Orange County Bancorp: A Tale of Steady Dividends and Mounting Credit Concerns

While numerous regional financial institutions grapple with the persistent challenges of a shifting interest rate environment, Orange County Bancorp presents a complex and contradictory narrative. The institution continues its reliable distribution of shareholder dividends, yet a simultaneous increase in troubling indicators within its loan portfolio raises fundamental questions about its underlying stability.

The bank’s first-quarter 2025 results demonstrated considerable operational vigor. It reported a net income of $8.7 million, equating to $0.77 per share. A significant driver was a net interest income of $23.6 million, marking a 9.4 percent year-over-year increase. Furthermore, non-interest income, heavily fueled by the bank’s wealth management operations through Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, surged impressively by 18.2 percent.

Supporting this growth, the bank’s total assets expanded to $2.6 billion. Customer... Read more...