HINGHAM, Mass., Oct. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS (NASDAQ: HIFS), Hingham, Massachusetts, announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Earnings

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 was $12,674,000 or $5.76 per share basic and $5.72 per share diluted, as compared to $17,295,000 or $7.93 per share basic and $7.85 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized return on average equity for the third quarter of 2026 was 9.74%, and the annualized return on average assets was 1.11%, as compared to 15.15% and 1.54% for the same period last year. Net income per share (diluted) for the third quarter of 2026 decreased by 27.1% compared to the same period in 2025.

Core net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, which represents net income excluding the after-tax net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized, was $11,895,000 or $5.41 per share basic and $5.37 per share diluted, as compared to $8,509,000 or $3.90 per share basic and $3.86 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized core return on average equity for the third quarter of 2026 was 9.15%, and the annualized core return on average assets was 1.04%, as compared to 7.45% and 0.76% for the same period last year. Core net income per share (diluted) for the third quarter of 2026 increased by 39.1% compared to the same period in 2025.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was $40,968,000 or $18.68 per share basic and $18.51 per share diluted, as compared to $33,833,000 or $15.51 per share basic and $15.37 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized return on average equity for the first nine months of 2026 was 10.86%, and the annualized return on average assets was 1.20%, as compared to 10.07% and 1.01% for the same period in 2025. Net income per share (diluted) for the first nine months of 2026 increased by 20.4% over the same period in 2025.

Core net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, which represents net income excluding the after-tax net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized, was $33,147,000 or $15.11 per share basic and $14.98 per share diluted, as compared to $22,087,000 or $10.13 per share basic and $10.03 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Bank’s annualized core return on average equity for the first nine months of 2026 was 8.79%, and the annualized core return on average assets was 0.97%, as compared to 6.57% and 0.66% for the same period in 2025. Core net income per share (diluted) for the first nine months of 2026 increased by 49.4% over the same period in 2025.

See page 11 for a reconciliation between United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) net income and non-GAAP core net income. Under changes made to GAAP effective in 2018, gains and losses on equity securities, net of tax, realized and unrealized, are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In calculating core net income, the Bank did not make any adjustments other than those relating to the after-tax net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased to $4.581 billion at September 30, 2026, representing 1.1% annualized growth year-to-date and a 1.1% increase from September 30, 2025.

Net loans increased to $3.918 billion at September 30, 2026, representing 0.6% annualized growth year-to-date and a 0.1% increase from September 30, 2025.

Retail and commercial deposits were $2.084 billion at September 30, 2026, representing 1.9% annualized growth year-to-date and a 4.7% increase from September 30, 2025.

Non-interest-bearing deposits, included in retail and commercial deposits, were $520.2 million at September 30, 2026, representing 15.0% annualized growth year-to-date and 20.2% growth from September 30, 2025.

Growth in non-interest-bearing deposits in the third quarter of 2026 and over the last two years reflects the Bank’s focus on developing and deepening deposit relationships with new and existing commercial, institutional, and non-profit customers. The Bank continues to invest in its Specialized Deposit Group, actively recruiting for talented relationship managers in Boston, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The Bank has also established a dedicated Foreign Mission Group focused on its diplomatic customers, building on several years of growth and experience. This group consists of existing staff, along with new relationship managers who will be joining the Bank in October and November with significant experience serving these clients.

The stability of the Bank’s balance sheet, as well as full and unlimited deposit insurance through the Bank’s participation in the Massachusetts Depositors Insurance Fund, continues to appeal to customers.

Wholesale funds, which include Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings, brokered deposits, and Internet listing service time deposits, were $1.930 billion at September 30, 2026, representing a 1.8% annualized decline year-to-date and a 5.0% decline from September 30, 2025, as the Bank replaced these funds with retail and commercial deposits over the last year.

In the first nine months of 2026, the Bank continued to manage its wholesale funding mix to minimize the cost of funds in the current environment, while continuing to replace maturing longer-term liabilities. Wholesale deposits, which include brokered and Internet listing service time deposits, were $514.7 million at September 30, 2026, representing 6.1% annualized growth year-to-date and 1.8% growth from September 30, 2025. Borrowings from the FHLB totaled $1.415 billion at September 30, 2026, representing a 4.4% annualized decline year-to-date and a 7.3% decline from September 30, 2025. As of September 30, 2026, the Bank maintained an additional $957.8 million in immediately available borrowing capacity at the FHLB of Boston and the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”), in addition to $366.3 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Book value per share was $235.93 as of September 30, 2026, representing 9.8% annualized growth year-to-date and 11.5% growth from September 30, 2025. In addition to the increase in book value per share, the Bank has declared $3.22 in dividends per share since September 30, 2025.

