Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Earnings of $0.33 Per Share; Board of Directors Authorize 5% Stock Buyback Authorization

EAU CLAIRE, Wis., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CZWI), the parent company of Citizens Community Federal N.A. (the “Bank” or “CCFBank”), today reported earnings of $3.3 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.33 for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to $3.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.32 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and $3.7 million and $0.35 earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company reported earnings of $6.5 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.65 compared to the prior year period of $7.8 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.75.

The Company’s second quarter 2025 operating results reflected the following changes from the first quarter of 2025: 1) increase in net interest income of $1.7 million, due to the recognition of $1.1 million of interest income from loan payoffs, which contributed a 27 basis point increase in net interest margin, and a $0.6 million increase resulting from higher asset yields and lower deposit costs, which contributed a 15 basis point increase in net interest margin; 2) a provision for credit losses of $1.35 million compared to a negative provision of $0.25 million in the first quarter largely due to a $9.3 million increase in 30 to 89 day delinquencies and a modest change in macro-economic assumptions; 3) $0.2 million higher non-interest income; and 4) $0.3 million higher non-interest expense.

Book value per share improved to $18.36 at June 30, 2025, compared to $18.02 at March 31, 2025, and $17.10 at June 30, 2024. Tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)¹ was $15.15 at June 30, 2025, compared to $14.79 at March 31, 2025, and an 8.9% increase from $13.91 at June 30, 2024. For the second quarter of 2025, the increase in tangible book value was primarily due to the increase in net income in the quarter compared to the first quarter. Stockholders’ equity as a percentage of total assets was 10.57% at June 30, 2025, compared to 10.12% at March 31, 2025. Tangible common equity (“TCE”) as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)¹ increased to 8.89% at June 30, 2025, compared to 8.45% at March 31, 2025.

“The quarter was solid overall with continued margin improvement of 15 bps to 3.00% (42 bps reported), strong net interest income which increased 9.4% from the linked quarter and in line non-interest expense contributed to the solid $0.33 in earnings per share. Tangible book value was higher by 2.4% from the linked quarter to $15.15 and the tangible common equity ratio improved to 8.9%. Asset quality was mixed with nonperforming assets and classified loans decreasing by $1.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, while one $9 million multi-family relationship was added to special mention loans. Good credit administration practices kept net charge-offs manageable at $16 thousand for the quarter and the allowance to credit losses to total loans increased from 1.49% to 1.59% and the allowance to credit losses to nonperforming loans increased to 176% versus 148% compared to the prior quarter. Business activity in our markets continues to be good and seems poised to accelerate in the second half of 2025,” stated Stephen Bianchi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

June 30, 2025, Highlights:

