Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the South Plains Financial, Inc. First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Steve Crockett, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of South Plains Financial. Please go ahead, sir.

Thank you, operator, and good afternoon, everyone. We appreciate your participation in our first quarter 2023 earnings conference call. With me here today are Curtis Griffith, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Cory Newsom, our President; and Brent Bates, our Chief Credit Officer. A replay of this call will be available on our website within 2 hours of the conclusion of the call until May 11, 2023. Additionally, a slide deck presentation to complement today's discussion is available on the News & Events section of our website, www.spfi.bank. Before we begin, let me remind everyone that this call may contain forward-looking statements and are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated future results. Please see our safe harbor statement in our earnings press release that was issued this afternoon, and on Slide 2 of the slide deck presentation available on our website. All comments made during today's call are subject to those safe harbor statements. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of today's date, and we do not undertake any duty to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Additionally, during today's call, we may discuss certain non-GAAP measures, which we believe are useful in evaluating our performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures can also be found in our earnings release and on Slide 2 of the slide deck presentation. At this point, I'll turn the call over to Curtis.

Thank you, Steve, and good afternoon. On today's call, I'll briefly review the highlights of our first quarter 2023 results, as well as the previously announced sale of our Windmark business, which we believe was a very good transaction for the bank and our shareholders. Cory will discuss our loan portfolio and the investments that we are making in our deposit gathering franchise, which builds upon the success that we have achieved expanding our lending platform. Steve will then conclude with a more detailed review of our quarter one results. To start, there are six key points that I hope you will take away from our results and today's call. First, the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank created widespread concern across the banking industry in the days following their collapse. Our results this quarter speak directly to the strength and financial soundness of the bank as well as the customer relationships that we have developed over many years, which can also be seen in our first quarter deposit growth. Second, we ended the quarter with 17% of our deposits uninsured or uncollateralized, which is an improvement from 26% at year end 2022. Third, we are in a very strong liquidity position with $1.75 billion of available borrowing capacity at quarter end from the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve's discount window and Bank Term Funding Program, none of which we are currently utilizing. Fourth, we further build capital this quarter through our earnings, as our Tier 1 capital to average assets ratio was 11.2%. Fifth, the credit profile of our loan portfolio remained strong and stable from the fourth quarter of 2022. And lastly, our markets remained healthy, though slowing as we posted 5.9% annualized loan growth in the first quarter. Turning to our results…

Thank you, Curtis, and good afternoon, everyone. Starting on Slide 6, loans held for investment increased during the first quarter of 2023 by $40.6 million or 5.9% annualized compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Demand remained healthy despite the first quarter being seasonally slower combined with higher market interest rates that are beginning to slow the economic activity. Overall, our loan growth continued to be primarily in the commercial real estate and residential mortgage sectors. Our loan yield was 5.78% in the first quarter, which compares to 5.59% in the fourth quarter of 2022. The rise in our loan yields continues to reflect our efforts to proactively price new loans to account for the higher market interest rate environment, which is contributing to rising funding costs. We believe that loan yields are beginning to peak and are focused on managing our deposit growth and funding costs to mitigate margin pressure, which I will touch on in a moment. Skipping to Slide 8. We grew our loan portfolio by $11 million or 5% annualized in our major metropolitan markets of Dallas, Houston and El Paso as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The commercial lenders that we have added in these markets continue to grow their loan portfolios by bringing new customer relationships to the bank. We are also beginning to see competitors pull back across our markets given the dislocation that has occurred. That said, we are focused on funding high-quality loans with a good risk and return profiles, as we focus on the structure of new loans and are requiring more equity. We will never sacrifice credit quality for growth, more so now than ever. Given this backdrop and our more cautious approach to growth, we will continue to look for experienced lenders to recruit to our…

Thank you, Cory. Starting on Slide 14. Net interest income was $34.3 million for the first quarter of 2023, as compared to $36.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily a result of a $3.2 million increase in interest expense due to the rise in short-term interest rates, partially offset by $1.2 million of increased interest income due to higher average loan balances and interest income on securities and other interest-earning assets. Our net interest margin calculated on a tax equivalent basis was 3.75% in the first quarter of 2023, as compared to 3.88% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Our net interest margin was impacted by a 39 basis point increase in our cost of deposits in the first quarter of 2023, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. This was partially offset by our organic loan growth, combined with the corresponding increase in our loan yields of 19 basis points as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Our average cost of deposits was 136 basis points in the first quarter of 2023, an increase from 97 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2022. As Cory discussed, we have raised certain of our deposit interest rates through the first quarter to maintain deposit relationships in an increasingly competitive environment. While deposit costs did rise, given the uncertainty created by the failures of SVB and Signature Bank, they have flattened out in the weeks since, and we believe are beginning to normalize through the second quarter. Turning to Slide 15. Total deposits increased $101.6 million in the first quarter to $3.51 billion as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Majority of the growth in deposits was a result of our increased focus on liquidity and which occurred predominantly in our public fund…

