Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB)

When a bank's core philosophy truly aligns with its balance sheet, you get a clear picture of its future, and for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB), that picture is one of post-merger strength.

Their foundational statements-Mission, Vision, and Core Values-aren't just boilerplate; they map directly to the kind of growth that helped drive Q3 2025 net income to a strong $39.5 million, a significant turnaround from the previous quarter's loss. With total assets now sitting at $14.0 billion as of September 30, 2025, how exactly does a stated commitment to a 'People First' culture translate into a 3.11% net interest margin (NIM)? Do their values truly guide the decisions that impact your investment, or are they just nice words?

Honestly, you can't assess a financial institution's long-term value without seeing the DNA that governs its strategy. Let's look at the principles that are driving their next moves in the New Jersey and New York metro markets, and see how they stack up against the numbers.

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Overview

You're looking for a clear read on ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB), and the direct takeaway is this: the company is a regional banking powerhouse that successfully executed a major merger in 2025, which drove a significant financial turnaround and expanded its footprint. Their Q3 2025 results demonstrate the immediate, positive impact of this strategic move, positioning them for sustained growth.

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated back in 1982, originally operating as Center Bancorp, Inc., before rebranding to ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. in July 2014. Their core business is commercial banking, focused on small-to-middle-market businesses, local professionals, and individuals across the Northern New Jersey, New York Metropolitan, and South Florida markets. They use a highly efficient, branch-lite model, which is defintely a smart way to manage costs in the current environment.

Their product suite is comprehensive, covering everything from basic personal and business checking accounts to complex commercial and residential mortgages. They also own a fintech subsidiary, BoeFly, Inc., which is a marketplace connecting borrowers in the franchise space with funding solutions. As of the latest trailing twelve months (TTM) leading up to the end of Q3 2025, ConnectOne Bancorp's total revenue stood at approximately $0.28 billion USD.

Here's a quick look at their core offerings:

• Commercial and residential mortgages.
• Lines of credit and commercial business loans.
• Cash management and treasury services.
• Fintech-driven franchise lending via BoeFly.

Q3 2025 Financial Performance: Post-Merger Surge

The third quarter of 2025 was a game-changer for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., largely due to the June 1, 2025, merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC). This merger drove a massive turnaround from a net loss in the prior quarter to a strong profit. The company reported net income available to common stockholders of $39.5 million for Q3 2025, a substantial jump from a loss of $21.8 million in Q2 2025.

The key driver of this performance was Net Interest Income (NII), which is essentially the bank's revenue from lending minus the cost of deposits. Fully taxable-equivalent NII hit $103.2 million for the quarter, an increase of 29.3% from the previous quarter. This is the kind of number that shows the merger is paying off immediately, widening their Net Interest Margin (NIM) to 3.11%. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) followed suit, coming in at $0.78 for the quarter.

This is a major step up in profitability. What this estimate hides is the one-time nature of some merger-related charges in Q2, but the underlying operational strength is clear: the combined entity is generating significantly more interest income. The credit quality remains solid, too, with nonperforming assets at just 0.28% of total assets.

A Leading Regional Financial Institution

The merger with FLIC immediately transformed ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. into a much larger regional player, giving them the scale they needed to compete with larger institutions while maintaining their client-first, commercial-focused approach. The combined company now boasts approximately $14.0 billion in total assets. That's a serious balance sheet.

The combined entity also holds approximately $11.3 billion in total loans and $11.4 billion in total deposits, giving them a powerful retail network of over 60 branches spanning New York, New Jersey, and Southeast Florida. This expanded geographic reach and increased lending capacity cement their position as one of the leading regional commercial banks in the US Northeast. They're not just a bank; they're a modern financial services company that combines traditional relationship banking with a digital edge. If you want to understand the full scope of their model, you can find out more here: ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Mission Statement

You're looking for the foundational principles that drive ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.'s strategy, and that's smart; a clear mission dictates capital allocation and risk tolerance. The core takeaway is that ConnectOne's mission is explicitly focused on community and client success, not just balance sheet growth, which is a key differentiator in a crowded regional banking market.

