Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net interest income increased by more than 12% from the fourth quarter and 17% year over year, with net interest margin expanding by 44 and 57 basis points respectively [4] - Non-interest income was $10,400,000, supported by enhancements to the company-owned life insurance portfolio and increased investment advisory income [5] - Net income for the first quarter was $16,900,000, with diluted EPS at $0.81, driven by improved net interest income and effective non-interest expense management [16] - The efficiency ratio was 59%, consistent with the full-year target of below 60% [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total loans increased by 1.7% during the quarter, driven by both commercial and industrial (C&I) and commercial real estate (CRE) lending [7] - Commercial business loans rose by 6.6% during the quarter, while commercial mortgage loans increased by 1.3% [8] - Consumer indirect balances were up just shy of 1% from December 31, but down 7% year over year [10] - Residential lending decreased by 1% from both the linked and year-ago quarters due to high competition and tight housing inventory [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by 5.3% from year-end 2024, driven by seasonally higher public deposit balances and an increase in brokered deposits [12] - Cash-related deposits totaled approximately $55,000,000 as of March 31, 2025, with expectations for a portion to remain on the balance sheet into the third quarter [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving internal efficiency, controlling credit extension, and maintaining a disciplined approach to management [6] - The strategic focus includes sustainable customer growth and service excellence across its retail network and banking locations [25] - The company plans to continue evaluating options for subordinated debt facilities moving forward [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed a cautious outlook for the industry due to uncertainties in the political and macroeconomic environments [6] - The company remains committed to a low single-digit growth guidance for 2025, reflecting a conservative approach amid economic volatility [8] - Management reiterated confidence in maintaining profitability and credit discipline despite the uncertain economic landscape [24] Other Important Information - The company welcomed a new executive with extensive experience in consumer banking, expected to contribute to strategic objectives [25] - The company filed its 2025 proxy statement, with new directors nominated to enhance corporate governance [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth outlook for the year - Management is comfortable with their guidance, noting that uncertainty has led customers to pause anticipated investments [30][31] Question: NIM guidance and levers for improvement - Key levers include cash flow from the portfolio and deposit repricing, with about $500,000,000 of CDs maturing in the next nine months [33][34] Question: Expected COLI income over the next quarters - COLI income is expected to be elevated in the second quarter before normalizing, with a significant increase in yield due to restructuring [41][42] Question: Provision outlook for credit - The guided ACL to average loans ratio is expected to hover around 107 to 108 basis points for the rest of the year [45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings for Q1 2025 were $41.5 million or $0.65 per diluted share, with net interest income increasing to $134.2 million, up $1.3 million from the previous quarter [11] - Total deposits increased by approximately $200 million linked quarter, with noninterest-bearing deposits contributing $137 million to this growth [12] - Non-interest income rose by $2.2 million from the previous quarter, primarily driven by a $1.3 million increase in mortgage banking income [13] - Adjusted net interest margin increased by 8 basis points to 3.42%, while total cost of deposits decreased by 13 basis points to 2.22% [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio grew by $171 million, representing a 5.4% annualized growth rate, with total footings increasing by $237 million linked quarter [18] - Non-interest expense for the first quarter was $113.9 million, with a slight increase of $415,000 linked quarter when excluding merger and conversion expenses [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong loan growth across various business lines, with significant contributions from small business banking and commercial credits [48] - The mortgage banking division experienced seasonality-driven increases, reflecting a robust pipeline despite rate volatility [90] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on successfully integrating the merger with First Bancshares to achieve higher profitability and solid organic growth [7][25] - Management emphasized the importance of disciplined pricing and expense management to navigate economic uncertainties while pursuing growth opportunities [14][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the company's performance despite economic uncertainties, highlighting the potential for continued growth [8] - The company is actively monitoring its loan book for exposure to economic risks and is prepared to adjust underwriting standards as necessary [85] Other Important Information - All regulatory capital ratios are above required minimums, with book value per share and tangible book value per share increasing by 1.6% and 2.7%, respectively [19] - The company has a strong capital position, providing flexibility for future capital deployment, including potential share repurchases [60][100] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on