Ponce Financial Group, Inc. (PDLB)

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

General

Management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, and results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of Ponce Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”). The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in Part I, Item 1, of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

Our principal business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those deposits together with funds generated from ongoing operations and borrowings, primarily in (1) loan originations for purchases and construction of multi-family residential properties, commercial business loans, commercial real estate mortgage loans, one-to-four family (including mixed-use properties, which are properties that contain both residential dwelling units and commercial units); (2) construction loans; (3) SBA loans; (4) mortgage-backed securities; and (5) U.S. government securities, corporate fixed-income securities and other marketable securities. We also originate certain other consumer loans including overdraft lines of credit. Our results of operations depend primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on its interest-earning assets and the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities. We also generate non-interest income mainly from service charges and fees, late and prepayment charges, income on sale of mortgage loans and grant income. Our non-interest expense consists principally of employee compensation and benefits, occupancy and equipment costs, data processing expenses, direct loan expenses, professional fees, other operating expenses and income tax expense. Our results of operations can also be significantly affected by our periodic provision for credit losses.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "assume," "plan," "seek," "expect," "will," "may," "should," "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "target" and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

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statements of the Company’s goals, intentions and expectations;

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statements regarding its business plans, prospects, growth and operating strategies;

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statements regarding the quality of its loan and investment portfolios; and

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estimates of the risks and future costs and benefits;

These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change.

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The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements:

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the scope, duration and severity of rising interest rates, and its effects on our business and operations, our customers, including their ability to make timely payments on loans, our service providers, and on the economy and financial markets in general;

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changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, and their related impacts on the economy;

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changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;

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general economic conditions that are worse than expected, particularly in connection with low or negative growth in the. economy as well as economic uncertainty (including from an economic slowdown or recession, the federal government shutdown, unemployment, or limited growth in consumer income or spending), either nationally or in the market areas;

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volatility in the financial services sector, including failures or rumors of failures of other depository institutions, along with actions taken by governmental agencies to address such turmoil, and the effects on the ability of depository institutions, including us, to attract and retain depositors and to borrow or raise capital;

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the Company’s ability to manage market risk, credit risk and operational risk in the current economic environment;

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changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses;

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the ability to access cost-effective funding;

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fluctuations in real estate values and real estate market conditions;

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demand for loans and deposits in the market areas;

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the Company’s ability to implement and change its business strategies;

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competition among depository and other financial institutions;

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inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce the Company’s margins and yields, its mortgage banking revenues, the fair value of financial instruments or the level of loan originations, or increase the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans the Company have made and make;

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adverse changes in the securities or secondary mortgage markets;

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changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements;

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monetary, fiscal and regulatory policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board;

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the sufficiency of liquidity and changes in our capital position;

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adverse changes related to the businesses of our partners;

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changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loan or investment portfolios;

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technological changes that may be more difficult or expensive than expected; and cyber threats, attacks or events;

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the inability of third party providers to perform as expected;

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the Company’s ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities;

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the Company’s ability to successfully integrate into its operations, any assets, liabilities, customers, systems and management personnel the Company may acquire and management’s ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames, and any goodwill charges related thereto;

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changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;

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the Company’s ability to retain key employees;

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the Company’s compensation expense associated with equity allocated or awarded to its employees;

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the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, such as weather-related disasters, terrorist acts, geopolitical conflicts or public health events (such as pandemics), and of governmental and societal responses thereto; and

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changes in the financial condition, results of operations or future prospects of issuers of securities that the Company may own.

Additional factors that may affect the Company’s results are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under the heading “Risk Factors” filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2026.

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. The Company is under no duty to and does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Federal Economic Relief Funds To Aid Lending

Emergency Capital Investment Program

On June 7, 2022 (the “Original Closing Date”), the Company issued 225,000 shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock‎, par value $0.01 (the “Preferred Stock”) for an aggregate purchase price equal to $225,000,000 in cash to the Treasury, pursuant to the Treasury’s ECIP. Under the ECIP, Treasury provided investment capital directly to depository institutions that are CDFIs or MDIs or their holding companies, to provide loans, grants, and forbearance for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and consumers, in low-income and underserved communities. No dividends accrued or were due for the first two years after issuance. For years three through ten, depending upon the level of qualified and/or deep impact lending made in targeted communities, as defined in the ECIP guidelines, dividends will be at an annual rate of either 2.0%, 1.25% or 0.5% and, thereafter, will be fixed at one of the foregoing rates. If we are unable to make qualified and/or deep impact loans at required levels, we will be required to pay dividends at the higher annual rates. Additionally, we may make qualified and/or deep impact loans that are riskier than we otherwise would in an effort to meet the lending requirements for the lower dividend rates and/or to qualify for the purchase option under the Repurchase Agreement (as described below).