On September 30, 2026, the Bank declared a regular cash dividend of $0.63 per share. This dividend will be paid on November 12, 2026, to stockholders of record as of November 2, 2026. This will be the Bank’s 131st consecutive quarterly dividend. The Bank has also declared special cash dividends in twenty-nine of the last thirty-one years, typically in the fourth quarter.

The Bank regularly evaluates capital allocation options, including organic growth, special dividends, and share repurchases in light of the prospective return of such options. The Bank received regulatory approval in December 2025 for a share repurchase program of $20.0 million. This approval expires on December 4, 2026. As of September 30, 2026, no shares had been repurchased under this program and the Bank is under no obligation to repurchase shares at all. The consideration of these options may result in special dividends, if any, significantly above or below the regular quarterly dividend.

Operational Performance Metrics

The net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 increased 9 basis points to 2.23%, as compared to 2.14% in the quarter ended June 30, 2026. This improvement was primarily driven by an increase in the yield on interest-earning assets, as the benefit of non-interest-bearing deposit growth on the cost of funds was offset by a 1 basis point increase in the rate on interest-bearing liabilities. The yield on interest-earning assets increased by 8 basis points in the third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by a higher yield on loans, as the Bank continued to originate and reprice existing adjustable-rate loans at higher rates, partially offset by a lower dividend on FHLB stock.

The net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 increased 49 basis points to 2.23%, as compared to 1.74% for the same period last year. The Bank experienced significant growth in non-interest-bearing deposits and a significant decline in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities when compared to the prior year. This was driven primarily by the repricing of the Bank’s funding sources, as the Bank continued to reduce retail and commercial deposit rates and to take advantage of the inverted yield curve — over most of the last twelve months — by replacing maturing FHLB advances and brokered deposits at lower rates. During this period, the yield on interest-earning assets increased, driven primarily by an increase in the yield on loans, partially offset by lower yields on cash held at the FRB and a lower dividend on FHLB stock.

Key credit and operational metrics were mixed in the third quarter of 2026. At September 30, 2026, non-performing assets, which included three loans secured by real estate and six properties held in other real estate owned, totaled 0.89% of total assets, compared to 0.69% at December 31, 2025 and 0.71% at September 30, 2025. Non-performing loans as a percentage of the total loan portfolio totaled 0.93% at September 30, 2026, compared to 0.80% at December 31, 2025 and 0.81% at September 30, 2025. The Bank did not record any charge-offs in the first nine months of 2026 or 2025.

Non-performing loans and non-performing asset activity included the following during the third quarter of 2026:

• Non-performing loans at both June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026 included a commercial real estate loan with an outstanding balance of $30.6 million, which is secured by an entitled site for a significant multifamily development in Washington, D.C. and has an associated conditional guarantee from a large national homebuilder and an affordable housing developer. The Bank continues to work actively to identify a resolution that protects the Bank’s interests. The Bank’s allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2026 includes a $3.0 million specific reserve allocated to this credit.
• Non-performing loans at September 30, 2026 included a commercial real estate loan with an outstanding balance of $6.2 million, secured by six multifamily buildings located in Washington, D.C. Although the loan was less than 90 days past due, management placed it on non-accrual status as foreclosure is probable. The Bank does not anticipate a principal loss associated with this loan.
• Non-performing assets at both June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026 included other real estate owned associated with a borrower specializing in affordable housing in Washington, D.C. Following litigation, the Bank obtained two multifamily properties and seven single-family properties in the spring of 2026. All properties were subsequently listed for sale, and the Bank has sold three of the seven single-family properties. The Bank is actively marketing the remaining properties for sale and remains engaged with interested buyers.
• Non-performing loans at both June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2026 included a small residential real estate loan.
  
