Exhibit 99.1
FIRST BANCORP.
ANNOUNCES EARNINGS FOR THE QUARTER
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – October 22, 2026
– First BanCorp. (the “Corporation” or “First BanCorp.”) (NYSE: FBP), the bank
holding company for FirstBank Puerto
Rico (“FirstBank” or “the Bank”), today reported a
net income of $96.1 million, or $0.63
per diluted share, for the third quarter
of 2026, compared to $96.1 million, or
$0.62 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2026, and
$100.5 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of
2025.
Aurelio Alemán, President and Chief
Executive Officer of First
BanCorp, commented:
“We
delivered
another
quarter
of
strong
core
performance,
highlighted
by
a
return
on
average
assets
of
1.98%,
a
return
on
average
equity
of
19.5%,
stable
credit
metrics,
and
healthy
balance sheet trends
against the backdrop
of an increasingly
volatile rate environment.
These
results demonstrate
consistent execution
against our
strategic priorities,
the resilience
of our
business model, and our commitment to soundness, profitability,
and responsible growth.
Total
loans
grew
3.3%
annualized
on
a
linked-quarter
basis,
with
growth
across
all
our
operating markets,
particularly in the
commercial segment,
despite higher than
prior quarter
commercial
repayments.
Core
deposits,
excluding
brokered
and
government
deposits,
increased
by
$120
million,
while
non-performing
assets
remained
relatively
flat
compared
with the prior quarter.
We
continued advancing
our multichannel
strategy by
combining our
expanded Puerto
Rico
branch network with
digital tools that provide
clients a faster,
more convenient, and
seamless
service
experience.
This
commitment
to
innovation
and
client-centric
digital
solutions
was
recognized
this
quarter
by
Global
Finance,
which
named
us
the
“Best
Digital
User
Experience in Latin
America and
Puerto Rico”
and the “Best
Digital Banking
App in Puerto
Rico.” We
are
very proud
of this
recognition,
which reflects
our associates'
hard
work and
dedication to delivering the best digital banking experience
for our clients.
Finally, we
remain focused
on allocating capital
where it
can generate
the highest
long-term
returns
for
shareholders.
We
were
also
pleased
to
announce
that
our
Board
of
Directors
approved a
new $350
million stock
repurchase
program and
a 25% increase
in our common
stock
dividend.
We
remain
committed
to
thoughtful
excess
capital
deployment
while
preserving
flexibility
to
support
organic
growth
and
other
franchise-enhancing
opportunities.”
(In thousands)
Q3 '26
Q2 '26
Q3 '25
YTD '26
YTD '25
Financial Highlights
Net interest income
$
227,527
$
229,131
$
217,916
$
677,614
$
646,172
Provision for credit losses
14,633
17,333
17,593
49,239
62,990
Non-interest income
32,590
35,732
30,794
106,007
97,478
Non-interest expenses
130,222
127,324
124,894
384,651
371,253
Income before income taxes
115,262
120,206
106,223
349,731
309,407
Income tax expense
19,147
24,052
5,697
68,684
51,642
Net income
$
96,115
$
96,154
$
100,526
$
281,047
$
257,765
Selected Financial Data
Net interest margin
4.73%
4.87%
4.57%
4.78%
4.55%
Efficiency ratio
50.06%
48.07%
50.22%
49.09%
49.92%
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.63
$
0.62
$
0.63
$
1.82
$
1.59
Book value per share
$
12.43
$
12.95
$
12.05
$
12.43
$
12.05
Tangible book value per share
(1)
$
12.15
$
12.68
$
11.79
$
12.15
$
11.79
Return on average equity
19.46%
19.49%
21.36%
18.96%
19.07%
Return on average assets
1.98%
2.02%
2.10%
1.96%
1.81%
Results for the Third Quarter of 2026 compared to the Second Quarter
of 2026
Profitability
Net income –
$96.1 million, or $0.63 per diluted share compared to $96.1
million, or $0.62 per diluted share.
Income before income taxes
–
$115.3 million compared to $120.2 million.
Pre-tax, pre-provision income (Non-GAAP)
(1)
$129.9 million compared to $137.5 million.
$227.5 million compared
to $229.1 million.
