v3.26.3
Note 13 - Stock Based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Notes to Financial Statements  
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

Stock Based Compensation:

 

In April of 2026, the Company, with the approval of shareholders, created the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2026 Plan”). The 2026 Plan permits the award of up to one million shares to the Company’s directors and employees to attract and retain exceptional personnel, motivate performance and, most importantly, to help align the interests of the Company’s executives with those of the Company’s shareholders. The 2026 Plan replaced the 2022 Plan and the 2022 Plan has been sunset.  There were 38,272 service time based share awards granted under the 2026 Plan and 88,622 service time based share awards and 150,468 performance based share awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the nine month period ended September 30, 2026, as shown in the table below. The actual number of performance based shares issued will depend on the relative performance of the Company’s average return on tangible equity compared to a group of peer companies over a three year vesting period, ending December 31, 2028. As of  September 30, 2026, 961,728 shares were still available to be awarded from the 2026 Plan. 

 

The restricted stock awards were granted with a fair value price equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant. Expense recognized was $812,000 and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively. The expense recognized was $645,000 and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. As of  September 30, 2026, there was $3.9 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the nonvested shares granted under the 2026 and 2022 Plans. The remaining cost is expected to be recognized over 2.4 years.

 

The following is the activity under the Plans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2026.

 

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Weighted

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Awarded

 

 

Average

 

 

Awarded

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Service

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

Performance

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Units

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Units

 

 

Fair Value

 

Beginning balance - non-vested shares

 

 

176,915

 

 

$13.77

 

 

 

269,657

 

 

$14.13

 

Granted

 

 

126,894

 

 

 

13.60

 

 

 

150,468

 

 

 

13.04

 

Vested

 

 

(68,578

)

 

 

13.91

 

 

 

(85,527

)

 

 

13.83

 

Forfeited

 

 

(8,780

)

 

 

14.43

 

 

 

(10,491

)

 

 

15.61

 

Ending balance - non-vested shares

 

 

226,451

 

 

$13.83

 

 

 

324,107

 

 

$13.64

 

 

The following is the activity under the Plans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2025.

 

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Weighted

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Awarded

 

 

Average

 

 

Awarded

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Service

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

Performance

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Units

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Units

 

 

Fair Value

 

Beginning balance - non-vested shares

 

 

231,430

 

 

$14.35

 

 

 

222,920

 

 

$14.57

 

Granted

 

 

82,080

 

 

 

13.76

 

 

 

102,336

 

 

 

14.38

 

Vested

 

 

(132,833)

 

 

14.00

 

 

 

(47,514)

 

 

14.06

 

Forfeited

 

 

(1,762)

 

 

12.44

 

 

 

(8,085)

 

 

12.44

 

Ending balance - non-vested shares

 

 

178,915

 

 

$13.59

 

 

 

269,657

 

 

$14.13

 

 

The 154,105 shares that vested during the nine month period ended September 30, 2026 had a weighted average fair value of $13.87 per share.