# Farmers & Merchants Bancshares, Inc.: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2025

- Company: [Farmers & Merchants Bancshares, Inc.](/companies/fmfg.md) (CIK 1698022)
- Form: 10-K
- Filed: 2026-03-26
- Accepted by EDGAR: Mar 26, 2026, 20:15 ET
- Period: 2025-12-31
- Accession: 0001437749-26-009952
- Inline XBRL: yes
- Main document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1698022/000143774926009952/fmfg20251231_10k.htm
- All documents and exhibits: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1698022/000143774926009952/

## Figures reported in this filing

Standardized XBRL line items for the period ended 2025-12-31.

| Line item | Period | Value | XBRL concept |
| --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| Income tax | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $1.6m | us-gaap:IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit |
| Net income | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $5.8m | us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss |
| Diluted EPS | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $1.81 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted |
| Basic EPS | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $1.81 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareBasic |
| Diluted shares (weighted) | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | 3,188,107 shares | us-gaap:WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding |
| Operating cash flow | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $6.0m | us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities |
| Capital expenditure | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $370.0k | us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets |
| Dividends paid | 12 months, 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 | $1.3m | us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividends |
| Total assets | at 2025-12-31 | $872.0m | us-gaap:Assets |
| Total liabilities | at 2025-12-31 | $807.3m | us-gaap:Liabilities |
| Long-term debt | at 2025-12-31 | $12.0m | us-gaap:LongTermDebt |
| Shareholders' equity | at 2025-12-31 | $64.7m | us-gaap:StockholdersEquity |

## Business

As filed, 48,623 characters.

### General

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. is a Maryland corporation chartered on August 8, 2016 that is registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). At the time it registered as a bank holding company, the Company also elected to become a financial holding company, which allows it to engage in certain activities, and own shares or control of certain entities, that are in addition to those permissible for an entity that is a bank holding company only. Effective November 1, 2016, the Company consummated a bank holding company reorganization involving Farmers and Merchants Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to which the Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and all of the Bank’s stockholders became stockholders of the Company.

Effective on October 1, 2020, the Company consummated its acquisition of Carroll Bancorp, Inc. (“Carroll”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Carroll Community Bank through a series of mergers (collectively, the “Merger”). Each share of common stock of Carroll (“Carroll Common Stock”) that was outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) was converted into the right to receive cash in the amount $21.63 (the “Per Share Consideration”). Immediately prior to the Effective Time, there were 1,146,913 outstanding shares of Carroll Common Stock, all of which were converted into the Per Share Consideration. The Company funded the payment of the merger consideration with $7.8 million in cash and the proceeds of a $17.0 million term loan obtained from a third-party.

The Company’s primary business activities are serving as the parent company of the Bank and holding a series investment in First Community Bankers Insurance Co., LLC, a Tennessee “series” limited liability company and licensed protected cell captive insurance company (“FCBI”). The Company owns 100% of one series of membership interests issued by FCBI, which series is deemed a “protected cell” under Tennessee law and has been designated “Series Protected Cell FCB-4” (such series investment is hereinafter referred to as the “Insurance Subsidiary”).

The Bank is a Maryland commercial bank chartered on October 24, 1919 that is engaged in a general commercial and retail banking business. The Bank has one inactive subsidiary, Reliable Community Financial Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation that was incorporated in April 1992 to facilitate the sale of fixed rate annuity products and later positioned to sell a full array of investment and insurance products.

The Insurance Subsidiary represents one protected cell of a protected cell captive insurance company (FCBI) that was formed on November 9, 2016 to better manage our risk programs, provide insurance efficiencies, and add operating income by both keeping our insurance premiums within our affiliated group of entities and realizing certain tax benefits that are unique to captive insurance companies. The Company’s investment in the Insurance Subsidiary represents one series of membership interests in FCBI. As a “series” limited liability company, FCBI is authorized by state law and its governing instruments to issue one or more series of membership interests, each of which, for all purposes under state law, is deemed to be a legal entity separate and apart from FCBI and its other series.

At December 31, 2025, our consolidated assets totaled approximately $872.0 million and stockholders’ equity was approximately $64.7 million.

### Banking Activities

The Bank has been doing business in Maryland since 1919 and is engaged in both the commercial and consumer banking business. At December 31, 2025, the Bank had approximately 18,800 deposit accounts, representing $720.5 million in deposits and $633.1 million in net loans, representing 73% of its total assets of $872.0 million.

The Bank’s general market area runs along the Route 30, Route 795, Route 140, and Route 26 corridors south from Owings Mills and north to the Pennsylvania line including the areas of Reisterstown, Upperco, Hampstead, Manchester, Eldersburg, and Westminster. The Bank’s western area includes the communities of Woodbine and New Windsor, while the eastern side includes Sparks, Hereford and Parkton. All of these communities are located in Carroll County or Baltimore County, Maryland.

This market area serves as a bedroom community to large employment areas such as Owings Mills, Hunt Valley, Towson, White Marsh, Columbia and Baltimore City. The market area is primarily residential with retail, commercial and light-manufacturing activity. The opening of Interstate 795 in the 1980’s made it convenient to enjoy a rural lifestyle while still being able to commute to work in a reasonable time.

The Bank’s main office is located in Upperco, Maryland, and it has six additional full service branches located in the Maryland communities of Hampstead, Greenmount, Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Eldersburg, and Westminster. In addition, the Bank has a satellite branch located at the senior living community of Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, Maryland and a loan production office in Towson, Maryland.

As a convenience to its customers, the Bank offers drive through automated teller machines (“ATMs”) at the Upperco, Hampstead, Reisterstown, and Westminster locations and walk-up ATMs at the Greenmount and Eldersburg offices. The Greenmount In-Store location is open seven days a week while the other six full service offices offer convenient banking hours which include Saturday mornings. The satellite branch is opened five days a week with limited business hours. Drive-thru windows are available at the Upperco, Owings Mills, Hampstead, Reisterstown, Eldersburg, and Westminster branches. The Bank offers 24-hour on-line, internet banking for account balance inquiries, bill paying, or transferring funds between accounts. The Bank provides mobile banking functionality to its internet services. Debit cards are another service the Bank provides to its customers. The Bank joined Allpoint, America’s largest surcharge-free ATM network, to enable Bank customers to have access to over 55,000 ATMs, surcharge-free.

The Bank provides a wide range of personal banking services designed to meet the needs of local consumers. Among the deposit services provided are checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. The Bank also offers repurchase agreements and remote check deposits.

The Bank grants available credit for residential mortgages (including Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Affairs loans), construction loans, home equity lines, personal installment loans and other consumer financing.

The Bank also is engaged in financing commerce and industry by providing credit and deposit services for small to medium size businesses and the agricultural community in the Bank’s market area. The Bank offers many forms of commercial lending, including commercial mortgages, land acquisition and development loans, lines of credit, accounts receivable financing, term loans for fixed asset purchases, as well as loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) and the United States Department of Agriculture.

In addition, commercial depositors may take advantage of many different services including checking accounts, remote deposit banking services, sweep accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit.

The Bank also has strategic alliances that allow for the issuance of credit cards to retail customers and to provide merchant services so commercial customers can accept credit cards and debit cards as payment for their goods and services.

The Bank has adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate credit risk and maintain the quality of the loan portfolio. These policies include underwriting standards for new credits as well as the continuous monitoring and reporting of asset quality and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. These policies, coupled with continuous training efforts, have provided effective checks and balances for the risk associated with the lending process. Lending authority is based on the level of risk, size of the loan, and the experience of the lending officer. The Bank’s policy is to make the majority of its loan commitments in the market area it serves. This tends to reduce risk because Management is familiar with the credit histories of loan applicants and has in-depth knowledge of the risk to which a given credit is subject. No material portion of the Bank’s loans is concentrated within a single industry or group of related industries. Most of the Bank’s loans are, however, made to Maryland customers and many are secured by real estate located in or around Maryland. Although Management believes that the loan portfolio is diversified, its performance will be influenced by the economy of the region.

### Investment Activities

The Bank maintains a portfolio of investments in debt securities to provide liquidity and income. The current portfolio of $139.8 million represented approximately 16% of the total assets at December 31, 2025 and is invested primarily in mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds.

A key objective of the investment portfolio is to provide a balance in the Bank’s asset mix of investments and loans consistent with its liability structure, and to assist in management of interest rate risk. The investments augment the Bank’s capital position, providing the necessary liquidity to meet fluctuations in credit demand of the community and fluctuations in deposit levels. In addition, the portfolio provides collateral for pledging against public funds and repurchase agreements and an opportunity to minimize income tax liability. Finally, the investment portfolio is designed to provide income for the Bank. In view of the above objectives, only securities that meet conservative investment criteria are purchased.

### Insurance Activities

As noted above, the Insurance Subsidiary is one protected cell of a protected cell captive insurance company. From its formation through November 7, 2022, the Insurance Subsidiary reinsured certain risks of the Bank as well as other groups of entities that were not affiliated with the Bank for which it received premiums. The related insurance policies were issued each year. Under the reinsurance arrangement, the premium earned by the Insurance Subsidiary for a particular year could be retained as earnings (subject to any regulatory capital and surplus requirements imposed by applicable law) once the claim deadline for that year’s policy had passed. As the sole owner of the Insurance Subsidiary, the Company may terminate the Insurance Subsidiary’s participation in this reinsurance arrangement with respect to a future year at any time. The Company chose to not renew the most recent policy when it expired on November 6, 2022. As of December 31, 2025, the Insurance Subsidiary’s only activity was paying claims for events that occurred prior to November 7, 2022.

### Competition

The banking business, in all of its phases, is highly competitive. Within our market areas, we compete with commercial banks, (including local banks and branches or affiliates of other larger banks), savings and loan associations and credit unions for loans and deposits, with consumer finance companies for loans, and with other financial institutions for various types of products and services. There is also competition for commercial and retail banking business from banks and financial institutions located outside our market areas and on the Internet.

The primary factors in competing for deposits are interest rates, personalized services, the quality and range of financial services, convenience of office locations and office hours. The primary factors in competing for loans are interest rates, loan origination fees, the quality and range of lending services and personalized services.

To compete with other financial services providers, we rely principally upon local promotional activities, personal relationships established by officers, directors and employees with customers, and specialized services tailored to meet customers’ needs. In those instances, in which we are unable to accommodate a customer’s needs, we attempt to arrange for those services to be provided by other financial services providers with which we have a relationship.

### Supervision and Regulation

The following is a summary of the material regulations and policies applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries and is not intended to be a comprehensive discussion. Changes in applicable laws and regulations may have a material effect on our business.

### General

The Company is subject to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the BHC Act and the regulations of the Federal Reserve that apply to financial holding companies. As a holding company of a Maryland-chartered bank, the Company is also subject to supervision by the Office of the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation (the “Maryland Commissioner”). Because the Company’s common stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company is also subject to regulation and supervision by the SEC.

The Bank is a Maryland commercial bank subject to the banking laws of Maryland and to regulation by the Maryland Commissioner, who is required by statute to make at least one examination in each calendar year (or at 18-month intervals if the Maryland Commissioner determines that an examination is unnecessary in a particular calendar year). As a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Bank is also subject to certain provisions of federal laws and regulations regarding deposit insurance and activities of insured state-chartered banks, including those that require examination by the FDIC. In addition to the foregoing, there are a myriad of other federal and state laws and regulations that affect or govern the business of banking, including consumer lending and deposit-taking.

All non-bank subsidiaries of the Company are subject to examination by the Federal Reserve, and, as affiliates of the Bank, are subject to examination by the FDIC and the Maryland Commissioner. In addition, the Insurance Subsidiary is subject to licensing and regulation by the Tennessee Insurance Department, and, as a captive insurance company, is subject to certain restrictions and requirements imposed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”).

### Regulatory Reforms

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was enacted in July 2010, significantly restructured the financial regulatory regime in the United States. The Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”), and contains a wide variety of provisions affecting the regulation of depository institutions, including fair lending, fair debt collection practices, mortgage loan origination and servicing obligations, bankruptcy, military service member protections, use of credit reports, privacy matters, and disclosure of credit terms and correction of billing errors. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt stricter consumer protection laws and each state attorney general may enforce consumer protection rules issued by the CFPB. Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB, and to some extent, some state attorney generals, have used provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act to bring enforcement actions seeking to curb “unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices” in the financial services sector. Enforcement and regulatory priorities could change as a result of a change in leadership at the CFPB and/or continued enforcement and regulatory actions at the state level, resulting in increased regulatory compliance burdens and costs and restrictions on the financial products and services that we offer to our customers in the future.

### Regulation of Bank Holding Companies and Financial Holding Companies

The Company and its affiliates are subject to the provisions of Section 23A and Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. Section 23A limits the amount of loans or extensions of credit to, and investments in, the Company and its non-bank affiliates by the Bank. Section 23B requires that transactions between the Bank and the Company and its non-bank affiliates be on terms and under circumstances that are substantially the same as with non-affiliates.

Under Federal Reserve policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of strength to the Bank, and the Federal Reserve may charge the Company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices for failure to commit resources to a subsidiary bank when required. This support may be required at times when the bank holding company may not have the resources to provide the support. Under the prompt corrective action provisions, if a controlled bank is undercapitalized, then the regulators could require the bank holding company to guarantee the bank’s capital restoration plan. In addition, if the Federal Reserve believes that a bank holding company’s activities, assets or affiliates represent a significant risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of a controlled bank, then the Federal Reserve could require the bank holding company to terminate the activities, liquidate the assets or divest the affiliates. The regulators may require these and other actions in support of controlled banks even if such actions are not in the best interests of the bank holding company or its stockholders. Because the Company is a bank holding company, it is viewed as a source of financial and managerial strength for any controlled depository institutions, like the Bank.

In addition, under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRREA”), depository institutions insured by the FDIC can be held liable for any losses incurred by, or reasonably anticipated to be incurred by, the FDIC in connection with (i) the default of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution or (ii) any assistance provided by the FDIC to a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution in danger of default. Accordingly, in the event that any insured subsidiary of the Company causes a loss to the FDIC, other insured subsidiaries of the Company could be required to compensate the FDIC by reimbursing it for the estimated amount of such loss. Such cross guaranty liabilities generally are superior in priority to obligations of a financial institution to its shareholders and obligations to other affiliates. The Bank is the Company’s only FDIC-insured depository institution.

