Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Investar Holding Corporation Announces 2025 Fourth Quarter Results

BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESS Newswire / January 22, 2026 / Investar Holding Corporation (“Investar”) (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Investar reported net income available to common shareholders of $5.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $5.7 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, and net income available to common shareholders of $6.1 million, or $0.61 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. 

On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $0.58 compared to $0.54 for the third quarter of 2025 and $0.65 for the fourth quarter of 2024. Core earnings available to common shareholders exclude certain items including, but not limited to, (gain) loss on call or sale of investment securities, net; loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets, net; loss (gain) on sale of other real estate owned, net; change in the fair value of equity securities; loss on early extinguishment of subordinated debt; acquisition expense; write down of other real estate owned and severance. Investar’s fourth quarter of 2024 results include $3.1 million in nontaxable noninterest income from bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) death benefit proceeds, which had a favorable impact on our core metrics for that quarter. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics, including the impact of BOLI death benefit proceeds on our core metrics.

Investar’s President and Chief Executive Officer John D’Angelo commented: 

“Over the past year, Investar has continued to execute on our strategy of consistent, quality earnings through the optimization of our balance sheet. As a result of this strategy, we were able to grow our net interest margin in each successive quarter of 2025 and improve our core metrics. For the fourth quarter, our net interest margin improved to 3.20%, a four basis point increase compared to the third quarter of 2025 and a massive 55 basis point increase from the fourth quarter of 2024.

Total loans increased 1.2% during the fourth quarter of 2025 (4.8% annualized) as we brought on new business, primarily variable-rate loans, at a blended interest rate of 6.9%, which progressed us towards our goal of an interest rate neutral balance sheet. Our decision over the past year to keep duration short on our liabilities provided us with the flexibility to secure lower cost funding that was accretive to our net interest margin primarily by allowing higher cost brokered time deposits to run off and replacing them with lower cost, non-maturing deposits. We have closely managed our interest-earning assets to optimize yields in a declining rate environment.

Additionally, noninterest expenses are closely monitored and remain well-controlled. Excluding the impact of acquisition expenses, annual noninterest expense increased only 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024. 

As always, we remain focused on creating shareholder value and returning capital to shareholders. We repurchased 28,470 shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2025 at an average price of $23.94 per share and 114,249 shares of our common stock during the year at an average price of $19.84 per share. Additionally, during the year, we declared quarterly dividends totaling $0.435 per share, which represented a 6.1% increase from the previous year.

Investar has been selected by American Banker and Best Companies Group as a 2025 Best Bank to Work For and a 2025 Best Place to Work in Louisiana. We are honored to be a recipient of these awards. I want to thank all of our employees for their tremendous efforts during 2025 and their commitment to excellence.”

Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. Transaction Closing

On July 1, 2025, Investar entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. (“Wichita Falls”), headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First National Bank (“FNB”). Investar completed the acquisition on January 1, 2026. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Wichita Falls common stock were converted into aggregate merger consideration consisting of $7.2 million in cash and 3,955,334 shares of Investar common stock for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $112.9 million. This value is based on Investar’s closing stock price on December 31, 2025 of $26.72 per common share.

Mr. D’Angelo commented: 

“Investar is excited to expand our footprint into the north Dallas and Wichita Falls markets through the acquisition of First National Bank. This transaction represents the continued execution of our multi-state expansion strategy through the combination of two community banks with a history of service, an alignment of culture and a common commitment to enhancing shareholder value. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to welcoming First National Bank’s customers, shareholders and employees to the Investar family.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Loans

Total loans were $2.18 billion at December 31, 2025, an increase of $25.5 million, or 1.2%, compared to September 30, 2025, and an increase of $50.9 million, or 2.4%, compared to December 31, 2024.

The following table sets forth the composition of the total loan portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

At December 31, 2025, Investar’s total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $1.06 billion, an increase of $31.8 million, or 3.1%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $1.02 billion at September 30, 2025, and an increase of $79.2 million, or 8.1%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $976.2 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was primarily driven by increased commercial and industrial loan production. 

Nonowner-occupied loans totaled $452.1 million at December 31, 2025, a decrease of $7.6 million, or 1.6%, compared to $459.7 million at September 30, 2025, and a decrease of $43.1 million, or 8.7%, compared to $495.3 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease in nonowner-occupied loans compared to September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was primarily due to loan amortization and payoffs that aligned with our continued strategy to optimize and de-risk the mix of the portfolio. 

