The Peoples Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 16 SC banks with half to twice its assets, The Peoples Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is net interest margin (4.30% vs. a 3.85% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($5.5M vs. $7.0M).
| Measure | The Peoples Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.65% | 1.32% | Top third Ahead of 69% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 4.30% | 3.85% | Top third Ahead of 81% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 62.62% | 58.63% | Middle third Ahead of 38% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $5.5M | $7.0M | Bottom third Ahead of 19% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 69.68% | 67.79% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 62.62% is above the 58.63% 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
- The Bank of Clarendon Manning, SC · $438M
- Bank of the Lowcountry Walterboro, SC · $430M
- Farmers and Merchants Bank of South Carolina Holly Hill, SC · $414M
- Southern Bank Spartanburg, SC · $408M
- Enterprise Bank of South Carolina Ehrhardt, SC · $535M
- The Bank of South Carolina Charleston, SC · $571M
Questions about The Peoples Bank
How big is The Peoples Bank?
The Peoples Bank, established in 1951, is headquartered in Iva, SC. It reported $447M in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 8 offices.
What is The Peoples Bank's return on assets?
1.65% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.32% median for 16 SC banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 69% of them.
What is The Peoples Bank's efficiency ratio?
62.62% in Q2 2026: it spent about 63 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 58.63%, and lower is better.
Is The Peoples Bank growing its loans?
Net loans grew 9.9% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 0.8%.
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 SC 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 South Carolina bank ranked.