Thank you, Steve. To conclude, I'm very proud of our results through the first quarter of the year. We are successfully navigating a challenging industry environment, as can be seen by our strong deposit growth, ample liquidity and stable credit profile of our loan portfolio. Additionally, the sale of Windmark will be beneficial with the incremental capital that it provides, which we will use to create value for our shareholders in the year ahead. I would like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment to our customers and communities, once again through the first quarter. Thank you again for your time today. Operator, please open the line for any questions.

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Brad Milsaps with Piper Sandler.

I appreciate you taking my questions. Steve, I wanted to make sure I understood the kind of the moving parts with expenses. I mean, it's pretty straightforward that the insurance revenue will drop to 0. But I think you said that operating expenses would kind of hang around the first quarter level. I was thinking maybe you might see more expenses sort of fall out of the run rate. But maybe those are being reinvested. I just wanted to make sure that if you could just give me a little color on kind of what you're looking for in terms of trajectory on expenses, maybe excluding any further charges related to the disposition.

Sure. Yes. We definitely had some -- some of the expenses that were in there for Q1. Q2, we will see additional transaction expenses that will show up in non-interest expense. Once we work through that piece for a full year, our last three years average of non-interest expense has been about $6.1 million, $6.2 million related to Windmark. So that fluctuates throughout each quarter, but that's kind of what the annual run rate has been. Yes, we'll see -- that part will go away, there will be some additional items that I think will come back, but we should see that number moderate on the core non-interest expense side.

Okay. Great. And then just maybe back to your loan growth guidance, I think you said low single-digits, I mean, you're off to maybe a better start than you would typically be in 1Q. I know that can be kind of seasonally soft just with ag. But I guess your guide would imply pretty modest growth from here. I guess, Cory, is that just you guys being conservative? I mean do you think -- are there a lot of payoffs you see coming? Or is it just more a function of -- you've got a really high bar for putting any loan on the books at this point in time?

You're going to see some payoffs, and I mean, yes, we do have a high bar, but we've got really good customers that -- they're working with. I'll give you an example, though. If you look at our pipeline, so if you take a [$12.31 to $3.31,] we're up -- that's 10% higher than it was at the end of the year. So we've still got good opportunities. But I'm telling you, we are so focused on dealing with relationships and how -- in that type of a clientele, we have no problem turning some stuff down, but we're gaining a lot of ground with some really good stuff that we're comfortable putting on our books. And that's the thing that we're not afraid to ask for liquidity, we're not trying to ask for more money coming into it. But hitting the single-digits is -- I mean it's realistic. I mean, we think we can do it. Brent is here with us, Brent, do you...

I agree. I think -- back up, I think we will see some payoffs were through the probably first half, second half of the year. But we've also got some unfunded commitments that we're anticipating funding through the second half of the year, that'll be a bit of a tailwind to that. So we feel good about our low to -- low maybe mid single-digits.

There's a little of the payoff that you're going to see that's a little bit by design that we've worked towards. We're kind of proud of how it's come about. So that's -- like I said, that's much more about design that might have felt.

Yes, sure. No, I just feel like the low single were seemed fairly conservative just kind of based on kind of what you guys have done historically. But no, I appreciate the color. I'll hop back in the queue and let some other folks ask some questions.

Our next question comes from Joe Yanchunis with Raymond James.

So I was hoping to stick with kind of loan growth. And I know that you just kind of discussed payoffs. What were pay offs in the first quarter? Do you have that number handy?

I mean, our payoffs...

For the magnitude in the back half of the year or for the remainder of the year.

Yes. This is Brent. Our payoff run rate in the first quarter was not abnormal. But I think -- what I think we're talking about are some specific larger credits that were -- we see that as a strategic payoff, if that makes any sense, that are abnormal maybe payoffs from the normal run rate.

Yes. Go back to what it is. We've always talked about our approach of trying to identify a problem earlier. And so we've -- looking into the little bit of a downturn in the economy, we felt like there was a couple there that probably wouldn't where we wanted to be. And so we've started way early working to an exit strategy and pretty much think that were kind of to that point. It's -- we don't think there is any true exposure. But we just don't -- we don't think we want to be locked arms right there going into a downturn. So that's the stuff we're talking about a little bit of a pay down. Other than that, I mean, we're not seeing a lot of -- out of the ordinary payoffs.

