EQBK

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. Management attributes the quarter's performance to the successful integration of NBC and Frontier, allowing the franchise's true earnings power to emerge without merger-related noise. Strategic focus has shifted from acquisition integration to organic growth, with legacy markets absorbing loan pressure from acquired portfolio optimization. The bank is aggressively implementing AI and automation, with 75% of staff using Microsoft Copilot and 15% using Anthropic to streamline back-office and credit workflows. Management views AI as a generational shift similar to the adoption of personal computers, aiming to grow the balance sheet without a proportional increase in cost structure. Operational efficiency reached a record 53.4%, driven by the realization of technological and personnel cost savings from recent conversions. Market expansion into Nebraska and Oklahoma City is providing a core base for hiring experienced bankers from larger institutions who prefer Equity's entrepreneurial culture. Management expects low-to-mid single-digit loan growth in the second half of 2026 as legacy market momentum offsets continued pruning of acquired portfolios. Guidance for the second half of 2026 indicates that the margin may decrease as average earning assets expand to $6.85 billion to $6.95 billion, reflecting an expected mix shift and continued accretion burn down. Non-interest income is projected between $18 million and $22 million, with growth dependent on treasury management initiatives and trust services offsetting potential mortgage volatility. Expense guidance of $94 million to $98 million for the second half assumes continued operational discipline and the full realization of merger synergies. The bank remains active in the M&A pipeline, evaluating opportunities that meet strict return standards while balancing capital for share repurchases. Non-performing assets increased to 86 basis points, primarily due to inherited Frontier credits that management is actively working to exit or restructure. The bank repurchased 211 thousand shares in the quarter and plans to maintain an active buyback authorization pending regulatory approval. A $2.2 million loss was realized on securities and a fund investment write-down, which management excluded from core earnings metrics. Loan production reached a record $315 million, a 60% increase year-over-year, signaling the increased scale of the expanded franchise. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. Management expects net growth of low-to-mid single digits for the second half of the year. Growth is being driven by legacy markets and new teams in Lincoln and Omaha, which are beginning to offset the intentional runoff of Frontier loans. The bank remains positioned for a 'higher for longer' environment, with a balance sheet posture similar to the previous rising rate cycle. Upside to margin guidance depends on the ability to lower liability costs, particularly maturing high-cost Frontier deposits. Management clarified they are currently in 'Phase 1' (implementation and proof of concept), with tangible expense reductions expected in 'Phase 2'. The primary goal is to increase assets per employee, potentially moving from the current $10 million benchmark to significantly higher levels over 3-5 years. The increase in non-accruals was attributed to specific inherited credits where the bank declined to renew terms, forcing a workout or exit. Management noted these credits were appropriately marked during acquisition and do not represent systemic portfolio weakness.

Interested in Equity Bancshares, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Equity Bancshares posted stronger core profitability in Q2 2026 as merger-related noise faded, with GAAP EPS of $1.27 and core EPS of $1.41. Net interest margin expanded to 4.36% and the efficiency ratio improved to 53.4%. Loan production hit a record at $315 million for the quarter, while the company’s pipeline rose to $1.6 billion. Management expects low-single-digit to mid-single-digit loan growth in the second half as legacy markets offset runoff from acquired portfolios. Expenses fell sharply after the Frontier conversion, helping offset some credit and balance-sheet pressures. Capital remained strong, and the company said it will keep pursuing acquisitions selectively rather than chase deals. Equity Bancshares (NYSE:EQBK) reported second-quarter 2026 results that management said reflected a more normalized view of the company following the integration of recent acquisitions, with earnings, margin and efficiency improving after merger-related noise subsided. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brad Elliott said the quarter showed “the earnings power of the combined companies” after the NBC and Frontier transactions. The company reported GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.27 and core earnings per diluted share of $1.41. Return on average tangible common equity was 16.6% on a GAAP basis and 17.2% on a core basis. The company’s efficiency ratio was 53.4%. → 3 Space Stocks That Could Outshine SpaceX After Its IPO “For the first time since closing, we are clearly showing investors what this franchise earns without the noise of merger charges, day 2 provisions, and integration costs overshadowing the combined earnings of Equity,” Elliott said. Chief Financial Officer Chris Navratil said net income for the quarter was $26.4 million, or $1.27 per share. Excluding M&A expenses, intangible amortization and losses on securities, core net income was $29.4 million, or $1.41 per share. Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue was $36.4 million, up $2.4 million from the prior quarter. → The SK Hynix IPO and 2027’s AI Memory Squeeze Net interest income totaled $73.9 million. Navratil said that figure reflected declining purchase accounting accretion and lower average earning assets, offset by higher securities yields and a lower cost of funds. Net interest margin expanded three basis points to 4.36%. Loan purchase accounting accretion contributed $2.9 million, or about 17 basis points, which Navratil said was in line with expectations. For the second half of 2026, Navratil said the margin may decrease modestly as average earning assets are expected to expand to a range of $6.85 billion to $6.95 billion. He attributed the potential compression to expected mix shift and continued accretion burn-down. → Meta Platforms Stock Rises as Muse Spark 1.1 AI Model Debuts In response to an analyst question about higher interest rates, Navratil said the balance sheet’s positioning has not changed meaningfully from the last rising-rate cycle and that the company is “positioned to do well” in that environment, while noting that liability pricing remains an important variable. Rick Sems, the company’s bank CEO, said loan and deposit balances continued to face headwinds from normal runoff and optimization efforts tied to acquired portfolios. However, he said legacy markets absorbed much of that pressure, leading to effectively flat loan balances period over period. Equity closed $315 million in loans during the quarter, which Sems described as the company’s largest quarterly production level ever. The loans carried an average rate of 6.56%, and production increased $119 million, or 60%, compared with the same period in 2025. Sems cited Kansas City, Des Moines and western Kansas as key contributors. Loan balances in non-acquired markets grew at an annualized rate above 10% and were up 3% compared with the second quarter of 2025. Sems said the company’s current pipeline stood at $1.6 billion, up 23% from the prior quarter, while its 75% pipeline was $475 million. During the question-and-answer session, Sems said management expects overall loan growth in the second half of the year to be in the low-single-digit to mid-single-digit range as legacy market growth begins to offset attrition from acquired portfolios. Elliott said loan opportunities were broad-based across the company’s footprint, including western Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas City and Wichita. Sems added that loan pricing has remained relatively firm, although he noted that the company has avoided competing with “irrational” pricing in certain markets. Total deposits were flat for the quarter, while non-brokered balances declined modestly. Sems said the second quarter is typically a seasonal period of outflows as customers pay taxes and service debt. He characterized the decline in core balances as concentrated in existing customer relationships and “transitory rather than structural.” Cost of deposits declined modestly as use of lower-cost accounts offset continued optimization of higher-cost acquired funds. In the Q&A, Navratil said there remains some opportunity to reduce deposit costs from Frontier-related accounts over the next several quarters, although much of the work has already been completed. Core non-interest income was $10.3 million, up $0.7 million from the prior quarter. Navratil said the company saw growth in debit and credit card activity, mortgage banking, and trust and wealth management. He guided to second-half non-interest income of $18 million to $22 million. Sems said the company is investing in treasury management and has brought in Melissa Morin to lead that strategic initiative. He said the goal is to better serve commercial customers with a more complete product suite. Non-interest expense was $46.9 million, down from $55 million in the previous quarter. Excluding merger costs in both periods, expenses declined $2.5 million to $46.8 million. The quarter also benefited from an $850,000 gain on sale of assets. Navratil guided to second-half non-interest expense of $94 million to $98 million. Asked about the expense improvement, Navratil said much of the benefit came from completing the Frontier conversion in the first