The provisions of the BHC Act relating to financial holding companies and the regulations promulgated thereunder require the Bank to remain “well capitalized” and “well managed”. The capital requirement is discussed below under the heading, “***Capital Requirements”***. The Bank will be considered to be well managed so long as it achieves a CAMEL composite rating of at least “2” as a result of its most recent examination and at least a “satisfactory” management rating (if such rating is given). If the Bank were to fail to meet either of these requirements, then the Company would be required to enter into an agreement with the Federal Reserve that would address the remediation of the condition that led to the failure. During the term of that agreement, which is typically 180 days but which can be extended at the discretion of the Federal Reserve, the Company would be prohibited from commencing any additional activity or acquiring control or shares of any company that would otherwise be permissible for a financial holding company under Section 4(k) of the BHC Act. If the Company were to fail to correct that condition by the expiration of the agreement’s term, then the Federal Reserve could order the Company to divest its ownership of the Bank or, alternatively, terminate all financial holding company activities. For so long as the Company remains a financial holding company, the Bank must also maintain a Satisfactory or better rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (the “CRA”). During any period that the Bank fails to satisfy this requirement, the Company is prohibited from commencing any additional activity or acquiring control or shares of any company that would otherwise be permissible for a financial holding company under Section 4(k) of the BHC Act. The Bank currently satisfies all of the foregoing conditions.

### Federal Banking Regulation

Federal banking regulators, such as the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, may prohibit the institutions over which they have supervisory authority from engaging in activities or investments that the agencies believe are unsafe or unsound banking practices. Federal banking regulators have extensive enforcement authority over the institutions they regulate to prohibit or correct activities that violate law, regulation or a regulatory agreement or which are deemed to be unsafe or unsound practices. Enforcement actions may include the appointment of a conservator or receiver, the issuance of a cease and desist order, the termination of deposit insurance, the imposition of civil money penalties on the institution, its directors, officers, employees and institution-affiliated parties, the issuance of directives to increase capital, the issuance of formal and informal agreements, the removal of or restrictions on directors, officers, employees and institution-affiliated parties, and the enforcement of any such mechanisms through restraining orders or other court actions.

The Bank is subject to certain restrictions on extensions of credit to executive officers, directors, and principal stockholders or any related interest of such persons, which generally require that such credit extensions be made on substantially the same terms as those available to persons who are not related to the Bank and not involve more than the normal risk of repayment. Other laws tie the maximum amount that may be loaned to any one customer and its related interests to capital levels.

As part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), each federal banking regulator adopted non-capital safety and soundness standards for institutions under its authority. These standards include internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, and compensation, fees and benefits. An institution that fails to meet those standards may be required by the agency to develop a plan acceptable to meet the standards. Failure to submit or implement such a plan may subject the institution to regulatory sanctions. We believe that the Bank meets substantially all standards that have been adopted. FDICIA also imposes capital standards on insured depository institutions.

The CRA requires the FDIC, in connection with its examination of financial institutions within its jurisdiction, to evaluate the record of those financial institutions in meeting the credit needs of their communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with principles of safe and sound banking practices. These factors are also considered by all regulatory agencies in evaluating mergers, acquisitions and applications to open a branch or facility. As of the date of its most recent examination report, the Bank had a CRA rating of “Satisfactory”.

The Bank is also subject to a variety of other laws and regulations with respect to the operation of its business, including, but not limited to, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (the “FCRA”), Expedited Funds Availability (Regulation CC), Reserve Requirements (Regulation D), Privacy of Consumer Information (Regulation P), Margin Stock Loans (Regulation U), the Right To Financial Privacy Act, the Flood Disaster Protection Act, the Homeowners Protection Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the CAN-SPAM Act, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act.

### Capital Requirements

In addition to operational requirements, the Bank and the Company are subject to risk-based capital requirements, which were adopted and are monitored by federal banking regulators. The regulations that implement these requirements are used to evaluate capital adequacy and require an analysis of an institution’s asset risk profile and off-balance sheet exposures, such as unused loan commitments and stand-by letters of credit.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDI Act”) requires, among other things, the federal banking agencies to take “prompt corrective action” in respect of depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDI Act includes the following five capital tiers: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” A depository institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. The relevant capital measures are the total capital ratio, the Tier 1 capital ratio, the leverage ratio and the common equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) ratio.

A bank will be (i) “well capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, a CET1 ratio of 6.5% or greater, and is not subject to any order or written directive by any such regulatory authority to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure, (ii) “adequately capitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater, a CET1 ratio of 6.5% or greater, and is not “well capitalized”, (iii) “undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 4.0%, (iv) or a CET1 ratio of less than 4.5%, “significantly undercapitalized” if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 3.0%, or a CET1 ratio of less than 3%, and (v) “critically undercapitalized” if the institution’s tangible equity is equal to or less than 2.0% of average quarterly tangible assets. An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.

The appropriate federal banking agency may, under certain circumstances, reclassify a well-capitalized insured depository institution as adequately capitalized. The FDI Act provides that an institution may be reclassified if the appropriate federal banking agency determines (after notice and opportunity for hearing) that the institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition or deems the institution to be engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice. Regulators may require higher capital ratios when warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profile of a given banking organization. In the current regulatory environment, banking organizations must stay well-capitalized in order to receive favorable regulatory treatment on acquisition and other expansion activities and favorable risk-based deposit insurance assessments. Further, the appropriate agency is permitted to require an adequately capitalized or undercapitalized institution to comply with the supervisory provisions as if the institution were in the next lower category (but not treat a significantly undercapitalized institution as critically undercapitalized) based on supervisory information other than the capital levels of the institution.

Under these capital regulations, institutions are subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the prescribed buffer amount. These limitations establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that can be utilized for such actions.

The FDI Act generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distributions (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be “undercapitalized.” “Undercapitalized” institutions are subject to growth limitations and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. The agencies may not accept such a plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository institution’s capital. In addition, for a capital restoration plan to be acceptable, the depository institution’s parent holding company must guarantee that the institution will comply with such capital restoration plan. The bank holding company must also provide appropriate assurances of performance. The aggregate liability of the parent holding company is limited to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to 5.0% of the depository institution’s total assets at the time it became undercapitalized and (ii) the amount which is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the institution into compliance with all capital standards applicable with respect to such institution as of the time it fails to comply with the plan. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly undercapitalized.” Significantly undercapitalized” depository institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become “adequately capitalized,” requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. “Critically undercapitalized” institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator.

Our capital policy establishes guidelines meeting these regulatory requirements and takes into consideration current or anticipated risks as well as potential future growth opportunities. As of December 31, 2025, the Bank was “well capitalized” based on the aforementioned ratios.

On September 17, 2019, the FDIC finalized a rule that introduces an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework), as required by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.

On April 6, 2020, in a joint statement, the FDIC, Federal Reserve and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency issued two interim final rules regarding temporary changes to the CBLR framework to implement provisions of the CARES Act. Under the interim final rules, the community bank leverage ratio was reduced to 8% beginning in the second quarter and for the remainder of calendar year 2020, 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9%, less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance-sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the Prompt Corrective Action regulations and will not be required to report or calculate risk-based capital. The Bank has not opted-in to the CBLR framework.

Additional information about our capital ratios and requirements is contained in Item 7 of this Annual Report under the heading, “Capital Resources and Adequacy”.

### Liquidity Requirements

We require cash to fund loans, satisfy our obligations under the Bank’s letters of credit, meet the deposit withdrawal demands of the Bank’s customers, and satisfy our other monetary obligations. To the extent that deposits are not adequate to fund these requirements, we can rely on the funding sources identified in Item 2 of this Annual Report under the heading, “Liquidity Management”. As of December 31, 2025, the Bank had $23.5 million available through unsecured and secured lines of credit with correspondent banks, $29.3 million available through a secured line of credit with the Fed Discount Window and approximately $23.6 million available through the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). Management is not aware of any demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that are likely to materially affect our ability to meet our future liquidity requirements.

### Deposit Insurance

The Bank is a member of the FDIC and pays an insurance premium to the FDIC based upon its assessable deposits on a quarterly basis. Deposits are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”) and such insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. The coverage limit is generally $250,000 per depositor per insured depository institution for each account ownership category.

The Dodd-Frank Act set a new minimum DIF reserve ratio at 1.35% of estimated insured deposits and required the FDIC to redefine the deposit insurance assessment base for an insured depository institution. As redefined pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, an institution’s assessment base is now an amount equal to the institution’s average consolidated total assets during the assessment period minus average tangible equity. Institutions with less than $1.0 billion in assets at the end of a fiscal quarter, like the Bank, are permitted to report their average consolidated total assets on a weekly basis (rather than on a daily basis) and to report their average tangible equity on an end-of-quarter balance (rather than on an end-of-month balance).

The Bank expensed $578.4 thousand and $391.2 thousand in FDIC insurance premiums, including FICO assessments, in 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase from 2024 to 2025 was due primarily to the increase in the FDIC’s minimum assessment and the Bank’s level of brokered CDs in the first half of 2025.

The FDIC is authorized to conduct examinations of and require reporting by FDIC-insured institutions. It is also authorized to terminate a depository bank’s deposit insurance upon a finding by the FDIC that the bank’s financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or has violated any applicable rule, regulation, order or condition enacted or imposed by the bank’s regulatory agency. The termination of deposit insurance would have a material adverse effect on our earnings, operations and financial condition.

### Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering

The Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”), which is intended to require financial institutions to develop policies, procedures, and practices to prevent and deter money laundering, mandates that every insured depository institution have a written, board-approved program that is reasonably designed to assure and monitor compliance with the BSA.

The program must, at a minimum: (i) provide for a system of internal controls to assure ongoing compliance; (ii) provide for independent testing for compliance; (iii) designate an individual responsible for coordinating and monitoring day-to-day compliance; and (iv) provide training for appropriate personnel. In addition, state-chartered banks are required to adopt a customer identification program as part of its BSA compliance program. State-chartered banks are also required to file Suspicious Activity Reports when they detect certain known or suspected violations of federal law or suspicious transactions related to a money laundering activity or a violation of the BSA.

In addition to complying with the BSA, the Bank is subject to the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”). The USA Patriot Act is designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the United States’ financial system and has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers, and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The USA Patriot Act mandates that financial service companies implement additional policies and procedures and take heightened measures designed to address any or all of the following matters: customer identification programs, money laundering, terrorist financing, identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions, currency crimes, and cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement authorities.

### Mortgage Lending and Servicing

The Bank’s mortgage lending and servicing activities are subject to various laws and regulations that are enforced by the federal banking regulators and the CFPB, such as the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and various rules adopted thereunder, including those relating to consumer disclosures, appraisal requirements, mortgage originator compensation, prohibitions on mandatory arbitration provisions under certain circumstances, and the obligation to credit payments and provide payoff statements within certain time periods and provide certain notices prior to interest rate and payment adjustments.

The Bank is required to make a reasonable and good faith determination based on verified and documented information that a consumer applying for a mortgage loan has a reasonable ability to repay the loan according to its terms. Qualified mortgages that that are not “higher-priced” are afforded a safe harbor presumption of compliance with the ability to repay rules, while qualified mortgages that are “higher-priced” garner a rebuttable presumption of compliance with the ability to repay rules. In general, a “qualified mortgage” is a mortgage loan without negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, or a term exceeding 30 years, where the lender determines that the borrower has the ability to repay, and where the borrower’s points and fees do not exceed 3% of the total loan amount. “Higher-priced” mortgages must have escrow accounts for taxes and insurance and similar recurring expenses.

***Consumer Lending – Military Lending Act***

The Military Lending Act (the “MLA”), which was initially implemented in 2007, was amended and its coverage significantly expanded in 2015. The types of credit covered under the MLA include virtually all consumer loan and credit card products (except for loans secured by residential real property and certain purchase-money motor vehicle/personal property secured transactions). Lenders must provide specific written and oral disclosures concerning the protections of the MLA to active duty members of the military and dependents of active duty members of the military (“covered borrowers”). The implementing regulation imposes a 36% “Military Annual Percentage Rate” cap that includes costs associated with credit insurance premiums, fees for ancillary products, finance charges associated with the transactions, and application and participation charges. In addition, loan terms cannot include (i) a mandatory arbitration provision, (ii) a waiver of consumer protection laws, (iii) mandatory allotments from military benefits, or (iv) a prepayment penalty. The revised rule also prohibits “roll-over” or refinances of the same loan unless the new loan provides more favorable terms for the covered borrower. Lenders may verify covered borrower status using a DOD database or information provided by credit bureaus. We believe that we are in compliance with the revised rule.

### Cybersecurity

We rely on electronic communications and information systems to conduct our operations and store sensitive data. We employ an in-depth approach that leverages people, processes, and technology to manage and maintain cybersecurity controls. In addition, we employ a variety of preventative and detective tools to monitor, block, and provide alerts regarding suspicious activity, as well as to report on any suspected advanced persistent threats. Notwithstanding the strength of our defensive measures, the threat from cyber-attacks is severe, attacks are sophisticated and increasing in volume, and attackers respond rapidly to changes in defensive measures.

The federal banking regulators have adopted guidelines for establishing information security standards and cybersecurity programs for implementing safeguards under the supervision of a financial institution’s board of directors. These guidelines, along with related regulatory materials, increasingly focus on risk management and processes related to information technology and the use of third parties in the provision of financial products and services. The federal banking regulators expect financial institutions to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, and also expect financial institutions to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution’s operations after a cyberattack. If we fail to meet the expectations set forth in this regulatory guidance, then we could be subject to various regulatory actions and we may be required to devote significant resources to any required remediation efforts.

