First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Q1 2026 Earnings Recap

First Citizens BancShares delivered solid Q1 results with adjusted EPS of $44.86, supported by strong deposit growth and disciplined expense management, despite the impact of lower interest rates.

Key Takeaways

• Adjusted net interest income declined by $101 million due to lower NIM (down 11 bps to 3.09%) amid rate cuts, but was partly offset by organic loan growth and lower funding costs.
• Deposit growth accelerated by 5.7% sequentially, driven by client activity in tech, healthcare, and global fund banking, complemented by strategic use of broker deposits.
• Loans increased marginally by 0.5% to $762 billion, with global fund banking reaching a record production of over $6 billion.
• The bank returned $900 million via share repurchases and prepaid $2.5 billion on FDIC promissory notes, bolstering liquidity and capital strength.
• Strategic initiatives include expanding payments, international banking, digital assets, and a planned brand unification in Q4, enhancing platform solutions without impacting client service quality.