quarter, including reductions in technology costs and personnel costs tied to managing those systems. He said artificial intelligence and automation are not yet producing a tangible expense benefit in the reported numbers. Elliott said Equity is actively implementing AI and automation tools across the bank. He said 15% of staff are actively using Anthropic AI products, while 75% have Microsoft Copilot installed. The company has six bots running in production, and AI is supporting areas including loan review and M&A due diligence. “Phase 1 is implementation, stabilization, and proof of concept,” Elliott said. “Phase 2 is where the efficiency gains show up in the numbers.” Non-performing assets increased to 86 basis points of total assets from 76 basis points. Sems said part of the increase was tied to credits inherited from Frontier that the company is working through. Net charge-offs were $1.7 million, or 12 basis points annualized, while classified assets to regulatory capital improved modestly to 11.9%. In response to a question about the Frontier-related nonaccrual loans, Elliott said some credits were paying as agreed at acquisition but moved to nonaccrual after the bank declined to renew them on existing terms as part of the workout process. He said the credits were appropriately marked as part of the acquisition and described the increase as modest, with “nothing systemic” in it. Capital levels remained strong. Navratil said tangible common equity ended the quarter at 9.07%, common equity tier 1 capital was 11.84% and total risk-based capital was 14.66%. Tangible book value per share increased to $33.45 from $32.58. The company paid a dividend of $0.18 per share and repurchased 211,000 shares during the quarter. Year to date, it has repurchased 711,000 shares at an average price of $44.84. Elliott said Equity remains active in evaluating acquisition opportunities but is maintaining discipline. He said the company will pursue deals that fit its strategy, meet return standards and make Equity a better company, while avoiding transactions that do not clear those hurdles. “We are not chasing deals for the sake of activity,” Elliott said. “We are focused on the right deals.” Equity Bancshares, Inc is the bank holding company for Equity Bank, a regional financial services provider headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. As a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker EQBK, Equity Bancshares operates a network of branches and lending offices across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Colorado. Its geographic footprint spans both urban and rural markets, reflecting a focus on supporting small businesses, agricultural enterprises and individual consumers throughout the Midwest. The company's core business activities encompass a full spectrum of commercial and consumer banking services. 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 "Equity Bancshares Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. View MarketBeat's top stocks for July 2026.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. GAAP EPS: $1.27 per diluted share. Core EPS: $1.41 per diluted share. ROATCE: 16.6% GAAP, 17.2% Core. Efficiency Ratio: 53.4% for the quarter. Net Income: $26.4 million. Core Net Income: $29.4 million. Net Interest Income: $73.9 million. Net Interest Margin: 4.36%, up 3 basis points from last quarter. Loan Production: $315 million, largest quarterly production level ever. Loan Growth in Non-Acquired Markets: Annualized rate exceeding 10%, up 3% compared to Q2 2025. Total Deposits: Flat for the quarter. Non-Interest Income: $10.3 million, excluding losses. Non-Interest Expense: $46.9 million, down from $55 million in the previous quarter. Tangible Book Value Per Share: $33.45, up from $32.58. Capital Ratios: TCE at 9.07%, CET1 at 11.84%, Total Risk-Based Capital at 14.66%. Shares Repurchased: 711,000 shares year-to-date at $44.84 per share. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with EQBK. Is EQBK fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: July 15, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Equity Bancshares Inc (NYSE:EQBK) reported strong financial performance with a GAAP EPS of $1.27 per diluted share and a core EPS of $1.41, reflecting the successful integration of recent acquisitions. The company achieved a net interest margin of 4.36%, an increase of 3 basis points from the previous quarter, driven by a favorable earning asset mix and higher bond discount accretion. Equity Bancshares Inc (NYSE:EQBK) is actively leveraging AI and automation, with 15% of staff using Anthropic AI products and 75% having Microsoft Copilot installed, enhancing operational efficiency. Loan production reached a record $315 million for the quarter, a 60% increase compared to the same period in 2025, with significant contributions from Kansas City, Des Moines, and Western Kansas. The efficiency ratio improved to 53.4%, a significant enhancement from the previous year, indicating better cost management and operational efficiency. Non-performing assets increased from 76 basis points to 86 basis points of total assets, partly due to credits inherited from the Frontier acquisition. Total deposits remained flat for the quarter, with non-brokered balances declining modestly due to seasonal outflows and optimization efforts. The company anticipates potential margin compression in the second half of 2026 due to expected mix shifts and continued accretion burndown. There are ongoing headwinds from normal runoff and optimization efforts surrounding acquired portfolios, impacting loan and deposit balances. The integration of AI and automation is still in the early stages, with no immediate tangible benefits reflected in current expense reductions. Q: How do you anticipate loan growth in the coming quarters, considering the ongoing attrition and right-sizing of acquired portfolios? A: Richard Sems, CEO of Equity Bank, stated that they expect low single-digit to mid-single-digit growth for the second half of the year. The legacy markets show strong growth, and they anticipate slowing attrition as they move past the NBC and Frontier deals. Q: Are there specific industries where you're seeing a good flow of opportunities, or is it broad-based? A: Richard Sems and Brad Elliott, CEO of Equity Bancshares, noted that the opportunities are broad-based across their footprint. They are seeing strong originations from various regions, including Western Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas City, and Wichita. Q: Can you elaborate on the factors driving the improvement in expenses and whether AI and automation initiatives are contributing? A: Richard Sems explained that the reduction in expenses is primarily due to the completion of the Frontier conversion and associated cost reductions. While AI and automation are being explored, they have not yet contributed significantly to expense reductions. Q: What are the key factors influencing the margin outlook for the second half of the year? A: Richard Sems highlighted that the margin's high-end execution depends on maintaining and declining liability costs. The low end could be affected by rising liability costs and yield curve movements. They are positioned to handle a rising interest rate environment well. Q: How is the integration of acquired customers and employees progressing, and how does it compare to expectations? A: Brad Elliott expressed satisfaction with the integration, particularly in Nebraska, where they have strengthened their team. They have retained core customers and employees and are expanding their presence in new markets like Oklahoma City and Nebraska. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

EPS of $1.27 and Core EPS of $1.41 Reflects Franchise Earning Power WICHITA, Kan., July 14, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: EQBK), ("Equity", "the Company," "we," "us," "our"), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, reported net income of $26.4 million or $1.27 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Core earnings per diluted share for the quarter was $1.41. "This quarter demonstrates what we wanted to accomplish when we entered into and then closed the Frontier transaction on January 1. It has driven growth in both earnings and efficiency. Our ROATCE was 16.6% and our efficiency ratio was 53.4% both improving meaningfully. We have built the franchise to compete and continuously drive improving performance," said Brad S. Elliott, Chairman and CEO of Equity Bancshares. "The core conversion is complete, the integration work is largely behind us, and our team is focused on what we do best: growing relationships, serving customers, and producing results. The second half of 2026 is about execution and organic growth, and Rick Sems has done a great job working with the entire team, both old and new, to position them to have the ability to grow organically," Mr. Elliott continued. Notable Items: Net interest income was $73.8 million, up modestly quarter over quarter and 48.3% year over year. Margin expanded in the period from 4.33% to 4.36%. Loan purchase accounting accretion was $2.9 million in the quarter. Efficiency ratio for the period improved to 53.4% from 56.7% in the previous period. As compared to the same period in 2025, the ratio improved 10.2 percentage points, or 16.1%. Non-interest expense, adjusted for merger expenses and intangible amortization, as a percentage of average assets improved 14 basis points quarter over quarter and 54 basis points year over year. Return on average equity for the quarter was 12.9%, up from 8.2% in the previous quarter. Adjusting for merger costs and amortization of intangible assets in both periods, return on tangible common equity ("ROATCE") improved to 16.6% from 16.1% in the previous quarter. As compared to the same period in the prior year, return on tangible common equity