Construction and development loans totaled $148.0 million at December 31, 2025, an increase of $7.4 million, or 5.3%, compared to $140.6 million at September 30, 2025, and a decrease of $6.6 million, or 4.3%, compared to $154.6 million at December 31, 2024. The increase in construction and development loans compared to September 30, 2025 was primarily due to organic growth. The decrease in construction and development loans compared to December 31, 2024 was primarily due to conversions to permanent loans upon completion of construction.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans were $9.3 million, or 0.43% of total loans, at December 31, 2025, an increase of $1.6 million compared to $7.7 million, or 0.36% of total loans, at September 30, 2025, and an increase of $0.5 million compared to $8.8 million, or 0.42% of total loans, at December 31, 2024. The increase in nonperforming loans compared to September 30, 2025 was mainly attributable to 1-4 family loan relationships totaling $2.1 million partially offset by paydowns.

The allowance for credit losses was $26.3 million, or 284.5% and 1.21% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2025, compared to $26.5 million, or 344.7% and 1.23% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at September 30, 2025, and $26.7 million, or 302.8% and 1.26% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at December 31, 2024.

Investar recorded a negative provision for credit losses of $0.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to a provision for credit losses of $0.1 million and a negative provision for credit losses of $0.7 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The negative provision for credit losses in the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was primarily attributable to changes in the economic forecast and loan mix. The provision for credit losses in the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was primarily due to loan growth partially offset by changes in the economic forecast and loan mix. The negative provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to a decrease in total loans, aging of existing loans and an improvement in the economic forecast.

Total deposits at December 31, 2025 were $2.35 billion, a decrease of $22.4 million, or 0.9%, compared to $2.37 billion at September 30, 2025, and an increase of $4.3 million, or 0.2%, compared to $2.35 billion at December 31, 2024.

The following table sets forth the composition of deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

The decrease in interest-bearing demand deposits at December 31, 2025 compared to September 30, 2025 was primarily due to customers drawing down on their existing deposit accounts. The increase in money market deposits at December 31, 2025 compared to September 30, 2025 was primarily the result of organic growth. Brokered time deposits decreased to $204.1 million at December 31, 2025 from $210.8 million at September 30, 2025. Investar utilizes brokered time deposits, entirely in denominations of less than $250,000, to secure fixed cost funding and reduce short-term borrowings. At December 31, 2025, the balance of brokered time deposits remained below 10% of total assets, and the remaining weighted average duration was approximately five months with a weighted average rate of 4.03%. Investar utilizes brokered demand deposits when pricing is more favorable than other short-term borrowings. 

Stockholders’ Equity

On July 1, 2025, Investar completed a private placement of 32,500 shares of its newly designated 6.5% Series A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) with selected institutional and other accredited investors at a price of $1,000 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $32.5 million. The net proceeds were $30.4 million, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering related expenses. Investar used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to support the acquisition of Wichita Falls and will use the remainder for general corporate purposes, including organic growth and other potential acquisitions.

Stockholders’ equity was $301.1 million at December 31, 2025, an increase of $5.8 million, or 2.0%, compared to September 30, 2025, and an increase of $59.8 million, or 24.8%, compared to December 31, 2024. The increase in stockholders’ equity compared to September 30, 2025 was primarily attributable to net income for the quarter and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank’s available for sale securities portfolio. The increase in stockholders’ equity compared to December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to an increase in the fair value of the Bank’s available for sale securities portfolio.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2025 totaled $21.6 million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 2.3%, compared to the third quarter of 2025, and an increase of $4.1 million, or 23.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Total interest income was $37.1 million, $37.1 million and $35.5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2025, September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Total interest expense was $15.5 million, $15.9 million and $18.0 million for the corresponding periods. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2025, September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 is $6,000, $6,000, and $11,000, respectively, of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended December 31, 2025, September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are interest recoveries of $1,000, $64,000 and $11,000, respectively.

Investar’s net interest margin was 3.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to 3.16% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and 2.65% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was driven by a 13 basis point decrease in the overall cost of funds partially offset by a four basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was driven by a 51 basis point decrease in the overall cost of funds, primarily brokered time deposits, time deposits and short-term borrowings, and an 11 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets.

The yield on interest-earning assets was 5.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to 5.53% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and 5.38% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was driven by a four basis point decrease in the yield on our loan portfolio. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was driven by a 12 basis point increase in the yield on our loan portfolio.

Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans and interest recoveries, discussed above, adjusted net interest margin increased to 3.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to 3.15% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and 2.64% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 5.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to 5.52% and 5.37% for the quarters ended September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

The cost of deposits decreased 13 basis points to 2.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to 3.04% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and decreased 49 basis points compared to 3.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 resulted primarily from both a lower average balance of, and a decrease in rates paid on, brokered time deposits. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 resulted primarily from both a lower average balance of, and a decrease in rates paid on, brokered time deposits and time deposits, partially offset by a higher average balance of interest-bearing demand deposits. 

