Midland States Bancorp, Inc. Reveals Upcoming Retirement of Jeffrey S. Mefford
Retirement Announcement: Jeffrey S. Mefford will retire as President of Midland States Bank and Executive Vice President of Midland States Bancorp on June 30, 2026, after 22 years with the bank, including seven years as President.
Succession Plan: Jeremy A. Jameson will be promoted to Executive Vice President - Chief Banking Officer, overseeing Regional Presidents and commercial lending, as part of the company's succession strategy.
Leadership Acknowledgment: CEO Jeffrey G. Ludwig expressed gratitude for Mefford's contributions to the bank's growth and emphasized the importance of a smooth transition.
Company Overview: Midland States Bancorp, based in Effingham, Illinois, has total assets of approximately $6.91 billion and offers a wide range of banking and financial services.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: Midland States Bancorp will announce its Q1 2026 financial results after market close on April 23, 2026, and will provide an investor presentation to enhance transparency and information disclosure.
- Asset Overview: As of December 31, 2025, the company reported total assets of approximately $6.51 billion, with its Wealth Management Group managing assets of about $4.48 billion, indicating strong performance in wealth management.
- Diverse Business Offerings: Midland States Bancorp offers a full range of commercial and consumer banking products and services, including merchant credit card services, trust and investment management, insurance, and financial planning, showcasing its diversified business model.
- Company Background: Midland States Bancorp is a community-based financial holding company headquartered in Effingham, Illinois, and is the sole shareholder of Midland States Bank, committed to providing financial services to the local community.
- Dividend Overview: Midland States Bancorp Inc's Reset Rate Non-Cumul Preferred Series A (Symbol: MSBIP) recently declared a dividend of $0.4844 per share, indicating the company's commitment to maintaining shareholder returns.
- Stock Performance: In Thursday trading, MSBIP shares rose approximately 0.4%, while common shares (Symbol: MSBI) fell about 1.2%, reflecting the preferred stock's relative resilience amid market fluctuations.
- Investor Focus: As market interest in S.A.F.E. dividend stocks grows, investors should consider companies with preferred shares to seek stable returns in uncertain market conditions.
- Market Perspective: While the author's views do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, the analysis of Midland States Bancorp provides valuable insights into its dividend policy and market performance.
- Target Price Increase: DA Davidson raised the price target for Midland States Bancorp from $23 to $24, maintaining a Neutral rating despite Q4 results falling short of expectations, indicating cautious optimism about future performance.
- Credit Quality Improvement: The company prioritized improving credit quality in 2025, and although non-performing assets remained above the 0.75% target, strengthening the credit team and tightening underwriting standards laid a solid foundation for continued improvement.
- Enhanced Capital Position: By year-end, the common equity tier 1 ratio improved to 9.89%, nearing the 10% target, while the company repurchased $9.6 million of its common stock during the quarter, demonstrating robust capital management.
- Loan Growth Momentum: The Community Bank segment experienced approximately 6.5% annualized loan growth, supported by a healthy net interest margin, and the wealth management business also achieved record performance, with expectations for this momentum to continue into 2026.
- Shareholder Acquisition: Patriot Financial Partners has acquired a position in Midland States Bancorp's common stock through open-market purchases, enhancing confidence in the company's future and demonstrating institutional investors' recognition of its growth potential.
- New Board Member: James F. Deutsch has been appointed to the board effective February 3, 2026, bringing extensive experience in the financial services industry that will provide crucial support for the company's strategic development in a competitive market.
- Management's Remarks: Chairman Jeffrey C. Smith expressed pleasure in welcoming Jim to the board, emphasizing that Patriot's investment will enhance the company's market competitiveness and further drive shareholder returns.
- Asset Scale: As of December 31, 2025, Midland States Bancorp reported total assets of approximately $6.51 billion and assets under administration of approximately $4.48 billion in its Wealth Management Group, indicating a solid foundation and growth potential in the financial services sector.
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Midland States Bancorp announced a cash dividend of $0.32 per share of common stock, payable on February 20, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns and enhancing investor confidence.
- Preferred Stock Dividend: The company also declared a cash dividend of $0.4844 per depository share on its 7.75% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, payable on March 30, 2026, which further enhances its appeal in the capital markets.
- Asset Scale: As of December 31, 2025, Midland States Bancorp had total assets of approximately $6.51 billion, indicating a solid financial foundation and market competitiveness that supports future growth strategies.
- Wealth Management Business: The company's Wealth Management Group had approximately $4.48 billion in assets under administration, showcasing its capability in providing comprehensive financial services aimed at attracting more high-net-worth clients and expanding market share.

- Earnings Performance: Midland States Bancorp reported a Q4 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.53, missing expectations by $0.11, indicating pressure on profitability that could affect investor confidence.
- Revenue Trends: The company's Q4 revenue was $85.57 million, down 8.9% year-over-year, although it beat expectations by $11.22 million, the ongoing revenue decline may pose challenges for future growth.
- Asset Quality Metrics: The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets remained stable at 1.02%, consistent with the prior quarter, indicating stable asset quality but still necessitating attention to potential credit loss risks.
- Credit Loss Provisions: The provision for credit losses on loans was $11.8 million in Q4, significantly down from $20.5 million in Q3, reflecting the company's cautious stance on future credit risks, which may help improve capital adequacy.








