Atlantic Union margin outlook lands at low end of 3.90%-3.95%

Atlantic Union Bankshares said on its Q3 2026 earnings call Oct. 20 that fully taxable-equivalent net interest margin is expected at the low end of 3.90% to 3.95%, pressuring the earnings setup.

The company also said buybacks would continue through May 2027. The call addressed loan growth, deposit costs and credit, the operating lines investors use to judge regional-bank earnings durability.

Buybacks run to May 2027

Fully taxable-equivalent net interest margin, or FTE NIM, measures the spread between what a bank earns on assets and pays on funding, adjusted for tax-exempt income. A low-end outcome within the stated 3.90% to 3.95% range would put more attention on balance-sheet growth and expense control.

Deposit costs remain the main mechanism to watch in the margin range. If funding costs ease while loan growth holds, Atlantic Union would have more room to defend profitability; if deposit pricing stays elevated, the low-end margin guide leaves less room for credit costs or slower lending.

The buyback window gives Atlantic Union a dated capital-return plan through May 2027. For equities, the next test is whether management’s 2026 margin range holds through the bank’s next quarterly update and whether repurchases remain active into May 2027.