wealth management performance - Management noted consistency in wealth management, with over $6 billion in assets under management and continued growth potential [31] Question: Loan book assessment post-merger - Management indicated that the loan books of both companies are similar, with no immediate changes anticipated [34] Question: Updates on cost savings and integration timing - Management confirmed no changes in timing for cost savings, with conversion slated for early August [36] Question: Loan pipeline update - The loan pipeline increased to $189 million, with production rising to $645 million compared to the previous quarter [45] Question: Capital and loan mark implications - Management expects CET1 to be slightly above 11% at closing, with higher capital flexibility than initially forecasted [95] Question: Deposit and loan pricing competition - Management acknowledged ongoing competitive pressures but noted better-than-expected funding pricing [102]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, the company reported net income of $11.3 million or 67 cents per diluted share, reflecting strong performance [10] - Tangible book value increased to $23.61 per share, representing over 9% annualized growth quarter over quarter [11] - Total revenue reached $46.8 million, with net interest income expanding as anticipated [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan growth was at a 9% annualized pace for Q1, meeting expectations, while deposit growth was 10% quarter over quarter annualized [13] - Non-interest income for the quarter totaled $8.6 million, exceeding guidance due to strong insurance and mortgage banking revenues [28] - Operating expenses remained flat at just over $32 million, indicating effective cost management [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan to deposit ratio held steady at 83%, providing flexibility for future growth [20] - The weighted average cost of non-broker deposits was 3.39%, with total interest-bearing costs decreasing by 10 basis points to 0.92% [22] - Net interest margin was 3.21%, slightly down from the previous quarter but in line with guidance [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth, with plans to leverage its strong market position and experienced team [33][39] - Talent acquisition remains a priority, with recent hires aimed at enhancing private banking and treasury management [36] - The company is optimistic about maintaining growth in EPS and achieving near-term revenue targets [35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength of their markets and customer sentiment, despite economic uncertainties [45][46] - The company anticipates continued loan growth and margin expansion, driven by new loan production and favorable market conditions [26][39] - Management remains cautious about potential impacts from tariffs but reports positive feedback from clients regarding order volumes [49][50] Other Important Information - The effective corporate tax rate for the quarter was approximately 17%, with expectations to stabilize between 18% to 19% going forward [30] - The company's consolidated TCE ratio increased to 6%, and total risk-based capital ratio remained well above regulatory standards at 11.2% [31] - The company welcomed a new board member, Kelly Showmaker, enhancing its governance and regional perspective [40] Q&A Session Summary Question: Customer sentiment and loan growth outlook - Management noted strong customer sentiment and confidence in maintaining loan growth despite market volatility [45][46] Question: Balance sheet leverage and deposit ratios - Management indicated room for prudent growth in the balance sheet while maintaining a strong loan to deposit ratio [53][58] Question: Share repurchases and capital actions - The company has $1.5 million left for share repurchases and is considering actions based on stock valuation [60][63] Question: Margin expectations and Fed rate cuts - Management expects two to three basis points of margin expansion quarterly, benefiting slightly from Fed rate cuts [68][70] Question: Fee income trends and investment services - Management anticipates low to mid $8 million range for non-interest income in Q2, with strong performance in insurance and mortgage banking [28][113] Question: Equipment financing and leasing business line - Management expressed satisfaction with the growth and performance of the equipment financing segment, indicating plans for further development [146][148]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net income of $131 million, with a return on assets of 19.1% and a return on equity of 18.8%, which compares favorably with peers and industry averages [6][7] - The net income was impacted by a non-recurring rental expense adjustment of $810,000, which equated to approximately $0.42 on an after-tax basis [7] - Loan growth for the year was 7%, while deposit growth was 3.6%, both moderate compared to previous years but in line with industry averages [7][8] - Non-performing loans decreased from $20 million to $10 million, representing a 50% improvement [9] - The leverage capital ratio improved from 10.85% at the beginning of the year to 11.33% at year-end [11] - Tangible book value per common share increased from $50.54 to $57.86 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a reduction in criticized loans by 33% during the year [9] - The company repurchased 460,000 shares of common stock for a total consideration of $34 million [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the banking industry is experiencing slow growth, with no significant increases in activity anticipated in the near term [7][8] - The company is facing competition from local