SIERRA BANCORP

Credit risk is inherent in the business of making loans. The Company sets aside an allowance for credit losses on loans, a contra-asset account, through periodic charges to earnings, which are reflected in the income statement as the provision for credit losses on loans. Specifically identifiable and quantifiable loan losses are immediately charged off against the allowance, with subsequent recoveries reflected as an increase to the allowance. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses on loans of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to a credit loss benefit of $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a provision of $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2025. The $0.8 million release in allowance for credit losses during the fourth quarter of 2025 was due mostly to the $1.5 million release of specific reserve on loans individually evaluated, partially offset by higher reserve on loans collectively evaluated. The provision recorded during the first quarter of 2026 is due to the increase in specific reserve and changes to certain assumptions used, partially offset by lower loan balances and net loan charge-offs.

The allowance for credit losses on loans is at a level that, in Management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb probable credit losses on loans related to individually identified loans as well as probable credit losses in the remaining loan portfolio.

The Company’s policies for monitoring the adequacy of the allowance, determining loan balances that should be charged off, and other detailed information with regard to changes in the allowance are discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements, and below, under “Allowance for Credit Losses.” The process utilized to establish an appropriate credit allowance for losses on loans can result in a high degree of variability in the Company’s credit loss provision, and consequently in net earnings.