Bank of the James Announces Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2025 Financial Results

LYNCHBURG, Va., Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ:BOTJ), the parent company of Bank of the James (the "Bank"), a full-service commercial and retail bank, and Pettyjohn, Wood & White, Inc. ("PWW"), an SEC-registered investment advisor, today announced unaudited results of operations for the three-and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2025. The Bank serves Region 2000 (the greater Lynchburg metropolitan statistical area) and the Blacksburg, Buchanan, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Nellysford, Roanoke, and Wytheville, Virginia markets.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Highlights

• Record annual earnings of $9.02 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, an increase of $1.08 million, or 13.6%, from $7.94 million in 2024. Earnings per share increased to $1.99 from $1.75, representing a 13.6% improvement.
• Fourth quarter net income was $2.72 million, compared to $1.62 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Fourth quarter earnings per share were $0.60 compared to $0.36 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Total assets increased to $1.04 billion at December 31, 2025, up $59.78 million, or 6.1%, from $979.24 million at December 31, 2024.
• Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, increased to $661.36 million at December 31, 2025, up $24.81 million, or 3.9%, from $636.55 million at December 31, 2024.
• Total deposits increased to $937.13 million at December 31, 2025, up $54.73 million, or 6.2%, from $882.40 million at December 31, 2024, driven by growth in core deposits.
• Net interest income increased 11.1% to $8.54 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from $7.69 million a year earlier. For the full year 2025, net interest income increased 12.2% to $32.81 million from $29.24 million in 2024.
• Net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was 3.44% compared with 3.18% for the three months ended December 31, 2024. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, net interest margin was 3.39% compared to 3.11% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
• Interest expense decreased 12.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to $3.47 million from $3.95 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the full year, interest expense declined 10.1% to $13.85 million from $15.41 million, driven by lower deposit costs and the retirement of capital notes.
• Efficiency ratio (non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income) improved to 70.81% in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 82.62% in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the full year, the efficiency ratio improved to 77.17% from 79.11% for the prior year, as revenue growth of 9.7% outpaced expense growth of 7.0%.
• Wealth management fees from PWW increased 10.4% to $5.35 million in 2025 from $4.84 million in 2024, contributing approximately $0.38 per share to earnings.
• Stockholders' equity increased to $80.05 million at December 31, 2025 from $64.87 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of 23.4%. Book value per share rose to $17.62 from $14.28.
• Pre-tax, pre-provision income increased to $3.76 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $2.00 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. For full year 2025, pre-tax, pre-provision income was $11.1 million, compared to $9.27 million for 2024, an increase of 19.9%.

Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2025 Operational Review

Robert R. Chapman III, CEO of the Bank, commented: "We had record annual earnings of $9.02 million in 2025, up 13.6% from 2024. Margin improved as we managed deposit pricing and loan yields, and interest expense declined after we retired approximately $10.05 million in capital notes earlier in the year. Fourth-quarter noninterest expense also declined as we reduced data processing costs and professional fees. We will carry that same focus on pricing, costs, and credit into 2026."

Mike Syrek, President of the Bank added: "On the expense side, vendor renegotiations and lower professional fees reduced fourth-quarter noninterest expense, and we expect those savings to continue into 2026. Our efficiency ratio improved dramatically throughout the year, reflecting the progress we've made on the expense side. Continuing to improve efficiency remains a key focus in 2026."

Net interest income, for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $8.54 million, up 11.1% from $7.69 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the full year 2025, net interest income grew $3.57 million, or 12.2%, to $32.81 million from $29.24 million in 2024.

Total interest income was $12.01 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $11.64 million a year earlier. For the full year 2025, total interest income rose to $46.66 million from $44.64 million in 2024. Quarter-to-date and year-to-date growth was driven largely by higher rates on variable-rate commercial loans and the origination of new loans at current market rates.

Total interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2025 declined 12.1% to $3.47 million compared with $3.95 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the full year 2025, total interest expense declined to $13.85 million from $15.41 million in the prior year. Lower interest expense in both periods primarily reflected the moderately easing rate environment, the Bank's active management of deposit pricing, and the retirement of approximately $10.05 million in capital notes at the end of the second quarter of 2025.