Holders of Preferred Stock generally do not have any voting rights, with the exception of voting rights on certain matters as outlined in the Certificate of Designations. The Treasury is the holder of the Preferred Stock and a governmental entity, and the Treasury may hold interests that are different from a private investor in exercising its voting and other rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a liquidation preference, subject to certain limitations, in the amount of the sum of $1,000 per share plus declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of undeclared dividends) on each share.

As a participant in the ECIP, the Company must comply with certain operating requirements. Specifically, the Company must adopt the Treasury's standards for executive compensation and luxury expenses for the period during which the Treasury holds equity issued under the ECIP. These restrictions may make it difficult to adequately compensate our management team, which could impact our ability to retain qualified management. Additionally, under the ECIP regulations, the Company cannot pay dividends or repurchase its common stock unless it meets certain income-based tests and has paid the required dividends on the Preferred Stock. In June 2024, the Company began paying dividends on its Preferred Stock, which dividends were $0.6 million and $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

On December 20, 2024, the Company entered into an ECIP Securities Purchase Option Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with Treasury. Pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement, Treasury has granted the Company an option to purchase all of the Preferred Stock during the Option Period, which is the first fifteen years following the Original Closing Date. The purchase price for the Preferred Stock pursuant to the purchase option is determined based on a formula equal to the present value of the Preferred Stock, calculated as set forth in the Repurchase Agreement, together with any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, as of the closing date. Subject to variations in interest rates and the equity risk premium, which are components included in the purchase price calculation, the Company presently expects that the purchase price will be at a substantial discount from the face value of the Preferred Stock.

The purchase option may not be exercised unless and until at least one of the Threshold Condition

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those described below. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Discussion and analysis of our 2024 fiscal year specifically, as well as the year-over-year comparison of our 2024 financial performance to 2023, are located under Part II, Item 7 — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025 (the "2024 Form 10-K"), which is available on our investor relations website at poncebank.gcs-web.com and the SEC's website at sec.gov.

Overview

Our principal business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those deposits together with funds generated from ongoing operations and borrowings, primarily in (1) originations and purchases of multi-family residential properties, commercial business loans, commercial real estate mortgage loans, one-to-four family (focusing on mixed-use properties, which are properties that contain both residential dwelling units and commercial units); (2) construction loans; (3) SBA loans; (4) mortgage-backed securities; and (5) U.S. government securities, corporate fixed-income securities and other marketable securities. We also originate certain other consumer loans including overdraft lines of credit. Our results of operations depend primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on its interest-earning assets and the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities. We also generate non-interest income mainly from service charges and fees, late and prepayment charges, income on sale of mortgage loans and grant income. Our non-interest expense consists principally of employee compensation and benefits, occupancy and equipment costs, data processing expenses, direct loan expenses, professional fees, other operating expenses and income tax expense. Our results of operations can also be significantly affected by our periodic provision for credit losses.

Federal Economic Relief Funds To Aid Lending to Small Businesses

Emergency Capital Investment Program

On June 7, 2022 (the “Original Closing Date”), the Company issued 225,000 shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock‎, par value $0.01 (the “Preferred Stock”) for an aggregate purchase price equal to $225,000,000 in cash to the Treasury, pursuant to the Treasury’s ECIP. Under the ECIP, Treasury provided investment capital directly to depository institutions that are CDFIs or MDIs or their holding companies, to provide loans, grants, and forbearance for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and consumers, in low-income and underserved communities. No dividends accrued or were due for the first two years after issuance. For years three through ten, depending upon the level of qualified and/or deep impact lending made in targeted communities, as defined in the ECIP guidelines, dividends will be at an annual rate of either 2.0%, 1.25% or 0.5% and, thereafter, will be fixed at one of the foregoing rates. If we are unable to make qualified and/or deep impact loans at required levels, we will be required to pay dividends at the higher annual rates. Additionally, we may make qualified and/or deep impact loans that are riskier than we otherwise would in an effort to meet the lending requirements for the lower dividend rates and/or to qualify for the purchase option under the Repurchase Agreement (as described below).

Holders of Preferred Stock generally do not have any voting rights, with the exception of voting rights on certain matters as outlined in the Certificate of Designations. The Treasury is the holder of the Preferred Stock and a governmental entity, and the Treasury may hold interests that are different from a private investor in exercising its voting and other rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a liquidation preference, subject to certain limitations, in the amount of the sum of $1,000 per share plus declared and unpaid dividends (without accumulation of undeclared dividends) on each share.

As a participant in the ECIP, the Company must comply with certain operating requirements. Specifically, the Company must adopt the Treasury's standards for executive compensation and luxury expenses for the period during which the Treasury holds equity issued under the ECIP. These restrictions may make it difficult to adequately compensate our management team, which could impact our ability to retain qualified management. Additionally, under the ECIP regulations, the Company cannot pay dividends or repurchase its common stock unless it meets certain income-based tests and has paid the required dividends on the Preferred Stock. In June 2024,

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the Company began paying dividends on its Preferred Stock, which dividends were $1.1 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

On December 20, 2024, the Company entered into an ECIP Securities Purchase Option Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with Treasury. Pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement, Treasury has granted the Company an option to purchase all of the Preferred Stock during the Option Period, which is the first fifteen years following the Original Closing Date. The purchase price for the Preferred Stock pursuant to the purchase option is determined based on a formula equal to the present value of the Preferred Stock, calculated as set forth in the Repurchase Agreement, together with any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, as of the closing date. Subject to variations in interest rates and the equity risk premium, which are components included in the purchase price calculation, the Company presently expects that the purchase price will be at a substantial discount from the face value of the Preferred Stock.

