As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including First Busey (NASDAQ: BUSE) 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 3.6% since the latest earnings results.

First Busey (NASDAQ: BUSE)

Tracing its roots back to 1868 during America's post-Civil War reconstruction era, First Busey (NASDAQ: BUSE) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and payment technology solutions across Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana.

First Busey reported revenues of $200.9 million, up 71.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $25.27.

Is now the time to buy First Busey? 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 estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 22.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $42.90.

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 $103.3 million, down 3.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. 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 2.3% since the results and currently trades at $39.14.

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

OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG)

Originally founded in 1964 as a federal savings and loan institution, OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) provides banking and financial services including commercial and consumer lending, wealth management, insurance, and trust services primarily in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

OFG Bancorp reported revenues of $185.4 million, up 1.9% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 4.9% since reporting and currently trades at $40.49.

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

United Community Banks (NYSE: UCB)

Starting as a small community bank in 1950 and expanding through strategic acquisitions across the Southeast, United Community Banks (NYSE: UCB) is a regional bank holding company that provides financial services including loans, deposits, wealth management, and merchant services across the southeastern United States.

United Community Banks reported revenues of $279.5 million, up 10.9% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

The stock is down 3% since reporting and currently trades at $31.50.

Read our full, actionable report on United Community Banks 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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