The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates at 3.50%-3.75% while hinting at a possible hike later in 2026 has sharpened the focus on financial stocks that can either handle, or potentially benefit from, higher borrowing costs and stickier inflation. With Treasury yields moving higher and the outlook for cheaper mortgages fading, investors are reconsidering where bank and insurance stocks might fit in a portfolio. This article highlights 3 large, established Financials from the screener that appear better positioned based on the latest Fed signals, and explains how the same news could influence their stocks going forward.

Heritage Financial (HFWA)

Overview: Heritage Financial is a regional bank headquartered in Olympia, Washington, that focuses on serving small and medium sized businesses and their owners with deposits, commercial loans, real estate financing and consumer banking across the US Pacific Northwest.

Operations: Heritage Financial generates about US$265.6 million in revenue from commercial banking activities in the United States.

Market Cap: US$1.16b

Heritage Financial gives you direct exposure to a traditional regional bank whose earnings are closely tied to interest rates, which is especially relevant after the Fed signaled a more hawkish path and higher for longer policy settings. The company sits in a growing Pacific Northwest market with relationship focused lending. Investors need to weigh a relatively low ROE, an unstable dividend record, prior shareholder dilution and recent insider selling, along with credit quality trends in commercial real estate. The key question is how higher rates and disciplined underwriting might interact with these pressure points in the years ahead.

Heritage Financial sits at the crossroads of higher rates and relationship banking, and the missing piece is how its balance sheet really stacks up under pressure. Take a moment to review the Heritage Financial financial health report before the next rate move reframes the whole story Heritage Financial financial health report

Peapack-Gladstone Financial (PGC)

Overview: Peapack-Gladstone Financial is a regional bank headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, that focuses on private banking, commercial lending and wealth management for businesses, non profits and affluent individuals across the Metro New York and New Jersey area.

Operations: Peapack-Gladstone Financial generates about US$207.7 million from Banking and US$67.1 million from Wealth Management, with all reported revenue of roughly US$273.9 million coming from the United States.

Market Cap: US$792.1 million

Peapack-Gladstone Financial stands out in a higher for longer rate setting because its core commercial lending and private banking model is tightly linked to net interest spreads, while a growing wealth management arm adds fee income that is not tied to short term rate moves. Recent quarterly figures show higher net interest income and earnings, supported by a larger Metro New York footprint, more noninterest bearing deposits and a focus on loan spreads and securities repositioning. At the same time, investors need to watch credit quality, capital actions such as convertible preferred stock issuance, and a P/E that sits above many bank peers. The real question is whether that mix of growth, capital strength and risk justifies the premium valuation.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial’s mix of lending spreads and wealth fees looks like a story of growth that many investors may be only half seeing. Get the full context from the analysis report for Peapack-Gladstone Financial

Glacier Bancorp (GBCI)

Overview: Glacier Bancorp is a regional bank holding company based in Kalispell, Montana, offering retail and business banking, mortgages, and a wide range of lending products to individuals, small and medium sized businesses, community groups, and public entities across the Western United States.

Operations: Glacier Bancorp generates about US$1.04b in revenue from banking services, all from within the United States.

Market Cap: US$6.43b

Glacier Bancorp sits at the heart of the Fed’s higher for longer message, with a large mix of low cost deposits and a lending book that is very sensitive to net interest margins. This helps explain why net interest income and net income in Q1 2026 were US$268.68 million and US$82.14 million, respectively. At the same time, investors need to balance strong earnings growth forecasts and a long history of quarterly dividends against a relatively high P/E versus peers, reliance on commercial real estate and rural markets, and rising net charge offs. For anyone watching how the Fed’s next move could reshape regional bank earnings, Glacier Bancorp is a stock where the headline numbers only tell part of the story.

Glacier Bancorp’s earnings story and higher P/E hint at something investors may not be fully pricing in yet, and the analyst forecasts for Glacier Bancorp could show whether those headline numbers are masking one crucial twist

The three stocks covered here are just a starting point, as the full Financials (Banks and Insurance Companies) screener surfaced 34 more banks and insurers with equally compelling stories around market value, financial health and rate sensitivity. Use Simply Wall St to identify, analyze and filter for the exact catalysts and narratives that matter to you so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this corner of the market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.