  

The efficiency ratio, as defined on page 11 below, decreased to 32.81% for the third quarter of 2026, as compared to 37.46% in the prior quarter and 38.26% for the same period last year. Operating expenses as a percentage of average assets were 0.73% for the third quarter of 2026, as compared to 0.79% for the prior quarter and 0.67% for the same period last year. The decrease versus the prior quarter reflects a Fiserv online banking termination fee incurred in the prior quarter. As the efficiency ratio can be significantly influenced by the level of net interest income, the Bank utilizes these paired figures together to assess its operational efficiency over time. During periods of significant net interest income volatility, the efficiency ratio in isolation may overstate or understate the underlying operational efficiency of the Bank. The Bank remains focused on reducing waste through an ongoing process of continuous improvement and standard work that supports operational leverage.

Chairman Robert H. Gaughen, Jr. stated, “Our core returns on average equity and average assets continue to improve materially over time, driven by sustained expansion in the net interest margin through asset repricing and falling funding costs. Growth in non-interest-bearing deposits has been an important driver of improving funding costs and will be a key driver of returns in an environment in which quality loan origination opportunities are more limited and other funding sources remain comparatively more expensive. Both core and GAAP returns remain somewhat below our long-term performance and our expectations for the business, although core returns are approaching acceptable performance levels. Our operational leverage remains critical to generating satisfactory returns and we remain focused on rigorous cost control and continuous operational improvement.

In any given period, our GAAP returns on average equity and average assets may be positively or negatively affected by the performance of our investment portfolio, composed of long-term holdings in financial services and technology companies. Over time, these holdings have contributed meaningfully to growth in book value and we continue to identify opportunities to commit additional capital in this portfolio.

The Bank’s business model has been built to compound shareholder capital over the long term. We remain focused on careful capital allocation, defensive underwriting and rigorous cost control — the building blocks for compounding shareholder capital through all stages of the economic cycle. These remain constant, regardless of the macroeconomic environment in which we operate.”

The Bank’s quarterly financial results are summarized in this earnings release, but shareholders are encouraged to read the Bank’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which is generally available several weeks after the earnings release. The Bank expects to file Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on or about November 4, 2026.

Incorporated in 1834, Hingham Institution for Savings is one of America’s oldest banks. The Bank maintains offices in Boston, Nantucket, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.

The Bank’s shares of common stock are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol HIFS.

(1) Annualized.

(2) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

(4) The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure that represents total operating expenses divided by the sum of net interest income and total other income, excluding the net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized.

(5) Non-GAAP measurements that represent return on average assets and return on average equity, excluding the after-tax net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized.

(1) Before allowance for credit losses.
(2) Includes non-accrual loans.
(3) Excludes the impact of the average net unrealized gain or loss on securities.
(4) Includes Federal Home Loan Bank stock.
(5) Includes cash held at the Federal Reserve Bank.
(6) Includes mortgagors’ escrow accounts.
(7) Net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
(8) Total interest-earning assets divided by total interest-bearing liabilities.
(9) Average balances are calculated on a daily basis.
(10) Annualized based on the actual number of days in the period.

(1) Before allowance for credit losses.
(2) Includes non-accrual loans.
(3) Excludes the impact of the average net unrealized gain or loss on securities.
(4) Includes Federal Home Loan Bank stock.
(5) Includes cash held at the Federal Reserve Bank.
(6) Includes mortgagors’ escrow accounts.
(7) Net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
(8) Total interest-earning assets divided by total interest-bearing liabilities.
(9) Average balances are calculated on a daily basis.
(10) Annualized based on the actual number of days in the period.

Management believes the presentation of the following non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information that is essential to an investor’s proper understanding of the results of operations and financial condition of the Bank. Management uses these measures in its analysis of the Bank’s performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as substitutes for the financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other banks.

The table below presents the reconciliation between net income and core net income, a non-GAAP measurement that represents net income excluding the after-tax net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized.

(1) The equity securities are held in a tax-advantaged subsidiary corporation. The income tax effect of the gain on equity securities, net, was calculated using the effective tax rate applicable to the subsidiary.

The table below presents the calculation of the efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP performance measure that management uses to assess operational efficiency, which represents total operating expenses, divided by the sum of net interest income and total other income, excluding net gain on equity securities, both realized and unrealized.

CONTACT: Patrick R. Gaughen, President and Chief Operating Officer (781) 783-1761