MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) – Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon” or the “Company”), the parent company of Horizon Bank (the “Bank”), announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2026.

“Horizon’s high-quality community banking model continues to demonstrate consistency and durability in an ever-changing macroeconomic environment. Our results through the first nine months of 2026 reflect that strength, with annualized return on average assets remaining above 1.60%, return on tangible common equity of 20%, and the net interest margin sustained in the mid-4.30% range. Despite a meaningful shift in the interest rate outlook since the beginning of the year, our expectations for the business have changed very little, underscoring the resiliency and predictability embedded in our business model,” said President and CEO, Thomas Prame. “During the first nine months of 2026, loans held-for-investment and total deposits increased by $129 million and $206 million, respectively, consistent with our outlook for mid-single-digit organic growth. This performance was further enhanced by continued positive momentum across our fee income businesses and a disciplined approach to expense management. We believe this consistent, low-volatility financial performance will continue to compound capital at peer-leading levels, which remains the cornerstone of our long-term value proposition for shareholders”.

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2026 was $28.7 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $24.9 million, or $0.49, for the second quarter of 2026 and net loss of $222.0 million, or $(4.69) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2025.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was $79.7 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $177.4 million, or $(3.94), for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.

Third Quarter 2026 Highlights

• Durability of top-tier performance metrics continues to reflect the strength of Horizon’s highly productive community banking model. During the third quarter, the Company generated an annualized return on average assets of 1.73% and a return on average tangible common equity of 20.03%.

• Net interest income of $65.2 million increased 11.6% compared with $58.4 million in the year ago period. The net interest margin, on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis¹, was 4.37%, consistent with the 4.37% reported for the three months ended June 30, 2026, and significantly higher than the 3.52% reported in the comparable year ago period.

• Total deposits continue to trend favorably, growing by $81.2 million during the quarter, or 6.0% on an annualized basis. These results were further enhanced by the 9.7% annualized growth in non-time deposits. Total deposit costs, inclusive of non-interest bearing balances, remains low, at 1.57%.

• Total loans held for investment ("HFI") increased 3.7% compared to the linked quarter annualized, with balanced growth between commercial, mortgage and consumer portfolios. Loan pipelines continue to be consistent, reflective of Horizon’s attractive markets and relationship based community banking model.

• Credit quality remained strong, with annualized net charge offs of 0.10% of average loans during the third quarter. Non-performing assets remain well within expected and historical ranges, with non-performing assets to total assets of 0.68%.

Income Statement Highlights

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $65.2 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared to $63.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, driven by the continued strength of the Company's net FTE interest margin², which remained consistent at 4.37% when compared to the second quarter of 2026. The resiliency in the margin is reflective of continued disciplined loan and deposit pricing and a favorable cashflow redeployment profile during the quarter.

Provision for Credit Losses

During the third quarter of 2026, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $1.3 million. This compares to a recorded provision for credit losses of $0.9 million during the second quarter of 2026, and a benefit for credit losses of $3.6 million during the third quarter of 2025. The increase in the provision for credit losses during the third quarter of 2026 when compared with the second quarter of 2026 was primarily due to changes in the economic forecast, net loan growth and an increase in specific reserves on commercial loans.

For the third quarter of 2026, net charge-offs were $1.2 million, or an annualized 0.10% of average loans outstanding, compared to net charge-offs of $0.6 million, or an annualized 0.05% of average loans outstanding for the second quarter of 2026, and net charge-offs of $0.8 million, or an annualized 0.07% of average loans outstanding, in the third quarter of 2025.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of period-end loans HFI was 1.04% at September 30, 2026, down from 1.05% June 30, 2026, and consistent with 1.04% at September 30, 2025.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $11.9 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared to non-interest income of $12.0 million in the second quarter of 2026. The third quarter performance reflects an increase in the gain on sale of mortgage loans due to increased volumes and wider margins on loan sales, offset by a decrease in other income and lower net mortgage servicing revenue owed to increased amortization of mortgage servicing rights. All other components of non-interest income remained relatively stable quarter over quarter.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $41.5 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared to $43.8 million in the second quarter of 2026. The decrease was driven by the previously announced second quarter legal charge for $3.1 million in other expense, which did not recur. Apart from this item, the decrease was driven by a reduction in FDIC insurance expense of $0.3 million and a decline in data processing expenses of $0.3 million. These variances were partially offset by a more normalized run rate in professional fees of $0.7 million. All other components of non-interest expense remained relatively stable quarter over quarter.

Income Taxes

Horizon recorded a net tax expense of $5.6 million for the third quarter of 2026, resulting in an effective tax rate of 16.4%, compared to 19.0% for the second quarter of 2026. Income tax expense was favorably impacted by a discrete benefit of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2026.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets increased by $17.0 million, or 0.3%, to $6.6 billion as of September 30, 2026 when compared to the prior period. Asset growth during the period was primarily driven by an increase in gross loans HFI of $46.9 million, an increase other assets of $22.1 million and an increase in non-interest earning cash of $11.8 million. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in investment securities of $40.2 million and a decrease in interest earning deposits of $24.6 million.

