Investar Holding (NASDAQ:ISTR), the parent company of Investar Bank, reported record-breaking financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
The period was defined by the completion and integration of its acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares (WFB) on January 1, 2026, a move that has fundamentally shifted the bank's scale and geographic reach.
The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $11.5 million, or $0.77 per diluted share.
This robust performance was fueled by a sharp expansion in the net interest margin (NIM), which rose 39 basis points to 3.59%.
The margin improvement reflects the accretive impact of the WFB loan portfolio and the bank's ability to optimize its yield profile in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment.
The balance sheet saw exponential growth as a direct result of the merger.
Total loans reached $3.07 billion, a 41% increase compared to the prior period, while total deposits grew 38% to $3.23 billion.
Management noted that the integration of the Wichita Falls operations has proceeded ahead of schedule, allowing the bank to capture early cost synergies and cross-selling opportunities within its new Texas markets.
As part of the transaction, Investar issued 3,955,272 shares of common stock to WFB shareholders.
This issuance, combined with fair value adjustments related to the acquisition, led to a slight decline in tangible book value, which ended the quarter at $22.72 per share.
Despite the issuance, the bank remained active in its capital management strategy, repurchasing 53,420 shares during the quarter.