While investors remain fixated on AI stocks and Bitcoin ETFs, fixed-income funds are quietly emerging as one of the biggest winners of 2026.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. & ABERDEEN, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Banner Corporation (“Banner”) (NASDAQ: BANR), the holding company for Banner Bank, and Pacific Financial Corporation (“Pacific Financial”) (OTCQX: PFLC), the holding company for Bank of the Pacific, today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Banner will acquire Pacific Financial in an all-stock transaction, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. Follow.

Banner Health has performed more than 50 SynCardia Total Artificial Heart implants, establishing itself as a leading center in total artificial heart therapy Banner Health has performed more than 50 SynCardia Total Artificial Heart implants, establishing itself as a leading center in total artificial heart therapy

Here is how Banner (BANR) and Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.

Banner Corporation (BANR) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Dividends are one of the best benefits to being a shareholder, but finding a great dividend stock is no easy task. Does Banner (BANR) have what it takes?

Although the revenue and EPS for Banner (BANR) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended March 2026, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.

Banner (BANR) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.59 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.38 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.29 per share a year ago.

WALLA WALLA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Banner Corporation (NASDAQ: BANR) (“Banner”), the parent company of Banner Bank, today reported net income of $54.7 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $51.2 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, for the preceding quarter, and $45.1 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025. Net interest income was $150.2 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $152.4 million in the preceding quar.

Banner (NASDAQ: BANR - Get Free Report) and Security Bancorp (OTCMKTS:SCYT - Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability and risk. Risk and Volatility Banner has a beta of 0.85,