• Quarterly earnings were $3.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, an increase compared to earnings of $3.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and a decrease from $3.7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
• For the six months ended June 30, 2025, earnings were $6.5 million or $0.65 per diluted share compared to $7.8 million or $0.75 per diluted share. The decline in earnings for the six-month period primarily relates to provisions for credit losses for the most recent six-month period versus negative provisions for credit losses during the six-month period ending June 30, 2024, as economic variables used in the calculation of provisions have begun to normalize in the most recent periods.
• Net interest income increased $1.7 million to $13.3 million for the current quarter ended June 30, 2025, from $11.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and from $11.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in net interest income from the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to: 1) $0.7 million of interest income recognized on the payoffs of nonperforming loans; 2) an increase in purchase accretion of $0.4 million due to a loan payoff; 3) higher interest income of $0.2 million on loans due to loans repricing and the impact of new originations; 4) lower deposit rates decreased interest expense of $0.4 million; and 5) the impact of one more day in the quarter of interest income, net of interest expense of $0.1 million.
• The net interest margin increased 42 basis points (“bps”) to 3.27% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and increased 55 bps from the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in the net interest margin from the linked quarter was due to: 1) income recognized on the payoffs of loans of 17 bps; 2) higher purchase accretion due to loan payoffs of 10 bps; 3) lower deposit costs of 8 bps; and 4) higher asset yields due to repricing, new loan originations and higher percentage of loans compared to total interest-earning assets of 7 bps.
• The provision of credit losses was $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to negative provisions for credit losses of $0.25 million, and $1.53 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2024, respectively. The June 30, 2025 provision for credit losses was primarily due to: 1) the impact of three delinquent 30 - 89 day commercial real estate loan relationships of $0.7 million; 2) a change in the macro-economic assumptions used by our third-party provider of $0.3 million; 3) provisions on new loans with longer contractual life outpacing previously established provisions on prepaid and maturing loans, resulting in an increase of $0.15 million; and 4) an increase in off-balance sheet commitments from new construction originations of $0.2 million. Additionally, the Bank had $16 thousand of net charge-offs in the second quarter. Allowance for credit losses on loans was $21.3 million or 176% of total nonperforming loans of $12.1 million at June 30, 2025.
• Non-interest income increased by $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2025, to $2.8 million from $2.6 million the prior quarter due to the collection of loan fees on nonaccrual loan payoffs and higher gains on equity securities. Total non-interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, was an increase of $0.9 million from the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to higher gains on sale of loans and higher net realized gains on equity securities.
• Non-interest expense increased $0.3 million to $10.8 million from $10.5 million for the previous quarter and increased $0.5 million from $10.3 million the second quarter of 2024. The increase in non-interest expense compared to the linked quarter was largely due to compensation items, including the annual merit increase and modestly higher incentive costs. The $0.5 million increase from the second quarter of 2024 was largely due to higher compensation expense, which includes the annual merit increase impact and inflation factors impacting non-interest expense.
• The effective tax rate was 19.2% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to 19.6% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and 22.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
• Loans receivable decreased $7.1 million during the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, to $1.35 billion compared to the prior quarter end. New loan originations increased approximately $25 million in the second quarter compared to the first quarter, with some prepayments expected in the first quarter, sliding to the second quarter and offsetting net loan growth.
• Nonperforming assets decreased $1.5 million during the quarter to $13.0 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $14.5 million at March 31, 2025, largely due to the payoff of an agricultural relationship.
• Special mention loans increased $8.2 million to $23.2 million at June 30, 2025, from $15.0 million at March 31, 2025. The increase was largely due to one multifamily loan that is experiencing slower leasing activity than expected.
• Total deposits decreased $45.2 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2025, to $1.48 billion. Total deposit decline reflected the seasonal shrinkage in public deposits of $20.3 million, which typically decreases again in the third quarter before increasing in the fourth quarter. Commercial deposits declined $17.0 million as business customers reinvested into their operations.
• On July 7, 2025, the Board of Directors approved the redemption of the entire $15 million balance of the 6% subordinated debentures due September 1, 2030, which were scheduled to reprice on September 1, 2025, to SOFR + 591 bps. The redemption will occur on September 1, 2025.
• The efficiency ratio was 66% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to 73% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The improvement in the efficiency ratio was partially due to $1.1 million in interest income recognized from loan payoffs. Excluding the impact of interest income associated with the loan payoffs, the efficiency ratio was approximately 70%.
• On July 24, 2025, the Board of Directors authorized a new 5% common stock buyback authorization, or 499,000 shares.
  
  

Balance Sheet and Asset Quality

Total assets decreased by $44.8 million during the quarter to $1.735 billion at June 30, 2025.

Cash decreased $32.7 million as interest-bearing cash decreased due to funding balance sheet changes, while maintaining strong on-balance sheet liquidity.

The on-balance sheet liquidity ratio, which is defined as the fair market value of AFS and HTM securities that are not pledged and cash on deposit with other financial institutions, was 12.17% of total assets at June 30, 2025, compared to 14.38% at March 31, 2025. On-balance sheet liquidity, collateralized new borrowing capacity, and uncommitted federal funds borrowing availability was $730 million, or 277%, of uninsured and uncollateralized deposits at June 30, 2025, and $852 million, or 314% at March 31, 2025.

Securities available for sale (“AFS”) decreased $4.8 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2025, to $134.8 million from $139.6 million at March 31, 2025. The decrease was due to principal repayments of $3.4 million, and corporate debt security maturities of $3.2 million, partially offset by the purchase of new corporate debt securities of $1.9 million and a decrease in the unrealized loss on AFS securities of $0.1 million.

Securities held to maturity (“HTM”) decreased $1.3 million to $83.0 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2025, from $84.3 million at March 31, 2025, due to principal repayments.

Loans receivable decreased $7.1 million during the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, to $1.345 billion compared to the prior quarter end, as a modest pickup in origination and funding activity was offset by the payoff of larger non-strategic loans.

The office loan portfolio consisting of seventy loans totaled $26 million at June 30, 2025, compared to seventy-two loans totaling $28 million at March 31, 2025. Criticized loans in the office loan portfolio for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, totaled $0.5 million, the same amount at March 31, 2025, and there have been no charge-offs in the trailing twelve months.

The allowance for credit losses on loans increased by $1.1 million to $21.3 million at June 30, 2025, representing 1.59% of total loans receivable compared to 1.49% of total loans receivable at March 31, 2025. The Bank recorded a provision of credit losses of $1.35 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to negative provisions for credit losses of $0.25 million, and $1.53 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2024, respectively. The June 30, 2025 provision was primarily due to: 1) the impact of three delinquent 30 - 89 day commercial real estate loan relationships of $0.7 million; 2) a change in the macro-economic assumptions by our third-party provider of $0.3 million; 3) provisions on new loans with longer contractual life outpacing previously established provisions on prepaid and maturing loans, resulting in an increase of $0.15 million; and 4) an increase in off-balance sheet commitments from new construction originations of $0.2 million. Additionally, the Bank had $16 thousand of net charge-offs in the second quarter. Allowance for credit losses on loans was $21.3 million or 176% of total nonperforming loans of $12.1 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $20.2 million or $148% of total nonperforming loans of $13.7 million the prior quarter as the allowance level increased while nonperforming loans decreased during the most recent period.

Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) - Loans Percentage

(in thousands, except ratios)

In addition to the ACL - Loans, the Company has established an ACL - Unfunded Commitments of $0.627 million at June 30, 2025, $0.435 million at March 31, 2025, and $0.712 million at June 30, 2024, classified in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Unfunded Commitments:

(in thousands)

Special mention loans increased $8.2 million to $23.2 million at June 30, 2025, from $15.0 million in the previous quarter. The increase was largely due to one multifamily loan that is experiencing slower leasing activity than expected.

Substandard loans decreased by $1.7 million to $17.9 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $19.6 million at March 31, 2025, largely due to a reduction in one nonperforming loan relationship.

Nonperforming assets decreased by $1.5 million to $13.0 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $14.5 million at March 31, 2025.

Deposit Portfolio Composition

(in thousands)

At June 30, 2025, the deposit portfolio composition was 58% consumer, 27% commercial, 13% public, and 2% wholesale deposits compared to 56% consumer, 28% commercial, 14% public, and 2% wholesale deposits at March 31, 2025.

Deposit Composition By Type

(in thousands)

Uninsured and uncollateralized deposits were $263.2 million, or 18% of total deposits at June 30, 2025, and $271.7 million, or 18% of total deposits at March 31, 2025. Uninsured deposits alone at June 30, 2025 were $419.6 million, or 28% of total deposits and $444.4 million, or 29% of total deposits at March 31, 2025.

Federal Home Loan Bank advances remained at $0 at June 30, 2025, and at March 31, 2025, and decreased $31.5 million from one year earlier.

No common stock was repurchased in the second quarter of 2025. On July 24, 2025, the Board of Directors authorized a new 5% buyback authorization, for 499,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in open market or private transactions. The timing and amount of any share repurchases under the new authorization will be determined by management based on market conditions and other considerations. The new share repurchase authorization does not obligate the Company to repurchase any shares of its common stock.

Review of Operations

Net interest income increased $1.7 million to $13.3 million for the current quarter ended June 30, 2025, from $11.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and from $11.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in net interest income from the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to: 1) $0.7 million of interest income recognized on the payoffs of nonperforming loans; 2) an increase in purchase accretion of $0.4 million due to a loan payoff; 3) higher interest income of $0.2 million on loans due to loans repricing and the impact of new originations; 4) lower deposit rates decreased interest expense of $0.4 million; and 5) the impact of one more day in the quarter of interest income, net of interest expense of $0.1 million.

Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR)

(in thousands, except yields and rates)

Pre-Provision Net Revenue increased $1.7 million to $5.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, from $3.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Pre-Provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) is defined as net interest income plus total non-interest income minus total non-interest expense. This measure is a non-US GAAP financial measure since it excludes the provision for (recovery of) credit losses included in net income.

Excluding the impact of unanticipated interest income recognized in the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, related to payoffs of nonperforming loans and interest accretion from loan payoffs, the PPNR increased $0.6 million from the previous quarter largely from the impact of loans repricing, new loans originated with higher yields and lower deposit rates.

The net interest margin increased 42 bps to 3.27% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and increased 55 bps from the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in the net interest margin from the linked quarter was due to: 1) income recognized on the payoffs of loans of 17 bps; 2) higher purchase accretion due to loan payoffs of 10 bps; 3) lower deposit costs of 8 bps; and 4) higher asset yields due to repricing, new loan originations and higher percentage of loans compared to total interest-earning assets of 7 bps.

Net interest income and net interest margin analysis:

(in thousands, except yields and rates)

The table below shows the impact of certificate, loan and securities contractual fixed rate maturing and repricing.

Portfolio Contractual Repricing:

(in millions, except yields)

Non-interest income increased by $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2025, to $2.8 million from $2.6 million the prior quarter due to the collection of loan fees on nonaccrual loan payoffs and higher gains on equity securities. Total non-interest income increased $0.9 million from the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to higher gain on sale of loans and higher net realized gains on equity securities.

Non-interest expense increased $0.3 million to $10.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, from $10.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and increased from $10.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The $0.3 million increase in non-interest expense compared to the linked quarter was largely due to higher compensation, primarily due to the impact of annual merit raises in late March 2025 and modestly higher incentive costs. The $0.5 million increase from the second quarter of 2024 was largely due to higher compensation expense, which includes the annual merit increase impact and inflation factors impacting non-interest expense.