banks offering special rates, particularly in the Asian community [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to remain flexible in its pricing strategy to compete effectively in the market [22] - The management indicated that buybacks will depend on loan growth prospects, stock pricing, and capital ratios [23] - The company is establishing a new branch in Manhattan, expected to open in March 2025, which will increase occupancy and personnel expenses [47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed a cautious outlook for the banking industry, expecting moderate growth [7][45] - The management highlighted that while there is still activity, payoff activity has been higher, indicating a lack of sustainable increases in loan activity [46] - The management noted that clients are currently hesitant to invest due to perceived risks, despite having capital available [62] Other Important Information - The company plans to make a significant donation to local wildfire relief efforts, which will increase donation expenses [30] - The company is actively purchasing treasuries to take advantage of favorable rates, with $60 million in ten-year treasury purchases made recently [50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about margin stability - Management indicated that they do not foresee major effects on margins and expect them to remain relatively stable [16][17] Question: Capital repatriation and buyback plans - Management stated that buyback decisions will depend on loan growth prospects and stock pricing, with a possibility of continued buybacks if stock remains undervalued [23] Question: Spot rate on deposits - The spot rate on deposits was reported at 3.63% for December [28] Question: Expense run rate expectations - Management projected non-interest expenses at about $23 million for the upcoming year, including increased charitable contributions and elevated payroll taxes [30][31] Question: Loan growth and competitive landscape - Management noted elevated payoff activity and a lack of sustainable increases in loan activity, indicating a cautious outlook for future growth [42][45] Question: Health of borrowers and credit trends - Management reported that borrowers are generally healthy, with strong sponsors willing to support loans during challenging times [66][70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings of $1.28 per diluted share for Q4 2024, compared to $1.32 in the previous quarter and $1.16 in Q4 2023 [4] - Adjusted return on assets was 1.31% and pre-provision return on assets was 1.80% [4] - Net interest income expanded while net interest margin remained flat above 4% [5][6] - The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 9.05% at quarter-end, with an adjusted return on tangible common equity of 14.05% for Q4 [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall loan growth was around 3% for the year, with Q4 growth of $140 million or 5% annualized [18] - Life insurance premium finance grew by $158 million or 16.5% for the year, showing consistent growth [19] - The SBA segment posted a strong quarter with a growth of $25 million or 7.9% annualized [20] - The agricultural portfolio declined by $27 million as it continues to wind down [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client deposits increased by $677 million in Q4, marking the fifth quarter of growth in six [9] - The cost of deposits declined to 2%, with DDA to total deposits increasing to over 34% [10] - The Midwest region saw modest growth, while the Southwestern markets experienced strong growth of $104 million in Q4 [21][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on diversification, aiming for revenue growth from various markets and business lines [6] - The strategy emphasizes a client-centric approach, providing holistic solutions to clients [7] - The company plans to continue leveraging market disruptions and talent acquisitions to enhance growth and profitability [15][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a shift in client sentiment post-presidential election, with expectations for slight increases in loan demand [7][16] - The company anticipates sound growth in C and I sectors in 2025, supported by client investments in infrastructure and reshoring [16] - Management expressed confidence in maintaining a mid to high single-digit growth rate for the balance sheet in 2025 [10][18] Other Important Information - The company increased its dividend by $0.01 per share for Q1 2025 to $0.29 per share [12] - The allowance for credit losses was 1.34% of unguaranteed total loans, reflecting strong credit quality [12][40] - Non-performing assets increased slightly but remained at modest levels [12][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin outlook and impact of rate cuts - Management indicated that the margin could hold above 4% even with potential rate cuts, depending on the shape of the yield curve and deposit cost management [49][52] Question: Non-interest bearing deposits sustainability - Management noted that the increase in non-interest bearing deposits is typically seasonal but expressed confidence in maintaining a strong deposit mix [57] Question: Credit quality concerns - Management reassured that credit quality remains strong, with net charge-offs at 16 basis points and non-performing assets at 30 basis points [58][59] Question: Loan growth outlook - Management believes mid-single-digit loan growth is achievable, supported by ongoing market opportunities and a selective approach to lending [64] Question: Capital management and M&A interest - Management confirmed a focus on organic growth rather than M&A, while remaining open to opportunities that align with strategic goals [76]