### Laws Related to the Insurance Subsidiary

The Insurance Subsidiary is treated as a separate legal entity for state law purposes and is licensed and supervised by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance as a series protected cell of a protected cell captive insurance company. Tennessee insurance law requires a protected cell to possess and maintain unimpaired paid-in capital and surplus of at least $25,000, and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has the authority to prescribe additional requirements based on the type, volume and nature of insurance business to be conducted. No captive insurance company may pay a dividend out of, or other distribution with respect to, capital or surplus without the prior approval of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

The Insurance Subsidiary was formed with the intention that it be treated as a “captive insurance company” by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) so that, among other things, some or all of the premiums that we pay to the Insurance Subsidiary will be deductible as trade or business expenses. Because of the significant tax benefits that can be realized through the operation of a captive insurance company, the IRS has recently focused significant attention on these arrangements to ensure that they are not simply a disguise for self-insurance. Amounts paid to the Insurance Subsidiary are deductible only if they constitute “insurance premiums” under the IRC. The federal courts and the IRS have concluded that amounts paid to an insurance company will be deemed insurance premiums only if the arrangement under which those amounts were paid evidences an appropriate level of both “risk shifting” and “risk distribution.”

Moreover, our tax planning assumes that the Insurance Company will have made an effective election under Section 831(b) of the IRC for each taxable year in which it receives a premium so that it will be taxed only on its investment income (and not also on its premium income) generated in that year. A Section 831(b) election for a taxable year is available only if (i) the insurance company’s net written premiums (or, if greater, direct written premiums) for the year do not exceed $2.65 million and (ii) either (a) no more than 20% of the written premiums (net or direct, as applicable) for the year is attributable to any single insured or (b) the insurance company satisfies certain ownership diversification requirements specified in Section 831(b)(2)(B)(i)(II) of the IRC.

The laws governing these arrangements are complicated and the positions taken by the IRS with respect to these laws and arrangements evolve and are subject to change. For additional information, see the risk factors entitled “*We may not achieve the expected benefits from the Insurance Subsidiary”* and “*Certain of our U.S. consolidated federal income tax returns are currently being audited”* in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the heading “Risks Relating to the Company and its Affiliates”.

### SEC Regulation

The shares of the Company’s common stock are registered with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the Company is subject to the information reporting requirements, proxy solicitation requirements, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the Exchange Act, including the requirements imposed under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Among other things, loans to and other transactions with insiders are subject to restrictions and heightened disclosure.

### Governmental Monetary and Credit Policies and Economic Controls

The earnings and growth of the banking industry and ultimately of the Bank are affected by the monetary and credit policies of governmental authorities, including the Federal Reserve. An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the national supply of bank credit in order to control recessionary and inflationary pressures. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, changes in the federal funds rate, changes in the discount rate of member bank borrowings, and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth of bank loans, investments and deposits and may also affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve authorities have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to have such an effect in the future. In view of changing conditions in the national economy and in the money markets, as well as the effect of actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve, no prediction can be made as to possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, loan demand or their effect on our businesses and earnings.

### Employees

As of December 31, 2025, we employed 95 individuals, of whom 91 were full-time employees.

### Available Information

The Company maintains an Internet site at www.fmb1919.bank on which it makes available, free of charge, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to the foregoing as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. The information on, or accessible through, these websites is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other document that we file with or furnish to the SEC.

## Risk factors

As filed, 57,501 characters.

The significant risks and uncertainties related to us, our business and our securities of which we are aware are discussed below. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties before making investment decisions in respect of our securities. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects and could negatively impact the market price of our securities. If any of these risks materialize, you could lose all or part of your investment in the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not yet know of, or that we currently think are immaterial, may also impair our business operations. You should also consider the other information contained in this Annual Report, including our financial statements and the related notes, before making investment decisions in respect of our securities.

### Risks Relating to the Operations of the Company and its Affiliates

***The Company’s future success depends on the successful growth of its subsidiaries.***

The Company’s primary business activity for the foreseeable future will be to act as the holding company of the Bank. Therefore, the Company’s future profitability will depend on the success and growth of the Bank and any other subsidiary that it operates.

***We could be adversely affected by risks associated with future acquisitions and expansions.***

Although our core growth strategy has historically focused around organic growth, we may from time to time consider acquisition and expansion opportunities involving a bank or other entity operating in the financial services industry. We cannot predict if or when we will engage in strategic transactions, or the nature or terms of any such transactions. To the extent that we grow through an acquisition, we cannot assure investors that we will be able to adequately and profitably manage that growth or that an acquired business will be integrated into our existing businesses as efficiently or as timely as we may anticipate. Acquiring another business would generally involve risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including:

- increased capital needs;
- increased and new regulatory and compliance requirements;
- implementation or remediation of controls, procedures and policies with respect to the acquired business;
- diversion of management time and focus from operation of our then-existing business to acquisition-integration challenges;
- coordination of product, sales, marketing and program and systems management functions;
- transition of the acquired business’s users and customers onto our systems;
- retention of employees from the acquired business;
- integration of employees from the acquired business into our organization;
- integration of the acquired business’s accounting, information management, human resources and other administrative systems and operations with ours;
- potential liability for activities of the acquired business prior to the acquisition, including violations of law, commercial disputes and tax and other known and unknown liabilities;
- potential increased litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired business, including claims brought by regulators, terminated employees, customers, former stockholders, vendors, or other third parties; and
- potential goodwill impairment.

If we were to pursue or consummate an acquisition, then our failure to execute on our acquisition strategy could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and future prospects risks of unknown or contingent liabilities.

***The majority of our business is concentrated in Maryland, much of which involves real estate lending, so a decline in the real estate and credit markets could materially and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.***

Most of the Bank’s loans are made to borrowers located in Maryland, and many of these loans, including construction and land development loans, are secured by real estate. Accordingly, a decline in local economic conditions would likely have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations, and the impact on us would likely be greater than the impact felt by larger financial institutions whose loan portfolios are geographically diverse. We cannot guarantee that any risk management practices we implement to address our geographic and loan concentrations will be effective to prevent losses relating to our loan portfolio.

***The Bank’s concentrations of commercial real estate loans could subject it to increased regulatory scrutiny and directives, which could force us to preserve or raise capital and/or limit future commercial lending activities.***

The federal banking regulators believe that institutions with particularly high concentrations of commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans in their lending portfolios face a heightened risk of financial difficulties in the event of adverse changes in the economy and CRE markets. Accordingly, through published guidance, these regulators have directed institutions whose concentrations exceed certain percentages of capital to implement heightened risk management practices appropriate to their concentration risk. The guidance provides that banking regulators may require such institutions to reduce their concentrations and/or maintain higher capital ratios than institutions with lower concentrations in CRE. At December 31, 2025, our CRE concentrations were above the heightened risk management thresholds set forth in this guidance. No assurance can be given that the Company’s enhanced risk management practices and monitoring controls will be effective.

***The Bank may experience loan losses in excess of its allowance, which would reduce our earnings.***

The risk of credit losses on loans varies with, among other things, general economic conditions, the type of loans being made, the creditworthiness of the borrowers over the term of the loans and, in the case of collateralized loans, the value and marketability of the collateral for the loans. Management of the Bank maintains an allowance for credit losses on loans based upon, among other things, historical experience, an evaluation of economic conditions and regular reviews of delinquencies and loan portfolio quality. Based upon such factors, management makes various assumptions and judgments about the ultimate collectability of the loan portfolio and provides an allowance for credit losses based upon a percentage of the outstanding balances and for specific loans when their ultimate collectability is considered questionable. If management’s assumptions and judgments prove to be incorrect and the allowance for credit losses is inadequate to absorb future losses, or if the bank regulatory authorities require us to increase the allowance for credit losses as a part of its examination process, our earnings and capital could be significantly and adversely affected. Although management continually monitors our loan portfolio and makes determinations with respect to the allowance for credit losses, future adjustments may be necessary if economic or other conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used or adverse developments arise with respect to our non-performing or performing loans. Material additions to the allowance for credit losses could result in a material decrease in our net income and capital, and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

***We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties, and inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information provided to us by these persons could cause us to suffer losses.***

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. We also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

***Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting models, the inadequacy of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and/or results of operations.***

The processes we use to estimate our expected credit losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and results of operations, depends upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. These models reflect assumptions that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Even if these assumptions are adequate, the models may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation, including flaws caused by failures in controls, data management, human error or from the reliance on technology. If the models we use for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate, we may incur increased or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures. If the models we use for estimating our expected credit losses are inadequate, the allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to support future charge-offs. If the models we use to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instruments may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what we could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in our analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

***Interest rates and other economic conditions will impact our results of operations.***

Our net income depends primarily upon our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on loans, investments and other interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred on deposits and borrowed funds. The level of net interest income is primarily a function of the average balance of our interest-earning assets, the average balance of our interest-bearing liabilities, and the spread between the yield on such assets and the cost of such liabilities. These factors are influenced by both the pricing and mix of our interest-earning assets and our interest-bearing liabilities which, in turn, are impacted by such external factors as the local economy, competition for loans and deposits, the monetary policy of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve, and market interest rates.

Different types of assets and liabilities may react differently, and at different times, to changes in market interest rates. We expect that we will periodically experience gaps in the interest rate sensitivities of our assets and liabilities. That means either our interest-bearing liabilities will be more sensitive to changes in market interest rates than our interest-earning assets, or vice versa. When interest-bearing liabilities mature or re-price more quickly than interest-earning assets, an increase in market rates of interest could reduce our net interest income. Likewise, when interest-earning assets mature or re-price more quickly than interest-bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could reduce our net interest income. We are unable to predict changes in market interest rates, which are affected by many factors beyond our control, including inflation, deflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, domestic and international events and changes in the United States and other financial markets.

We also attempt to manage risk from changes in market interest rates, in part, by controlling the mix of interest rate sensitive assets and interest rate sensitive liabilities. However, interest rate risk management techniques are not exact. A rapid increase or decrease in interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance.

### The market value of our investments could decline.

As of December 31, 2025, investment securities in our investment portfolio having a cost basis of $136.1 million and a market value of $118.7 million were classified as available-for-sale pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities, relating to accounting for investments. Topic 320 requires that unrealized gains and losses in the estimated value of the available-for-sale portfolio be “marked to market” and reflected as a separate item in stockholders’ equity (net of tax) as accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss. There can be no assurance that future market performance of our investment portfolio will enable us to realize income from sales of securities. Stockholders’ equity will continue to reflect the unrealized gains and losses (net of tax) of these investments. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the market value of our investment portfolio will not decline, causing a corresponding decline in stockholders’ equity.

Management believes that several factors could affect the market value of our investment portfolio. These include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates or expectations of changes, the degree of volatility in the securities markets, inflation rates or expectations of inflation and the slope of the interest rate yield curve (the yield curve refers to the differences between shorter-term and longer-term interest rates; a positively sloped yield curve means shorter-term rates are lower than longer-term rates). Also, the passage of time will affect the market values of our investment securities, in that the closer they are to maturing, the closer the market price should be to par value. These and other factors may impact specific categories of the portfolio differently, and management cannot predict the effect these factors may have on any specific category.

***Impairment of deferred tax assets could require charges to earnings, which could result in a negative impact on our results of operations.***

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Assessing the need for, or the sufficiency of, a valuation allowance requires management to evaluate all available evidence, both negative and positive, including the recent trend of quarterly earnings. Positive evidence necessary to overcome the negative evidence includes whether future taxable income in sufficient amounts and character within the carryback and carry forward periods is available under the tax law, including the use of tax planning strategies. When negative evidence (e.g., cumulative losses in recent years, history of operating loss or tax credit carry forwards expiring unused) exists, more positive evidence than negative evidence will be necessary. At December 31, 2025, our net deferred tax assets were valued at $6.3 million.

The impact of each of these impairment matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

***We operate in a competitive environment, and our inability to effectively compete could adversely and materially impact our financial condition and results of operations.***

We operate in a competitive environment, competing for loans, deposits, and customers with commercial banks, savings associations and other financial entities. Competition for deposits comes primarily from other commercial banks, savings associations, credit unions, money market and mutual funds and other investment alternatives. Competition for loans comes primarily from other commercial banks, savings associations, mortgage banking firms, credit unions and other financial intermediaries. Competition for other products, such as securities products, comes from other banks, securities and brokerage companies, and other non-bank financial service providers in our market area. Many of these competitors are much larger in terms of total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets, and/or offer a broader range of financial services than those that we offer. In addition, banks with a larger capitalization and financial intermediaries not subject to bank regulatory restrictions have larger lending limits and are thereby able to serve the needs of larger customers.

In addition, changes to the banking laws over the years have facilitated interstate branching, merger and expanded activities by banks and holding companies. For example, the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act revised the BHC Act and repealed the affiliation provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which, taken together, limited the securities and other non-banking activities of any company that controls an FDIC insured financial institution. As a result, the ability of financial institutions to branch across state lines and the ability of these institutions to engage in previously-prohibited activities are now accepted elements of competition in the banking industry. These changes may bring us into competition with more and a wider array of institutions, which may reduce our ability to attract or retain customers. Management cannot predict the extent to which we will face such additional competition or the degree to which such competition will impact our financial conditions or results of operations.

***The banking industry is heavily regulated; significant regulatory changes could adversely affect our operations.***

Our operations will be impacted by current and future legislation and by the policies established from time to time by various federal and state regulatory authorities. The Company is subject to supervision by the Federal Reserve. The Bank is subject to supervision and periodic examination by the Maryland Commissioner and the FDIC. The Insurance Subsidiary is subject to supervision and periodic examination by the Tennessee Insurance Department. Banking regulations, designed primarily for the safety of depositors, and insurance regulations, designed primarily for the safety of insureds, may limit a financial institution’s growth and the return to its investors by restricting such activities as the payment of dividends, mergers with or acquisitions by other institutions, investments, loans and interest rates, interest rates paid on deposits, expansion of branch offices, and the offering of securities or trust services. The Company and the Bank are also subject to capitalization guidelines established by federal law and the Insurance Subsidiary is subject to capitalization guidelines established by Tennessee law, and could be subject to enforcement actions to the extent that they are found by regulatory examiners to be undercapitalized. It is not possible to predict what changes, if any, will be made to existing federal and state legislation and regulations or the effect that such changes may have on our future business and earnings prospects. Management also cannot predict the nature or the extent of the effect on our business and earnings of future fiscal or monetary policies, economic controls, or new federal or state legislation. Further, the cost of compliance with regulatory requirements may adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.