The company's mission is 'to create economic opportunity and promote prosperity in the communities we serve.' This isn't just marketing fluff; it's a mandate that guides their commercial bank model, which focuses on small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and local professionals. Their philosophy boils down to proving that 'putting people first is a better way to do business.' This client-first approach has directly contributed to their growth, establishing them as a $14.0 billion regional financial institution as of September 30, 2025.

Core Component 1: Client-First Relationship Banking

The first pillar of the mission is a deep commitment to a client-first culture and relationship banking model. This means prioritizing personalized service and access to decision-makers, which is especially critical for their core small to middle-market business clientele. They famously use a 'blue chair' metaphor to ensure the client is always at the heart of every decision. It's a simple, defintely effective way to maintain focus.

This focus on strong client relationships is a major driver of financial performance. For example, their disciplined, client-centric execution helped them maintain solid credit trends and a low nonperforming assets ratio of only 0.28% of total assets as of June 30, 2025, which is a strong indicator of sound lending practices rooted in knowing their clients well. Better service starts with backing people, not just loans.

• Prioritize personalized service for SMBs.
• Ensure client access to key decision-makers.
• Maintain a low nonperforming asset ratio through relationship-based underwriting.

Core Component 2: Promoting Community Prosperity and Economic Opportunity

The second component is the direct outcome of their mission: promoting prosperity. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. sees itself as a builder-of businesses, communities, and equity. They actively seek to be a catalyst for the local economy in their operating areas across New Jersey, New York, and Florida.

Their strategic growth, including the merger completed in June 2025, was designed to expand this opportunity-building footprint, establishing them as a $14.0 billion institution with 61 locations and over 700 banking professionals. This scale allows them to deploy more capital into the communities they serve. The bank's fintech subsidiary, BoeFly, LLC, also supports this by connecting franchise borrowers with funding solutions, which is a concrete example of creating economic opportunity through innovation.

Core Component 3: Disciplined Execution and Integrity

The third, and arguably most important, component is the operational foundation: disciplined execution and integrity. The bank's Code of Conduct emphasizes full compliance with the law, truthfulness, and ethical business practices, recognizing that the nature of banking imposes special obligations to build public trust. This isn't just about avoiding fines; it's about stability for their clients.

You see this discipline reflected in their financial performance. The company reported a Q3 2025 net income available to common stockholders of $39.5 million and a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.78. Furthermore, their net interest margin (NIM) widened to 3.11% in Q3 2025, a sign that their core banking operations are efficiently generating profit while maintaining sound credit quality. This is the proof that a client-first, high-integrity model can absolutely deliver superior shareholder returns. If you want to dive deeper into how these metrics stack up, you should check out Breaking Down ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Vision Statement

You're looking for the hard numbers behind the mission, and I get it. A bank's stated vision is only as good as the balance sheet that backs it up. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.'s (CNOB) vision is a commitment to excellent service and lasting relationships, which is now being tested and amplified by their recent scale-up. The June 1, 2025, merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC) transformed the company into a $14.0 billion regional financial institution, a massive shift that demands the vision holds true.

The core mission is clear: prove that putting people first is a better way to do business by creating economic opportunity. The vision breaks this down into three actionable pillars, and the 2025 fiscal year data shows exactly where the rubber meets the road on that promise. Honestly, the post-merger integration is the near-term risk to watch, but the growth potential is defintely there.

Strong, Lasting Relationships: The Foundation of Growth

The first part of the vision commits ConnectOne Bank to delivering excellent service and building strong, lasting relationships. This isn't just a feel-good statement; it's the engine for their deposit and loan growth. The merger dramatically increased the relationship base, which is why total assets surged to $14.0 billion and total deposits hit $11.4 billion as of September 30, 2025.

Here's the quick math on relationship banking: you need sticky deposits to fund loans. Since the end of June 2025, client deposits have been increasing at an annualized rate of 4.0%, while loans have grown over 5.0%. That's a healthy, relationship-driven pipeline. It shows the expanded footprint across New Jersey, New York, and Florida is working, but it also means the bank must maintain its high-touch service model across a larger, more diverse client base. You can get a deeper dive into the investor base driving this confidence in Exploring ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

• Total Assets: $14.0 billion post-merger.
• Q3 2025 Net Income: $39.5 million.
• Focus: Retain clients through personalized service.

