and the weighted average pricing on new and renewed loans increased slightly from the prior quarter. → 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible Derek Shelnutt, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the weighted average rate on new and renewed loans was 7.14% in the second quarter, up from 7.11% in the first quarter. He said pricing discipline remains a focus and is helping the company gain ground on margin. Still, Fountain said the lending environment remains competitive and that a shifting rate outlook has led to some softening in the pipeline. While management previously expected loan growth to track toward the lower end of its 8% to 12% target range, Fountain said near-term growth could come in slightly below the 8% threshold as the company prioritizes pricing and underwriting discipline. → AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off “We believe in the short term that achieving our financial objectives is important,” Fountain said, adding that the company does not want to grow in a way that pressures financial performance or weakens the balance sheet. Shelnutt said earning asset yields continued to rise, pushing the net interest margin to 3.52% in the quarter. Net interest income increased by approximately $700,000, which he attributed to a six-basis-point increase in earning asset yields, loan growth and pricing on new and renewed loans. The company’s overall cost of funds was 1.95%, up one basis point from the first quarter. Shelnutt said Colony still expects modest margin increases of a few basis points per quarter over the next several quarters, though the pace will depend on competition for both loans and deposits. Total deposits declined by $76.2 million during the quarter, including the payoff of about $13.4 million of brokered deposits. Shelnutt said the company often sees seasonal deposit runoff at this time of year and noted that average total deposits were stable with a slight increase during the quarter. In response to an analyst question, Fountain said deposit generation is “priority one” for Colony. He said the company is focused on commercial relationships, related consumer accounts, private banking resources and deposit-first relationships. Operating non-interest income increased to $11.6 million, up from $10.1 million in the same quarter last year, Shelnutt said. Fountain said operating non-interest income increased by about $950,000 from the first quarter, supported by higher revenue from several business lines. Shelnutt said Colony Financial Advisors improved pre-tax income in the second quarter, which was the first full quarter after the company transitioned from a managed program to a dual program. Assets under management rose nearly 15% quarter over quarter to $637 million, up from $555 million in the prior quarter and $219 million in the second quarter of last year. Mortgage pre-tax income improved on higher production and sales as seasonal activity increased. Colony Insurance also had a stronger quarter, helped by more premiums in force and higher revenue. Shelnutt said pricing on policy premiums has been challenging for the insurance industry but has eased somewhat. Management also cited improvement in the company’s SBSL division on a pre-tax basis, though Shelnutt said gain-on-sale revenue was softer. Fountain said the division still has “a lot of opportunity for more improvement” and expects that to begin showing over the next few quarters. Operating non-interest expenses declined by about $550,000 from the prior quarter, which Shelnutt attributed largely to post-merger integration cost savings. He said expenses are expected to remain around the current level in the third quarter before increasing after the legal close of the First Reliance merger. Operating net non-interest expense to average assets was 1.51% in the second quarter, an improvement from the first quarter. Shelnutt said Colony continues to target 1.45% or better over the long term, though that metric is expected to rise after First Reliance closes and then trend back toward the target later in 2027 after systems conversion and customer integration. Provision expense totaled $1.9 million, slightly higher than the prior quarter. Net charge-offs were similar to the first quarter and were primarily from SBSL, Shelnutt said. Criticized loans were stable, while classified loans declined by about 14%, or $5.6 million. The company’s board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share. Tangible common equity was 8.99% at quarter-end, compared with 8.49% in the first quarter, and tangible book value per share increased to $15.12 from $14.65. Colony did not repurchase shares during the quarter. Fountain said integration planning for the First Reliance partnership is underway, with both management teams working toward a legal close in the fourth quarter. He said merger applications have been submitted and the company expects to file the S-4 in the near future. Shelnutt said First Reliance reported operating earnings of $3.1 million, operating earnings per share of $0.38 and operating ROA of 1.10% for the quarter. He said First Reliance’s results were largely in line with Colony’s model forecast and that Colony does not expect adjustments to previously released pro forma information. In the question-and-answer session, Fountain said the combined company could benefit from larger lending limits in First Reliance’s markets, creating potential upside to previously forecast loan growth. He also said First Reliance offers opportunities in merchant services, an area where Colony has built recurring revenue and used the product as a deposit account acquisition tool. Fountain said Colony continues to add experienced bankers to support organic growth, including hires in Columbus, Douglas, Savannah and the Jacksonville metropolitan area. He said markets such as Columbus offer opportunities to gain share amid disruption from larger bank mergers and regional bank concentration. Colony Bankcorp, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Baxley, Georgia, that operates through its primary subsidiary, The Colony Bank. The company's core focus is on delivering community banking services tailored to individuals, small businesses and agricultural customers throughout Georgia and Florida. Colony Bankcorp's structure supports a full suite of deposit and lending solutions designed to meet the needs of local markets. The company offers a range of deposit products, including personal and business checking accounts, savings and money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "Colony Bankcorp Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. 