The purchase option may not be exercised unless and until at least one of the Threshold Conditions under the Repurchase Agreement has been met. The Threshold Conditions are as follows: during the ten years that follow the Original Closing Date (the “ECIP Period”) either (1) over any sixteen consecutive quarters, an average of at least 60% of the Company’s Total Originations, as defined pursuant to the terms of the ECIP, qualifies as “Deep Impact Lending,” as defined pursuant to the terms of the ECIP (the “Deep Impact Condition”); (2) over any twenty-four consecutive quarters, an average of at least 85% of the Company’s Total Originations qualifies as “Qualified Lending,” as defined pursuant to the terms of the ECIP (the “Qualified Lending Condition”); or (3) the Preferred Stock has a dividend rate of no more than 0.5%, which dividend rate is calculated pursuant to the ECIP and the terms thereof, at each of six consecutive Reset Dates, as defined in the ECIP.

The earliest possible date by which a Threshold Condition may be met is June 30, 2026, which is the end of the sixteenth consecutive quarter following the Original Closing Date. However, the Company does not currently meet any of the Threshold Conditions to exercise the purchase option, and there can be no assurance if and when the Threshold Conditions will be met. The closing of the repurchase of the Preferred Stock, if consummated, would occur between thirty and ninety days following the satisfaction of the Threshold Condition and all other applicable conditions. At present, the Company has reported 14 consecutive quarters for which it has met both the Deep Impact and Qualified Lending Conditions. The Preferred Stock currently has a dividend rate of 0.5%.

In addition to the requirement that a Threshold Condition be met, the Repurchase Agreement requires that the Company meet certain other eligibility conditions in order to exercise the purchase option in the future, including compliance with the terms of the original ECIP purchase agreement and the terms of the Preferred Stock, maintaining qualification as either a CDFI or an MDI, and meeting other legal and regulatory criteria. Although the Company currently meets the general eligibility criteria, other than satisfying one of the Threshold Conditions, there can be no assurance that the Company will meet such criteria, or any amended or additional criteria that may be imposed, in the future.

The Company believes that consummation of the repurchase of the Preferred Stock as contemplated by the Repurchase Agreement would be beneficial to its stockholders. As such, the Company expects it continue to emphasize its qualified Deep Impact Lending.

The purchase option granted under the agreement is a freestanding financial instrument under GAAP. The Company analyzed the fair value of the repurchase option in accordance with ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements” and determined that the purchase option value is de minimis as of December 20, 2024, December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025.

CDFI Equitable Recovery Program

On February 6, 2025, the Bank received a $1.3 million grant from the Treasury as part of the CDFI Financial Assistance Award Program. This award is given to CDFIs to support their operations and expand services in economically distressed communities.

Banking Development District

The Ponce Bank Westchester Avenue Branch located at 2244 Westchester Avenue in the Castle Hill area of the Bronx was approved as a Banking Development District ("BDD"). New York State’s BDD Program, administered by the Department of Financial Services ("DFS"), supports the establishment of bank and credit union branches in areas across New York State where there is a demonstrated need for banking services. To encourage participation, approved BDD branches receive access to subsidized and market

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rate deposits from New York State. On July 30, 2024, Ponce Bank received total program deposits of $35.0 million. On June 24, 2025, the Bank received an additional $10.0 million from the DFS resulting in a total BDD Program deposit of $45.0 million.

The Bank's Inwood Branch was also recently approved as a BDD. On February 4, 2026, the Bank received approval for additional program deposits of $35.0 million.

Westchester Avenue Branch Re-Design

On February 27, 2025, Ponce Bank officers and administrators and members of the public celebrated the Bank’s transformed Westchester Avenue Branch at its grand reopening. The transformed Branch is the result of the State-of-the-art Banking Technologies combined with Community Centric Banking that is customer friendly and supportive.

The transformation relaunched a process aimed at reinforcing the role of each banking branch as a "community hub" that attracts new depositors and business customers, but anchors Ponce Bank branches as community-centric destinations. The revitalization efforts include Open Tellers that invite a more consultative experience, managers located at a central hub of the branch, private space for sensitive conversations, and meeting spaces as well as open areas with teleconferencing and AV equipment to encourage community-wide gatherings.

Coral Gables, Florida Office

On June 1, 2024, Ponce Bank opened its first-ever representative office in the state of Florida located at 1600 Ponce de Leon Drive in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables. This new office is home to a Commercial Relationship Officer who will split time between the new location and his

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