Cullen/Frost Bankers Guides 3.5%–5% Net Interest Income Growth, Executes $70M Buyback
Cullen/Frost Bankers forecasts 2026 net interest income growth of 3.5%–5%, net interest margin improvement of 10–15 bps and average loan growth of 6%–7%, and repurchased $70 million for 508,000 shares in Q4. It anticipates deposit growth of 2%–3%, non-interest income up 4%–5% and expense growth of 5%–6%.
1. Q1 2026 Financial Guidance
Cullen/Frost Bankers projects full-year 2026 net interest income growth of 3.5%–5% and net interest margin expansion of 10–15 basis points from 2025’s 3.66%, driven by strong commercial and residential lending. The bank also forecasts average loan growth of 6%–7%, deposit growth of 2%–3%, non-interest income rising 4%–5%, expense growth of 5%–6%, net charge-offs of 15–20 basis points and an effective tax rate of 15.5%–16.5%.
2. Q4 Share Repurchase Activity
During the fourth quarter, the company deployed $70 million of its $300 million share repurchase authorization to buy back approximately 508,000 shares, underscoring confidence in its capital position. This buyback represents a material use of capital aimed at enhancing shareholder value and offsetting dilution.
3. Earnings Call Rescheduling
Cullen/Frost Bankers rescheduled its Q1 2026 earnings conference call to April 30 at 3:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. ET), hosted by CEO Phil Green and CFO Dan Geddes with a Q&A session to follow. The live webcast and archived replay are accessible via the investor relations website to provide investors with full earnings commentary and analysis.