Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Reports Strong Second Quarter 2026 Results, Highlighted by Continued Peer Leading Profitability Metrics

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) – Horizon Bancorp, Inc. ("Horizon" or the "Company"), the parent company of Horizon Bank (the "Bank"), announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2026.

"Horizon's results through the first six months of 2026 demonstrated the consistency of our profitability profile and the strength of Horizon's high quality community banking model. Annualized returns on average assets have maintained around the 1.60% mark, and the net interest margin has been above 4.30%. Despite a notable shift in the interest rate outlook, we believe Horizon's peer leading profitability metrics will have resiliency going forward," President and CEO, Thomas Prame stated. "We are encouraged by the positive momentum and predictability we see in our business model. Over the first half of 2026, loans and deposits have grown $83 million and $125 million, respectively, which aligns well with our mid-single digit organic growth outlook that is complimented by continued advancement in our fee income verticals and disciplined approach to expense management. We expect this low-volatility, profitability first growth model to drive significant value for our shareholders over time as the business compounds capital at peer-leading levels."

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2026 was $24.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to net income of $26.2 million, or $0.51, for the first quarter of 2026 and net income of $20.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025. As previously announced, results for the second quarter of 2026 were negatively impacted by the pre-tax legal charge of $3.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $51.1 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared to net income of $44.6 million, or $1.01, for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

Second Quarter 2026 Highlights

• Durability of top-tier performance metrics are reflective of the strong performance of Horizon's community banking model. The Company generated a return on average assets of 1.54% and a return on average tangible common equity of 18.05%, despite the legal charge.

• Net interest income of $63.5 million increased 14.7% compared with $55.4 million in the year ago period. The net interest margin, on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis1, at 4.37% showed strong quarter over quarter expansion from 4.29% as of the three months ended March 31, 2026, and was significantly higher than the 3.23% reported in the comparable year ago period.

• Funding continues to trend favorably, with non-time deposit balances continuing to grow and total interest-bearing deposit costs remaining low, still down 33 basis points year over year.

• Total loans held for investment ("HFI") increased 6.6% compared to the linked quarter annualized, with strong organic commercial loan growth of $63.5 million, or 7.4% annualized, led by commercial and industrial loans. Loan pipelines continue to be consistent, reflective of Horizon's attractive markets and embedded community banking model.

• Credit quality remained strong, with annualized net charge offs of 0.05% of average loans during the second quarter. Non-performing assets remain well within expected and historical ranges, with non-performing assets to total assets of 0.66%.

• Expenses for the second quarter were well managed at $43.8 million, including the $3.1 million legal charge, as the Company remains committed to generating positive operating leverage through a more efficient expense base.

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1 Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Income Statement Highlights

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $63.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared to $62.2 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the continued strength of the Company's net FTE interest margin1, which increased to 4.37% for the second quarter of 2026, compared to 4.29% the first quarter of 2026. The margin's resilience is reflective of continued disciplined loan and deposit pricing, a favorable cash reinvestment profile and strong commercial loan growth during the quarter.

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1 Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Provision for Credit Losses

During the second quarter of 2026, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.9 million. This compares to a recorded provision for credit losses of $0.4 million during the first quarter of 2026, and $2.5 million during the second quarter of 2025. The increase in the provision for credit losses during the second quarter of 2026 when compared with the first quarter of 2026 was primarily due to net loan growth and an increase in specific reserves on select commercial loans.

For the second quarter of 2026, net charge-offs were $0.6 million, or an annualized 0.05% of average loans outstanding, compared to net charge-offs of $0.6 million, or an annualized 0.05% of average loans outstanding for the first quarter of 2026, and net charge-offs of $0.3 million, or an annualized 0.02% of average loans outstanding, in the second quarter of 2025.

The Company's allowance for credit losses as a percentage of period-end loans HFI was 1.05% at June 30, 2026, consistent with March 31, 2026, and down from 1.09% at June 30, 2025.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $12.0 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared to non-interest income of $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2026. The increase in non-interest income of $0.8 million is primarily attributable to an increase in gains on the sale of mortgage loans, due to increased volumes and wider margins on loan sales, and higher activity-based interchange fees. All other components of non-interest income remained relatively stable quarter over quarter.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $43.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared to $40.7 million in the first quarter of 2026. The increase was driven by the previously announced legal charge for $3.1 million in other expense. The accrual will remain in place until the Company has finalized the appeal process. Apart from this item, increases in salary expense and planned marketing spend were offset by lower benefits expense, seasonal declines in occupancy costs and lower professional fees. All other components of non-interest expense remained relatively stable quarter over quarter.

Income Taxes

Horizon recorded a net tax expense of $5.8 million for the second quarter of 2026, resulting in an effective tax rate of 19.0%, which is consistent with the Company's estimated annual effective tax rate.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets increased by $9.9 million, or 0.2%, to $6.6 billion as of June 30, 2026, compared to $6.6 billion as of March 31, 2026. Asset growth during the period was primarily driven by an increase in loans HFI and an increase in investment securities of $15.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in interest earning deposits of $45.1 million, a decrease in FHLB stock of $38.3 million and a decrease in loans held for sale of $4.7 million. Total loans were $5.0 billion at June 30, 2026, an increase of $75.9 million from March 31, 2026 balances, primarily driven by organic commercial loan growth.

