Cass Information Systems reports First Quarter 2026 Results
Reports another quarter of strong EPS growth
Continued net interest margin expansion
Strong expense control
ST. LOUIS – Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASS) (the Company or Cass) today reported its first quarter 2026 earnings.
First Quarter Financial Highlights
•Net income and diluted earnings per share of $8.8 million and $0.67, respectively.
•Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $8.7 million and $0.66, respectively, increases of 23.7% and 26.9%, respectively, compared to the prior year quarter.
•Increase in net interest margin to 3.95%, compared to 3.75% in the prior year quarter.
•Increase in facility dollar volumes of 7.4% compared to the prior year quarter.
•Personnel expense levels flat compared to the prior year quarter as a result of ongoing automation and efficiency initiatives.
•Continued strong asset quality with no loan charge-offs and an allowance for credit losses to loans ratio of 1.27%. In addition, reduced non-performing loans by $3.9 million, or 55.1% as compared to December 31, 2025.
•Repurchased 64,802 shares of Company stock at a weighted average price of $44.34.
Martin Resch, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, noted, “The management team is proud of how we have started the year. We continue to drive revenue growth while keeping core expenses relatively flat compared to prior periods.” Resch added, “Going forward in 2026, we see opportunities to grow net interest income driven by rising funding balances and the deployment of those funds into loans and investment securities, as well as increasing financial fees from higher demand for advances through Amplify and other quick pay solutions. The ability to combine revenue growth with expense control, primarily due to automation and the ongoing consolidation within our Facilities division, offers very compelling earnings momentum for us in coming periods."
Earnings for the first quarter of 2026 are summarized as follows:
($ in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
3/31/26
12/31/25
9/30/25
6/30/25
3/31/25
Net income from continuing operations
$
8,739
$
8,189
$
9,212
$
5,160
$
8,551
Net income
$
8,832
$
8,189
$
9,106
$
8,855
$
8,966
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
$
0.66
$
0.62
$
0.69
$
0.38
$
0.63
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.67
$
0.62
$
0.68
$
0.66
$
0.66
Return on average equity
14.63%
13.45%
15.29%
15.35%
15.91%
Return on average assets
1.42%
1.28%
1.44%
1.48%
1.51%
Net interest margin
3.95%
3.93%
3.87%
3.78%
3.75%
($ in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
3/31/26
12/31/25
9/30/25
6/30/25
3/31/25
Net income from continuing operations (GAAP)
$
8,739
$
8,189
$
9,212
$
5,160
$
8,551
Net income adjustments(1)
(4)
821
(3)
2,674
(1,489)
Adjusted net income from continuing operations (Non-GAAP) (1)
$
8,735
$
9,010
$
9,209
$
7,834
$
7,062
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (GAAP)
$
0.66
$
0.62
$
0.69
$
0.38
$
0.63
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Non-GAAP) (1)
$
0.66
$
0.68
$
0.69
$
0.58
$
0.52
(1)Refer to explanation of use of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliation of adjusted net income from continuing operations and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations as presented later in this earnings release.
First Quarter 2026 Financial Commentary
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2025, except as noted)
Transportation Invoice and Dollar Volumes – Transportation invoice volumes of 8.1 million decreased 3.1% as compared to the first quarter of 2025. Transportation dollar volumes of $9.0 billion increased 4.5% as compared to the first quarter of 2025. The average dollars per invoice were $1,115 in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $1,093 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $1,034 in the first quarter of 2025. Invoice volumes remain lower than prior periods primarily due to the ongoing freight recession. Dollars per invoice increased as compared to the first quarter of 2025 due to an increase in overall freight rates, as well as the impact of tariffs. A more detailed analysis of Cass Freight Index® changes can be found at www.cassinfo.com.
Facility Expense Invoice and Dollar Volumes – Facility expense invoice volumes of 4.0 million decreased 4.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2025. Facility expense dollar volumes totaled $6.3 billion, an increase of 7.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase in facility dollar volumes was primarily driven by rising energy prices.
