David Dykstra
Analyst · the information discussed during this call are detailed in the second quarter and year-to-date earnings press release in the company's most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on file with the SEC. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I will now turn the conference call over to Mr. Edward Wehmer
Thanks Ed. As normal, I’ll briefly touch on the non-interest income and non-interest expense sections of the income statement, turning to non-interest income. Our wealth management revenue totalled $18.9 million for the second quarter of 2016, which is up from $18.3 million recorded in the prior quarter and also up from the $18.5 million recorded in the year ago quarter. The trust and asset management component of this revenue category increased to $12.6 million in the current quarter to $12.3 million in the prior quarter. The brokerage revenue component also increased to approximately $6.3 million in the second quarter compared to $6.1 million in the first quarter of the year. And overall the second quarter of 2016 represented the highest wealth management fee level in our company’s history and we look forward to continued growth in that category. Mortgage banking revenues increased $15.1 million or 69% compared to the $36.8 million in the second quarter of 2016 and it was also up from the $21.7 million recorded in the prior quarter and was slightly higher than the -- from the $21.7 million recorded in the prior quarter and was slightly higher than the $36 million recorded in the second quarter of last year. The company originated and sold approximately $1.2 billion of mortgage loans in the second quarter of both 2016 and 2015, and that was compared to $737 million recorded in the first quarter of 2016. As far as the mix goes, our volume related to purchase home activity was stronger in the second quarter instead of 65% compared to 56% in the prior quarter. Similar to our wealth management revenue, the second quarter of 2016 represented the highest mortgage banking fee level in our Company’s history. And as Ed said, the market continues to be strong and we would expect similar volumes in the third quarter. Fees from our covered call options were $4.6 million in the second quarter compared to $1.7 million in the previous quarter and roughly equivalent to the $4.6 million recorded in the second quarter of last year. As we’ve discussed previously the company consistently has utilized the fees from the covered call options to supplement the total return on our treasury and agency security held in our portfolio and that’s in an effort to provide a hedge to the margin pressures caused during a period of low interest rates. The revenue in the second quarter of 2016 for operating leases totalled $4 million compared to $2.8 million in the prior quarter, increasing 43% during the quarter. The outstanding balances of our operating leases grew to $103.7 million at the end of the second quarter and to be clear these amounts relate just to the operating leases, not to capital leases which are carried in the loan section of the balance sheet. Other non-interest income declined by $4 million to $11.6 million in the second quarter from $15.6 million in the first quarter this year. The primary reason for the decline in the category of revenue is related to the $4.3 million gain recognized in the first quarter, that was related to the extinguishment of $15 million of our Junior Subordinated debentures. The remaining change in this category of revenue related to lower swap fee income, which was substantially offset by higher revenue from our investments in bank funds honed at the holding company level. Turning to non-interest expense, our non-interest expenses totaled a $171 million in the second quarter, increased in approximately $17.2 million compared to the $153.7 million recorded in the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest expenses although similarly large, was generally associated with supporting the significant growth in balance sheet of over $900 million, and the significant increase in our mortgage loan production. In fact as I mentioned, despite the increase in expenses during the quarter, the net overhead ratio declined to 1.46% indicating, we were able to leverage that expense base relative to a much larger balance sheet and revenue levels in efficient manner. So, I’ll talk now about the significant changes of the individual categories compared to the first quarter of this year. Salaries and employee benefit expense increased to approximately $5.1 million in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. The primary reason for the overall increase in salaries and employee benefit expense related to additional commissions and incentive compensation expense of approximately $6.2 million, increasing to $32.5 million from $26.4 million in the prior quarter. The company experienced an increase in commission expense related to the substantially higher mortgage revenue and higher wealth management brokerage revenue that I referred to early in my remarks. Along with the slight increase in accrued incentive compensation from the prior quarter due to increased earnings. Additionally, the base salary expense component of this category was up approximately $2.6 million in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter. The