Ron Farnsworth
Analyst · Wells Fargo. Your line is open
Okay, thank you, Cort and for those on the call, I want to follow along. I'll be referring to certain page numbers from our earnings presentation. Starting on Page 9 of the slide presentation, which contains our performance ratios both on a GAAP and operating basis. The adjustments to our internal operating measures include various fair value changes from interest rate volatility along with merger and exit disposal costs, which are detailed in the appendix on Slide 30. Our NIM continued to strengthen up 13 basis points in Q4 to 4.01%. Our GAAP PPNR ROAA was 1.82%, while our operating PPNR ROAA was 2.1% and operating ROTC increased to 16.2%. Turning to Page 10, which contains our summary of quarterly P&L. Our GAAP earnings for Q3 were $83 million or $0.38 per share. On an operating basis, we earned $99 million or $0.46 per share. For the moving parts as compared to Q3, net interest income increased $17.9 million or 6% representing continued earning asset growth combined with the recent Fed rate increases. We had a provision for credit loss of $34.9 million with the increase driven primarily by slight deterioration in the consensus economic forecast. Noninterest income increased mainly related to changes in the nonoperating fair value marks as detailed later in the appendix and noninterest expense increased $17 million mainly from merger expense and nonrecurring increase in other expense. As for the balance sheet on Slide 11, loans were up $650 million and deposits increased $250 million. This difference, net of the decrease in spring cash was funded with short-term borrowings and the lift in investments AFS related primarily due to a lower unrealized loss. Our total available liquidity including off balance sheet sources ended the quarter at $12 billion represent 38% of total assets and 44% of total deposits. As noted on the bottom of Slide 11, our tangible book value increased in part due to the lower AOCI rate mark on AFS investments. Slide 13 highlights net interest income building the increase to $306 million in Q4 resulted from the recent rate increases along with continued strong loan growth. From a rate volume standpoint, increase in rates led to $16 million of the $18 million increase with volume and mix, making up a $2 million difference. Following that, on Slide 14 of the presentation are the trends for our net interest margin. Again our NIM increased 13 basis points in total to 4.01% in Q4. It represent a waterfall on the margin change on the right of the page, knowing that our loan and cash yields more than offset rising funding costs and key for me here is following the 125 basis point increase in the federal funds rate during Q4, our NIM for the month of December was 4.02%. The next slide includes information on the repricing and maturity characteristics of our loan portfolio noting no significant change in the repricing mix this past quarter. And following that, on Slide 16, on the upper left, we have included our projected net interest income sensitivity for future rate changes in both ramp and shock scenarios over two years. This is a simulation we run in back test quarterly and assumes a static balance sheet. The upper right shows our sensitivity from last quarter and comparing the two, even though we've taken steps this quarter to reduce sensitivity and will continue to do so in future quarters. The deposit beta used in the current simulation is 53% on interest-bearing deposits for future rate changes. The table on the left shows our deposit betas from the current rising rate cycle while on the right we show them from the last rising rate cycle for comparison. Our beta then was 42% on interest-bearing deposits. Our cost of interest-bearing deposits increased from 23 basis points in Q3 to 77 basis points for Q4. Our cumulative data for this cycle to date is now 18% on interest-bearing deposits. The spot rate at year-end was 107 basis points. We expect interest-bearing deposit costs to increase again in Q1 but stay well below our model level. Next on Slide 17. We detailed our consolidated non-interest income trends, netting continued weakness within our mortgage banking segment was mostly offset by a positive fair value change on loans carried at fair value. Turning to Slide 18 on expense. Majority of the increase this quarter related to merger expense for our upcoming combination with Columbia. In addition, we had an increase in state and local taxes along with other expense which I didn't not view as recurring. The next two pages include the segment disclosures on a GAAP basis. The core banking segment on Slide 19 and the mortgage banking segment on Slide 20. The operating non-GAAP stats by segment are later on Slides 32 and 33. Suffice it to say the core banking segment continues to benefit from rising rates and continued loan growth, while Mortgage Banking reported a second consecutive quarterly loss. Cort mentioned plans underway earlier within Mortgage Banking. And a couple of final ones before I turn it over to Frank. On Slide 22, we've included the quarterly loan balance roll forward. Quarterly loan growth was driven by $1.3 billion in new originations in net advances offset by $0.6 billion in payoffs and maturities. We've intentionally slowed down non-relationship lending production, given continued pressure with industry-wide deposit outflows following continued tightening by the Fed. Slides 23 and 24 provide additional statistics and composition on the portfolio and there is no significant changes in the quarter. Next, let me take your attention to Slide 25 on CECL and our allowance for credit loss. As a reminder, our CECL process incorporates a life of loan reasonable and supportable period for the economic forecast for all portfolios with the exception of C&I which is a 12-month reasonable and supportable period reverting gradually to the output mean thereafter. We use the consensus economic forecast this quarter updated in November. Overall, the forecast reflected continued high expected inflation and interest rates with a slight uptick in peak unemployment rates. With this, we recognized a $32.9 million provision for credit loss with $7 million of that for the quarters' loan growth and $26 million for the slightly deteriorating economic variables. This page shows the commercial and leasing portfolio driving the majority of the increase for their most sensitive to the unemployment rate forecast, which again increased slightly on peak from 4.1% to 4.5% over the horizon. The ACL increased to 1.21% at quarter end, up from 1.16% in Q3. Lastly, I want to highlight capital on Page 27. Moving that all of our regulatory ratios remain in excess of well-capitalized levels, our Tier 1 common ratios was 11% and our total risk-based capital ratio was 13.7%. The Bank level total risk-based capital ratio was 12.9%. We declared a $0.21 per share dividend on January 11, payable on February's fixed to holders of record as of January 23rd and equivalent to the fourth quarter's level. Given our targeted February 20th closing date for our merger with Columbia, we expect the next dividend action to be determined by the combined Board. And with that, I will now turn the call over to Frank Namdar to discuss credit.