09:03 AM EST, 12/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Friday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) down 0.3% recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 1.1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 1% higher.

Primis Financial ( FRST ) said its board of directors approved a stock repurchase program for up to 740,600 of the outstanding shares of the company's common stock, effective immediately through Dec. 19, 2025. Primis Financial ( FRST ) shares advanced by over 4% premarket.

RBB Bancorp ( RBB ) said it it will appoint Johnny Lee as president of the company, president and chief executive officer of Royal Business Bank and a director of the company and bank from Jan. 1 next year. RBB Bancorp ( RBB ) shares were down more than 3% pre-bell.