CPKF produced another outstanding quarter with 2025 fourth quarter net earnings surging, rising $3.4 million, or 112%, to $6.5 million year over year, while 2025's fourth quarter diluted EPS rose $0.73 or 113%, to $1.37. This was much better than our estimate. The major reasons for the increase in net earnings versus the prior-year quarter were a $2.6 million, or 21%, increase in net interest income and a $1.8 million, or 33%, rise in total noninterest income, plus well-controlled expense growth For the year, CPKF posted 2025 net earnings of $17.7 million, up $6.2 million, or 54%, year over year, while diluted EPS increased $1.33, or 55%, to $3.75. This excludes one-time items totalling a $7.7 million charge, consisting of an aftertax charge from repositioning the investment securities portfolio of $8.0 million or $1.69 per diluted share and a $0.3 million aftertax gain or $0.07 per diluted share on the sale of a building. We are currently reviewing our estimates and will issue a more comprehensive report when detailed financial information becomes available within the next few weeks. CPKF just raised the quarterly dividend by 6% to $0.17 per share and has raised its annual dividend payment every year for the past thirty-three years since 1991. In 2025 for the eighteenth consecutive year, CPKF was included in the American Banker magazine list of the "Top 100 Community Banks," ranking #60 out of approximately 348 community banks with total assets under $2 billion. Chesapeake Bank again garnered a top ranking in the American Banker's list of "Best Banks to Work for: Less than $3 Billion of Assets," and had a #32 spot in 2025 out of the 51 banks listed.