Total deposits increased by $81.1 million, or 1.5%, to $5.5 billion as of September 30, 2026 compared with June 30, 2026. The increase was driven by a $84.0 million increase in interest bearing deposits, a $12.2 million increase in savings and money market deposits and a $8.8 million increase in non-interest-bearing demand deposits. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $23.9 million in time deposits. The overall increase in deposits reflects continued success in core deposit gathering efforts.

Overall, balance sheet growth during the quarter reflected a combination of steady loan and deposit growth, and proactive liquidity management. Management continues to focus on maintaining a strong funding position while supporting measured, relationship-driven loan growth aligned with creating long-term shareholder value.

Capital

The following table presents the Consolidated Regulatory Capital Ratios of the Company for the previous three quarters, and the Company’s preliminary estimate of its consolidated regulatory capital ratios for the quarter ended September 30, 2026:

As of September 30, 2026, the ratio of total stockholders’ equity to total assets is 10.61%. Book value per common share was $13.68, decreasing $0.53 during the third quarter of 2026, primarily due to an increase in unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Tangible common equity³ totaled $538.9 million at September 30, 2026, and the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets¹ was 8.38% at September 30, 2026, down from 8.81% at June 30, 2026. Tangible book value¹ which excludes intangible assets from total equity, per common share was $10.54 at September 30, 2026.

Credit Quality

As of September 30, 2026, total non-accrual loans increased by $1.4 million from June 30, 2026, and represent 0.67% of total loans held for investment. Total non-performing assets increased by $0.9 million, to $44.6 million, compared with $43.7 million at June 30, 2026. Non-performing assets are 0.68% of total assets at quarter end, up slightly from 0.66% at June 30, 2026.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2026, net charge-offs were $1.2 million, or 0.10% annualized of average loans. Charge-off levels during the quarter remained low, and consistent with management’s expectations, reflecting a continued focus on disciplined underwriting and proactive portfolio monitoring. Overall, credit metrics remain stable, and management continues to closely monitor portfolio performance in the current economic environment.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, Horizon will host a conference call to review its third quarter financial results and operating performance.

Participants may access the live conference call on October 22, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET) by dialing 1-833-974-2379 from the United States and Canada or 1-412-317-5772 from international locations and requesting the “Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Call.” Participants are asked to dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the conference through November 22, 2026. The replay may be accessed by dialing 1-855-669-9658 from the United States and Canada, or 1–412–317-0088 from other international locations, and entering the access code 1977515.

About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) is the $6.6 billion-asset commercial bank holding company for Horizon Bank, which serves customers across diverse and economically attractive Midwestern markets through convenient digital and virtual tools, as well as its Indiana and Michigan branches. Horizon's retail offerings include prime residential and other secured consumer lending to in-market customers, as well as a range of personal banking and wealth management solutions. Horizon also provides a comprehensive array of in-market business banking and treasury management services, as well as equipment financing solutions for customers regionally and nationally, with commercial lending representing over half of total loans. More information on Horizon, headquartered in Northwest Indiana's Michigan City, is available at horizonbank.com and investor.horizonbank.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain information set forth in this press release refers to financial measures determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Specifically, we have included non-GAAP financial measures relating to net income, diluted earnings per share, pre-tax, pre-provision net income, net interest margin, tangible stockholders’ equity and tangible book value per share, efficiency ratio, the return on average assets, the return on average common equity, and return on average tangible equity. In each case, we have identified special circumstances that we consider to be non-recurring and have excluded them. Horizon believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful to investors and provide a greater understanding of our business and financial results without giving effect to one-time costs and non–recurring items. These measures are not necessarily comparable to similar measures that may be presented by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure. See the tables and other information below and contained elsewhere in this press release for reconciliations of the non-GAAP information identified herein and its most comparable GAAP measures.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward–looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of Horizon Bancorp, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “Horizon”). For these statements, Horizon claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Horizon, including the information in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, changes within the domestic and international macroeconomic environment, including trade policy, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation levels, and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate, and derivatives markets, and their impact on Horizon and its customers; current financial conditions within the banking industry; changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, changes in spreads on earning assets and changes in interest bearing liabilities; increased interest rate sensitivity; loss of key Horizon personnel; increases in disintermediation; potential loss of fee income, including interchange fees, as new and emerging alternative payment platforms take a greater market share of the payment systems; estimates of fair value of certain of Horizon’s assets and liabilities; changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, credit losses, market values, collateral securing loans and other assets; changes in sources of liquidity; legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be adopted and required by regulatory agencies; litigation, regulatory enforcement, and legal compliance risk and costs; rapid technological developments and changes; cyber terrorism and data security breaches; the rising costs of cybersecurity; the ability of the U.S. federal government to manage federal debt limits; climate change and social justice initiatives; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to effectively implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; acts of terrorism, war and global conflicts, and the effects of foreign and military policies of the U.S. government; and supply chain disruptions and delays. These and additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Horizon’s reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward–looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Horizon does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward–looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

¹ Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
² Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
³ Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.