CNB FINANCIAL CORP/PA
CCNEBusiness Summary
CNB Financial Corporation operates as a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, with its primary subsidiary, CNB Bank, a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank. The financial services industry in the Corporation’s service area continues to be extremely competitive, both among commercial banks and with other financial service providers such as consumer finance companies, thrifts, investment firms, mutual funds, and credit unions. The increased competition has resulted from changes in legal and regulatory guidelines as well as from economic conditions. Mortgage banking firms, leasing companies, financial affiliates of industrial companies, brokerage firms, retirement fund management firms, and even government agencies provide additional competition for loans and other financial services. Some of the financial service providers operating in the Corporation’s market area operate on a large-scale regional or national basis and possess greater resources than those of the Corporation. The Corporation is generally competitive with all competing financial institutions in its service area with respect to interest rates paid on time and savings deposits, service charges on deposit accounts, and interest rates charged on loans.
The Corporation faces strong competition from nationwide banks, as well as local institutions, in its markets. Many regional, national, and international competitors have far greater assets and capitalization than the Corporation has and greater resources to invest in technology and access to capital markets and can consequently offer a broader array of financial services than the Corporation can. The Corporation’s competitive positioning is supported by its diversified market presence across multiple states and its focus on relationship-based community banking through its various divisions, including CNB Bank, ERIEBANK, FCBank, BankOnBuffalo, Ridge View Bank, ESSA Bank, and Impressia Bank.
The Corporation generates revenue primarily through a full range of banking activities and services for individual, business, governmental and institutional customers. These activities and services principally include checking, savings, and time deposit accounts; real estate, commercial, industrial, residential and consumer loans; and a variety of other specialized financial services. The Bank’s Private Client Solutions division offers a full range of client services, including private banking and wealth and asset management. The Corporation also has four other subsidiaries: CNB Securities Corporation maintains investments in debt and equity securities; CNB Insurance Agency provides for the sale of nonproprietary annuities and other insurance products; CNB Risk Management, Inc. is a captive insurance company; and Holiday Financial Services Corporation offers small balance unsecured loans and secured loans, primarily collateralized by automobiles and equipment, to borrowers with higher risk characteristics. The Corporation’s revenue mix is primarily driven by net interest income, which was $242.0 million 1 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $187.5 million 2 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The Corporation’s loan portfolio is diversified across several major categories. At December 31, 2025, total loans were $6.4 billion 3, excluding $70.8 million 4 of syndicated loans. The largest loan categories included Residential Mortgages secured by first liens at $1,763,071 thousand 5, Non-owner occupied, nonfarm nonresidential properties at $1,419,643 thousand 6, Commercial and Industrial loans at $778,978 thousand 7, Multifamily residential properties at $709,832 thousand 8, and Owner-occupied, nonfarm nonresidential properties at $636,444 thousand 9. The Corporation also maintains a securities portfolio, with available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities totaling $595.2 million 10 and held-to-maturity securities totaling $242.1 million 11 at December 31, 2025. The securities portfolio includes U.S. Government Sponsored Entities, State and Political Subdivisions, Residential and multi-family mortgage-backed securities, Corporate notes and bonds, and Pooled SBA securities.
The Corporation’s deposit base is a primary funding source, with total deposits of $7.0 billion 12 at December 31, 2025, reflecting an increase of $1.7 billion 13, or 30.8% 14, from December 31, 2024. The deposit mix includes Noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $1,092,076 thousand 15, Interest-bearing demand deposits of $1,014,606 thousand 16, Savings deposits of $3,822,639 thousand 17, and Certificates of deposit of $1,097,788 thousand 18. The Corporation also has a syndicated loan portfolio totaling $70.8 million 19, or 1.09% 20 of total loans, at December 31, 2025. The Corporation’s non-interest income was $40.2 million 21 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $39.1 million 22 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
On July 23, 2025, the Corporation completed its previously announced acquisition of ESSA Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary bank, ESSA Bank & Trust Company. The total consideration paid to ESSA shareholders was approximately $202.6 million 23, comprised of approximately 8,359,430 shares 24 of the Corporation's common stock, valued at approximately $202.5 million 25 based on the July 23, 2025 closing price of $24.23 26 per share of the Corporation's common stock, and $21 thousand 27 in cash in lieu of fractional shares. The ESSA acquisition extended CNB Bank’s branch network into the Northeastern Region including the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania through the addition of ESSA’s 20 28 community offices. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Corporation invested $6.3 million 29 in its physical infrastructure through the purchase of land, buildings, and equipment. The Corporation also had a 2025 Common Share Repurchase Program authorizing the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares 30 of common stock, provided that the aggregate purchase price does not exceed $15,000,000 31. As of December 31, 2025, there were 500,000 shares 32 remaining for repurchase under the Plan.
