As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including Banc of California (NYSE: BANC) 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 95 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.6%.

While some regional banks stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.5% since the latest earnings results.

Banc of California (NYSE: BANC)

Originally established in 1941 and now operating with a tech-forward approach that includes its SmartStreet platform for homeowner associations, Banc of California (NYSE: BANC) is a California-based bank holding company that provides banking services to small and middle-market businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals.

Banc of California reported revenues of $292.9 million, up 10.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Jared Wolff, Chairman & CEO of Banc of California, commented, “Our fourth quarter results capped a year of strong execution, reflect the continued momentum of our core earnings engine, and validate our ongoing business strategy. During the quarter we delivered double-digit annualized loan and noninterest-bearing deposit growth, and achieved double-digit return on average tangible common equity, all while maintaining disciplined expense management and stable credit quality. These results underscore the strength of our franchise and our ability to consistently deliver profitable growth.”

The stock is down 17.3% since reporting and currently trades at $17.45.

Is now the time to buy Banc of California? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQ: MBIN)

With a strategic focus on low-risk, government-backed lending programs, Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQCM:MBIN) is an Indiana-based bank holding company specializing in multi-family mortgage banking, mortgage warehousing, and traditional banking services.

Merchants Bancorp reported revenues of $185.3 million, down 4.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 22.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $42.97.

Is now the time to buy Merchants Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC)

Operating under familiar local brands like Community Banks of Colorado, Bank Midwest, and Bank of Jackson Hole, National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC) operates regional banks across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Texas, and other western states, offering commercial, business, and consumer banking services.

National Bank Holdings reported revenues of $102.6 million, down 3.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 3.3% since the results and currently trades at $38.75.

Read our full analysis of National Bank Holdings’s results here.

First Horizon (NYSE: FHN)

Tracing its roots back to 1864 during the Civil War era, First Horizon (NYSE: FHN) is a Tennessee-based bank holding company that provides commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and specialty financial services across multiple states.

First Horizon reported revenues of $891 million, up 8.1% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 6.1% since reporting and currently trades at $22.58.

Read our full, actionable report on First Horizon here, it’s free.

Origin Bancorp (NYSE: OBK)

Founded in 1912 during the early boom days of Louisiana banking, Origin Bancorp (NYSE: OBK) is a financial holding company that provides personalized banking services to businesses, municipalities, and individuals across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Origin Bancorp reported revenues of $103.5 million, up 15.1% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $40.96.

Read our full, actionable report on Origin Bancorp here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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