WEST READING, PA — Customers Bancorp (NYSE: CUBI) closed out 2025 with a sharp fourth-quarter profit, fast-growing loans and deposits, and a fresh set of 2026 targets that the bank says will keep it expanding faster than many of its peers — even as it invests heavily in people, technology, and payments.
Net income available to common shareholders was $70.1 million in the fourth quarter, or $1.98 per diluted share, the company reported. Return on average assets was 1.20% and return on common equity was 13.28%. On a core basis, which excludes certain items, the bank reported $72.9 million in core earnings, or $2.06 per diluted share, with core ROAA of 1.19% and core ROCE of 13.81%.
For the full year, Customers said net income available to common shareholders totaled $209.2 million, or $6.26 per diluted share, while core earnings were reported at $254.5 million, or $7.61 per diluted share. The bank reported full-year ROAA of 0.96% and ROCE of 11.22%, while core ROAA was 1.13% and core ROCE was 13.65%.
Customers reported record net interest income of $750.5 million for 2025, up $96.1 million, or 14.7%, from 2024. Fourth-quarter net interest income was $204.4 million, up $2.5 million from the third quarter, which the bank attributed primarily to lower interest expense.
Total deposits rose $373.7 million, or 1.8%, in the fourth quarter from the third quarter to $20.8 billion, while total loans increased $479.4 million, or 2.9%. Over the full year, deposits increased $1.9 billion, or 10.3%, and loans increased $2.1 billion, or 14.5%, the company said.
Executive Chairman Jay Sidhu said the results reflected continued execution and growth in franchise value. He said the bank’s strategy drove above-industry growth without sacrificing credit structure or quality, and pointed to new commercial banking teams recruited since the second quarter of 2023 as a key growth engine.
Those teams added nearly $600 million of deposits in the fourth quarter, he said, and now manage more than $3.3 billion in deposits across more than 8,000 commercial accounts. Sidhu also said the bank achieved more than $500 million of non-interest-bearing deposit growth in 2025 outside of benefits tied to its cubiX platform clients.
On credit quality, the bank reported a nonperforming assets ratio of 0.29% of total assets at the end of the fourth quarter and said reserve levels were 356% of total nonperforming loans. Nonperforming loans totaled $44 million, including a $10 million government-guaranteed SBA portion, the bank said.
Customers reported a provision for credit losses of $22 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $27 million in the third quarter and $21 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs were $14 million in the quarter, compared with $15 million in the third quarter and a year earlier. The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases stood at $156 million at December 31, 2025, up from $152 million at September 30, 2025 and $137 million at December 31, 2024.
The bank also highlighted capital and balance sheet metrics, reporting a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.0% at December 31, 2025, compared with 12.1% a year earlier. Book value per share rose to $61.87 at year-end, up from $54.20 a year earlier, while tangible book value per share rose to $61.77 from $54.08.
Customers said total shareholders’ equity increased $278.8 million, or 15.2%, during 2025, driven by a completed common stock offering and strong earnings. The company also reported completing a $100 million subordinated debt issuance on December 22, 2025, and redeeming all outstanding shares of its Series F preferred stock, totaling $85 million, on December 15, 2025.
A leadership change also took effect at the start of 2026. Jay Sidhu said he completed a previously announced succession plan with Sam Sidhu becoming chief executive officer effective January 1, 2026.
Looking ahead, the bank laid out aggressive growth and earnings ambitions for 2026. Customers said it is targeting loan growth of 8% to 12% and deposit growth of 8% to 12%, with net interest income projected to rise to $800 million to $830 million. It forecast non-interest expenses of $440 million to $460 million as it continues investing in personnel and technology, while aiming to maintain positive operating leverage. The bank said it is targeting a CET1 ratio of 11.5% to 12.5% and expects a tax rate of 23% to 25%.
“We believe we are incredibly well positioned to continue to improve market share, winning new client relationships and that we have the right strategy, the right team, and a client-centric culture to achieve our goals in 2026 and beyond,” Sam Sidhu said.
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