First Central Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 57 NE banks with half to twice its assets, First Central Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is net interest margin (4.21% vs. a 3.80% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($5.5M vs. $8.8M).
| Measure | First Central Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.34% | 1.40% | Middle third Ahead of 46% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 4.21% | 3.80% | Top third Ahead of 72% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 62.86% | 57.45% | Middle third Ahead of 37% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $5.5M | $8.8M | Bottom third Ahead of 2% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 89.34% | 81.67% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 62.86% is above the 57.45% peer median: it spends more to earn each dollar of revenue than most banks its size. Staff time on manual borrower verification (collecting pay stubs, bank statements, and employment letters, then re-keying them) is one of the larger controllable costs behind that number.
Banks closest in size
- West Plains Bank Ainsworth, NE · $139M
- F&M Bank Falls City, NE · $135M
- Hershey Bank Hershey, NE · $141M
- Bank of Dixon County Ponca, NE · $142M
- American Interstate Bank Elkhorn, NE · $132M
- State Bank of Table Rock Table Rock, NE · $150M
Questions about First Central Bank
How big is First Central Bank?
First Central Bank, established in 1907, is headquartered in Cambridge, NE. It reported $138M in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 3 offices.
What is First Central Bank's return on assets?
1.34% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.40% median for 57 NE banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 46% of them.
What is First Central Bank's efficiency ratio?
62.86% in Q2 2026: it spent about 63 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 57.45%, and lower is better.
Is First Central Bank growing its loans?
Net loans shrank 1.0% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits shrank 2.5%.
Sources and method
Figures are from the FDIC’s public call report data for the quarter ending 06/30/2026, via FDIC BankFind. Return on assets and net interest margin are annualized year to date. Peers are NE banks with half to twice its assets in the same quarter, excluding this bank. The page refreshes daily, so new quarters appear as banks file. Compare another bank or see every Nebraska bank ranked.