Old Second Bancorp reported fourth-quarter earnings of $0.58 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.53 and representing a 31.8% increase from $0.44 per share in the year-ago quarter. This beat underscores significant bottom-line momentum, driven largely by a modest expansion in net interest margin and restrained credit costs. Investors will note that net interest income rose by 5.2% year-over-year, as loan balances increased by $120 million year-on-year to $4.3 billion, while the allowance for credit losses remained stable at 1.15% of total loans. Non-interest expenses grew by just 2.1%, reflecting disciplined expense management despite investments in digital banking initiatives. Asset quality held steady, with non-performing assets declining 8 basis points to 0.42% of total assets. Given the stronger-than-expected earnings and controlled cost base, Old Second Bancorp’s results point to improved operating leverage and support a favorable outlook for return on equity in 2026.