Ram Shankar
Analyst · KBW. Please go ahead with your question
Thanks, Mariner. For the third quarter, net interest income was $150.5 million, representing a 6.8% increase year-over-year and a modest increase on a linked quarter basis. The positive impacts of our strong loan growth and an additional day of interest during the quarter were offset by increased deposit cost driven by the cumulative effect of recent increases in short-term rates, and to a lesser extent the deposit acquisition campaigns Mariner mentioned. While we still benefit from repricing in our variable-rate loan book, and from higher reinvestment rates in our securities portfolio, the spread between our earning asset betas and the total funding betas has narrowed as we move further into this rate cycles. However, cycle to date, our asset mix has driven betas higher than those funding cost. In the last 12 quarters, since the Fed started increasing rates, our earning asset yields have expanded by about 110 basis points to 3.89% for a 63% cumulative asset beta. During the same period, our total cost of funds has risen 62 basis points from 0.13% to 0.75% for a 35% cumulative beta. A more tempered move in LIBOR in the third quarter compared to prior quarters when it reacted well in advance of rate hikes constrain acid repricing that might have been anticipated. The yield on earning assets increased 10 basis points from last quarter for a beta of 48% compared to a beta of 67% in the second quarter, and 59% in the first quarter. As a reminder, about 38% of our total loans are tied to LIBOR. During the quarter, our cost of interest bearing deposits and total cost of deposits increased 25 basis points and 17 basis points respectively, impacted by pricing changes, in part related to the promotional campaigns as well as increased sharing arrangements with our HSA Partners. Non-interest bearing deposits represented 33.6% of total average deposits for the third quarter compared to 34.4% last quarter. This mix shift was driven in part by the deposit campaigns as well as by continued lower corporate cash levels. Net interest margin for the quarter was 3.18% down six basis points from the prior quarter. Margin was impacted by the lag in LIBOR rates ahead of the September rate hike, lower loan fee income, and the impact of the deposit campaigns as well as the carry cost of excess liquidity. In the fourth quarter, we expect some additional modest margin compression, reflecting the full quarter impact of the September deposit campaign and some excess liquidity offset in part by additional acid repricing. However, looking ahead to 2019, we would expect some margin expansion as we put our excess liquidity to work. Slide 14 shows the composition of our investment portfolio, along with roll-off and reinvestment rates. The average balance in our AFS portfolio decreased 139.3 million on a linked quarter basis and the average yield increased three basis points to 2.16%. During the quarter, we invested approximately 87% of the roll-off deploying the remainder into loans. This is part of our active balance sheet management, positioning earning assets to help counter higher liability cost. Moving back to the income statement, slides 18 and 19 show the composition and drivers of our non-interest income, which was $100.9 million for the third quarter essentially flat when compared to the second quarter. Our wealth management businesses had a strong quarter and along with corporate trust and investor solutions, helped drive the increase in trust and securities processing income. Additionally the other line income was positively impacted by 1 million of increased dividend fees related to back-to-back swaps. The bond markets continue to lag contributing to the reduced trading and investment banking income for the quarter. Slide 20 contains detailed drivers of the changes in non-interest expense, which on a non-GAAP operating basis increased $3.8 million or 2.1% compared to the second quarter to $180.2 million. Salaries and benefits expense fell by $1.2 million during the quarter, largely driven by lower medical expense. Offsetting this decrease were increased consulting expenses related to our ongoing investments in digital channel, integrated platform solutions in our asset servicing business to support growth and other initiatives. These expenses can be lumpy, and there might be timing related variances quarter-to-quarter. Finally, our effective tax rate was 11.3% for the quarter, and 14.2% year-to-date. During the quarter, we recognized the discrete tax benefit of $3 million related to a 2017 provision to return adjustment. For the full year 2018, we expect our tax rate to be between 14% and 16%. Our segment results are included in the press release and additional details on each of them begin on slide 21. In the interest of time, I won’t cover this year, but we’ll be happy to take your questions. That concludes our prepared remarks, and I’ll now turn it back over to the operator to begin the Q&A portion of the call.