First Citizens BancShares reported solid Q1 2025 results aligned with guidance, underscoring a resilient balance sheet and disciplined capital deployment amid macro uncertainty. Adjusted earnings per share reached $37.79, with adjusted ROE of 9.64% and ROA of 0.95%, while the adjusted efficiency ratio stood at 59.6%. Net interest income declined modestly in the quarter as Fed rate cuts and lower accretion pressured earning assets, but deposit costs fell and investment securities income rose, helping to limit NII deterioration. The quarter featured meaningful balance sheet progress: loans rose 0.8% sequentially as growth in the commercial bank and SVB segments offset some softness in tech-related lending, and deposits increased about 2.6% sequentially, led by the direct bank and general bank channels. Importantly, FCNCA terminated the FDIC loss-share agreement tied to the SVB portfolio, signaling confidence in the quality of the acquired assets and enabling a cleaner risk profile going forward. Management stressed capital resilience and liquidity, returning $613 million to shareholders in Q1 and signaling a continued emphasis on buybacks (8.26% of Class A shares since inception). The guidance remains cautious but constructive: NII is expected to be relatively flat to down modestly in Q2, with full-year NII guidance narrowed to $6.55–$6.95 billion and deposits guided higher to $163–$168 billion. The CET1 ratio excluding SLA sits at 12.19%, with plans to navigate toward a 10.5–11% range by end-2026 through ongoing share repurchases and prudent capital management. Overall, FCNCA is balancing robust capital formation with strategic balance sheet optimization in a volatile macro environment, while maintaining a diversified earnings mix across core banking, SVB-related activities, wealth, and corporate services.