Net interest margin and interest spread improved during the past year as loan yields remained aligned with the interest rate environment and the Bank controlled deposit costs and borrowings. Net interest margin of 3.44% in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased from both the second and third quarters of 2025.

Noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2025 was $4.33 million compared with $3.82 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 13.3%. Noninterest income for the full year 2025 was $15.85 million compared with $15.14 million in 2024, an increase of 4.7%. Most noninterest income in both periods came from gains on sale of loans held for sale by our mortgage division, wealth management fees generated by PWW, and service charges, fees and commissions from commercial treasury services and debit card activity. Growth in management fees generated by PWW resulted from an increase in assets under management.

Noninterest expense in the fourth quarter of 2025 was $9.11 million compared with $9.50 million a year earlier, a decrease of 4.2%. The improvement reflects reduced data processing costs from successful vendor negotiations and lower professional fees.

For the full year 2025, noninterest expense was $37.55 million compared with $35.11 million in 2024. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to increased salaries and employee benefits, including the addition of revenue-generating employees and new banking facilities in strategic locations, partially offset by reductions in data processing.

Balance Sheet: Asset Growth

Total assets were $1.04 billion at December 31, 2025 compared with $979.24 million at December 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to growth in loans and securities available-for-sale.

Syrek commented: "We finished 2025 with over $1 billion in assets, supported by loan and deposit growth. Net loans increased 3.9% year over year, and the allowance for credit losses ended the year at $6.45 million. We were able to grow loans without compromising our credit standards."

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, were $661.36 million at December 31, 2025 compared with $636.55 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $24.81 million, or 3.9%. The allowance for credit losses was $6.45 million at December 31, 2025 and $7.04 million at December 31, 2024.

Total deposits were $937.13 million at December 31, 2025 compared with $882.40 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $54.73 million, or 6.2%. Core deposits (noninterest bearing demand deposits, NOW, money market and savings) were $701.80 million compared with $651.90 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $49.90 million, or 7.7%, driven by growth in lower-cost core deposits.

Stockholders' equity rose to $80.05 million at December 31, 2025 from $64.87 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of 23.4%. Retained earnings increased to $50.01 million at December 31, 2025 from $42.80 million at December 31, 2024. Book value per share rose to $17.62 at December 31, 2025 from $14.28 at December 31, 2024, reflecting both retained earnings growth and improved valuations in the Company's available-for-sale investment portfolio as market interest rates declined.

About the Company

Bank of the James, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. opened for business in July 1999 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Bank currently services customers in Virginia from offices located in Altavista, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Blacksburg, Buchanan, Charlottesville, Forest, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Nellysford, Roanoke, Rustburg, and Wytheville. The Bank offers full investment and insurance services through its BOTJ Investment Services division and BOTJ Insurance, Inc. subsidiary. The Bank provides mortgage loan origination through Bank of the James Mortgage, a division of Bank of the James. The Company provides investment advisory services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pettyjohn, Wood & White, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor. Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. common stock is listed under the symbol "BOTJ" on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC. Additional information on the Company is available at: www.bankofthejames.bank.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "plan" and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company") undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, competition, general economic conditions, potential changes in interest rates, changes in the value of real estate securing loans made by the Bank, as well as geopolitical conditions. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Eric J. Sorenson, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank, (434) 846-2000.

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOLLOW

Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

	(unaudited)
Assets	12/31/2025				12/31/2024
Cash and due from banks	$	28,538			$	23,287
Federal funds sold		55,937				50,022
Total cash and cash equivalents		84,475				73,309
Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $3,315 as of December 31, 2025 and $3,170 as of December 31, 2024) net of allowance for credit losses of $0 as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024		3,590				3,606
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value		214,128				187,916
Restricted stock, at cost		1,828				1,821
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,450 as of December 31, 2025 and $7,044 as of December 31, 2024		661,357				636,552
Loans held for sale		3,472				3,616
Premises and equipment, net		19,132				19,313
Interest receivable		3,380				3,065
Cash value - bank owned life insurance		23,676				22,907
Customer relationship intangible		6,164				6,725
Goodwill		2,054				2,054
Other assets		15,768				18,360
Total assets	$	1,039,024			$	979,244
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits
Noninterest bearing demand	$	131,456			$	129,692
NOW, money market and savings		570,345				522,208
Time		235,328				230,504
Total deposits		937,129				882,404
Capital notes, net		-				10,048
Other borrowings		8,796				9,300
Interest payable		1,167				722
Other liabilities		11,884				11,905
Total liabilities	$	958,976			$	914,379
Stockholders' equity
Common stock $2.14 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
4,543,338 as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024	$	9,723			$	9,723
Additional paid-in-capital		35,253				35,253
Retained earnings		50,009				42,804
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(14,937	)			(22,915	)
Total stockholders' equity	$	80,048			$	64,865
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,039,024			$	979,244

Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	For the Three Months							For the Twelve Months
	Ended December 31,							Ended December 31,
Interest Income	2025				2024				2025				2024
Loans	$	9,515		$	9,130			$	37,254			$	34,505
Securities
US Government and agency obligations		579			403				2,121				1,471
Mortgage backed securities		395			407				1,545				2,381
Municipals - taxable		397			299				1,393				1,171
Municipals - tax exempt		53			18				135				73
Dividends		35			36				98				95
Corporates		123			136				530				543
Interest bearing deposits		159			147				559				775
Federal Funds sold		756			1,060				3,020				3,629
Total interest income		12,012			11,636				46,655				44,643
Interest Expense
Deposits
NOW, money market savings		1,170			1,310				4,949				5,455
Time Deposits		2,144			2,442				8,282				9,173
Finance leases		15			18				65				76
Other borrowings		145			98				389				376
Capital notes		-			82				163				327
Total interest expense		3,474			3,950				13,848				15,407
Net interest income		8,538			7,686				32,807				29,236
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses		266			(71	)			(35	)			(655	)
Net interest income after provision for (recovery of) credit losses		8,272			7,757				32,842				29,891
Noninterest income
Gains on sale of loans held for sale		1,185			968				4,853				4,494
Service charges, fees and commissions		1,271			1,073				4,273				4,003
Wealth management fees		1,430			1,260				5,347				4,843
Life insurance income		197			190				770				721
Income from SBIC fund		228			334				506				934
Other		14			11				76				80
Gain on sales of available-for-sale securities		-			(20	)			27				62
Total noninterest income		4,325			3,816				15,852				15,137
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits		5,310			5,038				20,960				19,294
Occupancy		546			471				2,136				1,964
Equipment		744			620				2,765				2,499
Supplies		168			145				631				542
Professional and other outside expense		773			1,226				3,967				3,351
Data processing		503			825				2,487				3,177
Marketing		183			287				867				768
Credit expense		239			204				904				816
FDIC insurance expense		124			112				518				441
Amortization of intangibles		140			140				560				560
Other		378			435				1,754				1,693
Total noninterest expenses		9,108			9,503				37,549				35,105
Income before income taxes		3,489			2,070				11,145				9,923
Income tax expense		766			452				2,123				1,979
Net Income	$	2,723		$	1,618			$	9,022			$	7,944
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted		4,543,338			4,543,338				4,543,338				4,543,338
Net income per common share - basic and diluted	$	0.60		$	0.36			$	1.99			$	1.75

Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data

Unaudited

Selected Data:	Three months ending Dec 31, 2025		Three months ending Dec 31, 2024			Change			Year to date Dec 31, 2025			Year to date Dec 31, 2024			Change
Interest income	$	12,012	$	11,636			3.23	%	$	46,655		$	44,643			4.51	%
Interest expense		3,474		3,950			-12.05	%		13,848			15,407			-10.12	%
Net interest income		8,538		7,686			11.09	%		32,807			29,236			12.21	%
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses		266		(71	)		-474.65	%		(35	)		(655	)		-94.66	%
Noninterest income		4,325		3,816			13.34	%		15,852			15,137			4.72	%
Noninterest expense		9,108		9,503			-4.16	%		37,549			35,105			6.96	%
Income taxes		766		452			69.47	%		2,123			1,979			7.28	%
Net income	$	2,723	$	1,618			68.29	%	$	9,022		$	7,944			13.58	%
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted		4,543,338		4,543,338			-			4,543,338			4,543,338			-
Net income per share – basic and diluted	$	0.60	$	0.36		$	0.24		$	1.99		$	1.75		$	0.24

