Bank First Completes Acquisition of Centre 1 Bancorp, Q1 Net Interest Income Rises
Reports Q1 net interest margin 3.96% vs. 4.01% for the previous quarter and 3.65% for 1Q25. Tangible book value per share totaled $47.04 at March 31, 2026, vs. $46.01 at December 31, 2025. Q1 net interest income was $53.2M, up $13.1M from the previous quarter and up $16.7M from 1Q25."On January 1, 2026, we successfully completed our acquisition of Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for First National Bank and Trust, headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin. This acquisition marked another milestone in Bank First's long-term growth strategy and established our new Stateline Region...The integration of these specialized services is already enhancing our ability to deliver comprehensive financial solutions across our legacy markets, and we are actively investing in the continued build-out of our Wealth Management platform throughout our footprint. As part of our disciplined integration strategy, six overlapping First National Bank and Trust branches were permanently closed upon completion of the acquisition. In addition, we are planning to build new, modern offices in Walworth, Delavan, and Monroe. These new locations will strengthen our long-term presence in high-potential relationship markets while allowing us to consolidate and close two additional First National Bank and Trust branches," said Mike Molepske, Chairman and CEO of Bank First Corporation.
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- Dividend Increase: Bank First has declared a quarterly dividend increase from $0.50 to $0.55 per share, representing a 10% rise, which reflects the company's strong performance in maintaining profitability and cash flow, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Yield Context: The forward yield of 1.54% may be relatively low, yet it still attracts investors seeking stable returns, indicating the company's competitive position among small-cap stocks despite the lower yield grade.
- Payment Details: The new dividend will be payable on July 8, with a record date of June 24 and an ex-dividend date also set for June 24, ensuring shareholders can promptly benefit from the dividend, which further strengthens shareholder relations.
- Financial Health: The dividend increase aligns with Bank First's historical earnings data, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to financial management and shareholder returns, which enhances its reputation and attractiveness in the market.
- Earnings Performance: Bank First Corp reported Q1 earnings of $19.99 million, translating to $1.78 per share, which, while lower than last year's $18.24 million and $1.82 per share, still indicates stable profitability.
- Adjusted Earnings: Excluding special items, the company posted adjusted earnings of $25.08 million or $2.24 per share, highlighting strong core business performance and improved profitability.
- Revenue Growth: The company's revenue surged by 47.8% year-over-year to $63.75 million from $43.13 million last year, reflecting robust market demand and successful business expansion.
- Market Outlook: Despite a slight decline in EPS, the strong revenue growth and improved adjusted earnings suggest that Bank First Corp has solid growth potential moving forward, which may attract more investor interest.
- Earnings Miss: Bank First's Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $2.24 fell short of estimates by $0.11, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence moving forward.
- Revenue Growth Lags: Although revenue surged 47.8% year-over-year to $63.7 million, it still missed expectations by $2 million, reflecting the impact of increased market competition and rising costs, which may hinder future growth prospects.
- Negative Stock Reaction: Following the earnings report, Bank First's shares dropped 1.92% in after-hours trading, signaling investor dissatisfaction with the results and potentially affecting the company's short-term market performance.
- Small-Cap Stock Analysis: Bank First is rated among the small-cap stocks with the lowest dividend yield, which may limit its appeal to income-seeking investors and exacerbate market concerns regarding its future performance.
- Bank Performance: The bank reported a significant performance in Q4, with earnings per share (EPS) reaching $1.74.
- Financial Highlights: The financial results indicate strong growth and stability, reflecting the bank's effective management and strategic initiatives.
- Financial Performance: Bank First reported a pre-tax profit of $13.384 million for the fourth quarter.
- Quarterly Results: The financial results indicate a strong performance in the bank's operations during the specified quarter.
- Credit Loss Provision: Bank First has reported a provision for credit losses amounting to $2.595 million for the fourth quarter.
- Financial Impact: This provision reflects the bank's strategy to manage potential credit risks and ensure financial stability.








