As the Q3 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 First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FBNC) 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 regional banks stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.6%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FBNC)

Founded during the Great Depression in 1934 and originally known as Montgomery Bancorp, First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FBNC) is a community-oriented commercial bank providing a wide range of financial services to businesses and individuals in North and South Carolina.

First Bancorp reported revenues of $117.9 million, up 21.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. 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.

Interestingly, the stock is up 14.8% since reporting and currently trades at $55.81.

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

Best Q3: 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 and net interest income estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 29.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $45.41.

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

Weakest Q3: 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 $103.3 million, down 3.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net interest income and EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $40.12.

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

BOK Financial (NASDAQ: BOKF)

Tracing its roots back to 1910 when Oklahoma was still a young state, BOK Financial (NASDAQ: BOKF) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial banking, consumer banking, and wealth management services across eight states in the central and southwestern US.

BOK Financial reported revenues of $592.1 million, up 12.7% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 7.6%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.

The stock is up 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $131.03.

Read our full, actionable report on BOK Financial here, it’s free.

BankUnited (NYSE: BKU)

Born from the ashes of a failed Florida thrift during the 2009 financial crisis, BankUnited (NYSE: BKU) is a regional bank that provides commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions to businesses and consumers primarily in Florida and the New York metropolitan area.

BankUnited reported revenues of $291.6 million, up 9.1% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

The stock is down 1% since reporting and currently trades at $45.91.

Read our full, actionable report on BankUnited 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.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.