SchoolsInside Track For Argo Board Member?She left the board and took a school job. A watchdog weighs in. Last August, Lauren Vasquez left her post as an Argo Community High School board member and took a job as the athletic department's secretary a few days later. (Shutterstock)SUMMIT, IL – Lauren Vasquez was on the Argo Community High School board last August when she got a job opportunity. It was at the school.Through a public records request, Patch obtained documents about Vasquez's situation. On Aug. ...

Core Insights - Regions Financial Corporation (RF) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 60 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents and up from 53 cents in the same quarter last year [1][9] - The stock price of RF increased by 5.1% in early market trading following the earnings announcement [1] Financial Performance - Total quarterly revenues reached $1.9 billion, which was 2.9% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate but represented a 10.1% increase year over year [3] - Net interest income (NII) was $1.25 billion, reflecting a 6.2% year-over-year increase, while the net interest margin improved by 14 basis points to 3.65% [3] - Non-interest income surged by 18.5% year over year to $646 million [3] - Non-interest expenses rose by 6.9% year over year to $1.07 billion, with adjusted non-interest expenses also increasing by 4% [4] Loan and Deposit Trends - Total loans slightly decreased to $96.1 billion as of June 30, 2025, while total deposits increased by 1.4% to $129.4 billion [5] Credit Quality - Non-performing assets as a percentage of loans decreased to 0.84% from 0.88% year over year, and non-performing loans as a percentage of net loans fell to 0.80% from 0.87% [6] - A provision for credit losses of $126 million was recorded, marking a 23.5% increase from the previous year [6] Capital Position - As of June 30, 2025, the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.7% and the Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.8%, both showing improvement from the previous year [8] - The company repurchased 7 million shares for $144 million during the quarter [10] Outlook - The company's core business and revenue diversification strategies are expected to drive strong earnings in the future, although declining loans and rising expenses present challenges [11]

Core Insights - Bank7 Corp. reported strong second-quarter 2025 results, highlighting significant loan and deposit growth, a net interest margin (NIM) at the high end of its historical range, and a low efficiency ratio, indicating one of its best quarters ever [1][2] Operational Efficiency and Loan Growth - The core efficiency ratio remained between 36% and 38%, with robust quarterly loan growth, particularly in commercial and energy sectors, driven by the bank's focus on Oklahoma and Texas [2][3] - Management's ability to maintain a low efficiency ratio alongside strong loan growth reflects effective cost control and profitability, positioning the bank favorably against regional peers [3] Loan Book Diversification - Energy production loans increased by $3.035 million, but energy portfolio exposure is now about half of what it was seven to eight years ago, with growth in commercial and hospitality segments, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area [4][5] - The strategic shift in the loan portfolio enhances credit resilience and positions the balance sheet for growth in more diversified sectors [5] Margin Management and Rate Environment - Loan yields averaged 7.6% in Q2 2025, with management expecting some NIM pressure in Q3 2025 but projecting it to remain within historical ranges due to asset sensitivity and interest rate management strategies [6][7] - The bank's rate positioning provides downside protection for profitability, allowing it to better withstand margin compression compared to less asset-sensitive peers [7] Future Outlook - Guidance for Q3 2025 includes projected total expenses of $10 million, with $1 million related to oil and gas, and an expectation of $2 million in fee income [8] - Management anticipates a full recovery of oil and gas cash outlays by mid-2026, with a strong origination pipeline and cautious optimism for continued performance [9]

