Central Bank vs First Bank

As of Q1 2026, Central Bank carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than First Bank, roughly 3.4× the size — $982.3M versus $289.9M. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Both banks are growing their CRE books quarter over quarter — Central Bank at 1.5% and First Bank at 3.1%. A bank actively expanding its commercial real estate balance is generally still open to new originations, which is favorable for a borrower in the market today.

Neither bank has run past the 300% CRE concentration guideline — Central Bank is at 269% and First Bank at 212%. Banks well below the guideline typically have more room to keep adding commercial real estate loans, which tends to mean more competitive pricing and terms for borrowers.

First Bank carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (2% of its CRE book, versus 0% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 3 recent for Central Bank and 7 for First Bank. First Bank shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: Central Bank runs the larger CRE book. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.