Balance Sheet at period end:	Dec 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Change			Dec 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2023		Change
Loans, net	$	661,357	$	636,552		3.90	%	$	636,552	$	601,921		5.75	%
Loans held for sale		3,472		3,616		-3.98	%		3,616		1,258		187.44	%
Total debt securities		217,718		191,522		13.68	%		191,522		220,132		-13.00	%
Total deposits		937,129		882,404		6.20	%		882,404		878,459		0.45	%
Stockholders' equity		80,048		64,865		23.41	%		64,865		60,039		8.04	%
Total assets		1,039,024		979,244		6.10	%		979,244		969,371		1.02	%
Shares outstanding		4,543,338		4,543,338		-			4,543,338		4,543,338		-
Book value per share	$	17.62	$	14.28	$	3.34		$	14.28	$	13.21	$	1.07

Daily averages:	Three months ending Dec 31, 2025		Three months ending Dec 31, 2024		Change		Year to date Dec 31, 2025		Year to date Dec 31, 2024		Change
Loans	$	661,581	$	642,197	3.02	%	$	654,835	$	623,769	4.98	%
Loans held for sale		4,011		3,612	11.05	%		3,271		3,494	-6.38	%
Total securities (book value)		230,940		218,680	5.61	%		225,002		232,992	-3.43	%
Total deposits		942,040		920,655	2.32	%		921,488		901,449	2.22	%
Stockholders' equity		77,770		68,563	13.43	%		71,133		62,575	13.68	%
Interest earning assets		988,760		963,512	2.62	%		969,433		939,900	3.14	%
Interest bearing liabilities		815,834		801,812	1.75	%		801,692		783,003	2.39	%
Total assets		1,043,521		1,021,547	2.15	%		1,020,156		995,738	2.45	%

Financial Ratios:	Three months ending Dec 31, 2025		Three months ending Dec 31, 2024		Change		Year to date Dec 31, 2025		Year to date Dec 31, 2024		Change
Return on average assets	1.04	%	0.63	%	0.41		0.88	%	0.80	%	0.08
Return on average equity	13.89	%	9.39	%	4.50		12.68	%	12.70	%	(0.02	)
Net interest margin	3.44	%	3.18	%	0.26		3.39	%	3.11	%	0.26
Efficiency ratio	70.81	%	82.62	%	(11.81	)	77.17	%	79.11	%	(1.94	)
Average equity to average assets	7.45	%	6.71	%	0.74		6.97	%	6.28	%	0.69

Allowance for credit losses:	Three months ending Dec 31, 2025			Three months ending Dec 31, 2024			Change		Year to date Dec 31, 2025			Year to date Dec 31, 2024			Change
Beginning balance	$	6,298		$	7,078		-11.02	%	$	7,044		$	7,412		-4.96	%
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses*		352			(39	)	-1002.56	%		(166	)		(533	)	-68.86	%
Charge-offs		(203	)		-		N/A			(447	)		(84	)	432.14	%
Recoveries		3			5		-40.00	%		19			249		-92.37	%
Ending balance		6,450			7,044		-8.43	%		6,450			7,044		-8.43	%
* does not include provision for or recovery of unfunded loan commitment liability

Nonperforming assets:	Dec 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Change		Dec 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2023		Change
Total nonperforming loans	$	1,704	$	1,640	3.90	%	$	1,640	$	391	319.44	%
Other real estate owned		-		-	N/A			-		-	N/A
Total nonperforming assets		1,704		1,640	3.90	%		1,640		391	319.44	%

Asset quality ratios:	Dec 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Change		Dec 31, 2024		Dec 31, 2023		Change
Nonperforming loans to total loans	0.26	%	0.25	%	0.01		0.25	%	0.06	%	0.19
Allowance for credit losses for loans to total loans	0.97	%	1.09	%	(0.12	)	1.09	%	1.22	%	(0.13	)
Allowance for credit losses for loans to nonperforming loans	378.52	%	429.51	%	(50.99	)	429.51	%	1895.65	%	(1,466.14	)