Total deposits decreased by $22.1 million, or 0.4%, to $5.4 billion as of June 30, 2026 compared to March 31, 2026. The decrease was driven by a $59.5 million decrease in time deposits and a $39.1 million decrease in non-interest-bearing demand deposits. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $52.6 million in interest-bearing deposits and a $23.9 million increase in savings and money market balances, reflecting continued success in core deposit gathering efforts.

Overall, balance sheet growth during the quarter reflected a combination of steady asset growth, proactive liquidity management, and ongoing efforts to optimize the deposit base. Management continues to focus on maintaining a strong funding position while supporting measured, relationship-driven loan growth aligned with long-term strategic objectives.

Capital

The following table presents the Consolidated Regulatory Capital Ratios of the Company for the previous three quarters, and the Company's preliminary estimate of its consolidated regulatory capital ratios for the quarter ended June 30, 2026:

As of June 30, 2026, the ratio of total stockholders' equity to total assets is 11.05%. Book value per common share was $14.21, increasing $0.52 during the second quarter of 2026, as growth in retained earnings was partially offset by modestly higher levels of other comprehensive losses.

Tangible common equity1 totaled $565.1 million at June 30, 2026, and the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets1 was 8.81% at June 30, 2026, up from 8.39% at March 31, 2026. Tangible book value, which excludes intangible assets from total equity, per common share was $11.06, increasing $0.54 during the second quarter of 2026.

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1 Non-GAAP financial metric. See non-GAAP reconciliation included herein for the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Credit Quality

As of June 30, 2026, total non-accrual loans decreased by $2.5 million from March 31, 2026, and represent 0.65% of total loans held for investment. Total non-performing assets decreased $0.3 million, to $43.7 million, compared with $44.0 million at March 31, 2026. Non-performing assets are 0.66% of total assets at quarter end, down slightly from 0.67% at March 31, 2026.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, net charge-offs were $0.6 million, or 0.05% annualized of average loans, consistent with $0.6 million as of March 31, 2026. Charge‑off levels during the quarter remained low and consistent with management's expectations, reflecting a continued focus on disciplined underwriting and proactive portfolio monitoring. Overall, credit metrics remain stable, and management continues to closely monitor portfolio performance in the current economic environment.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, Horizon will host a conference call to review its second quarter financial results and operating performance.

Participants may access the live conference call on July 23, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET) by dialing 1-833-974-2379 from the United States and Canada or 1-412-317-5772 from international locations and requesting the "Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Call." Participants are asked to dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the conference through August 23, 2026. The replay may be accessed by dialing 1-855-669-9658 from the United States and Canada, or 1–412–317-0088 from other international locations, and entering the access code 6151989.

About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) is the $6.6 billion-asset commercial bank holding company for Horizon Bank, which serves customers across diverse and economically attractive Midwestern markets through convenient digital and virtual tools, as well as its Indiana and Michigan branches. Horizon's retail offerings include prime residential and other secured consumer lending to in-market customers, as well as a range of personal banking and wealth management solutions. Horizon also provides a comprehensive array of in-market business banking and treasury management services, as well as equipment financing solutions for customers regionally and nationally, with commercial lending representing over half of total loans. More information on Horizon, headquartered in Northwest Indiana's Michigan City, is available at horizonbank.com and investor.horizonbank.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain information set forth in this press release refers to financial measures determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Specifically, we have included non-GAAP financial measures relating to net income, diluted earnings per share, pre-tax, pre-provision net income, net interest margin, tangible stockholders' equity and tangible book value per share, efficiency ratio, the return on average assets, the return on average common equity, and return on average tangible equity. In each case, we have identified special circumstances that we consider to be non-recurring and have excluded them. Horizon believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful to investors and provide a greater understanding of our business and financial results without giving effect to one-time costs and non–recurring items. These measures are not necessarily comparable to similar measures that may be presented by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure. See the tables and other information below and contained elsewhere in this press release for reconciliations of the non-GAAP information identified herein and its most comparable GAAP measures.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward–looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of Horizon Bancorp, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, "Horizon"). For these statements, Horizon claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Horizon, including the information in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will" and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, changes within the domestic and international macroeconomic environment, including trade policy, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation levels, and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate, and derivatives markets, and their impact on Horizon and its customers; current financial conditions within the banking industry; changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, changes in spreads on earning assets and changes in interest bearing liabilities; increased interest rate sensitivity; loss of key Horizon personnel; increases in disintermediation; potential loss of fee income, including interchange fees, as new and emerging alternative payment platforms take a greater market share of the payment systems; estimates of fair value of certain of Horizon's assets and liabilities; changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, credit losses, market values, collateral securing loans and other assets; changes in sources of liquidity; legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be adopted and required by regulatory agencies; litigation, regulatory enforcement, and legal compliance risk and costs; rapid technological developments and changes; cyber terrorism and data security breaches; the rising costs of cybersecurity; the ability of the U.S. federal government to manage federal debt limits; climate change and social justice initiatives; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to effectively implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; acts of terrorism, war and global conflicts, and the effects of foreign and military policies of the U.S. government; and supply chain disruptions and delays. These and additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Horizon's reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward–looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Horizon does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward–looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.