Bank of the James reports Q1 EPS 19c vs. 48c last year
Interest Management and Earnings: The CEO highlighted the Bank's effective management of interest expenses in a high-rate environment, leading to lower year-over-year interest expenses and steady growth in interest income, net interest margin, and interest spread.
Impact of Non-recurring Expense: While the first quarter of 2025 showed solid earnings from core operations, a one-time consultant fee for negotiating a contract negatively affected earnings; however, this contract is expected to yield significant long-term cost savings.
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Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires, Leaving Lasting Impact
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, concluding 25 years of service on the boards and executive roles, marking a significant leadership transition for the company.
- Asset Growth: During his tenure, Scruggs played a pivotal role in growing the bank from an initial capital of $10 million to over $1 billion in assets, demonstrating his critical influence on the company's financial strategy.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement will impact the company's financial management; however, he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, indicating a need for the future leadership to adapt to this change.
- Community Contribution: Scruggs has shown a deep commitment to the community by expanding the bank's presence to over 20 locations in Virginia, and the future leadership team must continue to uphold this mission.
Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires After Over 25 Years of Service
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, concluding over 25 years of service on the boards and in executive roles, marking a significant leadership transition for the company.
- Asset Growth: Under Scruggs' leadership, Bank of the James grew from an initial capital of $10 million in 1998 to over $1 billion in assets today, demonstrating its successful expansion in the regional banking sector.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement will impact the company's financial strategy; however, he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, allowing the bank to retain his financial discipline and leadership wisdom for future growth.
- Community Contribution: Scruggs played a crucial role in fostering the bank's relationship with the community, with the CEO emphasizing that his impact on the community cannot be overstated, highlighting his importance to the organization's mission.
Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires, Over $1 Billion in Assets
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, marking a significant leadership change for the company and its board of directors.
- Financial Strategy Contribution: Serving as CFO since the bank's inception, Scruggs successfully managed the financial strategy for over 25 years, growing the bank from an initial capital of $10 million to over $1 billion in assets, highlighting his critical role in the company's growth.
- Regional Expansion Achievements: Under Scruggs' leadership, Bank of the James expanded to over 20 locations in Virginia, enhancing its market presence in Region 2000, Roanoke, and Charlottesville, thereby contributing to regional economic development.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement presents a leadership adjustment for the company, but he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, continuing to provide valuable institutional knowledge that secures the bank's ongoing stability and growth.
Three Small-Cap Stocks to Watch in 2026
Podcast Overview: Episode #467 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast features host Tracey Ryniec and guest Mark Zinski discussing three small-cap stocks in real estate and banking to consider for 2026, moving away from AI-focused investments.
Comstock Holding Companies (CHCI): This asset manager and developer in the Washington DC area has seen a 64% increase in shares year-to-date, with a market cap of $135 million and a price-to-book ratio of 2.4, but does not pay dividends.
C&F Financial Corp. (CFFI): A Virginia-based bank with a market cap of $224 million, C&F Financial has a dividend yield of 2.7% and is attractively priced with a P/B ratio of 0.9, despite a 3.4% decline in shares year-to-date.
Bank of the James Financial Group (BOTJ): This Central Virginia bank has a market cap of $80 million, pays a dividend yielding 2.2%, and has seen a 12.2% increase in shares year-to-date, trading at a P/B ratio of 1.2.
Should You Consider Purchasing Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOTJ) Before Its Ex-Dividend Date?
Ex-Dividend Date and Upcoming Payment: Bank of the James Financial Group will trade ex-dividend on November 21, with a dividend of US$0.10 per share payable on December 5. Investors must purchase shares before the ex-dividend date to qualify for the dividend.
Dividend Sustainability: The company paid out only 23% of its profits in dividends last year, indicating a sustainable dividend policy. This low payout ratio suggests a strong margin for maintaining dividends even during downturns.
Earnings Growth and Dividend Increases: Bank of the James Financial Group has seen an average earnings per share growth of 8.4% over the last five years and has increased its dividend by approximately 8.2% annually over the past decade, reflecting a commitment to rewarding shareholders.
Investment Considerations: While the company appears promising as a dividend stock, potential investors should be aware of associated risks, including one identified warning sign, and consider their own financial objectives before investing.
Bank of the James Reveals Transition of CFO-CIO Roles and New Chief Financial Officer Appointment
Leadership Changes: Bank of the James Financial Group announced a transition in executive leadership, with J. Todd Scruggs moving from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Investment Officer, and Eric J. Sorenson, Jr. appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer.
Strategic Goals: The leadership transition aims to enhance oversight and coordination between financial operations and investment strategies, ensuring focused responsibilities and balanced skillsets among the executives.
Experience and Continuity: Both Scruggs and Sorenson bring extensive experience to their new roles, with Scruggs having been CFO since the bank's founding and Sorenson serving as General Counsel for over three years.