Processing Fees – Processing fees decreased $741,000, or 4.5% over the same period in the prior year due to lower transportation and facility transaction volumes.
Financial Fees – Financial fees, earned on a transactional level basis for invoice payment services when making customer payments, increased $470,000, or 4.7%. The increase in financial fees was primarily due to an increase in average payments in advance of funding of 2.0%. The Company has recently seen increased demand for its quick pay solutions and continues to focus on the rollout of its Amplify working capital solution as well as other opportunities to increase payments in advance of funding and resulting financial fees in future quarters.
Net Interest Income – Net interest income increased $1.9 million, or 10.1%. The increase in net interest income was attributable to the net interest margin improving to 3.95% as compared to 3.75% in the same period last year, in addition to an increase in average interest-earning assets of $110.2 million, or 5.2%.
The Company’s net interest margin improvement was driven by increases in the average yield on loans and investment securities of 20 and 83 basis points, respectively, combined with a decrease in the average cost of total deposits of 15 basis points, partially offset by a decrease in the yield on short-term investments of 73 basis points. The increase in loan yield
was driven by the continued maturity and subsequent re-pricing of fixed rate loans originated in the years 2021 and 2022 to current market interest rates as well as the payoff of a non-performing loan which increased the loan yield by seven basis points. The increase in the investment securities yield was driven by the partial repositioning of the portfolio at the end of the second quarter of 2025 as well as purchases of investments at current market rates. The decline in the cost of total deposits and yield on short-term investments was driven by the reduction in the federal funds rate.
The Company would expect continued expansion in its net interest margin in future quarters to the extent 3-5 year U.S. Treasury interest rates stay relatively consistent or increase as compared to current levels.
Provision for Credit Losses - The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $61,000 during the first quarter of 2026 as compared to $905,000 in the first quarter of 2025. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2026 was largely driven by loan growth.
Personnel Expenses - Personnel expenses were flat as compared to the first quarter of 2025. Salaries and commissions decreased $395,000, or 2.0%, as a result of the decrease in average full-time equivalent employees (“FTEs”) of 7.9% due to automation and the ongoing consolidation within our Facilities division, partially offset by merit increases. Share-based compensation and employee profit sharing increased $198,000 and $132,000, respectively, due to the improvement in net income from continuing operations. Other benefits increased $65,000, or 1.3%, due to higher health insurance costs, partially offset by the decrease in average FTEs.
The Company continues to expect a gradual decline in its FTEs in future quarters as a result of the continued focus on AI-enabled systems and other operational efficiency opportunities.
Equipment Expense - Equipment expense increased $138,000 as compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to an increase in depreciation and licensing and maintenance expense on software related to recently completed technology initiatives.
Other Expense - Other expense increased $590,000, or 8.5%, as compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase is primarily due to higher business development, postage and professional fees.
Loans - When compared to December 31, 2025, loans increased $27.5 million, or 2.6%. Other commercial and industrial loans increased $22.7 million during the first quarter of 2026. The Company expects loan growth of 6-8% for full year 2026.
Payments in Advance of Funding – Average payments in advance of funding increased $3.4 million, or 2.0%, as compared to the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to a 4.5% increase in transportation dollar volumes. The ending balance of payments in advance of funding increased $96.1 million, or 58.4%, as compared to December 31, 2025. The increase is due to a recent higher level of demand for the Company’s quick pay solutions as well as timing of quarter end advances.
Deposits – Average deposits increased $36.6 million, or 3.5%, when compared to the first quarter of 2025.
Accounts and Drafts Payable - Average accounts and drafts payable increased $100.1 million, or 9.3%, as compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase in these balances, which are non-interest bearing, are primarily reflective of the increase in transportation and facility dollar volumes of 4.5% and 7.4%, respectively.
Short-term Borrowings - The Company had outstanding borrowings of $145.0 million on its lines of credit at March 31, 2026 primarily in order to fund a $96.1 million increase in payments in advance of funding as compared to December 31, 2025.
