CARE News & Events

Carter Bank announced the appointment of Kimberly Dempsey Schaufenbuel as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Schaufenbuel brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources, talent management, learning and performance, and organizational change to the Bank's Executive Management Team and will lead both the Human Resources and Training teams. Schaufenbuel was most recently served as CHRO at Cherry Bekaert in Raleigh, N.C

Net interest income totaled $34.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of $0.9 million, or 2.6%, from the prior quarter and an increase of $5.5 million, or 18.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Net interest income was $130.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, an increase of $16.4 million, or 14.3%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024; Net interest margin increased six basis points to 2.92% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter and increased 35 basis points compared to the year over year quarter. Net interest income and net interest margin continue to be significantly impacted by the Bank's largest lending relationship remaining on nonaccrual status since the second quarter of 2023; The Company's Tier 1 Capital ratio was 10.70% at December 31, 2025 as compared to 10.66% at September 30, 2025. The Company's leverage ratio was 9.43% at December 31, 2025 as compared to 9.41% at September 30, 2025. The Company's Total Risk-Based Capital ratio was 11.95% at December 31, 2025 as compared to 11.91% at September 30, 2025. "We are pleased to report continued strong fundamentals and positive trends for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2025. During the quarter, we again realized margin expansion and solid loan growth throughout our footprint. Our annual loan growth of 7.0% reflects good momentum in our commercial lending platform. In the second half of 2025, we were fortunate to add new seasoned commercial lending teams in Western North Carolina, and we also entered South Carolina with the establishment of a commercial lending presence in Greenville. Our loan pipeline remains healthy and we continue to expect a tailwind from prior construction lending that will fund online over the coming 12 to 18 months as projects progress. Our balance sheet remains slightly liability sensitive. As the Federal Reserve continues to reduce short-term interest rates, we believe we are well positioned to benefit, including with further margin expansion, especially given the short-term nature of our certificates of deposit portfolio," stated Litz Van Dyke, CEO. "Although our large nonperforming credit relationship continues to have a negative impact on our financial and credit metrics, aside from this impact, our fundamentals, financial performance, and asset quality metrics all remain solid. We are committed to resolving this lending relationship in a manner that is most beneficial to our Company and our shareholders. We continue to believe we are well positioned for a strong 2026 and beyond."

The post-Christmas session saw stocks fluctuate near all-time highs and the indexes close little changed following a day of thin trading. While the S&P 500 saw a very small daily drop, it still closed with its best week in a month.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with this recap from The Fly.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidialicensingand hiring top executives, including its CEO, in deal reported to be worth $20BTargetfacing pressure from activist investor Toms Capital,Biohavenannounced on Christmas Eve that its Phase 2 proof-of-concept study evaluating BHV-7000 for the treatment of major depressive disorderWALL STREET CALLS:Inhibikase Therapeuticswith a Buy at H.C. WainwrightCarter Bankshareswith a Buy at Freedom CapitalMDU Resourceswith a Hold at Freedom CapitalWalmartwith an Outperform at CICC3. AROUND THE WEB:Following the Trump administration's approval of a weapons sale to Taiwan, the Chinese government imposed sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 of their executives, with targets including Northrop Grumman (NOC), Boeing'sdefense unit,A federal judge denied Masimo'srequest to block Apple Watchimports as part of its lawsuit over an earlier import ban related to patents covering blood-oxygen sensors,Hyattis developing collaborations with Chinese state-owned companies for joint-venture brands amid a slowdown in the region and an effort to expand outside Greater China to double properties in Asia,JPMorgan Chasein recent months has frozen accounts used by at least two fast-growing stablecoin startups, highlighting the risk that Cryptocurrency transactions pose for banks, which are required to know the people they do business with and the source of their cash,4. MOVERS:Coupanggained afterthe company identified the former employee responsible for the recent data leakNikerose after UBS said its recentfor the companyArcadia Biosciencesfell afterand resumption of its process of evaluating strategic alternativesMakers of wound-care products, including Organogenesis, declined after regional Medicare contractorsand tissue repair productsINDEXES:The Dow fell 0.04%, or 20.19, to 48,710.97, the Nasdaq slipped 0.09%, or 20.21, to 23,593.10, and the S&P 500 declined 0.03%, or 2.11, to 6,929.94.

The post-Christmas session has seen stocks fluctuate near all-time highs. While the S&P 500 was little changed near midday, it remains headed toward its best week in a month.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidialicensing technology of AI chip startup Groq and hiring top executives, including its CEO, in deal reported to beTargetfacing pressure from activist investor Toms Capital,Biohavenannounced on Christmas Eve that its Phase 2 proof-of-conceptfor the treatment of major depressive disorder did not meet its primary endpointWALL STREET CALLS:Inhibikase Therapeuticswith a Buy at H.C. WainwrightCarter Bankshareswith a Buy at Freedom CapitalMDU Resourceswith a Hold at Freedom CapitalWalmartwith an Outperform at CICC3. AROUND THE WEB:Hyattis developing collaborations with Chinese state-owned companies for joint-venture brands amid a slowdown in the region and an effort to expand outside Greater China to double properties in Asia,A federal judge denied Masmo'srequest to block Apple Watchimports as part of its lawsuit related to patents covering blood-oxygen sensors,Following the Trump administration's approval of a weapons sale to Taiwan, the Chinese government imposed sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 of their executives, with targets including Northrop Grummanand Boeing'sdefense unit,JPMorgan Chasein recent months has frozen accounts used by at least two fast-growing stablecoin startups,4. MOVERS:Coupangup afterthe company identified a former employee responsible for a recent data leakTargetgains afterthe company is facing pressure from an activist investorNike (NKE) higher after UBS said its recent sportswear survey isCoinbaselower despite Clear Street naming the company one of itsfor 2026INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.18%, or 89.50, to 48,641.66, the Nasdaq was down 0.03%, or 6.64, to 23,606.67, and the S&P 500 was down 0.08%, or 5.65, to 6,926.40.