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This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Release Date: July 23, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Colony Bankcorp Inc (NYSE:CBAN) reported an increase in operating net income by over $1.5 million from the previous quarter, driven by margin expansion and improved non-interest income. The company achieved a 1.20% operating ROA, meeting its target after realizing cost savings. Loan growth was strong at about 8.5% annualized for the quarter, with disciplined pricing contributing to margin growth. The partnership with First Reliance Bank is progressing well, with integration planning underway and regulatory applications submitted. Operating non-interest income increased by approximately $950,000, led by revenue growth across various business lines. Total deposits declined by $76.2 million, reflecting a competitive deposit landscape and seasonal trends. The lending environment remains competitive, with a rising rate outlook causing some softening in the loan pipeline. Operating non-interest expenses, while reduced by $550,000, are expected to increase post-legal close with First Reliance. Provision expenses increased slightly to $1.9 million, with net charge-offs remaining stable. The company did not purchase any shares in its stock buyback plan during the quarter, despite viewing it as an important capital management tool. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with CBAN. Is CBAN fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Q: You mentioned some seasonality on the funding side. How are you prioritizing deposit generation, and are you looking to add new bankers in Georgia and Florida markets? A: (Heath Felton, CEO) Deposits are our top priority. We are focusing on securing key commercial relationships and ancillary consumer business. We've added a private banker in Columbus and plan to add more resources in other markets, primarily as a deposit play and to grow assets under management for Colony Financial Advisors. Q: You achieved the 1.20% operating ROA target. Where will incremental profitability improvements come from, excluding benefits from the First Reliance deal? A: (Heath Felton, CEO) We see opportunities to improve margins through asset repricing and growth. Fee income, particularly from SBSL, has potential for improvement. The second half of the year is typically better for mortgage, and combining First Reliance's mortgage operations with ours will create greater scale. Q: Regarding the First Alliance merger, how will their loan growth impact earnings? Is there potential upside next year? A: (Heath Felton, CEO) First Reliance's organic loan growth is strong and aligns with our 8-12% annual growth forecast. The merger offers upside potential due to a larger balance sheet and lending limits, especially in larger markets. Q: How is the merchant services business performing, and what opportunities does the First Alliance merger present for this line? A: (Heath Felton, CEO) Merchant services are doing well, providing recurring revenue and serving as a deposit account acquisition tool. First Reliance has outsourced this product, offering significant growth potential. Our integrated banking solutions group enhances our ability to serve customers effectively. Q: Can you discuss the growth opportunities in Columbus compared to Savannah and Augusta? A: (Heath Felton, CEO) Columbus presents significant growth opportunities, especially with market disruptions like the Synovus Pinnacle deal. We aim to capitalize on regional banks' large market shares in Columbus, Valdosta, Tifton, and Albany, allowing us to grow faster than the market. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.12 Per Share FITZGERALD, GA., July 22, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (NYSE: CBAN) ("Colony" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2026. Financial highlights are shown below. Financial Highlights: Net income increased to $10.9 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $8.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2026, and $8.0 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025. Operating net income was $11.0 million, or $0.52 of operating earnings per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $9.5 million, or $0.45 of operating earnings per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2026, and $8.0 million, or $0.46 of operating earnings per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025. (See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures). Provision for credit losses of $1.90 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2026 compared to $1.75 million in the first quarter of 2026, and $450,000 in the second quarter of 2025. Total loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $2.46 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $51.4 million, or 2.13%, from the prior quarter. Total deposits were $2.97 billion and $3.05 billion at June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively, a decrease of $76.2 million. Mortgage production was $115.4 million, and mortgage sales totaled $67.3 million in the second quarter of 2026 compared to $88.5 million and $61.4 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2026. Small Business Specialty Lending ("SBSL") closed $13.0 million in Small Business Administration ("SBA") loans and sold $5.5 million in SBA loans in the second quarter of 2026 compared to $13.1 million and $10.4 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2026. The Company also announced that on July 22, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share, to be paid on its common stock on August 19, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 5, 2026. The Company had 21,221,503 shares of its common stock outstanding as of July 20, 2026. "We are pleased with our second quarter financial performance, which reflects continued improvement in net interest margin, noninterest income, and operating expenses," said Heath Fountain, Chief Executive Officer. "Our team has done a great job capturing