Shareholders’ Equity - Total shareholders’ equity decreased $1.2 million as compared to December 31, 2025 as a result of the repurchase of Company stock of $2.9 million, dividends of $4.1 million, and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $3.4 million, partially offset by net income of $8.8 million.
Dividend - On April 21, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share with the dividend payable on June 15, 2026 to shareholders of record on June 5, 2026.
Repurchase of Common Stock - The Company repurchased 64,802 shares of common stock during the current quarter. The Company anticipates further repurchases in coming quarters with an overall objective of maintaining a leverage ratio of approximately 10.00%. Future levels of repurchases will depend on market conditions, earnings, balance sheet growth and potential acquisition opportunities.
Asset Quality - Non-performing loans totaled $3.1 million at March 31, 2026, a decrease of $3.9 million as compared to December 31, 2025. The Company received a full payoff on one of its three non-performing loans during the first quarter of 2026 and does not believe there is more than nominal loss exposure on the remaining two loans based on collateral position.
About Cass Information Systems
Cass Information Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions. Cass enables enterprises to achieve visibility, control and efficiency in their supply chains, communications networks, facilities and other operations. Disbursing over $94 billion annually on behalf of clients, and with total assets of $2.5 billion, Cass is uniquely supported by Cass Commercial Bank. Founded in 1906 and a wholly owned subsidiary, Cass Commercial Bank provides sophisticated financial exchange services to the parent organization and its clients. Cass is part of the Russell 2000®. More information is available at www.cassinfo.com.
On April 7, 2025, the Company signed an Asset Purchase Agreement providing for the sale of its Telecom Expense Management & Managed Mobility Services (“TEM”) business to Asignet USA Inc. The sale closed on June 30, 2025. The Company has applied discontinued operations accounting in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), Topic 205-20, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Discontinued Operations,” to the assets and liabilities sold related to the Company's TEM Business Unit as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2026, December 31, 2025, September 30, 2025, June 30, 2025, and March 31, 2025, as applicable. All financial information in this earnings release is reported on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of the financial measures and ratios the Company presents, including “adjusted net income from continuing operations,” and “adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations,” are supplemental measures that are not required by, or are not presented in accordance with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company refers to these financial measures and ratios as “non-GAAP financial measures.” The Company considers the use of select non-GAAP financial measures and ratios to be useful for financial and operational decision making and useful in evaluating period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding certain revenue and expense items that the Company believes are not indicative of its primary business operating results or by presenting certain metrics on a fully taxable equivalent basis. The Company believes that management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s performance and when planning, forecasting, analyzing and comparing past, present and future periods.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and you should not rely on non-GAAP financial measures alone as measures of the Company’s performance. The non-GAAP financial measures the Company presents may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company’s peers or other companies. The Company compensates for these differences by providing the equivalent GAAP measures whenever the Company presents the non-GAAP financial measures and by including a reconciliation of the impact of the components adjusted for in the non-GAAP financial measure so that both measures and the individual components may be considered when analyzing the Company’s performance. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.
Forward Looking Information
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including without limitation the Company’s future prospects and performance, the business strategy and the plans and objectives of the Company's management for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this release, words such as “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “likely,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projected,” and variations of these terms and similar expressions. Although
the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Actual results or business conditions may differ materially from those projected or suggested in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those described below and in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our most recent Annual Report.
Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to general economic, market or business conditions unrelated to the Company’s operating performance, including inflation, changes in interest rates, changes in energy prices, supply chain disruptions, financial institution disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, public health emergencies and declines in consumer confidence and discretionary spending; the Company’s ability to compete with its competitors and increase market share; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with rules and regulations applicable to our business operations and industry; increased regulatory examination scrutiny or new regulatory requirements; whether the Company’s customers continue to utilize its payment processing and related services; unfavorable developments concerning customer credit quality; risk associated with lending concentrations including, but not limited to, faith-based ministries and franchise restaurants; liquidity risk; and risks associated with cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Unless required by law, the Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
($ and numbers in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
3/31/26
12/31/25
9/30/25
6/30/25
3/31/25
Processing fees
$
15,728
$
16,304
$
16,655
$
16,700
$
16,469
Financial fees
10,431
9,860
10,416
10,161
9,961
Total fee revenue
$
26,159
$
26,164
$
27,071
$
26,861
$
26,430
Interest and fees on loans
15,277
15,521
15,632
15,837
15,350
Interest and dividends on investment securities
6,995
6,767
5,679
4,799
4,147
Interest on short-term investments
2,832
3,078
3,860
3,003
3,893
Total interest income
$
25,104
$
25,366
$
25,171
$
23,639
$
23,390
Interest expense
3,888
3,895
4,151
4,164
4,116
Net interest income
$
21,216
$
21,471
$
21,020
$
19,475
$
19,274
(Provision for) release of credit losses
(61)
389
193
(25)
(905)
Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities
5
38
4
(3,558)
(18)
Other
1,782
1,827
1,768
1,645
1,626
Total revenues
$
49,101
$
49,889
$
50,056
$
44,398
$
46,407
Salaries and commissions
19,268
20,304
20,105
20,638
19,663
Share-based compensation
1,439
1,009
1,018
918
1,241
Employee profit sharing
1,634
1,514
1,685
1,583
1,502
Other benefits
4,938
4,602
4,798
4,613
4,873
Total personnel expenses
$
27,279
$
27,429
$
27,606
$
27,752
$
27,279
Occupancy
681
643
734
669
721
Equipment
2,432
2,548
2,513
2,562
2,294
Amortization of intangible assets
293
293
293
293
293
Bad debt recovery
—
—
—
—
(2,000)
Other
7,533
8,988
7,295
6,843
6,943
Total operating expenses
$
38,218
$
39,901
$
38,441
$
38,119
$
35,530
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
$
10,883
$
9,988
$
11,615
$
6,279
$
10,877
Income tax expense
2,144
1,799
2,403
1,119
2,326
Net income from continuing operations
$
8,739
$
8,189
$
9,212
$
5,160
$
8,551
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
93
—
(106)
3,695
415
Net income
$
8,832
$
8,189
$
9,106
$
8,855
$
8,966
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
$
.68
$
.63
$
.70
$
.39
$
.64
Basic earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
.01
—
(.01)
.28
.03
Basic earnings per share
$
.69
$
.63
$
.69
$
.67
$
.67
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
$
.66
$
.62
$
.69
$
.38
$
.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
.01
—
(.01)
.28
.03
Diluted earnings per share
$
.67
$
.62
$
.68
$
.66
$
.66
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
($ in thousands)
As of
3/31/26
12/31/25
9/30/25
6/30/25
3/31/25
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
244,343
$
392,268
$
258,634
$
218,165
$
220,674
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value
785,343
770,772
717,369
599,541
576,510
Loans
1,088,730
1,061,217
1,088,347