***The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may continue to reshape the consumer financial laws through rulemaking and enforcement of the prohibitions against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices. Compliance with any such change may impact our business operations.***

The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority to administer and carry out the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act with respect to financial institutions that offer covered financial products and services to consumers. The CFPB has also been directed to adopt rules identifying practices or acts that are unfair, deceptive or abusive in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or service, or the offering of a consumer financial product or service. The concept of what may be considered to be an “abusive” practice is fluid and can change based on politically-appointed leadership at the CFPB. The full scope of the impact of this authority has not yet been determined as the CFPB has not yet released significant supervisory guidance. Any new rules adopted by the CFPB could require the Bank to dedicate significant personnel resources and could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

***Bank regulators and other regulations, including the Basel III Capital Rules, may require higher capital levels, impacting our ability to pay dividends or repurchase our stock.***

The capital standards to which we are subject, including the standards created by the Basel III Capital Rules, may materially limit our ability to use our capital resources and/or could require us to raise additional capital by issuing common stock. The issuance of additional shares of common stock could dilute existing stockholders.

***A material weakness or significant deficiency in our disclosure or internal controls could have an adverse effect on us.***

The Company is required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to establish and maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. These control systems are intended to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Company is made known to our management and reported as required by the Exchange Act, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability and preparation of our financial statements, and to provide reasonable assurance that fraud and other unauthorized uses of our assets are detected and prevented. We may not be able to maintain controls and procedures that are effective at the reasonable assurance level. If that were to happen, our ability to provide timely and accurate information about the Company, including financial information, to investors could be compromised and our results of operations could be harmed. Moreover, if the Company or its independent registered public accounting firm were to identify a material weakness or significant deficiency in any of those control systems, our reputation could be harmed and investors could lose confidence in us, which could cause the market price of the Company’s stock to decline and/or limit the trading market for the common stock.

***Customer concern about deposit insurance may cause a decrease in deposits held at the Bank.***

Since the 2008 recession that involved a large number of bank failures, banking customers across the country have become increasingly concerned about the extent to which their deposits are insured by the FDIC. This concern could cause the Bank’s customers to withdraw deposits from the Bank in an effort to ensure that the amount they have on deposit with us is fully-insured. Because the Bank relies heavily on deposits to fund loans and purchase other interest-earning assets, a decrease in deposits could have a materially adverse effect on our funding costs and net income.

***The Bank’s funding sources may prove insufficient to replace deposits and support our future growth.***

The Bank relies on customer deposits, advances from the FHLB, lines of credit at other financial institutions and brokered funds to fund our operations. Although the Bank has historically been able to replace maturing deposits and advances if desired, no assurance can be given that the Bank would be able to replace such funds in the future if our financial condition or the financial condition of the FHLB or market conditions were to change. Our financial flexibility will be severely constrained and/or our cost of funds will increase if we are unable to maintain our access to funding or if financing necessary to accommodate future growth is not available at favorable interest rates. Finally, if we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support future growth, our revenues may not increase proportionately to cover our costs. In that case, our profitability would be adversely affected.

***We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.***

The Company may need to raise additional capital in the future to provide it with sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and business needs including complying with new regulatory capital rules, particularly if its asset quality or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of its control, and its financial condition. Economic conditions and the loss of confidence in financial institutions may limit access to certain customary sources of capital, and increase the Bank’s cost of raising capital. No assurance can be given that such capital will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Any occurrence that may limit our access to the capital markets, such as a decline in the confidence of depositors, investors or counterparties participating in the capital markets may adversely affect our capital costs and our ability to raise capital and, in turn, our liquidity. Moreover, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may have to do so when many other financial institutions are also seeking to raise capital and would have to compete with those institutions for investors. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms as and when needed could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

***The Bank’s lending activities subject the Bank to the risk of environmental liabilities.***

A significant portion of the Bank’s loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, the Bank may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, the Bank may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require the Bank to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit the Bank’s ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase the Bank’s exposure to environmental liability. Although the Bank has policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

***We may be subject to claims and the costs of defensive actions, and such claims and costs could materially and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.***

Our customers may sue us for losses due to alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, errors and omissions of employees, officers and agents, incomplete documentation, our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or many other reasons. Also, our employees may knowingly or unknowingly violate laws and regulations. Management may not be aware of any violations until after their occurrence. This lack of knowledge may not insulate us from liability. Claims and legal actions will result in legal expenses and could subject us to liabilities that may reduce our profitability and hurt our financial condition.

### We may not be able to keep pace with developments in technology.

We use various technologies in conducting our businesses, including telecommunication, data processing, computers, automation, internet-based banking, and debit cards. The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. In addition, our implementation of certain new technologies, such as those related to artificial intelligence, automation and algorithms, in our business processes may have unintended consequences due to their limitations or our failure to use them effectively. In addition, cloud technologies are also critical to the operation of our systems, and our reliance on cloud technologies is growing. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

***Our information systems may experience an interruption or a breach in security, including due to cyber-attacks.***

Our business depends heavily on the use of computer systems, the Internet and other means of electronic communication and recordkeeping. In the ordinary course of business, we collect and store sensitive data, including proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees in systems and on networks. Moreover, we use third party vendors to provide products and services necessary to conduct our day-to-day operations, which exposes us to the risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the service arrangements, including by failing to protect the confidential information we entrust to them. The secure processing, maintenance, and use of our and our customers’ information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Any failure, interruption, or breach in security or operational integrity of our communications or operations systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan, and other systems. Although we have invested in various technologies and continually review processes and practices that are designed to protect our networks, computers, and data from damage or unauthorized access, our computer systems and infrastructure, and those of our third-party vendors, may nevertheless be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance, or other disruptions. Further, cyber-attacks can originate from a variety of sources and the techniques used are increasingly sophisticated. A breach of any kind could compromise our systems and those of our vendors, and the information stored there could be accessed, damaged, or disclosed. A breach in security or other failure could result in legal claims, regulatory penalties, disruptions in operations, increased expenses, loss of customers and business partners, and damage to our reputation, which could in turn adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or results of operations. Furthermore, as cyber threats continue to evolve and increase, we may be required to expend significant additional financial and operational resources to modify or enhance our protective measures, or to investigate and remediate any identified information security vulnerabilities.

### We may not achieve the expected benefits from the Insurance Subsidiary.

We formed the Insurance Subsidiary as a captive insurance company in late 2016 to insure or reinsure certain risks faced by the Bank as part of our enterprise-wide, multi-year insurance strategy to better position our risk programs and provide us with increased flexibility in the management of our insurance programs as well as contribute to efficiencies relating to our insurance programs over time. As indicated by our decision to not renew our most recent policy, we may deviate from or change our insurance strategy from time to time, such as by choosing to not purchase insurance coverage through the Insurance Subsidiary for a particular year. If we do purchase insurance coverage through the Insurance Subsidiary, we may experience unanticipated events that could reduce or eliminate the benefits, both operational and financial, that we hope to realize through this entity, including, without limitation, significant insurance claims and/or changes in tax laws. In particular, we may not realize the tax benefits of owning a captive insurance company, which are discussed in Item 1 of this Annual Report under the heading “**Supervision and Regulation” - “*****Laws Related to the Insurance*** **Subsidiary”.** Although we believe that we have structured the Insurance Subsidiary’s operations to achieve these benefits, no assurance can be given that our efforts were or will be successful.

It should be noted that the operation by financial holding companies of captive insurance companies having a structure similar to the Insurance Subsidiary and FCBI is a relatively new development. If we are not able to successfully manage the Insurance Subsidiary, then our financial condition and/or results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.

***Certain of our U.S. consolidated federal income tax returns are currently being audited.***

In April 2018, we were notified by the IRS that our 2016 U.S. consolidated federal tax return was selected for audit. In April 2020, we were notified by the IRS that our 2017 and 2018 U.S. consolidated federal tax returns had also been selected for audit. As part of its audits, the IRS reviewed the deductions related to, and the income generated by, the Insurance Subsidiary. Following the completion of its audits, the IRS determined that it disagreed with our tax treatment of the Insurance Subsidiary in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and we have appealed such determination. Management cannot predict whether our appeal and defense of our tax positions will be successful. If our appeal is not successful, then we could be required to pay taxes, interest, and penalties totaling approximately $2.0 million as of December 31, 2025 for the tax years under audit and our taxable earnings and/or the effective tax rate on our future earnings could increase substantially, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report for further information about this risk.

In August 2023, the IRS notified us that our 2019 and 2020 U.S. consolidated federal tax returns had been selected for audit. In January 2023, the IRS notified us that our 2021 U.S. consolidated federal tax return had also been selected for audit. Management believes that the Insurance Subsidiary is the focus of these audits, but that might not be the case. Management cannot predict whether any of the tax positions taken in our 2019, 2020 or 2021 returns will be challenged by the IRS or, if challenged, whether we will be successful in defending those tax positions. If we are not successful in defending a challenge to our tax positions, then we could be required to amend the applicable tax return and pay additional taxes, interest, fines and/or penalties. More specifically, if the Insurance Subsidiary is the focus of these audits and we are not successful in defending a challenge to our tax positions related thereto, then we estimate that we could be required to pay additional taxes, interest, fines and/or penalties of approximately $1.6 million.

***Compliance with ever-evolving federal and state laws relating to the handling of information about individuals involves significant expenditure and resources, and any failure by us or our vendors to comply may result in significant liability, negative publicity, and/or an erosion of trust, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.***

We are subject to a number of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to consumer privacy and data protection. Under privacy protection provisions of the GLBA and its implementing regulations and guidance, we are limited in our ability to disclose certain non-public information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. The GLBA regulates, among other things, the use of certain information about individuals (“non-public personal information”) in the context of the provision of financial services, including by banks and other financial institutions. The GLBA includes both a “Privacy Rule,” which imposes obligations on financial institutions relating to the use or disclosure of non-public personal information, and a “Safeguards Rule,” which imposes obligations on financial institutions and, indirectly, their service providers to implement and maintain physical, administrative and technological measures to protect the security of non-public personal financial information. Any failure to comply with the GLBA could result in substantial financial penalties and significant reputational harm. Multiple states have recently enacted, or are expected to enact, stringent privacy laws, not all of which exempt financial institutions categorically. Many other states are currently reviewing or proposing the need for greater regulation of the collection, sharing, use and other processing of information related to individuals for marketing purposes or otherwise, and there remains increased interest at the federal level as well. Further, to comply with the varying state laws around data breaches, we must maintain adequate security measures, which require significant investments in resources and ongoing attention.

Additionally, laws, regulations, and standards covering marketing, advertising, and other activities conducted by telephone, email, mobile devices, and the internet are or may become applicable to our business, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the CAN-SPAM Act, and similar state consumer protection and communication privacy laws. We occasionally make telephone calls and/or send SMS text messages to customers. The actual or perceived improper calling of customer phones and/or sending of text messages may subject us to potential risks, including liabilities or claims relating to consumer protection laws such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Numerous class-action suits under federal and state laws have been filed in recent years against companies who conduct telemarketing and/or SMS texting programs, with many resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements to the plaintiffs. Any future such litigation against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend. In particular, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act imposes significant restrictions on the ability to make telephone calls or send text messages to mobile telephone numbers without the prior consent of the person being contacted. Federal or state regulatory authorities or private litigants may claim that the notices and disclosures we provide, form of consents we obtain or our outreach practices are not adequate or violate applicable law. This may in the future result in civil claims against us. Claims that we have violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act could be costly to litigate, whether or not they have merit, and could expose us to substantial statutory damages or costly settlements.

We also send marketing messages via email and are subject to the CAN-SPAM Act. The CAN-SPAM Act imposes certain obligations regarding the content of emails and providing opt-outs (with the corresponding requirement to honor such opt-outs promptly). While we strive to ensure that all of our marketing communications comply with the requirements set forth in the CAN-SPAM Act, any violations could result in the FTC seeking civil penalties against us.

Moreover, we are considered a “user” of consumer reports provided by consumer reporting agencies under the FCRA, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. FCRA regulates and protects consumer information collected by consumer reporting agencies and imposes specific obligations on “users” of consumer reports. Such obligations may include restricting the sharing of information contained in a consumer report, notifying consumers when such reports are used to make an adverse decision, and, in the context of completing employee background checks, providing a notice containing certain disclosures to the consumer and obtaining their consent.

### Consumers may decide to not use banks to complete their financial transactions.

Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds or general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards. Consumers can also complete transactions, such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. Although the digital asset marketplace has experienced substantial instability over the past few years, transactions utilizing digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and other similar assets, have increased substantially. Certain characteristics of digital asset transactions, such as the speed with which such transactions can be conducted, the ability to transact without the involvement of regulated intermediaries, the ability to engage in transactions across multiple jurisdictions, and the anonymous nature of the transactions, are appealing to certain consumers notwithstanding the various risks posed by such transactions as illustrated by the current and ongoing market volatility. Accordingly, digital asset service providers, which at present are not subject to the extensive regulation of banking organizations and other financial institutions, have become active competitors for our customers’ banking business. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation”, could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. Further, an initiative by the CFPB, as prompted by the current Presidential Administration, to promote “open and decentralized banking” through the proposal of a Personal Financial Data Rights rule designed to facilitate the transfer of customer information at the direction of the customer to other financial institutions could lead to greater competition for products and services among banks and nonbanks alike if a final rule is adopted. The timing of and prospects for any such action are uncertain at this time. The loss of these revenue streams and the lower cost of deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

***The loss of key personnel could disrupt our operations and result in reduced earnings.***

Our growth and profitability will depend upon our ability to attract and retain skilled managerial, marketing and technical personnel. Competition for qualified personnel in the financial services industry is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in attracting and retaining such personnel. Our current executive officers provide valuable services based on their many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the banking industry and the market areas we serve. Due to the intense competition for financial professionals, it might be difficult to find qualified replacements in the event that a key employee’s employment were to terminate, which could disrupt the continuity of operations and/or result in a reduction in earnings.