Bring in show music, please. Today on SquawkPod, late night votes in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson.What I wanted everybody to know about the one big beautiful bill is it it it wasn't a magic trick. This was I think it was Vince Lombardi that said victory loves preparation. And his comments on the Epstein files, freeze the rent.An affordability focus boosted New York mayoral candidate Zoron Mandani, but the soaring cost of living hits beyond the big apple. Former New York housing commissioner and former HU ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Western Alliance Bancorporation reported strong financial results in Q2 2025, with net interest income of nearly $700 million, growing 7.2% quarter over quarter and approximately 29% annualized [11][15] - The bank generated over $1 billion in sequential loan growth for the second consecutive quarter, funded by nearly $2 billion in quarterly deposit growth [11] - Net interest margin increased by six basis points sequentially to above 3.5%, driven by robust average earning asset growth and lower interest-bearing deposit costs [11][18] - Return on average tangible common equity reached 14.9%, and return on average assets was 1.1%, both significantly higher than Q1 [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - HFI loans grew by $1.2 billion quarterly, with C&I loans contributing over two-thirds of the growth, particularly from regional banking and innovation sectors [20] - Non-interest income rose 16.4% quarter over quarter to $148 million, with mortgage loan production volume increasing by 25% year over year [15] - The bank's mortgage banking revenue was approximately $78 million, with core mortgage banking revenue tracking flat year over year [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by $1.8 billion in Q2, with significant growth in non-interest bearing and savings products, while wholesale brokered deposits declined by $300 million [21] - Regional banking deposits rose nearly $800 million, reflecting strong relationship momentum with commercial clients [22] - The digital asset banking program contributed $400 million in quarterly growth, indicating a positive trend in this market segment [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to unify six legacy division bank brands under the Western Bank brand by year-end, enhancing its marketing presence [13] - Management remains focused on achieving organic growth up to the $100 billion large financial institution level over the next 18 months [37] - The bank is optimistic about future deposit growth driven by regulatory changes and new deposit strategies under the new CFO [84] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of asset quality, expecting criticized assets to decline in the coming quarters [12][32] - The bank anticipates net interest income growth of 8% to 10% for the year, supported by strong loan growth and delayed rate cuts [30] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong capital base, with a CET1 ratio expected to remain above 11% [29] Other Important Information - The bank's total assets increased to $86.7 billion, reflecting strong loan and deposit growth [19] - The transition of CFO responsibilities to Vishal is set for early Q4, with a thorough transition period planned [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: CFO Transition and Focus Areas - Dale Gibbons expressed excitement about the transition, emphasizing the opportunity to focus on deposit services and growth initiatives [35] - Kenneth Vecchione confirmed that the transition does not signal a change in the bank's strategic direction [37] Question: Deposit Growth Outlook - Dale Gibbons provided insights on the expected cadence of deposit flows, indicating confidence in reaching the $8 billion target despite seasonal trends [38] Question: Fee Income Growth - Management anticipates an increase in fee income driven by commercial banking activities, while mortgage-related revenue is expected to remain flat [45][46] Question: Expense Guidance - Kenneth Vecchione explained that the increase in expenses is primarily due to deposit-related costs, with a focus on maintaining efficiency [47] Question: Margin and Deposit Rates - Management indicated that net interest margin is expected to continue improving, with a focus on managing deposit costs effectively [52][54] Question: Allowance for Credit Losses - Management reassured that the allowance for credit losses is adequate, with a focus on conservative valuations of assets [70][73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Western Alliance Bancorporation reported over $1 billion in sequential loan growth for the second consecutive quarter, funded by nearly $2 billion in quarterly deposit growth [7][12] - Net interest margin increased by six basis points sequentially, rising above 3.5% due to robust average earning asset growth and lower interest-bearing deposit costs [7][10] - Net interest income grew to almost $700 million, reflecting a 7.2% quarter-over-quarter increase and nearly 29% annualized growth [12][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - HFI loans increased by $1.2 billion quarterly, with C&I loans contributing over two-thirds of the growth from both regional and national businesses [18][19] - Non-interest income rose 16.4% quarter-over-quarter to $148 million, driven by a 25% increase in mortgage loan production volume [12][19] - Mortgage banking revenue was approximately $78 million, with core mortgage banking revenue tracking flat year-over-year [12][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits grew by $1.8 billion in Q2, including a $300 million decline in wholesale brokered deposits, with solid growth in non-interest-bearing and savings products [19][20] - Regional banking deposits increased nearly $800 million, demonstrating continued relationship momentum within commercial clients [20] - Digital asset banking program generated $400 million in quarterly growth, indicating strong demand in the blockchain payments sector [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to unify six legacy division bank brands under the Western Bank brand by year-end to present a unified marketing presence [10] - The focus remains on achieving organic growth up to and through the $100 billion large financial institution level over the next eighteen months [36] - The company is optimistic about the potential for increased deposit growth due to regulatory changes and new deposit strategies under the new CFO [84][86] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of asset quality, expecting criticized assets to decline over the next several quarters [30][21] - The updated guidance for 2025 includes loan and deposit growth outlooks of $5 billion and $8 billion respectively, with net interest income growth revised higher to 8% to 10% [27][28] - Management anticipates that the mortgage business will remain flat year-over-year but expects commercial banking activities to drive the bulk of earnings growth [44][45] Other Important Information - The company announced a planned CFO succession, with Dale transitioning to a new role overseeing deposit initiatives and innovation [4][5] - The total equity grew to $7.4 billion, and tangible book value per share increased to $55.87, reflecting a 15% year-over-year growth [25][26] - The company remains asset sensitive on a net interest income basis but is essentially interest rate neutral on an earnings-at-risk basis [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the CFO transition and its timing - Management expressed excitement about the organizational change, emphasizing that it will enhance the team's versatility and capitalize on new opportunities [34][36] Question: Clarification on deposit growth targets - Management indicated that they are on track to meet the $8 billion deposit growth target, with expectations for a more muted seasonal dip in Q4 [37][39] Question: Fee income growth expectations - Management anticipates a rise in fee income driven by seasonal activities in mortgage and growth in commercial banking activities [44][45] Question: Outlook on expenses and investments - Management clarified that the increase in expenses is primarily due to seasonal deposit costs, with planned investments to support growth initiatives [46][49] Question: Credit quality and non-performing assets - Management expressed confidence in asset quality, stating that they believe they are at a peak and expect stabilization in the market [94][96] Question: Loan growth expectations for the second half of the year - Management confirmed that they are maintaining the $5 billion loan growth guidance, with strong pipelines and expectations for loan yields to decrease slightly due to anticipated rate cuts [99][100]

Key Takeaways HBAN posted Q2 adjusted EPS of 38 cents, up from 30 cents a year ago and in line with consensus estimate. Net interest income rose 12% Y/Y to $1.48B, driven by higher earning assets and stronger net interest margin. Non-interest income fell 4% Y/Y, while expenses rose 7% due to higher staffing, and marketing costs.Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 38 cents, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. In the prior-year ...