Net income available to common shareholders was $61.8 million 33, or $2.49 34 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2025. Excluding after-tax merger transaction related expenses, adjusted earnings were $73.4 million 35, or $2.95 36 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2025, reflecting an increase of $23.2 million 37, or 46.06% 38, and $0.56 39 per diluted share, or 23.43% 40, compared to earnings of $50.3 million 41, or $2.39 42 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net interest income was $242.0 million 43 for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $187.5 million 44 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net interest margin was 3.65% 45 and 3.41% 46 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Return on average equity was 9.14% 47 for the year ended December 31, 2025. Total assets were $8,396.4 million 48 at December 31, 2025, compared to $6,192.0 million 49 at December 31, 2024.
Business Outlook
A primary growth vector is the expansion of the Corporation’s branch network and market presence through acquisitions, most notably the July 23, 2025 acquisition of ESSA Bancorp, Inc., which added 20 50 community offices in the Northeastern Region including the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. The Corporation also continues to grow organically, with organic loan growth for the full year of 2025, excluding $1.7 billion 51 in loans acquired in the ESSA acquisition, of $218.8 million 52, or an increase of 4.83% 53, compared to December 31, 2024. The full-year increase in loans was primarily driven by growth in the Ridge View Bank, BankOnBuffalo, and legacy CNB Bank and ERIEBANK markets and loan activity in CNB Bank's Private Banking division.
Another growth vector is the continued development of specialized banking divisions. In 2023, the Bank launched Impressia Bank, a full-service banking division dedicated to the professional and financial development and advancement of women business owners and women leaders. This women-focused commercial bank operates within the existing geographic footprint of each of CNB Bank’s other divisions and also has an online presence. Additionally, the Corporation launched the Open Your Door Program in 2025, designed to help more individuals and families achieve the goal of homeownership by providing meaningful financial advantages including low down payment options, flexible underwriting criteria, no private mortgage insurance requirements, waived processing and application fees, and a no-closing-cost option.
The Corporation’s efficiency ratio was 67.64% 54 for the year ended December 31, 2025, and 66.35% 55 on a fully tax-equivalent basis. Excluding merger and integration costs, the efficiency ratio on a fully tax-equivalent basis was 61.49% 56 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 65.47% 57 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The year-over-year decrease was primarily driven by higher net interest income, partially offset by higher non-interest expense, and also reflected the anticipated economies-of-scale operational efficiencies resulting from the ESSA acquisition. Excluding merger and integration costs, total non-interest expense was $177.1 million 58 compared to $150.0 million 59 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2025, the Corporation had a total of 950 60 employees, of which 917 61 were full time and 33 62 were part time. The Corporation invested $6.3 million 63 in its physical infrastructure through the purchase of land, buildings, and equipment during the year ended December 31, 2025. The Corporation continues to enhance its data security systems, technology platforms, employee education and risk management processes. The Corporation’s cybersecurity program is based on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council framework which tailors the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework to be more financial services focused.
The Corporation’s 2025 Common Share Repurchase Program authorizes the repurchase from time to time of up to 500,000 shares 64 of the Corporation's common stock, provided that the aggregate purchase price of shares of common stock repurchased does not exceed $15,000,000 65. Repurchases are authorized during the period beginning on June 23, 2025 through and including June 10, 2026. The Corporation also has outstanding $85.0 million 66 aggregate principal amount of 3.25% 67 Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031. The Corporation raised $57.8 million 68, net of issuance costs, from the issuance of depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of the Corporation's 7.125% 69 Series A fixed rate non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock.
The Corporation faces structural headwinds from the interest rate environment, as its earnings largely depend on the relationship between the yield on its earning assets and the cost of funds. Interest rates remain elevated compared to recent years and may increase. As interest rates rise, the Corporation experiences competitive pressures to increase the rates it pays on deposits, which may decrease its net interest income. Furthermore, elevated interest rates increase the cost of new debt or preferred capital. The Corporation also faces headwinds from economic conditions, as periods of high inflation since the start of 2021 have led to increased costs for businesses and consumers, and international trade disputes, including threatened or implemented tariffs, could result in further inflationary pressures.
The Corporation identified several execution risks, including the risks presented by acquisitions, such as the ability to realize anticipated cost savings, the difficulty of integrating operations and personnel, and the potential disruption of ongoing business. The Corporation also faces risks related to its concentration in certain geographic markets, as its success is dependent to a significant extent upon general economic conditions in the United States and, in particular, the local economies in Central, Northeast and Northwest Pennsylvania, Central and Northeast Ohio, Western New York and Southwest Virginia. Additionally, the Corporation is subject to extensive government regulation and supervision, and changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies could affect the Corporation in substantial and unpredictable ways.