***We are a community bank and our ability to maintain our reputation is critical to the success of our business.***

We are a community banking institution, and our reputation is one of the most valuable components of our business. A key component of our business strategy is to rely on our reputation for customer service and knowledge of local markets to expand our presence by capturing new business opportunities from existing and prospective customers in our current market and contiguous areas. As such, we strive to conduct our business in a manner that enhances our reputation. This is done, in part, by recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who share our core values of being an integral part of the communities we serve, delivering superior service to our customers and caring about our customers and associates. If our reputation is negatively affected by the actions of our employees, by our inability to conduct our operations in a manner that is appealing to current or prospective customers, or otherwise, our business and, therefore, our operating results may be materially adversely affected.

***The Company is subject to risks from a proxy contest and/or the actions of activist stockholders.***

The Company could from time to time receive notices of a stockholder’s intention to submit proposals for approval and/or nominate candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and, in connection therewith, solicit proxies from our stockholders. In the event that the Company’s Board of Directors disagrees with such a proposal and/or believes that such candidates would not complement the rest of the Board, the Company might oppose such proposal and/or candidates in its proxy statement for that meeting. A proxy contest or related activities on the part of the proposing stockholder could adversely affect our business for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the following:

- Responding to proxy contests and other actions by activist stockholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupting our operations and diverting the attention of management and our employees;
- Perceived uncertainties as to our future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel, business partners, customers and others important to our success, any of which could negatively affect our business and our results of operations and financial condition; and
- Our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategic plans and/or to realize long-term value from our assets could be adversely affected if nominees advanced by activist stockholders are elected or appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors with a specific agenda, and that could in turn have an adverse effect on our business and on our results of operations and financial condition.

Proxy contests could cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility. Further, if a proxy contest results in a change in control of the Company’s Board of Directors, then such an event could subject us to risks relating to certain third parties’ rights under our existing contractual obligations, which could adversely affect our business.

### Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Common Stock

***Our ability to pay dividends on the common stock is limited by applicable law, and the payment of dividends is at the discretion of our board of directors.***

Because the Company is not engaged in any direct business activities, the Company expects to fund dividends, if and when declared by the Company’s board of directors, using cash received from the Bank and the Insurance Subsidiary. No assurance can be given that the Bank or the Insurance Subsidiary will be able to pay dividends to the Company for these purposes at times and/or in amounts requested by the Company. Both federal and Maryland laws impose restrictions on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends, and Tennessee law imposes restrictions on the Insurance Subsidiary’s ability to pay dividends. Further information about these limitations is contained in Item 5 of Part II of this Annual Report under the heading, “Market Price Analysis and Dividends”.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, stockholders must understand that the declaration and payment of dividends and the amounts thereof are at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. Thus, even at times when the Company could pay cash dividends on its common stock, neither the payment of such dividends nor the amounts thereof can be guaranteed.

***Our ability to pay dividends or make most other distributions on the common stock could be limited by the terms of our outstanding subordinated debentures.***

On September 25, 2025, Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. issued $12,500,000 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7.875% Fixed to Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due September 25, 2035 (the “Subordinated Notes”). Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Subordinated Notes, if the Company were to fail to make any required payment of principal or interest under one of the Subordinated Notes or an Event of Default (as defined in the Subordinated Notes) were to occur, then, until such Event of Default is cured by the Company or waived by the holders of the Subordinated Notes, the Company would be prohibited from, among other things, declaring or paying any dividends or distributions on, or redeeming, purchasing, acquiring, or making a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock, including the common stock.

### The shares of common stock are not insured.

The shares of our common stock are not deposits and are not insured against loss by the FDIC or any other governmental or private agency.

***Our common stock is not heavily traded, and the stock price may fluctuate significantly.***

Our common stock is not traded on any exchange. Certain brokers currently make a market in the common stock by trading shares in the over-the-counter market, but such transactions are infrequent and the volume of shares traded is relatively small. Management cannot predict whether these or other brokers will continue to make a market in our common stock. Prices on stock that is not heavily traded, such as our common stock, can be more volatile than stock trading in an active public market. Factors such as our financial results, the introduction of new products and services by us or our competitors, publicity regarding the banking industry, and various other factors affecting the banking industry may have a significant impact on the market price of the shares of our common stock. Likewise, events that are unrelated to the Company but that affect the equity markets generally, such as international health crises, wars, political instability and similar factors, could also have a significant impact on the market price and trading volume of the shares of common stock. Management also cannot predict the extent to which an active public market for our common stock will develop or be sustained in the future. Accordingly, stockholders may not be able to sell their shares of our common stock at the volumes, prices, or times that they desire.

***The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and Maryland law may discourage a corporate takeover.***

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and Bylaws contain certain provisions designed to enhance the ability of the Company’s board of directors to deal with attempts to acquire control of the Company. First, the board of directors is classified into four classes. Directors of each class serve for staggered four-year periods, and no director may be removed except for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting stock. Second, the board has the authority to classify and reclassify unissued shares of stock of any class or series of stock by setting, fixing, eliminating, or altering in any one or more respects the preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications of, dividends on, and redemption, conversion, exchange, and other rights of, such securities. The board could use this authority, along with its authority to authorize the issuance of securities of any class or series, to issue shares having terms favorable to management to a person or persons affiliated with or otherwise friendly to management. In addition, the Bylaws require any stockholder who desires to nominate a director to abide by strict notice requirements.

Maryland laws include provisions that could discourage a sale or takeover of the Company. The Maryland Business Combination Act generally prohibits, subject to certain limited exceptions, corporations from being involved in any “business combination” (defined as a variety of transactions, including a merger, consolidation, share exchange, asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) with any “interested stockholder” for a period of five years following the most recent date on which the interested shareholder became an interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is defined generally as a person who is the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question and after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock. The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act applies to acquisitions of “control shares”, which, subject to certain exceptions, are shares the acquisition of which entitle the holder, directly or indirectly, to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of shares of stock of the corporation in the election of directors within any of the following ranges of voting power: one-tenth or more, but less than one-third of all voting power; one-third or more, but less than a majority of all voting power or a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares have limited voting rights. Maryland banking law provides that the Maryland Commissioner must approve certain acquisitions of the common stock of the Company or the Bank, and this law imposes a mandatory five-year voting prohibition on shares that are acquired without the required approval.

Although these provisions do not preclude a takeover, they may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or deferring a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in his or her best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the common stock. Such provisions will also render the removal of the Company’s board of directors and of management more difficult and, therefore, may serve to perpetuate current management. These provisions could potentially adversely affect the market prices of the Company’s securities.

***The Company has adopted a stockholder rights agreement that could make it difficult for a person or group of persons to acquire more than 11% of our issued and outstanding stock.***

On July 30, 2024, in an effort to protect the interests of the Company and its stockholders by, among other things, guarding against hostile takeover attempts, abusive tactics, and other tactics potentially disadvantageous to the interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a stockholder rights agreement pursuant to which it issued to the record holders of common stock one right in respect of each share of common stock held by such holders as of the close of business on August 12, 2024 (the “Rights Agreement”). In general terms, the Rights Agreement imposes significant dilution upon any person or group (other than the Company or certain related persons) that is or becomes the beneficial owner of 11% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock without the prior approval of the Board. The Rights Agreement could make it difficult for a stockholder or group of stockholders acting together to acquire more than 11% of the outstanding shares of our common stock without causing significant dilution to that stockholder or group’s ownership interest in the Company. A more complete summary of the Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Annual Report, is set forth in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on July 30, 2024.

## Cybersecurity

As filed, 8,622 characters.

The Company’s cybersecurity risk program was developed and is maintained to identify, analyze, and remediate the associated risks that cyber threats pose to our organization, particularly in light of our continually increasing reliance on technology in delivering electronic banking solutions and supporting our computer network. The program is overseen and executed by a team of experienced, certified cybersecurity professionals.

The objective of our program is to avoid or minimize the impact of external threats and efforts to disrupt and/or gain unauthorized access to our computer systems and the secure customer data information stored on these systems. Our computer environment is aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity framework (the “NIST”), banking regulations, and other applicable security industry standards and protocols. We use industry expert vendors to provide 24/7/365 threat intelligence and network security monitoring and to provide periodic risk assessment audits, in addition to the periodic information technology audit examinations conducted by the FDIC and Maryland Commissioner. Our President and our Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer provide periodic reports, recommendations and information about industry best practices to the Board of Directors, the Board’s Audit Committee, and the Bank’s Information Technology Strategic Planning Committee.

Our Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer is primarily responsible for the ongoing review and management of our cybersecurity risk program and provides quarterly reports and other information throughout the year to our President, our Board of Directors, the Board’s Audit Committee and its Executive Committee, and the Bank’s Information Technology Strategic Planning Committee for the purpose of providing them with an understanding of our ongoing monitoring activities and preparedness with respect to our cybersecurity risks so that they can engage in an informed review of our program and direct the implementation of our ongoing monitoring activities and preparedness with respect to our cybersecurity risks so that they can engage in an informed review of our program and direct the implementation of appropriate changes as and when needed.

**IT Security/Compliance – Annual Cybersecurity Risk Assessment (Board Review/Approval)**

Our Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer completes an annual cybersecurity risk assessment designed to identify, evaluate, and manage the Company’s cybersecurity risks and preparedness. This assessment is aligned with applicable regulatory guidance, including the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”) Information Technology Examination Handbook and recognized industry standards such as the NIST. These assessments take into account our organizational characteristics and the evolving external threat landscape and evaluate, among other things, how cybersecurity threats could impact and be impacted by our technologies, connection types, delivery channels, online and mobile banking products, and other electronic banking services. The assessment also considers the effectiveness of our risk management oversight and internal controls, our dependence on third-party service providers, our vendor risk management practices, and our cybersecurity incident response and recovery capabilities. The Company’s third-party information technology network security consultant reviews the completed annual cybersecurity risk assessment, along with the results of independent information technology risk assessment and audit activities, and reports relevant findings to management and the Board of Directors as part of the Company’s ongoing cybersecurity governance and oversight process.

### Cybersecurity Defense Approach

We deploy and maintain a layered cybersecurity defense approach to securely protect our network computer systems, software applications, and stored data/information resources. As a first layer of defense, we employ a multi-faceted firewall and replication of primary and backup servers in our computer network. The Company receives daily and weekly reports and cybersecurity activity alerts, which are reviewed by our network administration management team. Our President and our Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer present quarterly Customer Data & Information Systems Security Program report updates to our boards of directors and their joint Executive Committee.

### Third-Party Vendor Management

In accordance with the FDIC’s information technology compliance requirement for an annual vendor risk management program, the Bank developed a vendor management policy and performs an annual risk assessment review. This comprehensive review of mission-critical bank industry and network security vendors includes annual review of vendor compliance reports performed by accounting and audit firms, reviews of annual financial reports for vendors, and risk assessment reviews encompassing vendor performance, information technology compliance, operations, quality of service and support, contractual compliance, and business resumption contingency plans. These annual vendor management risk assessments are evaluated by the bank’s designated Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer for review and authorization by the bank’s President and senior information technology management, with final presentation, review, and approval by the Board of Directors. Complementing the Bank’s vendor risk assessment review and program, are additional risk assessment evaluations including the FDIC Risk Assessment, inclusive of network systems risk assessment, customer information systems risk assessment, and electronic banking vendor management risk assessment. Additionally, the Bank maintains a disaster recovery policy and conducts annual disaster recovery testing with respect to its mission-critical software vendor applications, as well as performs an annual business impact analysis that evaluates each mission-critical vendor in a prioritized hierarchy of hardware and software restoration relative to specified recovery time objectives and recovery time objectives in accordance with the FDIC’s information technology compliance requirements.

### Incident Response Program

In accordance with the FDIC’s requirement for development of an annual information technology incident response policy, the Bank maintains an incident response and computer forensics policy. This policy is reviewed on an annual basis and updated as necessary by the Bank’s President and its Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer and then presented for review and approval by the Bank’s Board of Directors. The policy is also reviewed as part of an annual network security risk assessment audit conducted by the Bank’s information technology security consultant and by the FDIC and the Maryland Commissioner when they conduct their information technology examinations. The Bank has established incident alert levels, response and recovery timeframes, and computer forensics procedures for cybersecurity attack events, data breaches of sensitive information, systems failures and alerts, and corresponding customer and key contact notification including regulatory, vendors, local authorities, and bank directors/employees. The Bank annually contracts with a third-party industry expert vendor to provide computer forensics guidance and escalated support in the event of a cybersecurity incident when such vendor’s expertise and resources are needed.

### Security Awareness and Training

The Bank maintains a program led by our Information Technology Security/Compliance Officer that is intended to comply with the FDIC’s requirement for annual network security training of all employees. This training program includes a comprehensive network security overview, including phishing and ransomware awareness training, a summary review of the Bank’s disaster recovery and pandemic plans, and an annual renewal and authorization of an employee network acceptable use policy. In addition, the Bank’s information technology management and network administrators attend periodic training programs and certifications, review regulatory compliance and industry information technology security briefs, and participate in vendor application quality assurance reviews. Finally, we provide our customers with information about cybersecurity awareness and electronic banking security practices, phishing and malware awareness, and fraudulent scams targeting customers on our dedicated website.

## Properties

As filed, 2,860 characters.

The Bank owns properties at which it operates branches at the following locations:

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main Office | Owings Mills Branch | Eldersburg Branch |
| 15226 Hanover Pike | 9320 Lakeside Boulevard | 1321 Liberty Road |
| Upperco, MD 21155 | Owings Mills, MD 21117 | Eldersburg, MD 21784 |
| Reisterstown Branch | Westminster Branch |  |
| 25 Westminster Pike | 275 Clifton Boulevard |  |
| Reisterstown, MD 21136 | Westminster, MD 21157 |  |

The Bank’s book value investment in land and buildings at December 31, 2025 totaled $5.9 million or 0.7% of total assets. Other than for banking purposes, the Bank does not invest in real estate. For future expansion purposes, the Bank owns two properties adjacent to its main office at 15216 and 15218 Hanover Pike, Upperco, Maryland 21155. The properties presently consist of two lots, each with a single family residence. One property is rented on a month-to-month lease. The other property has not been rented since 2011. The total rental income for both properties for 2025 was $20.9 thousand.

