Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Inc reported an insider transaction and parallel shareholder-return actions this week.
On March 23, 2026, Eric D. Faust, the company's Chief Risk Officer, sold 1,148 shares of the bank's common stock at $25.16 per share. The reported proceeds from that transaction totaled $28,883. After the sale, Faust was recorded as directly holding 5,538 shares.
In related corporate actions, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp said it will raise its quarterly cash dividend by 4%, setting the new payout at $0.23 per share. The dividend is scheduled to be paid on April 20, 2026 to shareholders on the register as of April 3, 2026.
The company's Board of Directors also approved a share repurchase program that permits the buyback of up to 650,000 shares, an amount the company characterizes as approximately 4.7% of its outstanding common stock. That program is authorized to run through December 31, 2026 and may be carried out through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions.
Taken together, the insider sale and the board-approved measures - the dividend increase and the repurchase authorization - were presented by the company as components of its ongoing financial strategy and shareholder return initiatives. The bank's disclosures list the specific transaction date and pricing for the insider sale, the exact dividend rate and payment dates, and the maximum scope and expiration date of the repurchase authorization.
Summary of disclosed items:
- Insider sale: Eric D. Faust sold 1,148 shares on March 23, 2026 at $25.16 per share for $28,883; he retains 5,538 shares.
- Dividend: Quarterly cash dividend increased 4% to $0.23 per share; payable April 20, 2026 to shareholders of record April 3, 2026.
- Buyback: Board authorized repurchase of up to 650,000 shares (about 4.7% of outstanding shares) through December 31, 2026 via open market or private transactions.
The company has framed these actions as part of its approach to capital allocation and returns to shareholders. The disclosures provide concrete dates, dollar amounts and share counts for investors and market participants to assess, while leaving the timing and extent of repurchases to future execution decisions by the company.