Risk Factors
The Corporation’s allowance for credit losses may not be adequate to cover loan losses, as the determination of the appropriate level involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends. The CECL methodology may create more volatility in the level of the allowance from quarter to quarter, dependent upon macroeconomic forecasts and conditions. Interest rate volatility could significantly reduce profitability, as the Corporation’s earnings largely depend on the net interest margin, which is susceptible to fluctuation from economic and competitive factors. The Bank’s loans are principally concentrated in certain areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Virginia, and adverse economic conditions in those markets could adversely affect the Corporation’s business. The Corporation faces risks from its acquisition of ESSA, including the difficulty of integrating operations and personnel, and the potential disruption of ongoing business. The Corporation is subject to extensive government regulation and supervision, and changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies could affect the Corporation in substantial and unpredictable ways. As a result of the merger with ESSA, the Bank agreed to and assumed all obligations under the ESSA Consent Order, which required ESSA Bank to invest a minimum of $2.92 million 70 in a loan subsidy fund and devote a minimum of $125,000 71 on community partnerships and $250,000 72 toward advertising, outreach, consumer financial education, and credit counseling.
Management Priorities
Management’s discussion and analysis emphasizes the Corporation’s financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025, highlighting net income available to common shareholders of $61.8 million 73, or $2.49 74 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings of $73.4 million 75, or $2.95 76 per diluted share, excluding after-tax merger transaction related expenses. The tone is focused on the positive impact of the ESSA acquisition, which contributed to a 29.11% 77 increase in net interest income, and the achievement of economies-of-scale operational efficiencies. Key strategic priorities emphasized include the successful integration of the ESSA acquisition, organic loan growth of $218.8 million 78 or 4.83% 79, and the continued expansion of specialized banking divisions such as Impressia Bank and the Open Your Door Program. Management also highlights the Corporation’s strong capital position, with all capital ratios exceeding regulatory well-capitalized levels, and the maintenance of a robust liquidity position with total available liquidity sources approximately 5.2 80 times the estimated amount of adjusted uninsured deposit balances.
View Source Annual Report on SEC.gov ↗
References
- [1] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [2] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [3] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [4] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [5] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [6] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [7] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [8] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [9] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [10] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [11] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [12] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [13] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [14] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [15] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [16] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [17] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [18] Item 7, MD&A — Funding Sources
- [19] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [20] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [21] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [22] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [23] Item 1, Business — Merger with ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
- [24] Item 1, Business — Merger with ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
- [25] Item 1, Business — Merger with ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
- [26] Item 1, Business — Merger with ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
- [27] Item 1, Business — Merger with ESSA Bancorp, Inc.
- [28] Item 1, Business — CNB Bank
- [29] Item 7, MD&A — Premises and Equipment
- [30] Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
- [31] Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
- [32] Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
- [33] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [34] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [35] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
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- [44] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [45] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [46] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [47] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [48] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [49] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [50] Item 1, Business — CNB Bank
- [51] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [52] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [53] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [54] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [55] Item 7, MD&A — Non-GAAP Financial Measures
- [56] Item 7, MD&A — Non-GAAP Financial Measures
- [57] Item 7, MD&A — Non-GAAP Financial Measures
- [58] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [59] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [60] Item 1, Business — Human Capital
- [61] Item 1, Business — Human Capital
- [62] Item 1, Business — Human Capital
- [63] Item 7, MD&A — Premises and Equipment
- [64] Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
- [65] Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
- [66] Item 7, MD&A — Borrowings
- [67] Item 7, MD&A — Borrowings
- [68] Item 7, MD&A — Shareholders’ Equity
- [69] Item 7, MD&A — Shareholders’ Equity
- [70] Item 1, Business — Supervision and Regulation
- [71] Item 1, Business — Supervision and Regulation
- [72] Item 1, Business — Supervision and Regulation
- [73] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [74] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [75] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [76] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [77] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [78] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [79] Item 7, MD&A — Loans Receivable
- [80] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [81] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [82] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
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- [86] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
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- [88] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
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- [90] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [91] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [92] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
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- [99] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [100] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [101] Item 7, MD&A — Results of Operations
- [102] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [103] Item 7, MD&A — Financial Condition
- [104] Item 7, MD&A — Shareholders’ Equity
- [105] Item 7, MD&A — Shareholders’ Equity
- [106] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [107] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [108] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [109] Item 7, MD&A — Allowance for Credit Losses
- [110] Item 7, MD&A — Non-GAAP Financial Measures
- [111] Item 7, MD&A — Capital Ratios and Metrics
- [112] Item 7, MD&A — Capital Ratios and Metrics
Analysis on 6/21/2026