efficiencies following the TC Federal integration, and we are well-positioned to maximize the earnings power of our balance sheet. On an operating basis, we successfully achieved our target return on average assets of 1.20%, and we are confident in our ability to maintain this level of performance moving forward." "We were also proud to announce our strategic partnership with First Reliance during the quarter and both leadership teams recognize the significant opportunities this combination creates for scalable, long-term growth. Our teams are making progress on merger related milestones, and we remain on track for a legal close in the fourth quarter of this year." "Loan growth accelerated during the quarter, landing within the lower end of our annualized 8% to 12% target range. This growth served as a driver of our margin expansion, supported by disciplined pricing on new production and renewals, alongside a well-managed cost of funds. While total deposits experienced a slight decline - consistent with our historical seasonal patterns for this time of year - our team remains focused on expanding primary deposit relationships in what remains a highly competitive funding environment. "Overall, we see significant runway for continued performance improvement as our team executes on our strategic initiatives and delivers a superior level of service to our customers and communities." Balance Sheet Total assets were $3.63 billion at June 30, 2026, a decrease of $93.0 million from March 31, 2026. Total loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $2.46 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $51.4 million from March 31, 2026. Total deposits were $2.97 billion and $3.05 billion at June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively, a decrease of $76.2 million. Decreases were seen in noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $31.2 million, interest-bearing demand deposits of $27.2 million and savings and money market deposits of $26.5 million while time deposits increased $8.7 million, from March 31, 2026 to June 30, 2026. Total borrowings at June 30, 2026 totaled $233.2 million, a decrease of $25.0 million compared to March 31, 2026. Capital Colony continues to maintain a strong capital position, with ratios that exceed regulatory minimums required to be considered as "well-capitalized." Preliminary tier one leverage ratio, tier one capital ratio, total risk-based capital ratio and common equity tier one capital ratio were 10.20%, 13.87%, 16.18%, and 12.96%, respectively, at June 30, 2026. Second Quarter and Six-Months 2026 Results of Operations Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, totaled $30.0 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 compared to $22.6 million for the same period in 2025. Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, totaled $59.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to $43.7 million for the same period in 2025. For both periods, increases occurred in income on interest earning assets which was partially offset by increases in expense on interest bearing liabilities. Income on interest earning assets increased $8.9 million to $45.9 million for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Expense on interest bearing liabilities increased $1.5 million to $15.9 million for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Income on interest earning assets increased $18.2 million to $91.0 million for the six months ended 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Expense on interest bearing liabilities increased $2.6 million to $31.6 million for the six months ended 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2026 was 3.52% compared to 3.12% for the second quarter of 2025. Net interest margin for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was 3.50% compared to 3.02% for the six months ended June 30, 2025. The increase for both periods was impacted by the Company’s acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. in the fourth quarter of 2025, and was also impacted by increases in interest earning asset yields period over period, as well as the decreased cost of funds. Noninterest income totaled $12.2 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $2.1 million, or 20.4%, compared to the same period in 2025. Noninterest income totaled $22.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, an increase of $3.7 million, or 19.4%, compared to the same period in 2025. For both periods, increases occurred in service charges on deposits, mortgage fee income, interchange fees, BOLI income, which includes a tax-free gain of $706 thousand, insurance commissions and an increase in wealth advisor income included in other noninterest income, partially offset by decreases in gains on sales of SBA loans and an increase in losses on sales of securities. Noninterest expense totaled $26.4 million for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $22.0 million for the same period in 2025. Noninterest expense totaled $54.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared to $42.2 million for the same period in 2025. Increases for both periods occurred in salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment, information technology expenses, professional fees, advertising and public relations, and acquisition and integration-related expenses related to the acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc. which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2025 as well as expenses related to the recently announced merger with First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. Asset Quality Nonperforming assets totaled $20.9 million and $19.9 million at June 30, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively, an increase of $1.0 million. Other real estate owned and repossessed assets totaled $2.0 million at June 30, 2026 and $2.1 million at March 31, 2026. Net loans charged-off were $1.8 million, or 0.29% of average loans for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $1.7 million, or 0.29% for the first quarter of 2026. The credit loss reserve was $22.0 million, or 0.89% of total loans, at June 30, 2026, compared to $21.7 million, or 0.90% of total loans at March 31, 2026. Earnings call information The Company will host an earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to discuss the recent results and answer relevant questions. