As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at regional banks stocks, starting with Washington Trust Bancorp (NASDAQ: WASH).

Regional banks, financial institutions operating within specific geographic areas, serve as intermediaries between local depositors and borrowers. They benefit from rising interest rates that improve net interest margins (the difference between loan yields and deposit costs), digital transformation reducing operational expenses, and local economic growth driving loan demand. However, these banks face headwinds from fintech competition, deposit outflows to higher-yielding alternatives, credit deterioration (increasing loan defaults) during economic slowdowns, and regulatory compliance costs. Recent concerns about regional bank stability following high-profile failures and significant commercial real estate exposure present additional challenges.

The 95 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.6%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 6.9% since the latest earnings results.

Washington Trust Bancorp (NASDAQ: WASH)

Founded in 1800 and operating as Rhode Island's oldest community bank, Washington Trust Bancorp (NASDAQ: WASH) is a regional bank holding company offering commercial banking, mortgage lending, personal banking, and wealth management services.

Washington Trust Bancorp reported revenues of $59.47 million, up 20.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.2%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

"Our fourth quarter results reflect continued earnings momentum and improving profitability, with year-over-year performance supported by margin expansion, strong in-market deposit growth, and increases in wealth management and mortgage banking revenues," said Washington Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward O. "Ned" Handy III.

Interestingly, the stock is up 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $32.14.

Is now the time to buy Washington Trust Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQ: MBIN)

With a strategic focus on low-risk, government-backed lending programs, Merchants Bancorp (NASDAQCM:MBIN) is an Indiana-based bank holding company specializing in multi-family mortgage banking, mortgage warehousing, and traditional banking services.

Merchants Bancorp reported revenues of $185.3 million, down 4.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.8%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 17.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.17.

Is now the time to buy Merchants Bancorp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC)

Operating under familiar local brands like Community Banks of Colorado, Bank Midwest, and Bank of Jackson Hole, National Bank Holdings (NYSE: NBHC) operates regional banks across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Texas, and other western states, offering commercial, business, and consumer banking services.

National Bank Holdings reported revenues of $102.6 million, down 3.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 6.4% since the results and currently trades at $37.50.

Read our full analysis of National Bank Holdings’s results here.

First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME)

Dating back to 1893 when it first opened its doors in Indiana, First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME) is a Midwest regional bank providing commercial, consumer, and wealth management services through branches in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

First Merchants reported revenues of $178.4 million, down 8.3% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 3% since reporting and currently trades at $36.87.

Read our full, actionable report on First Merchants here, it’s free.

OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG)

Originally founded in 1964 as a federal savings and loan institution, OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) provides banking and financial services including commercial and consumer lending, wealth management, insurance, and trust services primarily in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

OFG Bancorp reported revenues of $185.4 million, up 1.9% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 9% since reporting and currently trades at $38.74.

Read our full, actionable report on OFG Bancorp here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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