Fulton Financial secures regulatory approval for Blue Foundry acquisition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Fulton Financial Corp's stock fell 6.33% and hit a 20-day low amid broader market declines, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.59% and the S&P 500 down 0.81%.
The company received necessary regulatory approvals from the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for its all-stock acquisition of Blue Foundry Bancorp, expected to close around April 1, 2026. This merger is anticipated to enhance Fulton's market position in New Jersey, expand its customer base, and improve service capabilities, supported by strong shareholder backing from Blue Foundry.
This acquisition positions Fulton for future growth, potentially increasing its asset size to approximately $32 billion and enhancing its competitiveness in the financial sector.
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Analyst Views on FULT
Wall Street analysts forecast FULT stock price to fall
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 23.360
Low
21.00
Averages
21.00
High
21.00
Current: 23.360
Low
21.00
Averages
21.00
High
21.00
About FULT
Fulton Financial Corporation is a financial holding company. Through its banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank (the Bank), the Company delivers financial services primarily within its five-state market area, comprising Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia, in a personalized, community-oriented style that emphasizes relationship banking. The Bank offers a diversified suite of consumer banking products and services in its market area. The Bank's consumer banking products and services include various checking account and savings deposit products and certificates of deposit. The Bank provides commercial banking products and services primarily to small- and medium-sized businesses. The Bank's commercial lending products include commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans and others. It offers wealth management services, which include investment management, trust, brokerage, insurance and investment advisory services, to consumer and commercial customers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Fulton Bank Releases 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
- Community Investment Achievements: Fulton Bank's 2025 report reveals $318 million in community development investments, indicating its ongoing commitment to economic empowerment and affordable housing, thereby enhancing its influence and reputation within the community.
- Customer Value Enhancement: By leveraging digital innovation and small business support, Fulton Bank provided $192 million in community development loans in 2025, demonstrating its dedication to delivering personalized financial solutions, which further solidifies customer loyalty.
- Employee Development Focus: The report highlights Fulton Bank's emphasis on employees, showcasing over 11,569 hours of volunteer service, reflecting its commitment to professional development and an inclusive culture, which boosts employee satisfaction and retention.
- Environmental Sustainability Commitment: Fulton Bank has reduced its environmental footprint in 2025 while supporting customers' sustainability initiatives, indicating its sense of responsibility in environmental governance, which enhances its brand image and market competitiveness.
See More
Fulton Bank Releases 2025 CSR Report Highlighting Community Impact
- Values in Action: In 2025, Fulton Bank continued to embody its mission of changing lives by expanding access to financial services for customers and strengthening community support, enhancing customer and employee satisfaction.
- Community Support: The bank actively promotes community development under five CSR pillars, committed to enhancing stakeholder relationships through sustainable operations and a sense of responsibility.
- Employee Empowerment: By empowering over 3,400 employees to engage actively in their communities, Fulton Bank has improved employee job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Long-term Value Commitment: The 2025 CSR report emphasizes the company's commitment to aligning its business strategy with community needs, aiming to create long-term value for stakeholders and drive sustainable growth.
See More
Banking Sector Faces Challenges Amid Rising Rates
- Industry Growth Challenges: While the banking sector has seen a 10.6% gain over the past six months, Fulton Financial's annual revenue growth of only 8.9% indicates a lag in market demand compared to peers, potentially impacting its long-term profitability.
- Declining Profitability: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust has experienced a 23.1% decline in annual sales over the past five years, with earnings per share decreasing more than revenue, suggesting its products struggle to compete in the market, which may weaken investor confidence.
- Soft Capital Generation: Wells Fargo's net interest income growth of 5.1% has fallen short of other banks, and its net interest margin has shrunk by 38.7 basis points over the last two years, indicating a decline in loan profitability and potential challenges in future capital generation.
- Valuation Risks: Fulton Financial and PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust have forward P/B ratios of 1.1x and 0.7x respectively, reflecting market caution regarding their future growth prospects, which could influence investor decision-making.
See More
Fulton Financial Prices $300M Subordinated Notes Offering
- Bond Offering Size: Fulton Financial successfully priced a $300 million offering of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2036, demonstrating the company's strong financing capability in the capital markets.
- Interest Rate Structure: The notes carry a fixed interest rate of 5.95% until May 2026, after which they will switch to a floating rate tied to SOFR plus 217 basis points, aimed at reducing financing costs and enhancing interest payment flexibility.
- Use of Proceeds: Proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of existing 3.25% subordinated debt and for general corporate purposes, indicating the company's strategic intent to optimize its capital structure.
- Issuance Timeline: The offering is expected to close around May 5, 2026, reflecting the company's positive outlook on future market conditions while providing funding support for subsequent loan growth and cost-saving targets.
See More
Fulton Financial Corporation Prices $300 Million Subordinated Notes Offering
- Offering Size: Fulton Financial Corporation announced a $300 million public offering of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, expected to close on May 5, 2026, indicating the company's active engagement in capital markets and financing capabilities.
- Interest Rate Structure: The Notes will bear a fixed interest rate of 5.950% for the first five years, transitioning to a floating rate based on the Three-Month SOFR plus 217 basis points, reflecting the company's strategic approach to managing interest rate risk.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of its outstanding 3.250% subordinated debt, aiming to optimize its capital structure and reduce financing costs, thereby enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Underwriters' Role: Piper Sandler and J.P. Morgan acted as joint book-running managers for this bond offering, underscoring the company's credibility and professionalism in capital markets, further strengthening its market position.
