Peoples Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 810 U.S. banks with half to twice its assets, Peoples Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is net interest margin (3.86% vs. a 3.74% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($6.6M vs. $8.2M).
| Measure | Peoples Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.18% | 1.22% | Middle third Ahead of 47% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 3.86% | 3.74% | Middle third Ahead of 57% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 68.93% | 60.39% | Bottom third Ahead of 26% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $6.6M | $8.2M | Bottom third Ahead of 23% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 80.99% | 86.77% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 68.93% is above the 60.39% 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
- Androscoggin Savings Bank Lewiston, ME · $1.76B
- First Farmers and Merchants Bank Columbia, TN · $1.76B
- Column National Association Salt Lake City, UT · $1.77B
- Hawthorn Bank Jefferson City, MO · $1.76B
- Waterford Bank, N.A. Toledo, OH · $1.77B
- First National Bank of Central Texas Waco, TX · $1.77B
Questions about Peoples Bank
How big is Peoples Bank?
Peoples Bank, established in 1912, is headquartered in Newton, NC. It reported $1.76B in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 16 offices.
What is Peoples Bank's return on assets?
1.18% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.22% median for 810 U.S. banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 47% of them.
What is Peoples Bank's efficiency ratio?
68.93% in Q2 2026: it spent about 69 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 60.39%, and lower is better.
Is Peoples Bank growing its loans?
Net loans grew 10.5% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 3.5%.
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 U.S. 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 North Carolina bank ranked.