Transition Timeline: The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, with both executives working closely together until then to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations.
Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires, Leaving Lasting Impact
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, concluding 25 years of service on the boards and executive roles, marking a significant leadership transition for the company.
- Asset Growth: During his tenure, Scruggs played a pivotal role in growing the bank from an initial capital of $10 million to over $1 billion in assets, demonstrating his critical influence on the company's financial strategy.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement will impact the company's financial management; however, he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, indicating a need for the future leadership to adapt to this change.
- Community Contribution: Scruggs has shown a deep commitment to the community by expanding the bank's presence to over 20 locations in Virginia, and the future leadership team must continue to uphold this mission.
Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires After Over 25 Years of Service
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, concluding over 25 years of service on the boards and in executive roles, marking a significant leadership transition for the company.
- Asset Growth: Under Scruggs' leadership, Bank of the James grew from an initial capital of $10 million in 1998 to over $1 billion in assets today, demonstrating its successful expansion in the regional banking sector.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement will impact the company's financial strategy; however, he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, allowing the bank to retain his financial discipline and leadership wisdom for future growth.
- Community Contribution: Scruggs played a crucial role in fostering the bank's relationship with the community, with the CEO emphasizing that his impact on the community cannot be overstated, highlighting his importance to the organization's mission.
Bank of the James Founder J. Todd Scruggs Retires, Over $1 Billion in Assets
- Founder Retirement: J. Todd Scruggs, one of the founders of Bank of the James, retired on January 5, 2026, marking a significant leadership change for the company and its board of directors.
- Financial Strategy Contribution: Serving as CFO since the bank's inception, Scruggs successfully managed the financial strategy for over 25 years, growing the bank from an initial capital of $10 million to over $1 billion in assets, highlighting his critical role in the company's growth.
- Regional Expansion Achievements: Under Scruggs' leadership, Bank of the James expanded to over 20 locations in Virginia, enhancing its market presence in Region 2000, Roanoke, and Charlottesville, thereby contributing to regional economic development.
- Leadership Transition: Scruggs' retirement presents a leadership adjustment for the company, but he ensured a seamless transition of CFO responsibilities, continuing to provide valuable institutional knowledge that secures the bank's ongoing stability and growth.
Three Small-Cap Stocks to Watch in 2026
Podcast Overview: Episode #467 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast features host Tracey Ryniec and guest Mark Zinski discussing three small-cap stocks in real estate and banking to consider for 2026, moving away from AI-focused investments.
Comstock Holding Companies (CHCI): This asset manager and developer in the Washington DC area has seen a 64% increase in shares year-to-date, with a market cap of $135 million and a price-to-book ratio of 2.4, but does not pay dividends.
C&F Financial Corp. (CFFI): A Virginia-based bank with a market cap of $224 million, C&F Financial has a dividend yield of 2.7% and is attractively priced with a P/B ratio of 0.9, despite a 3.4% decline in shares year-to-date.
Bank of the James Financial Group (BOTJ): This Central Virginia bank has a market cap of $80 million, pays a dividend yielding 2.2%, and has seen a 12.2% increase in shares year-to-date, trading at a P/B ratio of 1.2.
Should You Consider Purchasing Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOTJ) Before Its Ex-Dividend Date?
Ex-Dividend Date and Upcoming Payment: Bank of the James Financial Group will trade ex-dividend on November 21, with a dividend of US$0.10 per share payable on December 5. Investors must purchase shares before the ex-dividend date to qualify for the dividend.
Dividend Sustainability: The company paid out only 23% of its profits in dividends last year, indicating a sustainable dividend policy. This low payout ratio suggests a strong margin for maintaining dividends even during downturns.
Earnings Growth and Dividend Increases: Bank of the James Financial Group has seen an average earnings per share growth of 8.4% over the last five years and has increased its dividend by approximately 8.2% annually over the past decade, reflecting a commitment to rewarding shareholders.
Investment Considerations: While the company appears promising as a dividend stock, potential investors should be aware of associated risks, including one identified warning sign, and consider their own financial objectives before investing.
Bank of the James Reveals Transition of CFO-CIO Roles and New Chief Financial Officer Appointment
Leadership Changes: Bank of the James Financial Group announced a transition in executive leadership, with J. Todd Scruggs moving from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Investment Officer, and Eric J. Sorenson, Jr. appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer.
Strategic Goals: The leadership transition aims to enhance oversight and coordination between financial operations and investment strategies, ensuring focused responsibilities and balanced skillsets among the executives.
Experience and Continuity: Both Scruggs and Sorenson bring extensive experience to their new roles, with Scruggs having been CFO since the bank's founding and Sorenson serving as General Counsel for over three years.
Transition Timeline: The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, with both executives working closely together until then to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations.