1,117,004
1,141,874
Less: Allowance for credit losses
(13,861)
(13,597)
(14,066)
(14,296)
(14,286)
Loans, net
$
1,074,869
$
1,047,620
$
1,074,281
$
1,102,708
$
1,127,588
Payments in advance of funding
260,624
164,514
188,040
177,601
175,326
Premises and equipment, net
29,903
29,449
30,287
30,700
31,748
Investments in bank-owned life insurance
52,670
52,195
51,700
51,224
50,767
Goodwill and other intangible assets
19,599
19,892
20,200
20,493
20,786
Accounts and drafts receivable from customers
4,950
69,425
49,798
60,276
40,465
Other assets
61,490
59,889
63,313
55,310
60,536
Assets of discontinued operations
—
—
—
—
14,057
Total assets
$
2,533,791
$
2,606,024
$
2,453,622
$
2,316,018
$
2,318,457
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
Deposits
Non-interest bearing
$
406,113
$
513,434
$
407,169
$
370,606
$
363,798
Interest-bearing
699,570
686,599
627,491
633,189
636,277
Total deposits
$
1,105,683
$
1,200,033
$
1,034,660
$
1,003,795
$
1,000,075
Accounts and drafts payable
1,000,154
1,124,858
1,130,371
1,036,795
1,016,324
Short-term borrowings
145,000
—
—
—
—
Other liabilities
41,162
38,135
45,142
34,606
48,823
Liabilities of discontinued operations
—
—
—
—
18,988
Total liabilities
$
2,291,999
$
2,363,026
$
2,210,173
$
2,075,196
$
2,084,210
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock
$
7,753
$
7,753
$
7,753
$
7,753
$
7,753
Additional paid-in capital
206,807
207,052
205,925
204,842
203,755
Retained earnings
171,797
167,092
163,038
158,005
153,278
Common shares in treasury, at cost
(114,366)
(112,148)
(103,835)
(97,103)
(91,025)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(30,199)
(26,751)
(29,432)
(32,675)
(39,514)
Total shareholders’ equity
$
241,792
$
242,998
$
243,449
$
240,822
$
234,247
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
2,533,791
$
2,606,024
$
2,453,622
$
2,316,018
$
2,318,457
Consolidated Financial Summary (unaudited)
($ in thousands)
As of or for Three Months Ended
3/31/26
12/31/25
9/30/25
6/30/25
3/31/25
LOAN PORTFOLIO
Commercial & Industrial:
Franchise
$
233,088
$
235,718
$
249,855
$
260,283
$
258,539
Leases
123,914
119,186
123,601
111,657
124,290
Other
220,863
198,194
196,273
211,629
229,514
Commercial Real Estate:
Faith-Based
396,758
397,608
407,074
410,917
403,525
Other
114,107
110,511
111,544
122,518
126,006
Total loans
$
1,088,730
$
1,061,217
$
1,088,347
$
1,117,004
$
1,141,874
AVERAGE BALANCES
Interest-earning assets
$
2,214,838
$
2,207,672
$
2,189,384
$
2,090,366
$
2,104,603
Loans
1,066,371
1,081,819
1,095,412
1,125,899
1,109,526
Investment securities
777,777
755,004
667,271
613,782
554,905
Short-term investments
339,667
334,824
382,250
298,875
383,836
Payments in advance of funding
176,987
175,009
175,705
176,191
173,590
Assets
2,523,860
2,529,068
2,499,914
2,402,508
2,408,406
Non-interest bearing deposits
421,702
421,548
406,241
393,054
405,183
Interest-bearing deposits
648,261
614,165
610,403
615,921
628,214
Accounts and drafts payable
1,172,102
1,214,865
1,209,416
1,122,739
1,072,013
Shareholders’ equity
$
244,850
$
241,525
$
236,208
$
231,414
$
228,615
YIELDS (tax equivalent)1
Net interest margin
3.95%
3.93%
3.87%
3.78%
3.75%
Interest-earning assets
4.67%
4.63%
4.62%
4.58%
4.54%
Loans
5.81%
5.69%
5.66%
5.64%
5.61%
Investment securities
3.69%
3.59%
3.34%
3.02%
2.86%
Short-term investments
3.38%
3.65%
4.01%
4.03%
4.11%
Total deposits
1.47%
1.49%
1.62%
1.66%
1.62%
Interest-bearing deposits
2.43%
2.52%
2.70%
2.71%
2.66%
ASSET QUALITY
Allowance for credit losses to loans
1.27%
1.28%
1.29%
1.28%
1.25%
Non-performing loans
$
3,139
$
6,992
$
7,074
$
3,380
$
—
Non-performing loans to total loans
0.29%
0.66%
0.65%
0.30%
—%
Net loan charge-offs to loans
—%
—%
—%
—%
—%
1 Yields are presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 21%.
