Avidbank Q4 Earnings Call Highlights

Core Insights - The company aims for double-digit loan and deposit growth by 2026, with management highlighting ongoing momentum across various banking sectors [1][19] - Loan growth in Q4 was significantly driven by sponsor finance and corporate banking, with overall loans increasing by $190 million in Q4 and $283 million for the year, reflecting a 15% annualized growth rate [2][3][7] - The bank reported a net income of $6.9 million for Q4, with an expanded net interest margin (NIM) of 4.13%, up from 3.90% in the previous quarter [10][11] Loan and Deposit Growth - Management reiterated a goal of double-digit growth in loans and deposits by 2026, citing strong pipeline momentum [1][19] - Loans increased by $190 million in Q4 and $283 million for the year, with a 15% annualized growth rate [3][7] - Deposit growth was led by corporate banking and venture lending, contributing to an increase in core deposits [2][7] Profitability Metrics - The company reported a net income of $6.9 million for Q4, or $0.65 per diluted share, with adjusted net income for the full year at $24.9 million, or $2.80 per share [10] - The net interest margin expanded to 4.13%, attributed to strong loan and core deposit growth, as well as a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits [11][12] - Pre-provision net revenue increased to $12.9 million in Q4 from $10.7 million in Q3 [10] Non-Performing Assets - Non-performing assets increased, primarily due to three specific loans, including two construction loans and one sponsor finance loan [6][8] - Management believes these loans are well collateralized and expects to resolve the situation within 4 to 6 months [8][9] - Broader credit migration remains stable, with criticized and classified loans holding steady at approximately $37 million and $38 million, respectively [9] Expense and Provisioning Overview - The provision for credit losses rose to $2.8 million in Q4, driven by loan growth and including a $1.2 million specific reserve [5][14] - Non-interest expenses increased to $13.9 million, influenced by higher credit-related legal fees and consulting costs, but the adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 51.72% [15] - Management expects ongoing expenses to be above recent levels, with a run rate of approximately $14 million per quarter [16] Funding and Tax Rate - The year-end spot rate on interest-bearing deposits was 2.91%, with discussions on deposit beta dynamics indicating that about 20% of interest-bearing deposits are indexed [17] - The effective tax rate increased to 31.1% in Q4, primarily due to changes in California tax law, with expectations to return to around 28.5% in 2026 [18]