main reason for the increased expense level related to approximately $1.2 million in increased staffing in our mortgage division to accommodate the higher mortgage origination volumes, severance cost of approximately $600,000 related to certain corporate consolidation efforts and approximately $175,000 related to the foundations bank acquisition, which occurred on March 31, of this year. And we also had a full quarter impact of our annual base salary increases for employees, which went into effect at the beginning of February. Offsetting the increases noted above employee benefit expense was down $3.7 million in the current quarter compared to the prior quarter. Significantly impacting this category, which we indicated would happen on our first quarter call, was a reduction in payroll taxes expense, which was approximately $3.3 million lower in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2016. As you know the payroll taxes are always higher in the first quarter of the year, social security tax limitations reset at the beginning of the year. As I discussed in regard to operating leases in the non-interest income section, the company experienced a similar increase in expenses related to the operating leases as the portfolio has grown. Again we expect this category expense to grow at a rate, some more to the revenue side, as a portfolio of operating leases continues to expand. Data processing expense increased approximately $619,000 from the prior quarter to $7.1 million, the primary reason for the increase in the expenses related to approximately $354,000 of acquisition related conversion cost, were as the first quarter had no such cost. The reminder of the increase relates to growth in customer accounts including a full quarter of activity related to the Foundations Bank acquisition and increased mortgage banking processing cost through the significant increase in mortgage volume during the quarter. Marketing expense increased by approximately 3.2 million from the first quarter to $6.9 million, but was relatively consistent with the second quarter of 2015 marketing cost of $6.4 million. As we discussed on our last call, we expected this category of expenses to increase as the second and third quarters of fiscal year tend to be the highest quarters of marketing expending as our sponsorship costs are higher in those quarters. Our professional fees were up slightly increasing to $5.4 million in the current quarter compared to 4.1 million in the prior quarter and 5.1 million in the second quarter of last year. The current quarter increase was influenced by higher legal cost associated with recent acquisition activity including the recently announced transactions for portfolio franchise loans and a local community bank. As you know professional fees can fluctuate on a quarterly basis based on our level of acquisition activity and problem loan workout activity as well as any consulting services that the Company utilizes. Other real estate owned expenses increase by $788,000 in the second quarter compared to the prior quarter. Total OREO expenses totaled $1.3 million in the current quarter compared to $560,000 in the first quarter 2016. The increase was due to additional valuation allowances of $482,000, increased operating costs of $227,000 and $79,000 less on recorded gains on the sale of OREO properties. Other miscellaneous non-interest expense increased by approximately $3.2 million in the second quarter, this increase was generally associated with higher travelling entertainment expenses which are seasonally higher in the second and third quarters for us. Higher loan expenses associated with the significant loan and mortgage production and other miscellaneous increases. In summary, the increase expenses were generally associated with significant increases in loan production and revenue levels. Acquisition related and severance charges seasonally higher levels of marketing and entertainment expenses and investments made to support the overall growth on the balance sheet; however, these increases and these expenses were less than the relatively growth in the balance sheet and the revenue levels resulting on a lower net overhead ratio indicating improved leverage of those expenses on an overall companywide basis. Further to that end as we discussed today and in recent quarters, we've had a goal of reducing our net overhead ratio to approximately 1.5% for the fiscal year 2016, given the steps we took in the last half of 2015 particularly related to recent acquisition to consolidate operations including facilities and staffing and our ability to leverage our existing infrastructure to support the growth of the Company, we saw progress towards that goal in the first quarter and we saw further progress in the second quarter of this year with the net overhead ratio for the quarter coming in below the target at 1.46%. We will continue to work hard to effectively leverage our expense base and keep you posted as the year progresses. But as Ed mentioned, our month-end balance sheet was significantly higher than the average last year. We don't expect to have significant new expenses in the third quarter, so we do expect assuming the mortgage markets stays relatively stable with the second quarter that we should be able to improve that ratio going forward. So with that, I will turn it over to Ed.