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and using the Conference ID: 1567957. A replay of the call will be available until Thursday, July 30, 2026. To listen to the replay, dial 1-800-770-2030 and enter the passcode 1567957#. About Colony Bankcorp Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Colony Bank. Founded in Fitzgerald, Georgia in 1975, Colony operates locations throughout Georgia as well as in Birmingham, Alabama, and across North Florida, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and the Florida Panhandle. Colony Bank provides a consultative approach in offering a range of banking solutions for personal and business customers. In addition to traditional banking services, Colony Bank provides specialized solutions including mortgage lending, government-guaranteed lending, consumer insurance, wealth management, credit cards and merchant services. Colony Bankcorp’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "CBAN." For more information, please visit www.colony.bank. You can also follow the Company on social media. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Company’s future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Company that are not statements of historical fact and constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections and/or expectations of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statement of plans and objectives of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; (iv) statements regarding growth strategy, capital management, liquidity and funding, and future profitability; (v) statements relating to the timing, benefits, costs, and synergies of the recently announced acquisition of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. ("First Reliance") (the "Merger"), and (vi) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "may", "will", "anticipate", "assume", "should", "support", "indicate", "would", "believe", "contemplate", "expect", "estimate", "continue", "further", "plan", "point to", "project", "could", "intend", "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of current and future economic conditions, particularly those affecting the financial services industry, including the effects of declines in the real estate market, tariffs or trade wars (including the resulting reduced consumer spending, lower economic growth or recession, reduced demand for U.S. exports, disruptions to supply chains, and decreased demand for other banking products and services), high unemployment rates, inflationary pressures, changes in interest rates (including the impact of volatile interest rates on our financial projections and models) and slowdowns in economic growth, as well as the financial stress on borrowers as a result of the foregoing; the risk of reductions in benchmark interest rates and the resulting impacts on net interest income; potential impacts of adverse developments in the banking industry highlighted by high-profile bank failures, including impacts on customer confidence, deposit outflows, liquidity and the regulatory response thereto; risks arising from negative media coverage and perceived instability in the banking industry and the banking sector; the risks of changes in interest rates and their effects on the level, cost, and composition of, and competition for, deposits, loan demand and timing of payments, the values of loan collateral, securities, and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; the ability to attract new or retain existing deposits, to retain or grow loans or additional interest and fee income, or to control noninterest expense; the effect of pricing pressures on the Company’s net interest margin; the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible credit losses, fair value for loans and other real estate owned; changes in real estate values; the Company’s ability to implement its various strategic and growth initiatives; increased competition in the financial services industry, particularly from regional and national institutions, as well as fintech companies and other non-bank financial service providers offering digital, automated or alternative financial products and services; economic conditions, either nationally or locally, in areas in which the Company conducts operations being less favorable than expected; changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential and commercial real estate; developments in our mortgage banking business, including loan modifications, general demand, and the effects of judicial or regulatory requirements or guidance; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the ability of the consolidated Company to conduct business combinations or new operations; adverse results from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions, including as a result of the Company’s participation in and execution of government programs, those related to credit card interest rates, and legislative, regulatory or supervisory actions related to so-called "de-banking," including any new prohibitions, requirements or enforcement priorities that could affect customer relationships, compliance obligations, or operational practices; significant turbulence or a disruption in the capital or financial markets and the effect of a fall in the stock market prices on our investment securities; significant volatility in the markets for equity, fixed income and other asset classes globally or within specific markets; the effects of war or other conflicts, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; major political shifts domestically or internationally (including the potential for retaliatory actions by governments, market participants or clients based on diverging perspectives or otherwise); general risks related to the Company’s merger and acquisition activity, including risks associated with integrating and realizing the expected financial benefits of previous or pending acquisitions, and the Company’s pursuit of future acquisitions; risks associated with the recent Merger, including the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized as well as disruption with customers, suppliers, employee or other business partners relationships; the risk of successful integration of First Reliance’s business into the Company; the reaction of each of the Company’s and First Reliance’s customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the Merger; the risk that the integration of First Reliance’s operations into the operations of the Company will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; the timing and achievement of expected cost reductions following the Merger; the timing and achievement of the recovery of the reduction of tangible book value resulting from the Merger; general competitive, economic, political, and market conditions; the impact of emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence; fraud or misconduct by internal or external actors, and system failures, cybersecurity threats or security breaches and the cost of defending against them; a deterioration of the credit rating for U.S. long-term sovereign debt, actions that the U.S. government may take to avoid exceeding the debt ceiling, and uncertainties surrounding debt ceiling and the federal budget; and general competitive, economic, political and market conditions or other unexpected factors or events. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. These forward-looking statements are based upon information presently known to the Company’s management and are inherently subjective, uncertain and subject to change due to any number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, under the captions "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors," and in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Additional Information About the Proposed Merger and Where to Find It This document does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. ("First Reliance") and the Company and a prospectus of the Company, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. WE URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, FIRST RELIANCE AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. The joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the shareholders of both the Company and First Reliance seeking the required shareholder approvals. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement on Form S-4 and the related joint proxy statement/prospectus, when filed, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by the Company through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Documents filed with the SEC by the Company will also be available free of charge by directing a written request to Colony Bankcorp, Inc., 115 South Grant Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750, Attn: Derek Shelnutt and on the Company’s website, colony.bank, under Investor Relations. The Company’s telephone number is (229) 426-6000. Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures The measures entitled operating noninterest income, operating noninterest expense, operating net income, operating earnings per diluted share, operating return on average assets, operating return on average equity, operating return on average tangible equity, tangible book value per common share, tangible equity to tangible assets, operating efficiency ratio, operating net noninterest expense to average assets and pre-provision net revenue are not measures recognized under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and therefore are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The most comparable GAAP measures are noninterest income, noninterest expense, net income, diluted earnings per share, return on average assets, return on average equity, book value per common share, total equity to total assets, efficiency ratio, net noninterest expense to average assets and net interest income before provision for credit losses, respectively. Operating noninterest income excludes loss on sales of securities. Operating noninterest expense excludes acquisition-related expenses, severance costs and loss related to wire fraud incident. Operating net income, operating return on average assets, operating return on average equity, operating return on average tangible equity and operating efficiency ratio all exclude acquisition-related expenses, severance costs, loss on sales of securities and loss related to wire fraud incident from net income, return on average assets, return on average equity and efficiency ratio, respectively. Operating net noninterest expense to average assets ratio excludes from net noninterest expense, severance costs, acquisition-related expenses, loss on sales of securities and loss related to wire fraud incident. Acquisition-related expenses includes fees associated with acquisitions and vendor contract buyouts. Severance costs includes costs associated with termination and retirement of employees. Operating earnings per diluted share includes the adjustments to operating net income. Tangible book value per common share, tangible equity to tangible assets and operating return on average tangible equity exclude goodwill and other intangibles from book value per common share, total equity to total assets and return on average equity, respectively. Pre-provision net revenue is calculated by adding noninterest income to net interest income before provision for credit losses, and subtracting noninterest expense. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Company’s performance and believes these presentations provide useful supplemental information, and a clearer understanding of the Company’s performance, and if not provided would be requested by the investor community. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures enhance investors’ understanding of the Company’s business and performance. These measures are also useful in understanding performance trends and facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. The limitations associated with operating measures are the risk that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items comprising these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These disclosures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP. The computations of operating noninterest income, operating noninterest expense, operating net income, operating earnings per diluted share, operating return on average assets, operating return on average equity, operating return on average tangible equity, tangible book value per common share, tangible equity to tangible assets, operating efficiency ratio, operating net noninterest expense to average assets and pre-provision net revenue and the reconciliation of these measures to noninterest income, noninterest expense, net income, diluted earnings per share, return on average assets, return on average equity, book value per common share, total equity to total assets, efficiency ratio, net noninterest expense to average assets and net interest income before provision for credit losses are set forth in the table below. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260722756027/en/ Contacts For additional information, contact:Derek ShelnuttEVP & Chief Financial Officer229-426-6000, extension 6119