See More
Fulton Financial Corporation Prices $300 Million Subordinated Notes Offering
- Offering Size: Fulton Financial Corporation announced a public offering of $300 million in Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, expected to close on May 5, 2026, reflecting the company's active engagement in capital markets and financing capabilities.
- Interest Rate Structure: The Notes will carry a fixed interest rate of 5.950% for the first five years, transitioning to a floating rate based on the Three-Month SOFR plus 217 basis points, allowing the company to maintain flexibility amid interest rate fluctuations.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of its outstanding 3.250% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, aimed at optimizing the capital structure and reducing financing costs, thereby enhancing the company's financial stability.
- Underwriters' Role: Piper Sandler and J.P. Morgan acted as joint book-running managers for the Notes offering, indicating the company's credibility and attractiveness in capital markets, which may further bolster investor confidence in Fulton.
See More
Fulton Bank Releases 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
- Community Investment Achievements: Fulton Bank's 2025 report reveals $318 million in community development investments, indicating its ongoing commitment to economic empowerment and affordable housing, thereby enhancing its influence and reputation within the community.
- Customer Value Enhancement: By leveraging digital innovation and small business support, Fulton Bank provided $192 million in community development loans in 2025, demonstrating its dedication to delivering personalized financial solutions, which further solidifies customer loyalty.
- Employee Development Focus: The report highlights Fulton Bank's emphasis on employees, showcasing over 11,569 hours of volunteer service, reflecting its commitment to professional development and an inclusive culture, which boosts employee satisfaction and retention.
- Environmental Sustainability Commitment: Fulton Bank has reduced its environmental footprint in 2025 while supporting customers' sustainability initiatives, indicating its sense of responsibility in environmental governance, which enhances its brand image and market competitiveness.
See More
Fulton Bank Releases 2025 CSR Report Highlighting Community Impact
- Values in Action: In 2025, Fulton Bank continued to embody its mission of changing lives by expanding access to financial services for customers and strengthening community support, enhancing customer and employee satisfaction.
- Community Support: The bank actively promotes community development under five CSR pillars, committed to enhancing stakeholder relationships through sustainable operations and a sense of responsibility.
- Employee Empowerment: By empowering over 3,400 employees to engage actively in their communities, Fulton Bank has improved employee job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Long-term Value Commitment: The 2025 CSR report emphasizes the company's commitment to aligning its business strategy with community needs, aiming to create long-term value for stakeholders and drive sustainable growth.
See More
Banking Sector Faces Challenges Amid Rising Rates
- Industry Growth Challenges: While the banking sector has seen a 10.6% gain over the past six months, Fulton Financial's annual revenue growth of only 8.9% indicates a lag in market demand compared to peers, potentially impacting its long-term profitability.
- Declining Profitability: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust has experienced a 23.1% decline in annual sales over the past five years, with earnings per share decreasing more than revenue, suggesting its products struggle to compete in the market, which may weaken investor confidence.
- Soft Capital Generation: Wells Fargo's net interest income growth of 5.1% has fallen short of other banks, and its net interest margin has shrunk by 38.7 basis points over the last two years, indicating a decline in loan profitability and potential challenges in future capital generation.
- Valuation Risks: Fulton Financial and PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust have forward P/B ratios of 1.1x and 0.7x respectively, reflecting market caution regarding their future growth prospects, which could influence investor decision-making.
See More
Fulton Financial Prices $300M Subordinated Notes Offering
- Bond Offering Size: Fulton Financial successfully priced a $300 million offering of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2036, demonstrating the company's strong financing capability in the capital markets.
- Interest Rate Structure: The notes carry a fixed interest rate of 5.95% until May 2026, after which they will switch to a floating rate tied to SOFR plus 217 basis points, aimed at reducing financing costs and enhancing interest payment flexibility.
- Use of Proceeds: Proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of existing 3.25% subordinated debt and for general corporate purposes, indicating the company's strategic intent to optimize its capital structure.
- Issuance Timeline: The offering is expected to close around May 5, 2026, reflecting the company's positive outlook on future market conditions while providing funding support for subsequent loan growth and cost-saving targets.
See More
Fulton Financial Corporation Prices $300 Million Subordinated Notes Offering
- Offering Size: Fulton Financial Corporation announced a $300 million public offering of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, expected to close on May 5, 2026, indicating the company's active engagement in capital markets and financing capabilities.
- Interest Rate Structure: The Notes will bear a fixed interest rate of 5.950% for the first five years, transitioning to a floating rate based on the Three-Month SOFR plus 217 basis points, reflecting the company's strategic approach to managing interest rate risk.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of its outstanding 3.250% subordinated debt, aiming to optimize its capital structure and reduce financing costs, thereby enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Underwriters' Role: Piper Sandler and J.P. Morgan acted as joint book-running managers for this bond offering, underscoring the company's credibility and professionalism in capital markets, further strengthening its market position.
See More
Fulton Financial Corporation Prices $300 Million Subordinated Notes Offering
- Offering Size: Fulton Financial Corporation announced a public offering of $300 million in Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, expected to close on May 5, 2026, reflecting the company's active engagement in capital markets and financing capabilities.
- Interest Rate Structure: The Notes will carry a fixed interest rate of 5.950% for the first five years, transitioning to a floating rate based on the Three-Month SOFR plus 217 basis points, allowing the company to maintain flexibility amid interest rate fluctuations.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay $195 million of its outstanding 3.250% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes, aimed at optimizing the capital structure and reducing financing costs, thereby enhancing the company's financial stability.
- Underwriters' Role: Piper Sandler and J.P. Morgan acted as joint book-running managers for the Notes offering, indicating the company's credibility and attractiveness in capital markets, which may further bolster investor confidence in Fulton.
See More