Joe, this is Curtis. I think what we're going to see in this interest rate environment is a slowing a little bit of our regular -- normal expected paydowns, because as you know, we do a fair amount of construction. And traditionally, many of those projects would move on into secondary market, financing after they reach any initial levels of stability. Now with where rates are, we think there's a pretty good chance, we'll keep some of those on our books longer than we would have in a more -- in a lower rate environment, I'll say it that way. We've got those priced we think pretty well. And as we've been indicating, some of those have been on our books, and they're all approved and the projects are moving. But right now, they're using the investor money first, the owner money first and haven't grown much at all from us, but you will start seeing those draws hit our books as we move on through the year. So I think we're going to have some basically built-in increases in there. And I don't want to be overly conservative. But yes, I do think that somewhere around low to mid single-digit increase is very doable for us this year.

Joe, I'll add just a little bit more color to that, though. If you look at some of the stuff we've had in the books at a little bit lower rate that may not go away as fast. We think though that we've done a pretty good job with even the stuff that we're pricing out at higher rates today that it -- we've got refi penalties in these and stuff that we think that will help us from that stuff just all going away if rates start moving in any significant amount. So we've really tried to look out not so much, taking care of today, but looking at two years from today on exactly where we want to be.

Okay. And then just kind of a follow-up there, and then just kind of dig a little deeper into the asset quality. Where were these -- where are these payoffs coming from that? There could be potential problems. Are there any sectors or geographies to call out? And then in addition to that, are you starting to see any potential cracks in the portfolio at this time?

Well, I can speak to the portfolio quality. I mean, we know -- we're really seeing good stable trends. I mean it mirrors our ACL and what we're doing there. As far as payoffs -- to kind of give a little bit more background on that, you've got a number of different factors, one being credits that as Corey mentioned are kind of were pruning out of the portfolio, but not necessarily in any one industry or geography. They're more specific related -- unrelated credits. But when you think about payoffs, you got to think about some of the business we do, one of which is auto, auto -- our indirect auto portfolio we have tightened up pricing and a bit on credit. And quarter-over-quarter, we've had flat growth in that area. So that portfolio has a short time frame on it and automatically runs off if it's not replaced. So right now, we're keeping up with that, but we may choose to pull back on that some. Likewise, the homebuilder industry that we have a good business in primarily here in the lowing market. Those builders are pulling back on new activity. So we don't -- we see that as -- though that portfolio paying off as those houses sell and maybe that builder doesn't do as much activity as they did last year. So that's a little bit of color on kind of how the portfolio we think it will wind up through the year. We still think we'll get in that growth position, when got other projects in the unfunded commitment -- in our unfunded commitments that we expect to fund over the course of the second half of the year that have been thus far funding out of equity, if that makes sense.

And Joe, one comment. We talk about some of the payoffs that are coming about a little bit by design, and we mean it by that. But it's more about -- we're not satisfied with the direction management is taking -- taking that for the reporting that we're getting back. And we just -- we're not going to wait. And that kind of the position that we'll take, we're not afraid to try to separate while it's still movable and make sure that we can just move on forward. And so, we do run it conservative from that side.

Understood. And then kind of lastly for me here and switching gears. What were the loan yields on the NIM for the month of March? Just trying to kind of understand the trajectory from here?

Steve, you got that.

I do not have it broken out by March. They were fairly -- yes, they are increasing. Each month, they have gone up. We do have loans that do reprice along with the new loans that are being made that are at a higher yield. Overall, I would say March was probably 15 basis points, 20 basis points higher than what the average was in January.

Got it. And that's for loan yields, right?

That's loan yields, yes.

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Brady Gailey with KBW.

I think I heard Steve say there were some one-time transaction costs from the sale of Windmark in the first quarter. What was that number?

It's about $500,000, and would be mostly in the personnel line, but some legal and other cost.

All right. And most of the expense reduction from the sale of the insurance, is that also in the personnel line?

That is where the biggest piece of that will be, yes. There's -- the other part will be in just other non-interest expense, but the bulk of it is in personnel.

All right. And then the 1Q margin of 3.75%, it feels like given higher deposit costs, there could be some further compression in the margin. Any idea on how to think about -- how much the margin could go down going forward? Or is that right? Do you think it will compress?

I'll start, but I believe that it's a good probability that it will compress. Fortunately, we didn't see as much as -- as we might have in the first quarter. We, again, are able to keep -- putting on -- the loans we're putting on at higher yields, but the deposits definitely have increased in cost. But hopefully, we can keep that under control and limit the amount of compression. But I think we'll see a little bit more compression.

Yes. I think the other thing to keep in mind is, we've not struck ourselves out on deposit costs on long-term. We've kept that stuff very, very short. So if and when we start seeing some downward rate movement, we're going to get some immediate response from that.