Colony Bankcorp (CBAN) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.48 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.46 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +8.33%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company would post earnings of $0.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.45, delivering no surprise. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Colony Bankcorp, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, posted revenues of $42.03 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.08%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $32.48 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Colony Bankcorp shares have added about 17% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.7%. While Colony Bankcorp has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Colony Bankcorp was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.50 on $41.68 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.92 on $174.59 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 32% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the same industry, Mechanics Bank (MCHB), has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 29. This real estate lender is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.25 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +256.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Mechanics Bank's revenues are expected to be $198.3 million, up 304.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (CBAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mechanics Bancorp (MCHB) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Southern First (SFST) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.2 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.19 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.81 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.84%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for Southern First Bank would post earnings of $1.2 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.19, delivering a surprise of -0.83%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Southern First, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, posted revenues of $35.88 million for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.78%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $28.63 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Southern First shares have added about 19.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.7%. While Southern First has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Southern First was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.28 on $38.13 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.05 on $147.54 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 37% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, Colony Bankcorp (CBAN), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 22. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.48 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.4%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. Colony Bankcorp's revenues are expected to be $40.77 million, up 25.5% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (SFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (CBAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Customers Bancorp (CUBI) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 23. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.00 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +11.1%. Revenues are expected to be $229.77 million, up 11.4% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 3.6% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Customers Bancorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.09%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Customers Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate. While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Customers Bancorp would post earnings of $1.88 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.97, delivering a surprise of +4.79%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Customers Bancorp doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Among the stocks in the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, Colony Bankcorp (CBAN), is soon expected to post earnings of $0.48 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +4.4%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $40.77 million, up 25.5% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for Colony Bankcorp has been revised 2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.08%. This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), suggests that Colony Bankcorp will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Customers Bancorp, Inc (CUBI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (CBAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Colony Bankcorp (CBAN) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.48 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.4%. Revenues are expected to be $40.77 million, up 25.5% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.04% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction). The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Colony Bankcorp, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.08%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1. So, this combination indicates that Colony Bankcorp will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Colony Bankcorp would post earnings of $0.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.45, delivering no surprise. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Colony Bankcorp appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (CBAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research