Core Viewpoint - Comerica Incorporated (CMA) reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.42, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.23, but down from $1.53 in the prior-year quarter [1][8] Financial Performance - Net income attributable to common shareholders was $187 million, a decline of 6.5% from the year-ago quarter [2] - Total quarterly revenues reached $849 million, up 3% year over year, surpassing the consensus estimate by 0.5% [3] - Net interest income (NII) increased by 7.9% year over year to $575 million, with the net interest margin rising 30 basis points to 3.16% [3] - Total non-interest income decreased by 5.8% year over year to $274 million [3] - Non-interest expenses totaled $561 million, up 1.1% year over year, primarily due to increased salaries and benefits and occupancy expenses [4] - The efficiency ratio improved to 65.78% from 67.77% in the prior-year quarter, indicating increased profitability [4] Loan and Deposit Trends - Total loans rose by 2.5% sequentially to $51.2 billion as of June 30, 2025 [5] - Total deposits declined by 2.4% from the previous quarter to $60 billion [5] Credit Quality - The company recorded a provision for credit loss of $44 million in the second quarter, compared to no provision in the year-ago quarter [6] - The allowance for credit losses increased by 2.5% year over year to $735 million [6] - Total non-performing assets rose by 10.2% year over year to $249 million [6] - The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 1.44%, up from 1.38% a year ago [7] - Net charge-offs increased significantly to $28 million from $11 million in the prior-year quarter [7] Capital Position - The total capital ratio was 13.74%, down from 14.02% in the year-ago quarter [9] - The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio improved to 11.94% from 11.55% in the prior-year quarter [9] - The tangible common equity ratio was 8.04%, up from 6.49% in the prior-year quarter [9] Capital Distribution Activities - The company repurchased $100 million of common stock under the share repurchase program [10] Overall Assessment - The company's capital position is viewed positively, supporting future capital distribution activities and enhancing investor confidence [11] - Focus on improving operational efficiency is expected to bolster financials, although weak asset quality and rising expenses are noted as near-term concerns [11]

I'm as anxious to see how that plays out as you are. I will tell you that the sentiment here, certainly my opinion, is that we should reduce interest rates. The American economy is hot and we have so many good things going on.We're delivering over and over the Republican majority here for the American people. Not just the one big beautiful bill, not just with the recisions package that we passed last night clawing back $9 billion of of wasted taxpayer funds. If it's too hot, you don't want to cut on the tab ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a GAAP net income of $51.1 million for Q2 2025, with diluted EPS of $1.20, resulting in a 1.04% return on assets and a 6.68% return on average common equity [21] - Adjusted operating net income for the quarter was $53.5 million or $1.25 diluted EPS, representing a 1.09% return on assets [21] - Tangible book value per share increased by $0.99 during the quarter, reflecting solid earnings retention [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - C&I loans increased by 3.4% in the second quarter, while CRE and construction loan balances decreased by 1.7% [8][10] - Total loans increased modestly, with C&I balances driving growth, while transactional CRE balances experienced attrition [24] - Wealth Management business grew AUA by 4% to $7.4 billion, driven mostly by market appreciation [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-performing loans decreased significantly from $89.5 million to $56.2 million, representing 39 basis points of total loans [24] - The cost of deposits was reported at 1.54%, highlighting the value of the deposit franchise [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reduce its CRE concentration below 300%, with a current concentration of 274% expected to rise to 310-315% post-acquisition of Enterprise Bank [10] - The strategic focus includes growing C&I loans to reduce dependence on CRE and drive deposit and fee income growth [10][20] - The company is preparing for a core conversion scheduled for May 2026, which is expected to enhance technology infrastructure and support future growth [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while economic uncertainty has improved, the impact of tariffs and federal government actions remains unclear, causing customers to pause significant expansion initiatives [7] - The management expressed confidence in the ability to unlock earnings power through prudent expense and capital management, alongside the benefits from the Enterprise acquisition [20] Other Important Information - The company announced a $150 million stock buyback plan to be opportunistic in buying back stock [5] - The acquisition of Enterprise Bank is expected to enhance shareholder value and provide cross-sell opportunities [15][19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Where were new loan originations during the quarter? - Management indicated good loan originations across most segments, with a competitive landscape remaining challenging [37][38] Question: Why has small business lending been successful? - The success is attributed to experienced bankers and a centralized underwriting unit that enables quick loan request turnaround [40] Question: What is the outlook for the net interest margin? - Management expects the margin to gradually rise, particularly if the Fed cuts rates, with a focus on asset repricing [49] Question: Is the worst behind for credit? - Management is cautious, acknowledging progress but not ready to declare that the worst is over [50][51] Question: Can you provide details on a large loan modification? - A large syndicated loan was restructured into a Note A and Note B structure, with no cash payments until mid-2026 [55][56] Question: What is the expected pro forma CET1 ratio? - The pro forma CET1 ratio is expected to be in the mid-12% range, around 12.5% [92]