There are no encumbrances on any of these properties. Management believes that all of its properties are adequately insured. In 2025 and 2024, the properties owned by the Bank in Baltimore County, Maryland were subject to state and county real estate taxes at a combined rate of 1.21%, and the property owned by the Bank in Carroll County, Maryland was subject to state, county and municipal real estate taxes at combined rate of 1.69%. The Bank expensed $89.2 thousand and $79.4 thousand, respectively, in real estate taxes on these properties in 2025 and 2024.

The Bank operates under leases at the following properties:

| Location | Square Feet | Current Annual Rent | Lease Expiration |
| --- | ---: | ---: | --- |
| Greenmount In-Store Branch | 709 | $64,185 | 1/31/2028 |
| 2205 Hanover Pike |  |  |  |
| Hampstead, MD 21074 |  |  |  |
| Hampstead Branch | 22,000 | $111,346 | 9/30/29, with option to renew for four |
| 735 Hanover Pike |  |  | consecutive five-year terms |
| Hampstead, MD 21074 |  |  |  |
| (Land lease) |  |  |  |
| Corporate Offices | 4,171 | $51,349 | 6/17/30, with the option to renew for |
| 4510 Lower Beckleysville Road |  |  | two consecutive five-year terms |
| Suite H |  |  |  |
| Hampstead, MD 21074 |  |  |  |
| Carroll Lutheran Village Branch | 1,024 | $25,809 | 5/15/28, with option to renew for |
| 300 St. Luke Circle |  |  | one five-year term |
| Westminster, MD 21158 |  |  |  |
| Towson Office | 3,291 | $81,156 | 2/1/29, with option to renew for |
| 22 West Pennsylvania Avenue |  |  | two consecutive five-year terms |
| 1st Floor |  |  |  |
| Towson, MD 21204 |  |  |  |

Note 6 and Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report contain additional information about the Bank’s premises and equipment.

## Legal proceedings

As filed, 278 characters.

We are at times, in the ordinary course of business, subject to legal actions. Management, upon the advice of counsel, believes that losses, if any, resulting from current legal actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

## Management's discussion and analysis

As filed, 54,250 characters.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, which are presented elsewhere in this Annual Report.

The Company was incorporated on August 8, 2016 for the purpose of becoming the bank holding company of the Bank in a share exchange transaction that was intended to constitute a tax-free exchange for federal income tax purposes. This reorganization was consummated on November 1, 2016, at which time the Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and all of the Bank’s stockholders became stockholders of the Company by virtue of the conversion of their shares of common stock of the Bank into an equal number of shares of common stock of the Company.

The Merger was effected on October 1, 2020 and involved the acquisition of Carroll by Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc., with Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. as the surviving corporation, and the acquisition of Carroll Community Bank by the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving bank subsidiary. The Merger was intended to constitute a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes.

### APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and follow general practices within the industry in which the Company operates. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the consolidated financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions, and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported.

The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in the Annual Report. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in this financial review, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, management has identified the determination of the allowance for credit losses as the accounting area that requires the most subjective or complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.

The allowance for credit losses on loans represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses in the loan portfolio. Determining the amount of the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows on collateral dependent loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience, and consideration of current and future economic trends and conditions, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. The loan portfolio also represents the largest asset type on the balance sheet. Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements describes the methodology used to determine the allowance for credit losses.

### FINANCIAL CONDITION

Total assets were $872.0 million at December 31, 2025, an increase of $27.3 million, or 3.2%, over the $844.6 million recorded at December 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to a $50.2 million increase in loans offset by a decrease of $18.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and a decrease in investments of $6.4 million.

Total liabilities were $807.3 million at December 31, 2025, an increase of $18.9 million, or 2.4%, over the $788.4 million recorded at December 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to an increase of $57.7 million in FHLB, offset by a decrease of $88.5 million in brokered CDs, and an increase in other deposits of $50.0 million.

Stockholders’ equity was $64.7 million at December 31, 2025 compared to $56.3 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $8.4 million or 14.9%. The increase was due primarily to net income for 2025 of $5.8 million and a decrease in after-tax unrealized losses on available for sale securities of $3.8 million, offset by dividends paid, net of reinvestments, of $1.3 million.

### Loans

Major categories of loans at December 31, 2025 and 2024 are as follows:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Real estate: | December 31, 2025 |  | December 31, 2024 |  |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | $432,726 | 68% | $398,126 | 68% |
| Construction/Land development | 36,352 | 5% | 27,357 | 4% |
| Residential | 118,924 | 19% | 111,898 | 19% |
| Commercial | 49,869 | 8% | 50,405 | 9% |
| Consumer | 469 | 0% | 176 | 0% |
|  | 638,340 | 100% | 587,962 | 100% |
| Less: Allowance for credit losses | 4,361 |  | 4,260 |  |
| Deferred origination fees net of costs | 835 |  | 709 |  |
|  | $633,144 |  | $582,993 |  |
| ACL to loans | 0.68% |  | 0.72% |  |
| Non accrual to loans | 0.00% |  | 0.41% |  |
| ACL to non accrual | 0.00% |  | 174.59% |  |

The Company had no foreign loans for any of the years presented.

Loans increased by $50.2 million, or 8.6%, to $633.1 million at December 31, 2025 from $583.0 million at December 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to an increase of $34.6 million in commercial real estate loans and an increase of $9.0 million in construction/land development loans. Additionally, residential loans increased by $7.0 million. The allowance for credit losses increased slightly to $4.4 million as of December 31, 2025 compared to $4.3 million as of December 31, 2024.

The Company has adopted policies and procedures that seek to mitigate credit risk and to maintain the quality of the loan portfolio. These policies include underwriting standards for new credits as well as the continuous monitoring including annual external loan reviews and monthly review at loan committee, and reporting of asset quality and the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. These policies, coupled with continuous training efforts, have provided effective checks and balances for the risk associated with the lending process. Lending authority is based on the level of risk, size of the loan, and the experience of the lending officer. The Company’s policy is to make the majority of its loan commitments in the market area it serves. Management believes that this tends to reduce risk because management is familiar with the credit histories of loan applicants and has in-depth knowledge of the risk to which a given credit is subject. Although the loan portfolio is diversified, its performance will be influenced by the economy of the region.

The maturities and interest rate sensitivity of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2025 were as follows:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Real Estate: | Maturing within one year | Maturing after one but within five years | Maturing after five but within fifteen years | Maturing after fifteen years | Total |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | $63,846 | $217,104 | $91,939 | $59,837 | $432,726 |
| Construction/Land Development | 9,922 | 16,460 | 3,854 | 6,116 | 36,352 |
| Residential | 22,122 | 37,112.00 | 19,118 | 40,572 | 118,924 |
| Commercial | 26,730 | 10,678 | 12,461 | - | 49,869 |
| Consumer | 351 | 116 | 2 | - | 469 |
|  | $122,971 | $281,472 | $127,375 | $106,522 | $638,340 |
| Rate terms: |  |  |  |  |  |
| Fixed interest rate loans | $81,835 | $251,402 | $20,667 | $7,108 | $361,012 |
| Adjustable interest rate loans | 41,136 | 30,070 | 106,708 | 99,414 | 277,328 |
|  | $122,971 | $281,472 | $127,375 | $106,522 | $638,340 |

It is the Company’s policy to place a loan in nonaccrual status when any portion of the principal or interest is 90 days past due unless there are mitigating factors. Management closely monitors nonaccrual loans. The Company returns a nonaccrual loan to accruing status when (i) the loan is brought current with the full payment of all principal and interest arrearages, (ii) all contractual payments are thereafter made on a timely basis for at least six months, and (iii) management determines, based on a credit review, that it is reasonable to expect that future payments will be made as and when required by the contract.

Year-end non-accrual loans, segregated by class of loans, were as follows:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Non-accrual loans | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial real estate | $- | $2,440 |
| Residential real estate | - | - |
| Commercial | - | - |
| Total non-accrual loans | $- | $2,440 |

At December 31, 2025, the Company had no non-accrual loans.

At December 31, 2024, the Company had three non-accrual commercial real estate loans totaling $2.4 million. Gross interest income of $25.0 thousand would have been recorded in 2024 if these non-accrual loans had been current and performing in accordance with the original terms. The Company allocated $360.0 thousand of its allowance for credit losses to these three non-accrual loans.

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no loans that were delinquent 90 days or greater other than the non-accrual loans listed above.

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent loans by class of loans as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Real estate: | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | $- | $2,440 |
| Construction and land development | - | - |
| Residential | - | 270 |
| Commercial | - | - |
| Consumer | - | - |
|  | $- | $2,710 |

As part of our portfolio risk management, the Company assigns a risk grade to each loan. The factors used to determine the grade are the payment history of the loan and the borrower, the value of the collateral and net worth of any guarantor, and cash flow projections of the borrower. Special mention, Substandard, and Doubtful grades are assigned to loans with a higher frequency of delinquent payments and/or the collateral and/or cash flow are insufficient to support the loan and such loans are included on the Company’s watch list. The Special mention grade is intended to be a temporary grade. During 2025 two of our large borrowers experienced short term financial stress. Accordingly, we placed these relationships on special mention status and continue to monitor them closely.

Year-end loans graded special mention, substandard and doubtful are set forth in the following table:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

|  | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Special mention | $33,120 | $- |
| Substandard | 6,640 | 10,791 |
| Doubtful | - | - |
| Total | $39,760 | $10,791 |

The allowance for credit losses is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses and is charged to expense. The allowance for credit losses represents an amount which, in management’s judgment, will be adequate to absorb expected losses on existing loans and other of credit that may become uncollectible. The Company’s allowance for credit loss methodology is calculated in accordance with FASB Topic 326 - Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The amount of the allowance represents management’s best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing collectability over the loans’ contractual terms, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate.

Relevant available information includes historical credit loss experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, adjustments to historical loss information may be made for differences in current portfolio-specific risk characteristics, environmental conditions or other relevant factors. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective basis for portfolios of loans when similar risk characteristics exist. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated for expected credit losses on an individual basis and excluded from the collective evaluation. Expected credit losses for collateral dependent loans, including loans where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty but foreclosure is not probable, are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate.

Although management believes, based on currently available information, that the Company’s allowance for credit losses is sufficient to cover expected losses in its loan portfolio, no assurances can be given that the Company’s level of allowance for credit losses will be sufficient to cover future credit losses incurred by the Company or that future adjustments to the allowance for credit losses will not be necessary if economic or other conditions differ substantially from the economic and other conditions at the time management determined the current level of the allowance for credit losses.

The following tables detail the distribution of the allowance and the activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. Allocation of a portion of the allowance to one category of loans does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other categories.

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| As of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 Real estate: | Beginning balance | Provision for (recovery of) credit losses | Charge offs | Recoveries | Ending balance | Allowance for credit losses ending by evaluation method Individually | Collectively | Outstanding loan balances evaluated: Individually | Collectively |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | **$2,481** | **$550** | **$(647)** | **$-** | **$2,384** | **$-** | **$2,384** | **$-** | **$432,726** |
| Construction and land development | **478** | **42** | **-** | **-** | **520** | **-** | **520** | **-** | **36,352** |
| Residential | **751** | **(130)** | **-** | **23** | **644** | **-** | **644** | **-** | **118,924** |
| Commercial | **513** | **249** | **-** | **-** | **762** | **-** | **762** | **-** | **49,869** |
| Consumer | **4** | **(3)** | **-** | **-** | **1** | **-** | **1** | **-** | **469** |
| Unallocated | **33** | **17** | **-** | **-** | **50** | **-** | **50** | **-** | **-** |
|  | **$4,260** | **$725** | **$(647)** | **$23** | **$4,361** | **$-** | **$4,361** | **$-** | **$638,340** |

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| December 31, 2024 Real estate: | Beginning balance | Provision for (recovery of) credit losses | Charge offs | Recoveries | Ending balance | Allowance for credit losses ending balance evaluated for impairment: Individually | Collectively | Outstanding loan balances evaluated: Individually | Collectively |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | $2,448 | $33 | $- | $- | $2,481 | $360 | $2,122 | $2,440 | $395,686 |
| Construction and land development | 253 | 225 | - | - | 478 | - | 478 | - | 27,357 |
| Residential | 1,013 | (281) | (5) | 24 | 751 | - | 751 | 270 | 111,628 |
| Commercial | 494 | 171 | (152) | - | 513 | - | 512 | - | 50,405 |
| Consumer | 2 | 7 | (5) | - | 4 | - | 4 | - | 176 |
| Unallocated | 74 | (41) | - | - | 33 | - | 33 | - | - |
|  | $4,284 | $114 | $(162) | $24 | $4,260 | $360 | $3,900 | $2,710 | $585,252 |

32

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

|  | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Allowance for credit losses to total loans outstanding | 0.68% | 0.72% |
| Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding during the period | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Nonaccrual loans to total loans outstanding at period end | 0.00% | 0.41% |

*Net charge offs/(recoveries) during the period to average loans outstanding:*

| Real estate: | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Commercial | 0.10% | 0.00% |
| Construction and land development | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Residential | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Commercial | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Consumer | 0.00% | 0.00% |

The Company recorded net loan charge offs of $624 thousand during 2025 and $138 thousand in 2024. The impact on the income statement was a $725 thousand provision for credit losses in 2025 compared to a $114 thousand provision for credit losses in 2024. While the Bank’s historical loss rates have been very low, the increase in the provision was necessary to restore the allowance to a level consistent with the Bank’s methodology. This was accomplished by evaluating and adjusting, as necessary, certain qualitative and environmental factors.

Management believes that the $4.4 million reserve at December 31, 2025 is appropriate to adequately cover the expected losses in the loan portfolio. The Company’s loan portfolio grew by $50.2 million during 2025. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of gross loans was 0.68% and 0.72% as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

### Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) at December 31, 2025 included two properties with a carrying value of $1.7 million. One property is a strip center in Westminster, MD and the other is a vacant lot in Orrtanna, PA. The properties are being marketed for sale. At December 31, 2024, OREO included an apartment building located in Baltimore City, MD with a carrying value of $1.2 million, which was sold in 2025.

| ($000s) | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Other Real Estate Owned | $1,673 | $1,176 |

33

### Investment Securities

Investments in debt securities decreased by $6.4 million, or 4.4%, to $139.8 million at December 31, 2025 from $146.2 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease was due primarily to maturities and repayments of mortgage-backed securities. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had classified 85% and 86%, respectively, of the investment portfolio as available for sale. The remaining balance of the portfolio was classified as held to maturity. Securities classified as available for sale are held for an indefinite period of time and may be sold in response to changing market and interest rate conditions as part of the Company’s asset/liability management strategy. Available for sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of income taxes. Securities classified as held to maturity, which management has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost. The Company does not currently follow a strategy of making security purchases with a view to near-term sales, and, therefore, does not own trading securities. The Company manages the investment portfolio within policies that seek to achieve desired levels of liquidity, manage interest rate sensitivity, meet earnings objectives, and provide required collateral for deposit and borrowing activities.