improved 4.9%, from 11.7%. Core ROATCE was 17.2% for the quarter. Book value per share increased to $40.22 from $39.37 and tangible book value per share increased to $33.45 from $32.58. Tangible common equity to tangible common assets closed the quarter at 9.1%. During the quarter, the Company realized net charge-offs of $1.7 million. The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") closed the quarter at 1.19% of outstanding balances, while ACL plus purchase discounts on loans closed the quarter at 1.73%. The Company announced an $0.18 dividend on outstanding common shares as of June 30, 2026. During the quarter, the Company repurchased 211,369 shares at a weighted average cost of $45.02 per share. Year to date the Company has repurchased 711,369 shares at a weighted average cost of $44.84. Under the currently active repurchase plan, 116,293 additional shares are authorized for purchase. Financial Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2026 Net income was $26.4 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, as compared to $17.0 million, or $0.80 per diluted share in the prior quarter. Core net income was $29.4 million or $1.41 per diluted share, demonstrating the underlying earnings power of the franchise. The drivers of the current period results are discussed in detail in the following sections. Net Interest Income Net interest income was $73.9 million for the period, as compared to $73.7 million in the previous quarter. Net interest margin was 4.36%, up 3 basis points from 4.33% in the prior quarter. The expansion was driven by a favorable shift in earning asset composition toward higher-yielding categories and increased discount accretion on bonds called during the quarter. Average interest-earning assets were $6.8 billion. The yield on interest-earning assets increased 1 basis point while cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 5 basis points. Looking ahead, management anticipates a modestly lower margin of 4.25% to 4.35% for the remainder of 2026 as earning assets expand. Provision for Credit Losses During the quarter, the Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $1.3 million, decreasing significantly from the prior quarter which was elevated due to integration of Frontier balances into the reserve framework. Net charge-offs were $1.7 million, or an annualized 12 basis points of average loans. At quarter end, ACL to gross loans held for investment was 1.19% and ACL plus purchase discounts was 1.73%. The Company continues to estimate the allowance with assumptions reflecting slower prepayment rates and continued disruption from trade policy, elevated inflation, and monetary policy pressures. Non-Interest Income Total non-interest income was $8.1 million, down $1.4 million from the prior quarter. Results were negatively impacted by losses on security transactions and the write-down of a fund investment of $2.2 million. Adjusted for these losses, non-interest income was $10.3 million, up $0.7 million linked quarter, reflecting growth in debit and credit card income along with expansion in mortgage and trust and wealth management revenue. Non-interest income for the second half of 2026 is expected in the range of $18 to $22 million. Non-Interest Expense Total non-interest expense was $46.9 million as compared to $55.0 million for the prior quarter. Excluding merger expenses in both periods, non-interest expense was $46.8 million versus $49.2 million, a decrease of $2.5 million or 5.1%. The improvement reflects ongoing operational efficiency gains and the impact of the core system conversion completed in the first quarter. Non-interest expense for the second half of 2026 is expected in the range of $94 to $98 million. Income Tax Expense At June 30, 2026, the effective tax rate for the quarter was 21.6% as compared to 23.7% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to the nonrecurrence of state tax expense recognized in the first quarter related to the remeasurement of deferred tax assets, partially offset by lower tax benefits associated with restricted stock units in the second quarter. The first-quarter remeasurement was driven by decreased state apportionment, which resulted in certain deferred tax assets being measured at a lower state tax rate. The year-to-date tax rate is 22.4% as compared to 18.6% at June 30, 2025. Loans, Total Assets and Funding Loans held for investment were $5.4 billion at period end, decreasing $22.6 million during the quarter. Total assets closed the quarter at $7.7 billion, remaining consistent with the prior quarter end. Total deposit balances closed the quarter at $6.3 billion, remaining consistent with the previous quarter end. Brokered deposits closed the quarter at 8.0% of total deposits up from 5.7% at prior quarter end. Asset Quality Nonperforming assets were $66.3 million, or 0.86% of total assets, compared to $58.4 million or 0.76% at prior quarter end. The increase is primarily attributable to additions from the Frontier portfolio. Classified assets to regulatory capital remained stable at 11.9%. The Company continues to actively manage credit quality across all markets. Capital Book capital increased $9.6 million quarter over quarter to $827.3 million. Tangible book value per share closed at $33.45, up from $32.58 at prior quarter end. CET1 capital was 11.84%, total risk-based capital was 14.66%, and the leverage ratio was 9.97%. The Company has repurchased 711,369 shares year to date at a weighted average price of $44.84 per share. The dividend payout ratio year to date was 17.4%, within the Company's 10 to 20% target range. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to evaluating the Company’s results of operations in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), management periodically supplements this evaluation with an analysis of certain non-GAAP financial measures that are intended to provide the reader with additional perspectives on operating results, financial condition and performance trends, while facilitating comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. Non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures, rather, they should be read and used in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information. The efficiency ratio is a common comparable metric used by banks to understand the expense structure relative to total revenue. In other words, for every dollar of total revenue recognized, how much of that dollar is expended. To improve the comparability of the ratio to our peers, non-core items are excluded. To improve transparency and acknowledging that banks are not consistent in their definition of the efficiency ratio, we include our calculation of this non-GAAP measure. Core income calculations are a non-GAAP measure that management believes is an effective alternative measure of how efficiently the company utilizes its asset base. Core income is calculated by adjusting GAAP income by non-core gains and losses and excluding non-core expenses, net of tax, as outlined in the table below. We calculate (a) core net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders plus merger expenses, tax effected non-core items, goodwill impairment and BOLI tax adjustment, less gain (loss) from securities transactions; (b) adjusted operating net income as net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders plus adjusted non-core items, tax effected non-core items and BOLI tax adjustments. Core return on average assets before income tax provision and provision for loan losses is a measure that the Company uses to understand fundamental operating performance before these expenses. Used as a ratio relative to average assets, we believe it demonstrates "core" performance and can be viewed as an alternative measure of how efficiently the Company services its asset base. Used as a ratio relative to average equity, it can function as an alternative measure of the Company’s earnings performance in relationship to its equity. Core return on average equity is a non-GAAP measure generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate financial institutions. We calculate by taking core net income allocable to common stockholders divided by a simple average of net income and core net income plus average stockholders' equity. For return on average equity, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is return on average equity. Core earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure we calculate by taking GAAP net income less non-core impacts to net income to arrive at core net income and core diluted earnings per share. This financial measure is used by financial statement users to evaluate the core financial performance of the Company. Tangible common equity and related measures are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of intangible assets, net of deferred taxes, and their related amortization. These financial measures are useful for evaluating the performance of a business consistently, whether acquired or developed internally. Return on average tangible common equity is used by management and readers of our financial statements to understand how efficiently the Company is deploying its common equity. Companies that are able to demonstrate more efficient use of common equity are more likely to be viewed favorably by current and prospective investors. The Company believes that disclosing these non-GAAP financial measures is both useful internally and is expected by our investors and analysts in order to understand the overall performance of the Company. Other companies may calculate and define their non-GAAP financial measures and supplemental data differently. A reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP measures and other performance ratios, as adjusted, are included in Table 6 in the following press release tables. Conference Call and Webcast Equity's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brad Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of Equity Bank, Rick Sems, and Chief Financial Officer, Chris Navratil, will hold a conference call and webcast on July 15, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the Company's financial results. Those wishing to participate in the conference call should call the applicable number below and reference the Access Code below. United States (Local): +1 626 884 3620United States (Toll-Free): +1 833 461 5787Global Dial-In NumbersAccess Code: 797391070 To eliminate wait times, conference call participants may pre-register using this registration link. After registering, a confirmation with access details will be sent via email. A replay of the call and webcast will be available two hours following the close of the call until July 31, 2026, accessible at investor.equitybank.com. Webcast URL: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/797391070 About Equity Bancshares, Inc. Equity Bancshares, Inc. is a Wichita-based bank holding company. Equity Bank serves customers in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, with total assets of $7.7 billion as of June 30, 2026. More information is available at equitybank.com. Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equity’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equity’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "will likely result," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," "positioned," "forecast," "goal," "target," "would" and "outlook," or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equity’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equity’s control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equity’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the possibility that the expected benefits related to the proposed transaction with Frontier Bank ("Frontier") may not materialize as expected; and the ability to successfully implement integration strategies or to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time-frames or at all; and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Equity’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2026, as amended, and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Equity’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Equity’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what Equity anticipates. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Equity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, Equity cannot assess the impact of each factor on Equity’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Equity or persons acting on Equity’s behalf may issue. Unaudited Financial Tables Table 1. Consolidated Statements of Income Table 2. Quarterly Consolidated Statements of Income Table 3. Consolidated Balance Sheets Table 4. Selected Financial Highlights Table 5. Year-To-Date Net Interest Income Analysis Table 6. Quarter-To-Date Net Interest Income Analysis Table 7. Quarter-Over-Quarter Net Interest Income Analysis Table 8. Non-GAAP Financial Measures View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260714810212/en/ Contacts Investor Contact: Chris M. NavratilEVP, Chief Financial OfficerEquity Bancshares, Inc.(316) [email protected] Media Contact: Russell ColburnPublic Relations and Communication ManagerEquity Bancshares, Inc.(913) [email protected]

Analysts on Wall Street project that Equity Bancshares (EQBK) will announce quarterly earnings of $1.24 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 25.3% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $84.05 million, increasing 43.9% from the same quarter last year. The current level reflects no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period. Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock. While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights. That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Equity Bancshares metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor. Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Net Interest Margin' should arrive at 4.3%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 4.2%. The consensus estimate for 'Efficiency Ratio' stands at 58.3%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 63.6% in the same quarter last year. Analysts expect 'Total Non-Interest Income' to come in at $9.73 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $8.59 million in the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that the 'Net Interest Income' will reach $74.31 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $49.80 million. View all Key Company Metrics for Equity Bancshares here>>> Shares of Equity Bancshares have demonstrated returns of -0.3% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.1% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), EQBK is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> . 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 Equity Bancshares, Inc. (EQBK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

WICHITA, Kan., June 24, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:EQBK), ("Equity"), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, will release its second quarter financial results on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, with a press release issued after market close. Equity Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brad Elliott and Chief Financial Officer Chris Navratil will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss earnings results on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 10 a.m. eastern time or 9 a.m. central time. Those wishing to participate in the conference call should call the applicable number below and reference the Access Code below. United States (Toll-Free): +1 833 439 1904Global Dial-In Numbers Access Code: 332774 To eliminate wait times, conference call participants may pre-register using this registration link. After registering, a confirmation with access details will be sent via email. A replay of the call and webcast will be available two hours following the close of the call until July 31, 2026, accessible at investor.equitybank.com. Webcast URL: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/797391070 About Equity Bancshares, Inc. Equity Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Equity Bank, offering a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, trust and wealth management services and treasury management services, while delivering the high-quality, relationship-based customer service of a community bank. Equity’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EQBK." Learn more at www.equitybank.com. Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equity’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equity’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "will likely result," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," "forecast," "goal," "target," "would" and "outlook," or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equity’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equity’s control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equity’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Equity’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2026, as amended, and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Equity’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Equity’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what Equity anticipates. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Equity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, Equity cannot assess the impact of each factor on Equity’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Equity or persons acting on Equity’s behalf may issue. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624847558/en/ Contacts Media Contact: Russell ColburnPublic Relations & Communications ManagerEquity Bancshares, Inc.(913) [email protected] Investor Contact: Brian J. KatzfeyVP, Director of Corporate Development and Investor RelationsEquity Bancshares, Inc.(316) [email protected]

Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. Equity Bancshares is sitting on a flat fair value estimate of US$51.6, but the story around its price targets is more mixed, with one analyst nudging their target up by US$1 while another trims theirs by US$1. That split lines up with the latest research commentary, where some see enough earnings support and balance sheet stability to justify a slightly higher target, while others focus on earnings quality and execution risks that cap upside. As you read on, you will see how these small moves fit into the broader, evolving narrative around the stock. Stay updated as the Fair Value for Equity Bancshares shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Equity Bancshares. Piper Sandler raised its Equity Bancshares price target by US$1, signaling that its analysts see enough support in the story to justify a modestly higher valuation anchor. Supportive commentary around earnings and balance sheet stability suggests some analysts view the current fair value estimate of US$51.6 as reasonable relative to the bank’s fundamentals. DA Davidson reduced its price target by US$1, highlighting concerns around earnings quality and how consistently the bank can deliver on expectations. The mixed direction of these target moves points to a focus on execution risks, with some research noting that missteps on growth or profitability could limit upside from current levels. Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives! We've flagged 3 risks for Equity Bancshares. See which could impact your investment. Equity Bancshares reported net charge-offs of US$1.