Provision for income taxes was $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2025, flat from $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. The effective tax rate was 19.2% for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, 19.6% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and 22.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Certain items previously reported may be reclassified for consistency with the current presentation. These financial results are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed in August 2025.

About the Company

Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: “CZWI”) is the holding company of the Bank, a national bank based in Altoona, Wisconsin, currently serving customers primarily in Wisconsin and Minnesota through 21 branch locations. Its primary markets include the Chippewa Valley Region in Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and Mankato markets in Minnesota, and various rural communities around these areas. The Bank offers traditional community banking services to businesses, ag operators and consumers, including residential mortgage loans.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified using forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “estimates,” “intend,” “may,” “on pace,” “preliminary,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties arising in the operations and business environment of the Company and the Bank. These uncertainties include: conditions in the financial markets and economic conditions generally; the impact of inflation on our business and our customers; geopolitical tensions, including current or anticipated impact of military conflicts; higher lending risks associated with our commercial and agricultural banking activities; future pandemics (including new variants of COVID-19); cybersecurity risks; adverse impacts on the regional banking industry and the business environment in which it operates; interest rate risk; lending risk; changes in the fair value or ratings downgrades of our securities; the sufficiency of allowance for credit losses; competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions; disintermediation risk; our ability to maintain our reputation; our ability to maintain or increase our market share; our ability to realize the benefits of net deferred tax assets; our ability to obtain needed liquidity; our ability to raise capital needed to fund growth or meet regulatory requirements; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; our ability to keep pace with technological change; prevalence of fraud and other financial crimes; the possibility that our internal controls and procedures could fail or be circumvented; our ability to successfully execute our acquisition growth strategy; risks posed by acquisitions and other expansion opportunities, including difficulties and delays in integrating the acquired business operations or fully realizing the cost savings and other benefits; restrictions on our ability to pay dividends; the potential volatility of our stock price; accounting standards for credit losses; legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or significant litigation, adversely affecting the Company or Bank; public company reporting obligations; changes in federal or state tax laws; and changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines and their impact on financial performance. Stockholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and other risks that may affect the Company’s performance are discussed further in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2025 and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

¹ Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, such as net income as adjusted, net income as adjusted per share, tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets and return on average tangible common equity, which management believes may be helpful in understanding the Company’s results of operations or financial position and comparing results over different periods.

Net income as adjusted and net income as adjusted per share are non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of certain expenses such as branch closure costs and related severance pay, accelerated depreciation expense and lease termination fees, and the gain on sale of branch deposits and fixed assets. Tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percentage of tangible assets and return on average tangible common equity are non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of goodwill and intangible assets on our financial position. Management believes these measures are useful in assessing the strength of our financial position.

Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in this press release. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other banks and financial institutions.

Contact: Steve Bianchi, CEO

(715)-836-9994

(CZWI-ER)

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP) 

(in thousands, except per share data)

(1) Branch closure costs include severance pay recorded in compensation and benefits and depreciation and right of use lease asset accelerated expense included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations.

(2) Pretax income as adjusted and net income as adjusted are non-GAAP measures that management believes enhance the market’s ability to assess the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities.

(3) Provision for income tax on net income as adjusted is calculated at our effective tax rate for each respective period presented.

Loan Composition 

(in thousands)

Nonperforming Assets

Loan Balances at Amortized Cost

(in thousands, except ratios)

Average Balances, Interest Yields and Rates

(in thousands, except yields and rates)

Wholesale Deposits

(in thousands)

Key Financial Metric Ratios:

Reconciliation of Return on Average Assets

(in thousands, except ratios)

(1) See Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)

Reconciliation of Return on Average Equity

(in thousands, except ratios)

(1) See Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)

Reconciliation of Return on Average Tangible Common Equity (non-GAAP)

(in thousands, except ratios)

Reconciliation of Efficiency Ratio

(in thousands, except ratios)

Reconciliation of tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Reconciliation of tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)

(in thousands, except ratios)

¹Net income as adjusted and net income as adjusted per share are non-GAAP financial measures that management believes enhance investors’ ability to understand the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

²Return on average assets as adjusted is a non-GAAP measure that management believes enhance investors’ ability to understand the underlying business performance and trends relative to average assets. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of Return on Average Assets as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

³Return on average equity as adjusted is a non-GAAP measure that management believes enhance investors’ ability to understand the underlying business performance and trends relative to average equity. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of Return on Average Equity as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

⁴Tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets and return on tangible common equity are non-GAAP measures that management believes enhance investors’ ability to understand the Company’s financial position. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)”, “Reconciliation of tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)”, and “Reconciliation of return on average tangible common equity)”.