As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the regional banks industry, including Independent Bank (NASDAQ: INDB) and its peers.

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%.

While some regional banks stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.9% since the latest earnings results.

Independent Bank (NASDAQ: INDB)

Tracing its roots back to 1907 and serving as a financial cornerstone in New England for over a century, Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB) operates as the holding company for Rockland Trust, providing banking, investment, and financial services across Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Independent Bank reported revenues of $253.7 million, up 43.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 4.9% since reporting and currently trades at $76.63.

Is now the time to buy Independent Bank? 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 20% since reporting. It currently trades at $41.93.

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.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $39.75.

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

Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB)

Tracing its roots back to 1971 and expanding significantly through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB) is a financial holding company that provides a full range of banking services to retail and commercial customers across select markets in the southeastern United States.

Ameris Bancorp reported revenues of $309.9 million, up 6.4% year on year. This print met analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 6% since reporting and currently trades at $76.41.

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

German American Bancorp (NASDAQ: GABC)

Founded in 1910 during a wave of community banking expansion in the Midwest, German American Bancorp (NASDAQ: GABC) is a financial holding company that provides banking, wealth management, and insurance services across southern Indiana and Kentucky.

German American Bancorp reported revenues of $97.57 million, up 47.1% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 1.3% since reporting and currently trades at $40.06.

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

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