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, equal to 0.10% annualized, compared with US$697,000 in the prior quarter. This provides a fresh read on recent credit performance. The allowance for credit losses closed the quarter at 1.18% of outstanding balances, and the combination of ACL and purchase discounts on loans was 1.77%, outlining the current reserve position relative to loan exposure. From January 1 to March 31, 2026, the company repurchased 500,000 shares for US$22.37 million, representing 2.64% of shares under its existing buyback program. Equity Bancshares has now completed the repurchase of 672,338 shares in total under the buyback announced on September 26, 2025, spending US$29.55 million for 3.54% of its shares. Fair value stays at US$51.6, with no change in the central value estimate. Revenue growth moves from 33.85% to 33.76% in the model. Net profit margin shifts from 49.11% to 49.16% in projected results. Future P/E moves from 6.09x to 6.11x in the valuation model. The discount rate adjusts from 7.01% to 7.12% in the calculations. Narratives connect a company's business story, such as mergers, credit trends, and digital investment, to a financial forecast and fair value. They update as new data and research come through, so you can see how the story is evolving in real time. Head over to the Simply Wall St Community and follow the Narrative on Equity Bancshares to stay up to date on: How the NBC Bank merger and a focus on high growth mid sized markets relate to loan growth and long term revenue potential. What expanding digital banking, non interest income streams, and disciplined M&A could mean for earnings mix and margin resilience. Key risks around digital competition, commercial real estate and sector concentration, demographics, and rising regulatory and compliance costs. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include EQBK. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET Chairman & CEO — Brad S. Elliott Bank CEO — Richard J. Sems Chief Financial Officer — Christopher M. Navratil Chief Credit Officer — Krzysztof Slupkowski Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] Brad Elliott: Good morning. Thank you for joining Equity Bancshares earnings call. Joining me today are Rick Sems, our Bank CEO; Chris Navratil, our CFO; and Krzysztof Slupkowski, our Chief Credit Officer. We are excited to share our company's strong beginning to 2025. In the first quarter, we achieved strong earnings, margin expansion and built up our reserves to strengthen our balance sheet for whatever comes next. During the quarter, we were excited to announce the merger with NBC Corp., expanding our presence and our market share in Oklahoma as we continue to grow in this strategic area. As we announced on the call a few weeks ago, this will be impactful to Equity Bank in many positive ways. It gets us into a market we have been working on for several years. And this will give us access to a new metro market to help us continue to build out our organic production in lending, treasury management and all other commercial products. We can't express how excited we are to bring the current management teams of NBC Oklahoma, including H.K. Hatcher, Glenn Floresca, Scott Bixler, Dennis Themer and Jeff Greenlee to our teams. As we wrapped up 2024 and looked ahead to 2025, we brought in additional capital with plans to grow both through mergers and acquisitions and organic production. In the first quarter, we executed on both fronts. Loans increased by $131 million, an annualized growth rate of 15.5%, while the NBC merger is expected to add approximately $900 million to assets to our pro forma entity. Following the completion of the NBC merger, we retained approximately $67 million in capital from our common stock raise in December, in addition to capital built through earnings, ready to deploy for strategic growth. While banks are typically sold rather than bought, we are seeing active conversations at a level we haven't experienced in recent years. We have numerous opportunities that could yet be announced this year. We closed the quarter with a TCE ratio of 10.13% and a tangible book value per share of $31.07. Compared to quarter 1 2024, our TCE ratio is up 36%, and our tangible book value per share is up 24%. Providing top-notch products and services through exceptional bankers continues to be our guiding principle as we aim to grow Equity Bank. I can't be more excited about what's ahead for our company. We started the year with a strong balance sheet, motivated bankers and a solid capital stack to execute our dual strategy of organic growth and strategic M&A. We began to see the results in Q1 and look forward to maintaining this momentum throughout the year. I will now ask Chris to walk us through our financial results. Chris Navratil: Thank you, Brad. Last night, we reported net income of $15.0 million or $0.85 per diluted share. Excluding amortization of intangible costs, earnings impacting tangible common equity were $16.0 million or $0.90 per diluted share. Net interest income improved from $49.5 million to $50.3 million in the quarter, driving net interest margin to 4.27% from 4.17% linked quarter. While there were tailwinds in both quarters pushing up margin, we continue to be optimistic about our opportunities to maintain spreads and improve earnings through repositioning of earning assets into 2025. More to come on margin dynamics later in this call. Noninterest income for the quarter was $10.3 million, up $1.5 million from Q4. The increase was driven by a comparative improvement in earnings on bank-owned life insurance of $1.7 million as we realized a death benefit on an insured. Excluding this benefit, linked results were flat and in line with outlook. Noninterest expenses for the quarter were $39.0 million (sic) [ 39.1 million ] up $1.2 million from Q4. The increase was driven by normal beginning of the year dynamics in payroll as well as additional accruals to account for strong first quarter results. As indicated in our outlook slide for Q2, we expect noninterest income to normalize in future quarters. Our GAAP net income included a provision for credit loss of $2.7 million. The provision is a result of increasing loan balances for the quarter, coupled with increased uncertainty related to the current economic environment due to the recent trade policy announcements. We continue to hold reserve for economic challenges that might arise. To date, we have not seen concerns in our operating markets. The ending coverage of ACL to loans is 1.26%. As Brad mentioned, our TCE ratio for the quarter moved above 10%, closing at 10.13%. The funds from the capital raise in Q4 continue to be maintained at the holding company with no current intentions of pushing into the bank. At the bank level, the TCE ratio closed at 9.87%, benefited both by earnings and improvement in the unrealized loss position on the securities portfolio. I'll stop here for a moment and let Krzysztof talk through our asset quality for the quarter. Krzysztof Slupkowski: Thank you, Chris. During the quarter, nonaccrual loans decreased by 10.3% to $24.2 million, while nonperforming assets declined by 19.6% to $27.9 million. The declines during the quarter are due to specific assets moving out without replacement. Nonperforming assets remain at historical lows. Total classified assets declined during the quarter to $63.9 million or 10.24% of total bank regulatory capital. The decline in classified assets is primarily the result of the resolution of the Main Street lending program loan moved to OREO in Q4. Year-over-year classified assets continue to show an increase. The trend is primarily due to one QSR-related customer, which we have discussed in previous calls. We do not currently expect any losses on this credit, but consider the downgrade appropriate based on recent trends in operating results. Delinquency in excess of 30 days moved up during the quarter to $18.2 million, but remained low at approximately 50 basis points of total loans. The increase was temporary. The few loans added causing this increase at quarter end have been resolved as of today's call. This was administrative in nature and has been corrected and is not expected to repeat in future quarters. Net charge-offs annualized were 2 basis points for the quarter compared to 4 basis points in Q4 and 11 basis points full year 2024 as realized losses continue to be muted. Recognized charge-offs continue to reflect specific circumstances on individual credits and do not indicate broader concerns across our footprint. Our credit outlook for 2025 remains positive as problem trends remain at levels below historic norms and are trending down through the first quarter. While rhetoric in the economy would indicate the potential for increased risk, we continue to leverage our portfolio monitoring tools to identify potential problems and remain prudent in our credit underwriting while maintaining healthy levels of capital and reserves to face any future economic challenges. We believe this approach will continue to yield positive outcomes while acknowledging risk remains as reflected in our allowance levels. Chris Navratil: Thanks, Krzysztof. During the final 4 months of 2024, the FOMC reduced their target rate 100 basis points, the impact of which was materially realized through the end of the first quarter 2025. During the quarter, cost of funds declines of 8 basis points outpaced the decline in coupon yields on assets of 4 basis points. The positive net trend in coupon results was further buoyed by $2.3 million in benefits on nonaccrual assets, adding another 19 basis points to the stated margin result of 4.27%. In addition to realized liability sensitivity following the cuts, we also realized expansion of average interest-earning assets and a decline in average interest-bearing liabilities as a percentage of average interest-earning assets, all positive trends linked quarter. Average loans increased during the quarter at an annualized rate of 5.7%, while total interest-earning assets increased 