3. GOODWILL AND CORE DEPOSIT INTANGIBLES

Changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill and core deposit intangibles for fiscal years 2025 and 2024 were as follows:

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

Core Deposit Intangibles

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Balance as of December 31, 2023

 

$

3,396,086

 

 

$

63,994

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

(15,670

)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measurement period adjustment of First Bancshares merger

 

 

316

 

 

 

 

Lone Star merger

 

 

106,727

 

 

 

17,723

 

Balance as of December 31, 2024

 

 

3,503,129

 

 

 

66,047

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

(14,442

)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measurement period adjustment of Lone Star merger

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2025

 

$

3,503,127

 

 

$

51,605

 

Management performs an evaluation annually, and more frequently if a triggering event occurs, of whether any impairment of the goodwill or core deposit intangibles has occurred. If any such impairment is determined, a write down is recorded. Based on the Company’s annual goodwill impairment test, management does not believe any of its goodwill is impaired as of December 31, 2025.

Core deposit intangibles are being amortized on a non-pro rata basis over their estimated lives, which the Company believes is between 10 and 15 years. The estimated aggregate future amortization expense for core deposit intangibles remaining as of December 31, 2025, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

2026

 

$

12,763

 

2027

 

 

11,262

 

2028

 

 

9,958

 

2029

 

 

7,609

 

Thereafter

 

 

10,013

 

Total

 

$

51,605

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 27, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Feb 27, 2023
2021Feb 28, 2022
2020Feb 26, 2021

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.