I'll chime in. I do agree with Steve. I think we may get a little more compression, but I don't think you're going to see very much. We have intentionally not been leading the market in any categories on interest rates. As Cory said, we're not running CD specials. We're not trying to push out any long-term CDs. We just adjust rates on our transaction accounts to stay competitive. And as soon as we -- if the Fed does start moving the other way and we get some rates back down, we can change those very quickly, and hopefully benefit from some of those loan rates that we're putting on the books right now. So it will -- I do -- I would not be surprised to see a slight additional compression, but I don't think it's going to be very much.

Okay. All right. And then finally for me, I just wanted to ask about the outlook for deposit growth. I mean your loan to deposit ratio is 80%, which is still relatively low versus some of your peers. But do you hope to have deposit growth match loan growth? Or what's the forecast for that?

I don't think there's any way it's going to match it, now look -- I mean, we've got good loan demand. But I can't -- when I talk about the things that we've actually done focused on trying to drive the deposit gathering side of this. I mean, we're focused on relationships. And I mean we're -- it is hardcore the way that we address, building the deposit side of it. And it's -- I mean, I talked about it in the presentation. I mean, while we're not going to go spend the kind of money we spend adding lenders, we are spending money making sure that we've got representation in all the right markets and in all the right places, chasing the deposits side of this.

Brady, one of the things that we've got an advantage on, and of course, you can look at our numbers. Our by far, the biggest part of our deposits are out here in our Lubbock and more rural markets. And with the recent and continuing changes in ownership of some of the banks in those markets, we are getting some great opportunities. We've moved over a very substantial deposit relationship from one of the banks that got acquired. We're talking to some others. And while I can't put a hard number on it obviously, at this point, that's a lot of our focus is to go after some of their long time larger depositors and move those relationships over to us. And we're having pretty good success with that.

Our next question is the follow-up from Brad Milsaps with Piper Sandler.

I just wanted to quickly maybe ask about mortgage banking. If I take out the MSR write-down in the quarter, it look like you guys had a gain on loan sale margin of close to 5%. I know a lot of banks have had good quarters in that regard. Would you guys expect that to settle down something less than 4% kind of where it's been historically? Or do you think the environment is such you can kind of maintain this watermark? Just curious if anything else work there that should be -- that we should be aware of?

I'll start. I would say, I would expect that to kind of settle back down to the range you're talking about. Part of that is just our mark-to-market at the end of the quarter, and there's still been a lot of volatility in the market and with rates and things. So while it may have shown a little bit higher there in Q1, we really expect that to kind of settle back down a little bit more?

We think we did better in mortgage first quarter, even though -- I mean, we end up with a slight loss, but we knew it was just going to be from seasonality side of it, it was going to be lower. We think -- I guess we're kind of proud of the fact that we are advantaging our expenses pretty well. And then anticipating at this point that we probably ought to be up 25%, 30% volume in the second quarter as we compare to the first without a lot of overhead following soon. So I think that -- we still think that mortgage, we're managing the overhead in it pretty well.

Good. And just a point of clarity on the overhead, Steve. You said $6 million of costs will fall out from the insurance divestiture. But it doesn't sound like you expect sort of $1.5 million to drop out in the second quarter. You've got some other merit raises, things like that, that will eat up some of those savings. Is that how I should think about it?

So for Q2, excuse me guys, we'll have, again, just some of the transaction costs.

Yes, excluding those. Let's not include those. I just -- exclude those, let's not even think about those.

Yes. So excluding that, just if we're looking at core expenses, we should be down, we won't be down that full amount, because some other items will take its place. But yes, we should be down on a core run rate basis.

The loan of that rates and stuffs are already in there.

This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Mr. Curtis Griffith for any closing remarks.

Thank you, operator. We appreciate everybody participating in the call today. Well, obviously, banking is a little more challenging than we thought it might be a few months ago. We're pretty pleased with where we are. All things considered, we feel like we've got strong liquidity. We have very high capital levels. We have an excellent loan portfolio that we are monitoring very closely. And we believe that moving forward, we can have decent profitability throughout the balance of the year. And as I mentioned before, we think right now, well, obviously, we can't make an announcement on it. I did mention that we probably were not in the market to do any M&A work. And one reason for that is, right now, we'd be hard pressed to find a better buy than our own stock at the levels that we've been at. So clearly, we think we've got some opportunities ahead of us. We're very proud of getting the Windmark sale concluded and look forward to having those numbers roll out in the second quarter and show everybody kind of what we've done, gives us an opportunity to utilize those for multiple uses as we go forward. And we think that you're going to see some real benefits to shareholders. So again, thanks, everybody, for their participation and for your continued faith in South Plains Financial.

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.