Great Southern Bancorp Caps record year with 21% earnings growth

Great Southern Bancorp (NASDAQ:GSBC) reported record annual earnings and a sharp improvement in asset quality, despite a contraction in its loan portfolio.

The company posted fourth-quarter net income of $16.3 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, handily beating analyst estimates of $1.38.

For the full year 2025, earnings soared to a record $71 million, or $6.19 per share, up nearly 18% from the previous year.

The bank’s performance was underscored by a strengthened margin profile, with net interest margin (NIM) expanding to 3.70% for the quarter, compared to 3.49% a year ago.

This expansion was achieved even as the bank navigated the October expiration of a lucrative interest rate swap that had previously contributed millions in quarterly accretion.

Asset quality also remained a standout metric, as non-performing assets plummeted to $9.5 million—a 43% decrease from the $16.6 million reported at the end of 2024.

While total net loans decreased 7.1% year-over-year to $4.36 billion, CEO Joseph W. Turner noted the decline was largely driven by intentional payoffs in multi-family and construction lending.

The bank utilized its strong cash flow to return significant value to shareholders, declaring a $0.43 quarterly dividend and executing $44.5 million in share repurchases throughout 2025.

With a tangible common equity ratio of 11.2% and book value rising to approximately $57.50, the bank enters 2026 with one of the most robust capital positions in the regional banking sector.