West Bancorp (WTBA) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

West Bancorp (WTBA) posted Q3 2026 net income of $11.6 million, up 24.8% year-over-year, with diluted EPS of $0.67. The print carries a clear operating signal: the bank delivered its first quarterly loan growth in five quarters.

Loans rose 1.5% to $3 billion, ending a four-quarter stretch without growth. Net interest margin expanded to 2.77%, and management credited disciplined expense management alongside the margin gain. Together, the margin lift and cost control drove the double-digit earnings increase.

Management tempered the results with two stated headwinds: intense deposit competition and customer asset sales. The company expects that pressure to continue through 2027. That guidance is the key counterweight to the quarter's strength. Interpretation: if deposit costs stay elevated, the 2.77% margin may face pressure, even as loan growth resumes. A one-quarter loan uptick also doesn't establish a trend after five quarters of stagnation.

The setup is a strong backward-looking print paired with cautious forward language. The 24.8% earnings jump reflects what already happened; the multi-year pressure outlook speaks to what comes next.