The cost of short-term borrowings increased eight basis points to 3.01% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to 2.93% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and decreased 90 basis points compared to 3.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The increase in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 resulted primarily from increased utilization of short-term Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances during the fourth quarter of 2025. Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the Bank began utilizing the Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) to secure fixed rate funding for up to a one-year term and reduce short-term FHLB advances, which are priced daily. The Bank utilized this source of funding due to its lower rate as compared to FHLB advances, the ability to prepay the obligations without penalty, and as a means to lock in funding. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Bank repaid all of the remaining $109.0 million in borrowings under the BTFP, which had a weighted average rate of 4.76%. The decrease in the cost of short-term borrowings compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 resulted primarily from lower average borrowings due primarily to the paydown of borrowings under the BTFP and a lower current rate on short-term FHLB advances compared to borrowings under the BTFP.

The overall cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 decreased 13 basis points to 2.98% compared to 3.11% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and decreased 51 basis points compared to 3.49% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 resulted from a decrease in the cost of deposits, partially offset by both an increase in the average balance of, and an increase in the cost of, short-term borrowings, as discussed above. The decrease in the cost of funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 resulted primarily from a decrease in the cost of deposits and both a decrease in the average balance of, and a decrease in the cost of, short-term borrowings, partially offset by a higher average balance of deposits, as discussed above.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2025 totaled $1.8 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 38.3%, compared to the third quarter of 2025 and a decrease of $3.3 million, or 64.3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.

The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was driven by a $0.9 million decrease in other operating income, a $0.2 million increase in loss on sale of other real estate owned, and a $0.1 million decrease in the change in fair value of equity securities, partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in income from BOLI. The decrease in other operating income was primarily attributable to a $0.4 million decrease in distributions from other investments and a $0.4 million decrease in the change in net asset value of other investments.

The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was driven by $3.6 million in income from BOLI recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $0.6 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, a $0.6 million decrease in other operating income, and a $0.1 million increase in loss on sale of other real estate owned, partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in gain on call or sale of investment securities. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Bank received BOLI death benefit proceeds totaling $5.5 million and recorded $3.1 million in income from BOLI. The decrease in other operating income was primarily attributable to a $0.4 million decrease in the change in net asset value of other investments and a $0.2 million decrease in distributions from other investments.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2025 totaled $16.3 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.5%, compared to the third quarter of 2025, and an increase of $0.2 million, or 1.2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. 

The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was driven by a $0.2 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits and a $0.2 million decrease in other operating expenses, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in acquisition expense. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to a decrease in incentive-based compensation. The decrease in other operating expenses was primarily due to a $0.1 million decrease in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assessments and a $0.1 million decrease in write down of other real estate owned. The increase in acquisition expense was related to the Wichita Falls transaction.

The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was driven by a $0.4 million increase in acquisition expense and a $0.3 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in other operating expenses and a $0.2 million decrease in loss on early extinguishment of subordinated debt. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily due to investment in people with an emphasis on our Texas markets to remix and strengthen our balance sheet. The decrease in other operating expenses was primarily due to a $0.1 million decrease in FDIC assessments, a $0.1 million decrease in charitable contributions, and a $0.1 million decrease in branch services expense. During the fourth quarter of 2024, Investar redeemed $20.0 million in principal amount of our 2029 Notes and recognized a loss on early extinguishment of subordinated debt of $0.2 million primarily consisting of unamortized deferred financing costs.

Taxes

Investar recorded income tax expense of $1.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, which equates to an effective tax rate of 18.3%, an increase from the effective tax rate of 17.3% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and an increase from the effect tax rate of 16.0% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Investar reported basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.55 and $0.51, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.57 and $0.54, respectively for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.62 and $0.61, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

About Investar Holding Corporation

Investar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 36 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At December 31, 2025, the Bank had 323 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.8 billion.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These measures and ratios include “tangible common equity,” “tangible assets,” “tangible common equity to tangible assets,” “tangible book value per common share,” “core noninterest income,” “core earnings before noninterest expense,” “core noninterest expense,” “core earnings before income tax expense,” “core income tax expense,” “core earnings,” “core earnings available to common shareholders,” “core efficiency ratio,” “core return on average assets,” “core return on average common equity,” “core basic earnings per common share” and “core diluted earnings per common share.” We also present certain average loan, yield, net interest income and net interest margin data adjusted to show the effects of excluding interest recoveries and interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Investar’s financial results, and Investar believes that its presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Investar’s business and allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and Investar strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Investar’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Investar generally identifies forward-looking statements by terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the historical performance of Investar and its subsidiaries or on Investar’s current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Investar that the future plans, estimates or expectations by Investar will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to Investar’s operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Investar’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, Investar’s actual results may vary materially from those indicated in these statements. Investar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Part I Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Part II Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Investar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact:

Investar Holding Corporation

Corey Moore

Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Financial Officer

(225) 227-2348

Corey.Moore@investarbank.com