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VERSABANK ADDS SECOND US RPP PARTNER; RAPIDLY SURPASSES US$70 MILLION IN US RPP ASSETS IN JUST 75 DAYS
VBNKVersaBank(VBNK) Prnewswire·2025-04-17 11:00

Group 1: US Receivable Purchase Program (RPP) - VersaBank has entered into an agreement with its second US RPP partner, aiming to leverage its innovative RPP to fund loan and lease originations [1] - The US RPP portfolio has surpassed US70million(approximatelyCAD70 million (approximately CAD100 million) in assets within 75 days of adding the first partner, with a target of US290millioninfiscal2025[2][3]ThecompanyexpectstoaddmoreRPPpartners,drivenbyfavorablemarketconditionsasalternativefundingcostsrise[3]Group2:FinancialPerformanceandNetInterestMarginVersaBanksnetinterestmargin(NIM)hasexpandedsignificantlyinthefirsttwomonthsofthesecondquarteroffiscal2025,influencedbyfactorssuchasthenormalizationoftheyieldcurveandthereplacementofhigherinterestratetermdeposits[4]TheadditionofhighermarginUSRPPassetsisalsocontributingpositivelytotheNIM[4]Group3:CMHCInsuredLoansThebankisontracktoreachitstargetof290 million in fiscal 2025 [2][3] - The company expects to add more RPP partners, driven by favorable market conditions as alternative funding costs rise [3] Group 2: Financial Performance and Net Interest Margin - VersaBank's net interest margin (NIM) has expanded significantly in the first two months of the second quarter of fiscal 2025, influenced by factors such as the normalization of the yield curve and the replacement of higher interest rate term deposits [4] - The addition of higher margin US RPP assets is also contributing positively to the NIM [4] Group 3: CMHC-Insured Loans - The bank is on track to reach its target of 1 billion in commitments for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)-insured loans by the end of fiscal 2025, with commitments exceeding $730 million as of April 15, 2025 [6] - CMHC-insured loans are zero risk-weighted, requiring no risk-weighted capital, thus generating an attractive spread that contributes favorably to the credit asset net interest margin [6] Group 4: Expansion of Deposit Broker Network - VersaBank has expanded its deposit broker network by adding BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., which is expected to further enhance the bank's NIM in fiscal 2025 [5] Group 5: Overview of VersaBank - VersaBank operates a branchless, digital, business-to-business model, utilizing proprietary technology to address underserved segments of the banking industry [9] - The bank launched its Receivable Purchase Program in the US market, which has been successful in Canada for nearly 15 years [9]