Esquire Financial Holdings Named to KBW's Bank Honor Roll for Second Consecutive Year

JERICHO, N.Y., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESQ) (the "Company"), the financial holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association ("Esquire Bank" or the "Bank") (collectively "Esquire"), today announced its inclusion for the second consecutive year on the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ("KBW") Bank Honor Roll. Esquire is one of just 16 U.S. banks—and among only five percent of eligible institutions—to earn a place on the 2025 list, which recognizes consistent and exceptional performance over the past decade. Of these 16 honoree banks, Esquire had the elite distinction of being one of only two institutions out of 330 to meet all of the eligibility criteria set forth for the award.

To qualify for KBW's Bank Honor Roll, banks must have more than $500 million in total assets and meet one or both of the following criteria: deliver top quintile compounded annual earnings per share (EPS) growth over the past 10 years, and/or report consistent annual EPS growth over the same period. Esquire met all of these benchmarks.

According to KBW's research, more than 60% of banks posted a decline in year-over-year EPS in 2024. Esquire, however, delivered record results, with net income for the full year 2024 increasing $2.6 million, or 7%, to $43.7 million, or $5.14 per diluted share, when compared to $41.0 million, or $4.91 per diluted share, in 2023, resulting in 33% compound annual EPS growth over the past five years. Further, Esquire's return on average assets and equity were 2.6% and 20.1%, respectively, compared to 0.9% and 8.8%, respectively, for the sector in 2024.

"We are proud to be recognized by KBW as one of the top-performing financial institutions in the nation for the second straight year," stated Andrew C. Sagliocca, Vice Chairman, CEO, and President. "Esquire remains focused on building a disruptive, client-centric and tech-powered bank addressing our clients' needs in our two complex and fragmented national verticals. As we look to the future, we will continue to deepen our company's competitive advantage and prioritize capturing opportunities in these underserved markets."

"This recognition is a testament to the leadership team's innovation, execution and delivery of customized solutions while providing industry-leading returns for shareholders," said Tony Coelho, Chairman of the Board.

About Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.

Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Jericho, New York, with one branch office in Jericho, New York and an administrative office in Boca Raton, Florida. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Esquire Bank, is a full-service commercial bank dedicated to serving the financial needs of the litigation industry and small businesses nationally, as well as commercial and retail customers in the New York metropolitan area. The Bank offers tailored financial and payment processing solutions to the litigation community and their clients as well as dynamic and flexible payment processing solutions to small business owners. The Company was named to Fortune's 2024 Fastest-Growing Companies list. For more information, visit www.esquirebank.com.

SOURCE Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.