Looking back on regional banks stocks’ Q2 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including NBT Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBTB) and its peers.
Regional banks, financial institutions operating within specific geographic areas, serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers. They benefit from rising interest rates that improve net interest margins (the difference between loan yields and deposit costs), digital transformation reducing operational expenses, and local economic growth driving loan demand. However, these banks face headwinds from fintech competition, deposit outflows to higher-yielding alternatives, credit deterioration (increasing loan defaults) during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs. Recent concerns about regional bank stability following high-profile failures and significant commercial real estate exposure present additional challenges.
The 78 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.9% since the latest earnings results.
NBT Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBTB)
Tracing its roots back to 1856 when it first opened its doors in Norwich, New York, NBT Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBTB) is a community-oriented financial institution providing banking, wealth management, and insurance services to individuals and businesses across the northeastern United States.
NBT Bancorp reported revenues of $171.2 million, up 21.9% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.
The Company completed the acquisition of Evans Bancorp, Inc. (“Evans”) on May 2, 2025, adding 200 employees and 18 banking locations in Western New York, $1.67 billion in loans and $1.86 billion in deposits.
Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 2.1% since reporting and currently trades at $40.65.
Is now the time to buy NBT Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q2: Seacoast Banking (NASDAQ: SBCF)
Founded during the Florida land boom of 1926 and surviving the Great Depression, Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ: SBCF) is a financial holding company that provides commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and mortgage services throughout Florida.
Seacoast Banking reported revenues of $151.4 million, up 19.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.
Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 5% since reporting. It currently trades at $27.43.
Is now the time to buy Seacoast Banking? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Coastal Financial (NASDAQ: CCB)
Pioneering the intersection of traditional banking and financial technology in the Pacific Northwest, Coastal Financial (NASDAQ: CCB) operates as a bank holding company that provides traditional banking services and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions to consumers and businesses.
Coastal Financial reported revenues of $119.4 million, down 11.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 21.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 7.7% since the results and currently trades at $93.59.
Read our full analysis of Coastal Financial’s results here.
Hope Bancorp (NASDAQ: HOPE)
With roots in serving Korean-American communities and now expanded to a multi-ethnic clientele across 12 states, Hope Bancorp (NASDAQ: HOPE) operates Bank of Hope, providing commercial and retail banking services with a focus on serving multi-ethnic communities across the United States.
Hope Bancorp reported revenues of $94.58 million, down 19.1% year on year. This number came in 14.7% below analysts' expectations. It was a softer quarter as it also recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 13% since reporting and currently trades at $9.89.
Read our full, actionable report on Hope Bancorp here, it’s free.
Nicolet Bankshares (NYSE: NIC)
Starting as Green Bay Financial Corporation in 2000 before rebranding in 2002, Nicolet Bankshares (NYSE: NIC) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial, agricultural, and consumer banking services primarily in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Nicolet Bankshares reported revenues of $95.74 million, up 12.7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 4.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $125.31.
Read our full, actionable report on Nicolet Bankshares here, it’s free.
Market Update
As a result of the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed’s 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