4.8%. Ending loan balances are $54 million above average balances for the quarter. The increase in margin and earning assets led to net interest income growth of $1.8 million, which was partially offset by the reduced day count in the period, yielding total periodic growth of $822,000. As we look to the remainder of the year, we are optimistic about margin maintenance as we see loan balance growth and continued lag repricing on our asset portfolios. Our outlook slide includes the forecast for the second quarter as well as full year 2025. As indicated, we anticipate margin between 4% and 4.10% in the second quarter on average earning assets between $4.8 billion and $4.9 billion. We do not include future rate changes, though our forecast continues to include the effects of lagging repricing in both our loan and deposit portfolios. Our provision is forecasted to be 12 basis points to average loans on an annualized basis. Rick? Richard Sems: Our production teams had an excellent start to the year as we realized loan growth of more than $130 million in the first quarter, while also maintaining deposit balances exclusive of anticipated municipality outflows. Tulsa and Kansas City were significant contributors to the quarter's results, and I look forward to enhanced contributions from the remainder of the footprint in 2025 as pipelines are strong and our teams are motivated to drive our organization forward. Organic originations in the quarter totaled $197 million, up 64% compared to the previous quarter. Total production was $254 million, which included $57 million of fully guaranteed government loans purchased at a discount. Yield on organic originations was 7.41% for the quarter, up 5 basis points from the previous period. Considering the downward trend in the rate environment over the represented 180 days, realizing maintenance of production rates is a credit to our team's emphasis on providing value to our customers above and beyond facilitating a transaction. Under the leadership of Jonathan Roop, our retail teams have entered the year with aligned direction and a framework designed to drive success throughout our footprint. The first quarter showed positive trends in gross and net production levels, but we have a long way to go to meet the aggressive goals we have set. I look forward to assisting this group in realizing success throughout 2025 and beyond. Deposit balances, excluding brokered funds, declined in the quarter. The trend was attributable to seasonality in municipal and commercial funds versus customer outflow. I anticipate those funds will flow back in as tax revenues are realized by those entities throughout 2025. As we look forward to the combination of Equity Bank and NBC, I am excited to announce that Greg Kossover will be moving into a senior regional CEO role with oversight for the Equity Bank geography in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. As we look to integrate the NBC footprint and onboard their team while also continuing to grow our legacy presence in both Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, Greg's leadership and Equity Bank experience will be integral to success. Greg built a home in Tulsa 6 years ago, so this allows him to be in the middle of his footprint and finally enjoy his new home during the [ work week ]. As we discussed in our announcement call, I could not be more excited about the markets we are entering and the team members we are adding through our partnership with NBC. As Chris mentioned previously, fee income was effectively flat for the quarter and in line with outlook. We continue to see a lot of opportunity to grow the line items comprising the total. Our in-branch mortgage, treasury, trust, wealth management and insurance offerings differentiate us from our primary competitors in the majority of our communities. Brad? Brad Elliott: It is a very exciting time to be associated with our company. We're in a great position in our marketplace with our organic sales team. Our operating and risk teams led by Julie Huber are well positioned for growth. Our management team is ready for the challenge and more importantly, the opportunity that is ahead of us. Our Board has done a great job driving a strategic path that allows us to be ready to grow both organically and through M&A. As mentioned earlier, M&A conversations continue at a higher rate than I have ever seen them as my time as a banker. Equity will remain disciplined in our approach to assessing these opportunities, emphasizing value while controlling dilution and the earn-back time line. We appreciate all the continued support from our employee base that is always ready to take on new opportunities and our investor base that has remained committed and steadfast as we execute on our strategy. I look forward to the rest of the year and beyond. Thank you for joining the call, and we are happy to take any questions at this time. Operator: [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Terry McEvoy with Stephens. Terence McEvoy: Maybe a question for Brad or Krzysztof. I know it's early, but could you just talk about what you're hearing from your commercial customers in terms of how the tariffs could impact their business? And then maybe what actions are you taking to minimize the risk to the bank if the economy does deteriorate from here? Brad Elliott: Yes. Good question, Terry. As everyone else in America, it's really hard to figure out what these actually mean for everyone. Many of our customers, as we've talked with them, went through this during Trump's last election. People kind of forget he did a tariff deal during his last election. And so they have actually put a lot of things into their contracts to be able to pass it on if they're contractors or suppliers. So they're able to pass on a lot of this expense to their end user. So I don't think they're going to be squeezed particularly. The question really is what does it do to the overall economy, which we don't think we've completely figured out yet. We did add some into loan loss reserve this quarter for those types of things, but we're not seeing any indication of slowdown at this point. It might be long answer to... Terence McEvoy: Yes. No, I appreciate the honesty very much. And then maybe a follow-up for Rick. Could you just talk about an update on the sales initiatives that you've helped put in place? We definitely saw that this quarter in terms of loans, maybe a baseball analogy, what inning are we in? Where are you seeing the success? And then you did highlight the products you have. When do you expect to see an acceleration of some of the fee income that's connected to those products Richard Sems: Yes. So Terry, you obviously know my background. So I'll use a baseball analogy. I mean we're still early. I think we're moving into the middle innings here, though, from the standpoint of getting it done. We saw a tremendous amount of calling in the fourth quarter, and I think that's leading to some of this. And so it's really just a matter of continuing that consistency. So we had good calling metrics. And a lot of it on calling. It's not about sales, it's about just making sure that you're in front of your customer and they're able to provide them solutions. So we're seeing more and more of that so that we're earlier on as far as if there's a problem being able to identify it and do something with it. As far as the product side of it goes, we're -- that is still on an early stage. We've got opportunities on the TM side that we're starting to see actually coming through this quarter. There's a couple of really nice TM wins out of our Tulsa markets. And you see it, it's interesting is that the markets that are really, really calling are really starting to see results from that. So Kansas City and Tulsa are driving both loans. But then as a result of that, they're getting into the C&I businesses, which do have that fee income side of it. So I think we're still early on, but I do expect that you're going to see a little bit more of a bounce back on the fee income as we get into the second half of the year. So hopefully, that helps. Operator: Our next question comes from Jeff Rulis with D.A. Davidson. Jeff Rulis: Question on the loan purchases. Do you expect to see more? And is that embedded in your guide going forward? Chris Navratil: No, we're not -- Jeff, that one specifically was a onetime deal that came across our desk that the economics made a lot of sense on. So we pursued it. But it's not something we're actively trying to do consistently. Jeff Rulis: Okay. Got it. And maybe just a follow-on kind of the last question on -- the growth optimism sounds great and it sounds like a lot of in-house work has been a driver of that. More on the customer end and in those community markets, it seems like activity seems to have increased some despite the sort of the environment. I guess what's sort of triggering that? Is it some of the work you've done in-house? Or is it maybe more on the demand side, anything you're seeing forming, particularly ex the metro markets? Richard Sems: Yes. I think on the community side, the community side is not clicking to where it can be. I think that's still -- when I look at where we can be towards the end of the year, I still see a lot of opportunity in that. And each community, when you really get into it, there's 3 or 4 great companies in all of these communities, and there's business there. And then there's ancillary business that run off of those companies within those communities. So that's really where we have to get to. And what we're seeing, the activity we're seeing is more calling on those identification of those names, which I think in the past, it was such and such a bank has those. So we're not going to call. And I think we're just -- we're changing that sort of mindset in the bank. And so at this point, we're not really getting those deals in yet. I think that is