The decrease was
mostly related to
$3.4 million in
interest income recognized
during the second quarter of
2026 from purchase discount and deferred
fees accelerations, which accounted for approximately 7
basis points of the
decrease in
net interest
margin, and
an increase
of $4.8
million in
deposit costs.
These variances
were partially
offset by
higher commercial
and
construction loan balances,
reinvestment of maturing
debt securities
in higher-yielding
assets, and
$1.3 million
related to
an additional day
in the
quarter. Net interest margin
decreased to 4.73% compared to 4.87% driven by
the aforementioned $3.4 million in interest income recognized in the
second quarter of 2026 and an increase of 8 basis points
in the cost of funds.
Provision for
credit losses
–
$14.6 million compared
to $17.3
million.
The decrease in
provision expense was
mainly due to
a reduction of
$3.2
million in
the provision
for residential
mortgage loans,
mostly driven
by updated
historical loss
experience resulting
in a
downward revision
of
estimated loss severities.
Non-interest income –
$32.6 million compared to
$35.7 million.
The decrease mainly reflected
$1.9 million in
lower realized gains on
purchased
income tax credits and a $0.6 million gain from the sale of
a fixed asset in the Florida region in the previous quarter.
–
$130.2
million
compared
to
$127.3
million,
including
an
additional
$2.8
million
contingency
reserve
involving
a
commercial other real estate owned (“OREO”) property.
Income tax expense
– $19.2 million compared to $24.1 million,
mainly due to a lower estimated annual effective tax rate.
Balance
Sheet
increased by
$108.3 million
to $13.4
billion, driven
by commercial
and industrial
(“C&I”) loan
growth. Total
loan originations
of
$1.5 billion, down $238.5 million,
mainly in commercial and construction loans, driven by $270.6 million in
certain refinancings during the second
quarter of 2026.
Core deposits (other than
brokered and government deposits) –
increased by $120.4 million to
$13.4 billion, mainly in the
Puerto Rico region,
driven by a $253.0 million increase in time deposits, partially offset by a $132.6
million decrease in non-maturity deposits.
Government deposits (fully collateralized) –
decreased by $76.7 million to $3.0 billion, of which $57.2 million was in the Puerto Rico region and
$34.6 million was in the Virgin Islands region.
Asset
Quality
Allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) coverage ratio –
amounted to 1.81% compared to 1.85%.
Annualized
net
charge-offs
to
average
loans
ratio
–
increased
to
0.55%
compared
to
0.49%,
primarily
reflecting
a
$2.0
million
increase
in
consumer loans and finance leases net charge-offs, mainly in the auto loan
portfolio.
increased by
$0.2 million
to $114.1
million,
driven by
a $1.6
million increase
in
nonaccrual loans,
primarily in
auto
loans, partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in the OREO portfolio balance.
Loans
in
early
delinquency
(30-89
days
past
due)
–
increased
by
$12.1
million
to
$155.5
million,
which
included
an
$8.3
million
matured
construction loan
that was
fully repaid
after September
30, 2026
and a
$6.8 million
increase in
consumer loans
and finance
leases, mainly
auto
loans.
Liquidity
and
Capital
Liquidity –
Cash and
cash equivalents
amounted to
$462.7 million
compared to
$561.3 million.
When adding
$2.1
billion of
free high-quality
liquid securities that
could be liquidated
or pledged within
one day and
$1.1 billion in
available lending capacity
at the Federal
Home Loan Bank
(“FHLB”), available liquidity amounted to 19.15% of total
assets compared to 19.60%.
Capital –
Repurchased $50.0
million in
common stock
and declared
$30.4 million
in common
stock dividends.
Capital ratios
exceeded required
regulatory levels. The Corporation’s estimated total capital, common equity tier 1 (“CET1”) capital, tier
1 capital, and leverage ratios were 18.16%,
16.91%, 16.91%,
and 11.71%,
respectively,
as of
September 30,
2026. On
a non-GAAP
basis, the
tangible common
equity ratio
(1)
9.55% compared to 10.08%, mainly due to a decrease in the
fair value of available-for-sale debt securities.
(1) Represents non-GAAP
financial measures. Refer
to
Non-GAAP Disclosures -
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
for the definition
of and additional information
about these non-GAAP financial
measures.