First Southern Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 62 IL banks with half to twice its assets, First Southern Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is efficiency ratio (49.19% vs. a 62.83% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($6.5M vs. $7.7M).
| Measure | First Southern Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.37% | 1.13% | Top third Ahead of 68% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 4.05% | 3.65% | Top third Ahead of 73% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 49.19% | 62.83% | Top third Ahead of 87% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $6.5M | $7.7M | Bottom third Ahead of 31% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 71.66% | 78.67% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 49.19% is better than the 62.83% peer median. Banks that already run lean usually find their next gains in loan growth: faster digital applications and fewer borrowers abandoning a slow document chase.
Banks closest in size
- Belmont Bank & Trust Company Chicago, IL · $1.05B
- Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Company Palatine, IL · $1.01B
- The Federal Savings Bank Chicago, IL · $1.08B
- International Bank of Chicago Chicago, IL · $983M
- First National Bank of Waterloo Waterloo, IL · $929M
- American Community Bank & Trust Woodstock, IL · $1.18B
Questions about First Southern Bank
How big is First Southern Bank?
First Southern Bank, established in 1937, is headquartered in Marion, IL. It reported $1.04B in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 19 offices.
What is First Southern Bank's return on assets?
1.37% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.13% median for 62 IL banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 68% of them.
What is First Southern Bank's efficiency ratio?
49.19% in Q2 2026: it spent about 49 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 62.83%, and lower is better.
Is First Southern Bank growing its loans?
Net loans shrank 0.4% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 2.3%.
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 IL 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 Illinois bank ranked.