still to come on the community side. Jeff Rulis: Okay. All right. Brad, to circle back, I appreciate the comments on pretty good optimism on the M&A side despite that the market volatility. I guess trying to dig into the mindset of the -- those sellers or the folks that you're engaged with, is that -- is there some comfort level that despite the volatility, if we're trading stock for stock, we're looking for a partnership. I guess reasons for why maybe some sellers haven't shook loose here and your confidence on still getting deals secured. It would be helpful to just some of the background. Brad Elliott: Yes. I think it's still driven by age of ownership and age of management. And so the companies that we've been talking to still have those things at the forefront. I think the time that you really -- if you actually are taking other people's stock, a great time to take it is not at the high end of the market, but when it's got more upside in it. So I think we do have a story to tell there, Jeff. And then there's also some deals that are out there that aren't interested in cash. So I think between the different opportunities and the drivers of those opportunities, I still think there's plenty of room for the rest of this year to get some deals announced.. Jeff Rulis: Okay. And then one, just a housekeeping item. The expected deal accretion on NBC, is there a dollar figure that you've shared or maybe for the full year '25 or the second half of the year? Any milepost on that? Chris Navratil: Yes. I'll put the exact numbers, Jeff, but year 2, so 2026 expected, it's about $0.50. It's -- I'm going to say $0.18, but I'll get you a specific number for the back half of 2025. Operator: Our next question comes from Brett Rabatin with Hovde Group. Brett Rabatin: I wanted to start off on deposits and just what you're seeing in your markets and any thoughts on the cost of funds from here and your ability to lower your deposit costs. You obviously are somewhat below a lot of peers, partially given the markets, but just was hoping for some color on what you're seeing competitive-wise in your key markets Richard Sems: Yes, I definitely think it's -- obviously, the upward trend has abated. And I think it's given us -- we've had a little bit of ability to move those down. We're seeing a little bit more rational competition in that. That said, I don't really have a great answer for you as far as what we're going to do going forward, I think we're going to mirror moves that the Fed makes. So we've been pretty good. And you saw that in the second half of last year, where when there was a move, we were all over it and getting every day's worth of that. So we're still hand fighting on individual deals. We make exceptions where we need to make exceptions to keep relationships, but we're just really continuing to be very thoughtful in trying to keep those down. So I mean, Chris, has got a different idea on kind of where we're projecting that out. But I think we're just going to continue to, I'll say, ride the wave a little bit and try to be right at the forefront of that wave Chris Navratil: Agree. Brett Rabatin: Okay. Great. And then just wanted to follow up on the NBC deal and just kind of see as you guys have dug in more on that transaction pre-closing, anything that comes to mind in terms of product sets or things that you think you can roll out on their platform that could be additive relative to what you announced? Chris Navratil: I don't know from a product perspective, we really like the team, though. I mean when you get into these markets, they're doing a lot of stuff that I think we want to see regularly happen in our markets. They're really, really ingrained with their communities, really understand the players in that market as we've gotten out into that. And Greg Kossover spending every day out there in the markets, and then we've been down there as well with the team. It's a really good team with good experience and really good relationships. So I look at it and think a lot of our product capabilities, a lot of our digital products that we have, it's going to bode really well as we bring those online. Brad Elliott: Yes. And I would say that they've got a great treasury sales team, but I think their treasury team is excited about the platform that we have with Q2. And I think that's going to be an enhancement to their customer base and their customer experience as well. But they do a great job with the relationships that they have with their customers. And I think everything we have is going to be additive. On the retail side, I think we're going to be able to add some marketing. And so our retail strategy, I think, will fit in really well with them. They're a great organization, which is what we were attracted to. So their product set is actually really good already. Brett Rabatin: Okay. And then maybe just one last one. Assuming the Fed does cut 2 or 3 times this year, would that boost the margin expectations you guys have towards the higher end of the range for guidance? Chris Navratil: Brett. No, I don't think. So to me, we still continue to screen, especially as we move closer to what we'll call the liability floor as a fairly neutral organization. So I would say that as the Fed continues to move down to the extent it's 1, 2, 3 kind of cuts in a rational fashion, we'll continue to realize sustaining the margin position kind of as depicted in the outlook. Operator: Our next question comes from Andrew Liesch with Piper Sandler. Andrew Liesch: Just on the full year loan guidance, I'm hearing some good optimism and we saw some good results here in the first quarter, but no change to the full year. I'm just curious why loan growth shouldn't be stronger than what you're already guiding for. Chris Navratil: Yes. The full year outlook in there, Andrew, is consistent with where we started the year. Bringing in NBC as we close out Q2, the expectation is that outlook changes meaningfully. So for the purposes of the presentation, Q2 is where we focused our time in terms of production and then retained full year as we look to bring in NBC at the end of Q2. Brad Elliott: We'll probably change that guidance as we get a better look at when we close on NBC and what our projection for third quarter looks like and beyond. Chris Navratil: Yes, absolutely. Andrew Liesch: Got it. All right. And then maybe -- is that be similar commentary for the margin guide because 3.95% to 4.05% you're at the high end right now. And it seems like there's some good commentary for the quarter. Obviously, there'll be some shifts once NBC is rolled in there, but the 3.95% to 4.05% range seems a little low. Chris Navratil: Yes. Same commentary there, Andrew. It's all -- we retained the full year estimation for the purposes of the full year outlook, which we will all be adjusting as we integrate NBC through the end of the second quarter. So look for new full year estimates as we integrate and understand that ending balance sheet and expected accretion through NBC at the end of Q2. Andrew Liesch: Got you. Looking forward to that in a few months. Operator: Our next question comes from Damon Delmonte with KBW. Damon Del Monte: Just to kind of follow up on the margin. So Chris, just to kind of understand here in the second quarter, I think the core in the first quarter was like 4.08%. So you're basically just kind of blocking and tackling and you think you're able to kind of maintain that here in the second quarter. Is that fair? Chris Navratil: Yes, that's fair. Damon Del Monte: Okay. And then could you just repeat what you said, if there are rate cuts later in the year, do you think you're able to defend like kind of a flattish core margin? Or do you expect there to be some modest benefit given a bias towards being liability sensitive? Chris Navratil: Yes, it's a good question. I think we can continue to defend. That said, as you think about where we've been through the most recent cuts, we have evidenced a liability sensitivity position to be able to capitalize on that. So I would argue we'll absolutely be positioned to defend, and that's how we're looking to position the balance sheet. But that doesn't mean there isn't some modest upside potential if the rates cut in a kind of moderate fashion. Damon Del Monte: Okay. Great. And then just lastly, if the tariff activity kind of ramps up and economic uncertainty increases and we start to see a slowdown in growth, do you guys feel you have flexibility on the expense side to kind of act as an offset to some revenue headwinds? Chris Navratil: Yes. I'll tell you, we're focused on every line item of our income statement, trying to drive value at the end of the day to shareholders. But we are focused on a number of lines on the expense side and trying to manage to a better efficiency footing through those line items. So yes, Damon, there's opportunity there. How quickly it comes through the income statement, we'll see, but we're absolutely focused on it, and we're looking to create value through it. Operator: [Operator Instructions] We have no further questions. So this concludes our Q&A session as well as the conference call. Thank you, everyone, for joining. You may now disconnect your lines. Before you buy stock in Equity Bancshares, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Equity Bancshares wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. 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As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Equity Bancshares (EQBK) Q1 2025 Earnings Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool

Frontier acquisition drove outsized growth and integration progress — the deal added roughly 20% in assets (over 40% YoY growth), helped deliver record quarterly revenue, management completed the core conversion on time, and reiterated a $5 per share 2026 target with core EPS and ROATCE strength. Quarterly results: GAAP net income was $17.0M ($0.80/sh) while adjusted earnings were $26.2M ($1.23/sh); net interest income rose to $73.7M but the NIM slipped to 4.33% due to Frontier’s higher funding costs and purchase accounting, with full-year margin guidance of 4.20%–4.35%. Credit, deposits and capital: non-performing assets and past-due loans increased primarily from the Frontier portfolio (NPAs +$11.6M; roughly $30M tied to a 30–59‑day renewal process across ~30–40 relationships expected to resolve in Q2), while deposits grew about $1.2B, loan production was $267M with a $517M pipeline, and capital/repurchase activity leaves room for opportunistic buybacks and further M&A. Interested in Equity Bancshares, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Equity Bancshares (NYSE:EQBK) executives highlighted record revenue and balance sheet growth in the company’s 2026 first-quarter earnings call, pointing to the impact of the Frontier acquisition and early progress integrating the Nebraska franchise. Chairman and CEO Brad Elliott said the company “hit the ground running in 2026,” welcoming new customers and team members in Nebraska on Jan. 1 as the Frontier acquisition took effect. Elliott called entry into Nebraska “a strategic priority” and said the transaction drove a 20% increase in assets and contributed to record quarterly revenue. → Abbott Stock Crash: Rebound Could Be Coming Fast Elliott said the company completed the Frontier core system conversion in February “on time and on plan,” describing the organization’s integration capability as “a genuine competitive advantage.” Looking at year-over-year growth, Elliott said that compared to March 2025, the company’s asset base has grown by more than 40% and tangible book value per share increased 5%. He also cited “core EPS of $1.32” and “a core return on average tangible equity of 16.1%,” saying the results exceeded the same period of 2025 by 32% and 46%, respectively. Elliott added that core net income grew faster than the company’s modeled expectations for the combined business, contributing to what he described as “an exceptional start to 2026.” → Booking Holdings Down 15%, Is It Time to Buy? Elliott said capital remains strong and reiterated confidence in a “$5 per share target for 2026.” Chief Financial Officer Chris Navratil reported net income of $17.0 million, or $0.80 per diluted share. Excluding what management described as non-core items—merger expense of $5.7 million and Frontier-related provisioning of $6.1 million—Navratil said adjusted earnings were $26.2 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, up from $23.3 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, in the prior quarter. → JBHT Burns Rubber, Hits the Highway to a $300 Price Tag Navratil said purchase accounting accretion on the loan portfolio totaled $3.3 million in the quarter, compared with $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Excluding the after-tax impact of core deposit and intangible amortization, he said adjusted earnings on tangible common equity were $27.7 million versus $24.3 million in the prior quarter, and adjusted return on average tangible common equity was 16.1%. Net interest income rose to $73.7 million, up $10.2 million linked-quarter, while the net interest margin slipped to 4.33% from 4.47% last quarter. Navratil said the combination of higher earnings and slightly lower margin reflected “the expected impact of integrating Frontier’s balance sheet.” He added that purchase accounting accretion came in about $800,000 ahead of forecast, and that normalizing for that would put margin at 4.29%. Non-interest income was $9.5 million, which Navratil said held steady as growth in debit card, credit card, mortgage, insurance, and trust and wealth revenue offset declines in security transaction losses and swap fee revenue. Non-interest expenses were $55 million. Adjusting for M&A charges and a prior-period litigation settlement accrual, Navratil said non-interest expenses were $49.2 million versus $44.1 million, an 11.5% linked-quarter increase driven by Frontier integration. He noted that on a normalized basis, adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets improved 25 basis points to 2.57%. Navratil reported an effective tax rate of 23.7%, impacted by periodic items “not expected to recur,” and reiterated a forecast for a full-year rate of 22% to 23%. Bank CEO Rick Sems said the quarter delivered “strong underlying credit.” Non-performing assets ended at $58.3 million, up $11.6 million, “primarily attributed to the addition of Frontier,” and represented 0.8% of total assets, up three basis points. Non-accrual loans increased to $52.4 million from $40.3 million, also primarily driven by Frontier’s addition, Sems said. Sems described non-accrual exposure as granular, with only four relationships exceeding $1.5 million. Loans past due and non-accrual as a percentage of end-of-period loans rose to 1.86% from 1.53% linked-quarter, with the increase “primarily in the 30-59-day bucket” and concentrated in one acquired market. Sems said it was “a merger process issue, not a credit issue,” tied to bankers navigating a new renewal process following conversion, and he said the company anticipates full resolution in the second quarter. During Q&A, Elliott provided additional color, saying the past-due issue involved roughly $30 million across “30 or 40 relationships,” not a single credit. Net charge-offs annualized were 10 basis points of average loans, up three basis points linked-quarter, Sems said. He added that credit trends remain stable and “running below historic norms,” and that the Frontier portfolio is “granular and well underwritten.” Navratil said the company recorded a $6 million provision for loan losses attributable to Frontier loan balances. Ending ACL coverage was 1.18%, and the ending reserve ratio inclusive of merger-related discounts was 1.77%, up from 1.67%. Management also discussed capital and repurchases. Navratil said the company repurchased 500,000 shares during the quarter at a weighted average price of $44.74, with 327,662 shares remaining under a September 2025 authorization. Tangible common equity closed at 9.0%, while CET1 and total capital ratios were 11.5% and 14.4%, respectively. At the bank level, the TCE ratio was 9.8%. On margin and funding, Navratil said purchase accounting contributed 19 basis points in the quarter and the company expects accretion to normalize to about $2.5 million in future quarters absent near-term payoffs on acquired loans. He said Frontier brought a funding portfolio with a higher cost of funds, creating near-term margin tightening while improving future liability sensitivity. The loan-to-deposit ratio ended the quarter at 86%, and management maintained a full-year outlook that includes margin in the 4.20% to 4.35% range with variability tied to purchase accounting. In response to a question on deposit repricing, Navratil said the company sees “ample” capacity to reprice Frontier deposits. He discussed repricing activity in the quarter and said the benefit was not reflected in March results, with more expected “in April and beyond.” Elliott said the company would continue to consider buybacks “opportunistically,” while also maintaining capacity for additional M&A. He cited capital generation of “a little over $25 million” per quarter and said the company has “lots of different prospects and lots of different opportunities” on the M&A front. Sems said loan production totaled $267 million in the quarter, up 21.7% linked-quarter, with originations at an average rate of 6.87%, which he said continued to increase current coupon yield. He described the post-merger period as one that includes “intentional portfolio optimization and planned integration-related attrition,” and said the company has recruited and hired new bankers in Wichita, Oklahoma City, Lincoln, and Omaha. At quarter end, Sems said the company’s “75% pipeline” stood at $517 million. Line utilization was about 56%, and unfunded positions rose with production growth and the Frontier addition, which Sems said creates “meaningful opportunity going forward.” On deposits, Sems reported total deposits increased about $1.2 billion during the quarter, reflecting both Frontier and growth across most legacy markets. He noted that outside administrative and Nebraska cost centers, balances increased to $191 million, including more than 5% growth in five community markets. Sems also pointed to North Central Missouri as a notable contributor, with a 7% balance increase in the quarter. Frontier brought brokered funding positions onto the balance sheet, Sems said, and the company has a plan to “reprice and replace those with core relationship deposits over time.” Non-interest-bearing accounts represented 20.2% of total deposits. During Q&A, executives also addressed fee income opportunities in the acquired franchise. Elliott pointed to treasury management as the “first and foremost” opportunity, noting the company hired a new head of treasury management. He also cited mortgage fees and wealth management growth, including potential additions to the wealth management team in certain Nebraska markets. Equity Bancshares, Inc is the bank holding company for Equity Bank, a regional financial services provider headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. As a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker EQBK, Equity Bancshares operates a network of branches and lending offices across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Colorado. Its geographic footprint spans both urban and rural markets, reflecting a focus on supporting small businesses, agricultural enterprises and individual consumers throughout the Midwest. The company's core business activities encompass a full spectrum of commercial and consumer banking services. The article "Equity Bancshares Q1 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.