First Commonwealth Financial (FCF) Q2 FY26 earnings call

First Commonwealth Financial reported a strong second quarter, marked by significant core EPS growth and net interest margin expansion driven by lower funding costs and higher loan yields. The bank achieved balanced loan and deposit growth, though period-end deposits saw some decline due to competitive pricing. While credit quality showed modest improvement, elevated loan payoffs and increased classified assets remain areas of focus, with management anticipating a return to mid-single-digit loan growth as payoffs normalize.