Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Reports Positive Fourth Quarter 2025 Results
Michigan City, Indiana, January 21, 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 December 31, 2025.
“Horizon’s fourth quarter results demonstrate excellent execution of the balance sheet repositioning and the core strength of our community banking model. We have delivered on our commitment to shareholders to create a top performing community bank with durable, peer-leading performance metrics and shareholder returns. The fourth quarter exceeded our prior performance estimates, with annualized return on average assets exceeding 1.60%, returns on average equity approaching 16%, and a net interest margin of 4.29%. We are pleased with the results for our shareholders and the transparency the quarter provided to highlight the strength of Horizon’s community banking model, which remains the cornerstone of our value proposition", President and CEO, Thomas Prame stated. "More importantly, the Company is kicking off the new year from a position of strength, with the franchise well positioned to deliver durable earnings and continued top-tier profitability metrics in 2026. The commercial loan engine continues to produce disciplined and high-quality growth, which we expect to fund through our client-focused branch distribution network and our relationship-based community bankers. Credit quality remains excellent, and expenses continue to be well managed. As we look ahead, we will remain focused on creating sustainable long-term value for our shareholders through our disciplined operating model, consistent profitable growth and peer leading capital generation".
Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2025 was $26.9 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $222.0 million, or $(4.69), for the third quarter of 2025 and a net loss of $10.9 million, or $(0.25) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 was $150.5 million, or $(3.24) per diluted share, compared to net income of $35.4 million, or $0.80, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights
• Strong performance of the core community banking model, combined with the successful completion of the balance sheet repositioning efforts, resulted in significant performance improvement for the quarter. The Company's return on average assets and return on average equity improved to 1.63% and 15.71%, respectively. The franchise is well positioned to continue to achieve top performance metrics moving forward.
• Net interest income of $63.5 million increased 8.7% compared with $58.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and 19.5% compared with $53.1 million in the year ago period. The net interest margin, on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis1, expanded for the ninth consecutive quarter, to 4.29%, compared with 3.52% for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2.97% for the three months ended December 31, 2024.
• Total loans held for investment ("HFI") increased 4.4% compared to the linked quarter annualized, with strong organic commercial loan growth of $75.8 million, or 9.1% annualized. Loan pipelines continue to be consistent, reflective of Horizon’s attractive markets and embedded community banking model.
• Funding remains durable with costs trending favorably. Non-interest bearing deposits remained relatively flat, while declines in interest-bearing balances largely reflected the communicated planned exit of high-cost, transactional deposits. Total interest-bearing liability cost performed well, decreasing by another 34 bps during the quarter.
• Credit quality remained strong, with annualized net charge offs of 0.08% of average loans during the fourth quarter. Non-performing assets remain well within expected ranges, with non-performing assets to total assets of 63 bps for the fourth quarter.
• Expenses continued to be well managed, and were comparable to the third quarter when considering a select few items related to the balance sheet activities, displaying management's continued commitment to generate positive operating leverage through a more efficient expense base.