The following table sets forth the carrying value of investment securities at December 31:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Available for sale | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| State and municipal | $202 | $487 |
| SBA pools | 512 | 629 |
| Corporate bonds | 6,464 | 7,185 |
| Mortgage-backed securities | 111,552 | 117,412 |
|  | $118,730 | $125,713 |
| **Held to maturity** |  |  |
| State and municipal | $21,055 | $20,499 |

The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities of investment securities at December 31, 2025:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| December 31, 2025 | Available for Sale Amortized cost | Fair value | Yield | Held to Maturity Amortized cost | Fair value | Yield |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Within one year | $- | $- | 0.00% | $- | $- | 0.00% |
| Over one to five years | 749 | 706 | 2.45% | 1,587 | 1,587 | 2.91% |
| Over five to ten years | 6,500 | 5,961 | 3.72% | 10,952 | 10,741 | 3.27% |
| Over ten years | - | - | - | 8,516 | 7,926 | 3.26% |
|  | 7,249 | 6,667 | 3.59% | 21,055 | 20,254 | 3.24% |
| Mortgage-backed securities and SBA pools, due in monthly installments | 128,820 | 112,063 | 2.61% | - | - | - |
|  | $136,069 | $118,730 | 2.66% | $21,055 | $20,254 | 3.24% |

34

### Deposits

Total deposits were $720.5 million at December 31, 2025 compared to $758.8 million at December 31, 2024, a decrease of $38.3 million, or 5.1%. The decrease was due to an $88.5 million reduction in brokered CDs, and an $11.1 million decrease in savings accounts, offset by a $19.9 million increase in money market accounts, a $14.7 million increase in reciprocal deposits, a $12.5 million increase in checking accounts, a $10.3 million increase in noninterest-bearing accounts, and a $3.8 million increase in CDs and individual retirement accounts.

The following table shows the average balances and average costs of deposits for the years ended December 31:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

|  | 2025 Average Balance | Cost | 2024 Average Balance | Cost |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Noninterest bearing demand deposits | $112,580 | 0.00% | $110,123 | 0.00% |
| Interest bearing demand deposits | 120,985 | 0.99% | 123,279 | 0.79% |
| Savings and money market deposits | 147,933 | 0.82% | 149,356 | 0.70% |
| Certificates of deposit | 359,294 | 3.91% | 289,735 | 4.32% |
|  | $740,792 | 2.22% | $672,493 | 2.16% |

As of December 31, 2025, certificates of deposit greater than $250,000 mature as follows:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Period | Balance |
| --- | ---: |
| 3 months or less | $30,236 |
| Over 3 months to 6 months | 20,431 |
| Over 6 months to 12 months | 7,278 |
| Over 12 months | 2,006 |
| Total | $59,951 |

Deposits in excess of $250 thousand were $199.8 million as of December 31, 2025. The bank offers programs to its depositors which provide insurance above the FDIC’s $250 thousand threshold.

### Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, lines of credit, including home-equity lines and commercial lines, and letters of credit. Loan commitments generally have interest rates at current market values, fixed expiration dates, and may require a fee. Lines of credit generally have variable interest rates and do not necessarily represent future cash flow requirements because it is unlikely that all customers will draw upon their lines in full at any one time. Letters of credit are commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet.

For commitments to extend credit, lines of credit, and letters of credit, the Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

At December 31, the Company’s off-balance sheet financial instruments were as follows:

| Unused lines of credit |  |  |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Home-equity lines | $15,491 | $17,505 |
| Commercial lines | 64,568 | 49,249 |
|  | $80,059 | $66,754 |
| Letters of credit | $2,234 | $1,836 |

Management does not believe that any of the foregoing arrangements are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.

### Borrowings and Other Contractual Obligations

The Company’s contractual obligations consist primarily of borrowings and operating leases for various facilities.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase represent overnight borrowings from customers. Securities owned by the Company which are used as collateral for these borrowings are primarily U.S. government agency securities.

On September 30, 2020, Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. borrowed $17.0 million from First Horizon Bank to be used, on October 1, 2020, to fund a portion of the merger consideration paid in the Merger (the “Merger Loan”). Net of issuance costs of $28.1 thousand, the Company received $16.9 million in loan proceeds. The loan matured on September 30, 2025. The interest rate on the loan was fixed at 4.10%. The Company made quarterly interest-only payments through October 1, 2021. During the remaining term of the loan, the Company paid quarterly interest and principal payments of approximately $646.5 thousand, which was based on a nine-year straight-line amortization schedule. The remaining balance of approximately $9.9 million was repaid at maturity using the proceeds of the September 2025 sale of the Subordinated Notes.

On September 25, 2025, Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. issued and sold $12.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its Subordinated Notes. The Subordinated Notes were issued by the Company at a price equal to 100% of their face amounts. The Subordinated Notes have stated maturity dates of September 25, 2035 (the “Maturity Date”).

From and including the original issue date of the Subordinated Notes the (“Issue Date”) to but excluding September 26, 2030 or the date of earlier redemption, the Company will pay interest on the Subordinated Notes semi-annually in arrears on March 26th and September 26th of each year at a fixed interest rate of 7.875% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, beginning on March 26, 2026. From and including September 26, 2030, to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or the date of earlier redemption (the “Floating Rate Period”), the Company will pay interest on the Subordinated Notes at a floating interest rate at the Three-Month Term SOFR (as defined in the Subordinated Notes), reset quarterly, plus 458 basis points, computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. During the Floating Rate Period, the Company will pay interest on the Subordinated Notes quarterly in arrears on March 26th, June 26th, September 26th, and December 26th of each year, beginning on December 26, 2030. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Three-Month Term SOFR rate is less than zero, then the Three-Month Term SOFR rate shall be deemed to be zero.

The Subordinated Notes are not subject to any sinking fund and are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Subordinated Notes are not subject to redemption at the option of the holder. Prior to September 26, 2030, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, only under the certain limited circumstances set forth in the Subordinated Notes. On or after September 26, 2030, the Company may redeem the Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, at its option, on any Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Subordinated Notes). Any redemption by the Company would be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Subordinated Notes being redeemed, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Notes being redeemed to but excluding the date of redemption. Any redemption of the Subordinated Notes will be subject to the receipt of any and all required federal and state regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent then required under applicable laws or regulations.

The payment of principal and interest on the Subordinated Notes is subject to acceleration only in limited circumstances in the case of certain bankruptcy and insolvency-related events with respect to the Company. The Subordinated Notes are general unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and rank junior to all of its existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Subordinated Notes). The Subordinated Notes are obligations of only the Company and are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any of its subsidiaries, including the Bank. Further, the Subordinated Notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital of the Company for regulatory capital purposes.

Specific information about the Company’s borrowings and contractual obligations is set forth in the following table:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Amount oustanding at year end: | At December 31, 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | $4,317 | $5,564 |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances mature in 2025 | $- | $5,000 |
| 2026 | $50,200 | $- |
| 2027 | $12,500 | $- |
| Subordinated Debt (net of issuance costs) matures in 2035 | $12,036 | $- |
| Long Term Debt (net of issuance costs) matures in 2025 | $- | $11,329 |
| Weighted average rate paid at December 31: |  |  |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances | 3.82% | 1.00% |
| Subordinated Debt | 7.88% | N/A |
| Long-term debt | N/A | 4.10% |

The terms of the Company’s operating leases, including the future minimum payments under those leases, are disclosed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

### RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

### Overview

The Company reported net income of $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase of $1.5 million from 2024 was due to an increase in net interest income of $3.6 million and an increase on non-interest income of $224 thousand. This was offset by an increase in the provision for credit losses of $548 thousand, an increase in noninterest expense of $1.4 million, and a $376 thousand increase in income taxes.

### Net Interest Income

The primary source of income for the Company is net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, such as investment securities and loans, and interest expense incurred on interest-bearing sources of funds, such as deposits and borrowings.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recorded net interest income of $24.4 million compared to $20.8 million for 2024, an increase of $3.6 million. The increase was attributable to a 30 basis point increase in the yield on earning assets from 4.92% to 5.22% and a 6 basis point decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities to 2.70% in 2025 from 2.76% in 2024.

Total interest income for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $4.0 million to $42.4 million from $38.4 million for 2024. The increase was due primarily to an increase in average interest earning assets of $31.1 million to $815.7 million in 2025 from $784.6 million in 2024.

Interest income from loans was $36.1 million in 2025 compared to $30.3 million in 2024, an increase of $5.8 million. This increase was attributable to a $59.4 million increase in the average balance of loans to $617.2 million in 2025 from $557.9 million 2024 and a 40 basis point increase in the average yield on loans to 5.84% in 2025 from 5.44% in 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recorded interest income on securities of $4.8 million compared to $6.8 million for the same period in 2024. The $2.0 million decrease in 2025 was attributable to a $37.0 million decrease in the average balance of securities to $164.3 million in 2025 from $201.3 million in 2024 and a 48 basis point decrease in the average yield on securities to 2.98% in 2025 from 3.46% in 2024.

Interest income on federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets (FHLB stock and certificates of deposit) increased by $300 thousand to $1.5 million in 2025 compared to $1.2 million in 2024. The increase was due to an $8.6 million increase in the average balance of federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets to $34.1 million in 2025 from $25.5 million in 2024, offset by a 39 basis point decrease in the average yield to 4.66% in 2025 from 5.05% in 2024.

Total interest expense increased by $438 thousand to $18.0 million in 2025 compared to $17.5 million in 2024. The increase was due to a $31.6 million increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $666.2 million in 2025 from $634.6 million in 2024 offset by a 6 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 2.70% in 2025 from 2.76% in 2024.

Interest paid on NOW, savings, and money market deposit accounts increased by $397 thousand to $2.4 million in 2025 compared to $2.0 million in 2024. The increase was due to a 16 basis point increase in the cost of funds to 0.90% in 2025 from 0.74% in 2024, offset by a $3.7 million decrease in the average balance of these deposits to $268.9 million in 2025 from $272.6 million in 2024.

Interest paid on time deposits increased by $1.5 million to $14.0 million in 2025 compared to $12.5 million in 2024. The increase was due to an increase of $69.6 million in the average balance to $359.3 million in 2025 from $289.7 million in 2024, offset by a decrease of 41 basis points in the average rate paid to 3.91% in 2025 from 4.32% in 2024.

Interest paid on securities sold under repurchase agreements decreased by $6 thousand to $59 thousand in 2025 compared to $65 thousand in 2024. The decrease was attributable to a $500 thousand decrease in the average balance of securities sold under repurchase agreements to $4.7 million in 2025 from $5.2 million in 2024.

Interest paid on long-term debt was $599 thousand in 2025 compared to $508 thousand in 2024. This debt relates to the $17 million Merger Loan, which was repaid on September 30, 2025, and the Subordinated Notes issued in September 2025. The average balance, net of issuance costs, decreased $1.1 million to $11.0 million in 2025 from $12.1 million in 2024 due to scheduled principal payments.

The FRB’s Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) was initiated in March 2023. The Company utilized the BTFP with an average balance of $0 and $48.7 million during 2025 and 2024, respectively and a cost of 0% and 4.75% in 2025 and 2024, respectively. We recorded an associated interest expense of $0 and $2.3 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively. The balance was fully repaid late in 2024.

Interest paid on FHLB advances increased by $724 thousand to $847 thousand in 2025 from $123 thousand in 2024. The change was attributable to a $16.0 million increase in the average balance of FHLB advances to $22.3 million in 2025 from $6.3 million in 2024 and an increase in the average rate paid to 3.80% in 2025 from 1.96% in 2024.

The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Company’s average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated. The yields and rates are calculated by dividing interest income or expense by the average daily balance of assets or liabilities, respectively. Non-accruing loans are included in the average balance.

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Assets: | 2025 Average Balance | Interest | Yield | 2024 Average Balance | Interest | Yield |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Loans | $617,249 | $36,062 | 5.84% | $557,862 | $30,338 | 5.44% |
| Securities, taxable | 145,331 | 4,174 | 2.87% | 183,194 | 6,268 | 3.42% |
| Securities, tax exempt | 18,969 | 730 | 3.85% | 18,082 | 694 | 3.84% |
| Securities combined | 164,300 | 4,904 | 2.98% | 201,276 | 6,962 | 3.46% |
| Federal funds sold and other interest bearing deposits | 34,139 | 1,592 | 4.66% | 25,468 | 1,286 | 5.05% |
| Total interest-earning assets | 815,688 | 42,558 | 5.22% | 784,606 | 38,586 | 4.92% |
| Noninterest-earning assets | 30,502 |  |  | 25,437 |  |  |
| Total assets | $846,190 |  |  | $810,043 |  |  |
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| NOW, savings, and money market | $268,918 | $2,411 | 0.90% | 272,635 | 2,014 | 0.74% |
| Certificates of deposit | 359,294 | 14,049 | 3.91% | 289,735 | 12,504 | 4.32% |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | 4,691 | 59 | 1.25% | 5,195 | 65 | 1.25% |
| Term Debt | 11,041 | 599 | 5.43% | 12,125 | 508 | 4.19% |
| FRB advances and other borrowings | - | - | 0.00% | 48,694 | 2,313 | 4.75% |
| FHLB advances | 22,305 | 847 | 3.80% | 6,273 | 123 | 1.96% |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 666,249 | $17,965 | 2.70% | 634,657 | $17,527 | 2.76% |
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | 112,580 |  |  | 110,123 |  |  |
| Noninterest-bearing liabilities | 7,107 |  |  | 10,653 |  |  |
| Total liabilities | 785,936 |  |  | 755,433 |  |  |
| Stockholders' equity | 60,254 |  |  | 54,610 |  |  |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $846,190 |  |  | $810,043 |  |  |
| Net interest income |  | $24,593 |  |  | $21,059 |  |
| Interest rate spread |  |  | 2.52% |  |  | 2.16% |
| Net yield on interest-earning assets |  |  | 3.02% |  |  | 2.68% |
| Ratio of average interest-earning assets to Average interest-bearing liabilities |  |  | 122.43% |  |  | 123.63% |

40

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for the major categories of the Company’s interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The table distinguishes between (i) changes in net interest income attributed to volume (change in volume multiplied by the prior year’s interest rate), and (ii) changes in net interest income attributed to rate (change in rate multiplied by the prior year’s volume). The change in interest due to the combined rate and volume changes is allocated proportionally to the change in volume and rate.

### RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS

| (Dollars in thousand) Interest income: | Year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 2024 Change due to variance in Volume | Rate | Total |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Loans | $3,371 | $2,352 | $5,723 |
| Securities, taxable | (1,178) | (916) | (2,094) |
| Securities, tax exempt | 34 | 2 | 36 |
| Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets | 411 | (104) | 307 |
| Total interest-earning assets | 2,638 | 1,334 | 3,972 |
| Interest expense: |  |  |  |
| NOW, savings, and money market | (28) | 425 | 397 |
| Certificates of deposit | 2,799 | (1,254) | 1,545 |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | (6) | - | (6) |
| Long-term debt | (48) | 140 | 92 |
| FRB advances and other borrowings | (1,157) | (1,157) | (2,314) |
| FHLB advances | 530 | 194 | 724 |
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 2,090 | (1,652) | 438 |
| Change in net interest income | $548 | $2,986 | $3,534 |

41

### Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $2.0 million in 2025 compared to $1.8 million in 2024, an increase of $200 thousand. The increase was due primarily to an increase of $89 thousand on the gain on SBA loans, a $94 thousand increase in the gain on the settlement of a fair value hedge, an increase of $49 thousand in mortgage banking income, and an increase in bank owned life insurance income of $30 thousand. This was offset by a decrease in insurance proceeds of $89 thousand, a decrease in service charges on deposit accounts of $117 thousand, and decreases in other fees and commissions.

### Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense increased by $1.4 million to $18.3 million in 2025 from $16.9 million in 2024. The increase was due primarily to an increase in salaries and benefits of $677 thousand due to additional staff being added during the year, an increase in occupancy costs of $99 thousand as a result of increased rent and repairs costs, and an increase on furniture and equipment costs of $300 thousand due primarily to higher software maintenance costs. Professional fees decreased by $127 thousand due to the lower use of consultants. FDIC insurance premiums increased $187 thousand due to higher assessment rates. Losses on OREO increased by $101 thousand.

Other noninterest expenses include the following:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

|  | 2025 | 2024 |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Directors fees | $264 | $294 |
| Correspondent bank services | 239 | 242 |
| Telephone | 287 | 283 |
| Internet banking fees | 241 | 218 |
| Stationery, printing and supplies | 127 | 141 |
| Liability insurance | 119 | 120 |
| Insurance claims | (77) | (57) |
| Other | 925 | 782 |
|  | $2,125 | $2,023 |

### Income Taxes

Income taxes increased by $376 thousand to $1.6 million in 2025 from $1.2 million in 2024.

The Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 21.8% in 2025, from 22.4% in 2024. The decrease was due to a higher percentage of tax exempt revenue and the reduction of a deferred tax liability. Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements provides additional information about the Company’s taxes, including a reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the Federal statutory rate of 21%.

### INTEREST RATE RISK

The Company’s principal market risk is exposure to the risk that the interest rates associated with our interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets will fluctuate. This risk arises from the Company’s lending, investing and deposit-taking activities, and is affected by many factors, including economic and financial conditions, movements in interest rates and consumer preferences. Interest rate fluctuation has a direct impact on the Company’s net interest income. Net interest income is susceptible to interest rate risk when deposits and other short-term liabilities have different repricing intervals than do loans, investments and other interest-earning assets. When interest-earning assets mature or reprice faster than interest-bearing liabilities, a decline in interest rates may cause a decline in net interest income. Conversely, when interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice faster than interest-earning assets, an increase in interest rates may cause a decline in net interest income.

The Company recognizes that there are many types of interest rate risk. Management believes that the three types that pose the greatest potential threat to current and long-term earnings are:

- Repricing risk – the difference in the timing of the scheduled maturity and re-pricing dates of assets and liabilities within a certain time frame;
- Option risk – interest rate related options embedded in the Company’s assets and liabilities which change the cash flow characteristics of the assets and liabilities; and
- Yield curve / basis risk – changes in the relationship between different interest rates with the same maturity or interest rates across a maturity spectrum which create compression or expansion of our net interest margin.

The Company uses earnings at risk and economic value at risk measures to quantify our exposure to these types of interest rate risk. We believe that using simulations that measure all three types of risks in combination is a more efficient tool for measurement, and we therefore do not routinely process models to isolate each risk. Rather, we combine the three types of analyses, which we believe provides a better overall result than a simulation based on a single system and a more economical use of resources than targeted models. Following is a description of the analyses to be utilized:

### Earnings at Risk

Earnings at Risk (“EAR”) measures exposure to net changes in net interest income (“NII”), and is considered the Company’s best source of managing short-term interest rate risk (one-year and two-year time frames). EAR is a dynamic analysis, which can capture all the different forms of interest rate risk under many different interest rate scenarios, and using various assumptions for growth, optionality, and yield curve structure.

### Economic Value of Equity

Economic Value of Equity (“EVE”) is management’s primary analytical tool for measuring long-term interest rate risk, and helps to measure if the long-term safety and soundness of the Company is being compromised for the sake of short-term results. However, the Company also recognizes the inherent difficulties of calculating a definitive value for many sections of the balance sheet as well as the weakness that EVE ignores future events (e.g., growth, etc.). These difficulties, coupled with the nature of our core business, allow the Company to adopt wide limits for this measure.

In order to mitigate the impact of changing interest rates, the Board of Directors has established policies and procedures that include acceptable parameters for the relationship between rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities as measured by earnings at risk and economic value at risk. The Asset/Liability Committee reviews rate sensitivity measures on a quarterly basis. Material deviations from policy parameters are reported to the Board of Directors and corrective action is initiated and monitored.

Measures of NII at risk produced by simulation analysis are indicators of an institution’s short-term performance in alternative rate environments. These measures are typically based upon a relatively brief period, usually one year. They do not necessarily indicate the long-term prospects or economic value of the institution.

Based upon the most recent data available to the Company (as of December 31, 2025), the simulation analysis produced the following estimated changes in NII, assuming the indicated rate changes:

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| Change in Rate | 2025 |
| --- | ---: |
| 400 basis point increase | $(3,014) |
| 300 basis point increase | (1,918) |
| 200 basis point increase | (1,116) |
| 100 basis point increase | (485) |
| 100 basis point decrease | 1,359 |
| 200 basis point decrease | 1,912 |
| 300 basis point decrease | 2,185 |
| 400 basis point decrease | 2,284 |

### LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT

Liquidity describes our ability to meet financial obligations that arise out of the ordinary course of business. Liquidity is primarily needed to meet depositor withdrawal requirements, to fund loans, and to fund our other debts and obligations as they come due in the normal course of business. We maintain our asset liquidity position internally through short-term investments, the maturity distribution of the investment portfolio, loan repayments, and income from earning assets. On the liability side of the balance sheet, liquidity is affected by the timing of maturing liabilities and the ability to generate new deposits or borrowings as needed.

The Bank is approved to borrow 75% of eligible pledged single-family residential loans and 50% of eligible pledged commercial loans as well as investment securities, or approximately $86.3 million under a secured line of credit with the FHLB. The Bank also has a facility with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (the “FRB”). Under the facility, which has been in place for over 10 years and is collateralized by loans, the Bank can borrow approximately $32.5 million. Finally, the Bank has $23.5 million ($14.5 million unsecured and $9.0 million secured) of overnight federal funds lines of credit available from commercial banks.

FHLB advances of $62.7 million and $5.0 million were outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. In 2020 the Company borrowed $17.0 million to facilitate the Merger in 2020 which was repaid in September 2025. On September 25, 2025, the Company issued $12.5 million in Subordinated Notes. There were no borrowings from the FRB or from our commercial bank lenders at December 31, 2025 and 2024. Management believes that we have adequate liquidity sources to meet all anticipated liquidity needs over the next 12 months. Management knows of no trend or event which is likely to have a material impact on our ability to maintain liquidity at satisfactory levels. Deposits in excess of $250 thousand were $199.8 million as of December 31, 2025. The bank offers programs to its depositors which provide insurance above the FDIC’s $250 thousand threshold.

Cash provided by operating activities increased by $3.7 million to $6.1 million in 2025 from $2.3 million in 2024. Cash used in investing activities increased by $18.8 million to $41.5 million in 2025 from $22.7 in 2024 due primarily to a $4.8 million decrease in the net cash inflow from the debt securities portfolio, a decrease of $23.9 million in cash provided by the sale of a security, and an increase in the purchases of FHLB stock of $2.7 million offset by a $7.4 million decrease in the net cash outflow from the loan portfolio and an increase in the proceeds from the sale of OREO property of $906 thousand. Cash provided by financing activities decreased by $22.9 million to $17.5 million in 2025 from $40.4 million in 2024 due primarily to a $33.0 million decrease in cashflow from FRB advances and a decrease in interest bearing deposits of $48.2 million, of which $40.9 million were brokered CDs. These were offset by a $57.7 million increase in the net cash inflow from FHLB advances, $12.0 million in net cash flow from the issuance of Subordinated Notes, and an increase in cash flow from non-interest bearing deposits of $9.9 million.

Information about the various financial obligations, including contractual obligations and commitments that may require future cash payments, to which we are subject is set forth above under the captions “Off-Balance Sheet Transactions” and “Borrowings and Other Contractual Obligations”.

### CAPITAL RESOURCES AND ADEQUACY

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possible additional, discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on our financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. These requirements are discussed in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report under the heading, “*Supervision and Regulation – Capital Requirements”.*

On September 17, 2019, the FDIC finalized a rule that introduces an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework), as required by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.

On April 6, 2020, in a joint statement, the FDIC, Federal Reserve and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, issued two interim final rules regarding temporary changes to the CBLR framework to implement provisions of the CARES Act. Under the interim final rules, the community bank leverage ratio was reduced to 8% beginning in the second quarter and for the remainder of calendar year 2020, 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9%, less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance-sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the Prompt Corrective Action regulations and will not be required to report or calculate risk-based capital. The Company has not opted-in to the CBLR framework.

Additional information regarding the capital requirements that apply to us can be found in Note 12 of the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report.

The following table presents actual and required capital ratios as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, for the Bank under the applicable capital regulations. The minimum required capital amounts presented include the minimum required capital levels as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. Capital levels required to be considered well capitalized are based upon prompt corrective action regulations.

*(Dollars in thousands)*

| December 31, 2025 | Actual Amount | Ratio | Minimum Capital Adequacy (1) Amount | Ratio | To Be Well Capitalized Amount | Ratio |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Total capital (to risk-weighted assets) | $86,141 | 12.32% | $73,433 | 10.50% | $69,936 | 10.00% |
| Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets) | 81,508 | 11.65% | 59,446 | 8.50% | 55,949 | 8.00% |
| Common equity tier 1 (to risk- weighted assets) | 81,508 | 11.65% | 48,955 | 7.00% | 45,459 | 6.50% |
| Tier 1 leverage (to average assets) | 81,508 | 9.38% | 34,774 | 4.00% | 43,468 | 5.00% |
| December 31, 2024 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Total capital (to risk-weighted assets) | $81,161 | 12.37% | $68,910 | 10.50% | $65,628 | 10.00% |
| Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets) | 76,601 | 11.67% | 55,784 | 8.50% | 52,503 | 8.00% |
| Common equity tier 1 (to risk- weighted assets) | 76,601 | 11.67% | 45,940 | 7.00% | 42,658 | 6.50% |
| Tier 1 leverage (to average assets) | 76,601 | 9.12% | 33,580 | 4.00% | 41,974 | 5.00% |

*(1) Note: The above table includes the capital conservation buffer, where applicable.*

The Company intends to fund future growth primarily with cash, federal funds, maturities of investment securities and deposit growth. Management knows of no other trend or event that will have a material impact on capital.

## Market risk

As filed, 163 characters.

The Bank is a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 and, accordingly, is not required to include the information required by this item.

## Controls and procedures

As filed, 5,987 characters.

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed under the Exchange Act with the SEC, such as this annual report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in those rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer (“PEO”) and the principal financial officer (“PFO”), as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of these disclosure controls as of December 31, 2025 was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the PEO and the PFO. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the PEO and the PFO, has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are, in fact, effective at the reasonable assurance level.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, management has performed an evaluation and testing of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. Management’s report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included on the following page. The Company’s is a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and, accordingly, its independent registered public accounting firm is not required to attest to the foregoing management report.

**Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

Management of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, as such, include some amounts that are based on the best estimates and judgments of management.

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, reports on internal control over financial reporting issued by management of “smaller reporting companies”, as defined by Exchange Act Rule 12b-2, are exempt from the auditor attestation requirements imposed by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company is a smaller reporting company. Accordingly, this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. This internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to management and the Board of Directors regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation and presentation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, as well as to safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition. The system of internal control over financial reporting is evaluated for effectiveness by management and tested for reliability through a program of internal audit with actions taken to correct potential deficiencies as they are identified. Because of inherent limitations in any internal control system, no matter how well designed, misstatement due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected, including the possibility of the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 based upon criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

Based on this assessment and on the foregoing criteria, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

March 26, 2026

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| /s/Gary A. Harris | /s/Paul B. Susie |
| Gary A. Harris | Paul B. Susie |
| President & Chief Executive Officer | Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | (Principal Financial Officer) |

104

Filed Mar 26, 2026.
Source: SEC EDGAR, the filing index for accession 0001437749-26-009952. Last ingested by Listed: Oct 24, 2026, 15:07 ET. No prices; not investment advice.