Authenticity and Transparency: The Trust Multiplier

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. prides itself on authenticity and transparency, which translates directly into a disciplined approach to risk and capital management. In the financial world, this means a clean balance sheet and strong capital ratios. For Q3 2025, the credit quality remains robust, with nonperforming assets at just 0.28% of total assets. That's a low number, especially after integrating another bank's loan book.

The bank's capital position is also solid, which is a key indicator of their long-term stability and trustworthiness. As of September 30, 2025, the tangible common equity (TCE) ratio was 8.36%, and the total risk-based capital ratio was 13.88%. These figures show they have the capital buffer to absorb unexpected losses and continue lending, which is the ultimate act of transparency to the market and their clients.

Meaningful Partnerships and Shared Success: The Core Strategy

The final pillar is a passion for developing meaningful partnerships which ultimately create shared success. For ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., this means deeply serving small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and local professionals. Their strategy isn't about having a branch on every corner; it's about being a high-performing commercial bank.

A concrete example of this partnership focus is their fintech subsidiary, BoeFly. This online marketplace connects borrowers, particularly in the franchise space, with funding solutions. This dual approach-traditional relationship banking plus a tech-enabled platform-allows them to scale their partnership model efficiently. The Q3 2025 diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.78 reflects the profitability of this model, driven by a net interest margin (NIM) that widened to 3.11%. That NIM expansion shows they are pricing their relationship-based loans effectively and managing their cost of funds, creating that shared success for both the bank and its business partners.

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Core Values

You are looking for a clear map of what drives ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) beyond the balance sheet, and honestly, their mission is simple: prove that putting people first is a better way to do business. This isn't just a poster slogan; it's the operational filter for their three core values-Client-Centricity, Integrity and Trust, and Strategic Growth-which you can see reflected in their 2025 performance.

The successful merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC) on June 1, 2025, immediately transformed CNOB into a $14 billion regional financial institution, but the real story is how they managed that scale while keeping these values intact.

Client-Centricity: The Relationship-First Approach

In a world where banking often feels transactional, ConnectOne Bancorp focuses on the relationship. This value centers on understanding the small to middle-market business owner and providing a full suite of personalized services. They know that if onboarding takes 14+ days, churn risk rises, so they focus on speed and access to decision-makers.

Their commitment is defintely visible in the growth of their core business post-merger. Since the end of June 2025, client deposits have increased at an annualized rate of 4.0%, a sign that clients are sticking around and consolidating their business with the newly expanded bank. This strong client retention, even through a major systems conversion, shows the value is more than lip service.

• Offer personalized services.
• Prioritize strong client retention.
• Utilize fintech subsidiary BoeFly, Inc. for specialized lending.

Integrity and Trust: The Foundation of Candor

Trust is the non-negotiable currency in finance, and for ConnectOne Bancorp, this value is about candor and ethical conduct. Their Code of Conduct explicitly requires them to 'Tell the Truth' in all communications with clients, auditors, and regulators. This is the bedrock for managing risk, which is crucial when you're growing fast.

You can see this value in their credit quality metrics for the third quarter of 2025. Nonperforming assets were only 0.28% of total assets as of September 30, 2025, a robust figure that demonstrates disciplined underwriting and transparent risk management. That's a clean balance sheet, which gives investors confidence. Here's the quick math: keeping nonperforming assets low protects the bank's capital, which is the ultimate measure of financial trustworthiness.

Strategic Growth: Disciplined Execution and Scale

ConnectOne Bancorp isn't just growing for the sake of size; they pursue 'Strategic Growth' to create sustainable, long-term value for shareholders. This value is about making smart, transformative moves like the FLIC merger, which immediately expanded their footprint across New Jersey and New York. They're not afraid to use technology, either, operating their fintech subsidiary, BoeFly, Inc., to connect franchise borrowers with funding solutions.

The financial impact of this strategic execution is clear in their third quarter 2025 results. Net income available to common stockholders was $39.5 million, a significant turnaround from the loss in the prior quarter, translating to diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.78. This jump shows the merger benefits-or earnings accretion-are realizing quickly, reinforcing their strategic decision-making. If you want to dive deeper into the market's reaction to this, you should be Exploring ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?