Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net loss of $2.7 million or 13¢ per diluted share for Q1 2025, similar to the prior quarter, but showed a meaningful improvement in net interest income [9][10] - Net interest income increased by $1.3 million or 13.4%, driven by a 27 basis point expansion in net interest margin [9][10] - Tangible book value per share increased to $14.81, up 7¢ from the prior quarter [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan production totaled $90 million during the quarter with a weighted average yield of approximately 7.1% [5] - The company achieved 3% loan growth, with $44 million in deposit growth and a 14 basis point reduction in the cost of deposits [4] - The loan portfolio included $33 million in commercial real estate loans, $9 million in residential mortgages, and $7 million in construction loans [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by $43.9 million or 3.2%, with core deposit count growing by $24.4 million or 3.8% [13][14] - The company maintained a strong liquidity position with $413 million in untapped borrowing capacity and $28 million in liquidity from unencumbered available-for-sale securities and unrestricted cash [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The strategic priorities for 2025 focus on driving loan growth, maintaining strong credit quality, and diversifying low-cost funding sources [3] - The company is emphasizing higher-yielding asset classes and portfolio diversification to enhance earnings and long-term franchise value [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the momentum of lending and deposit gathering activities, despite reporting a net loss [4] - The company expects additional margin expansion of 5 to 10 basis points in the second quarter [18] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining expense discipline while anticipating operating expenses to remain in the high $13 million to low $14 million range [11] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 464,000 shares at a weighted average price of $9.52, enhancing shareholder value [6] - Nonperforming assets increased slightly but remain low at 27 basis points of total assets [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin for the quarter - Management expects margin expansion of 5 to 10 basis points in the second quarter [18] Question: Loan maturities and resets - Approximately $220 million in loans will mature or reprice within 2025, with yields just shy of 7% [19] Question: Deposit rates and margin expansion - The company has room to lower rates on core deposits as they transition from CDs [21] Question: Unsecured consumer loans - The yield on unsecured consumer loans is around 7%, and they come with credit reserves [24] Question: Future loan purchases - The company will consider additional loan purchases to augment organic growth but does not have a set cap on this strategy [26] Question: Expense outlook - Additional bankers may be hired to support organic loan growth, impacting expenses [41] Question: Share buyback program - The company plans to continue executing the share buyback program while being mindful of capital deployment [53]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong first quarter with net operating income available to common shareholders of $168.9 million, or $2.58 per share, excluding merger-related and non-recurring charges [9][21] - Average loans increased by 27.8% to $32.3 billion, while average deposits rose by 32.3% to $50.3 billion on a linked quarter basis [9][10] - The operating efficiency ratio improved to 55.6%, and the operating return on assets (ROA) reached 1.14% [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee income for the quarter was reported at $166.2 million, impacted by $5.2 million in mark-to-market losses on certain equity investments [21] - Credit and debit card purchase volume increased by 18.6% year-over-year, surpassing $5.4 billion for the first time [13] - Assets under administration in institutional businesses grew by 16% year-over-year, reaching $559 billion, with corporate trust assets increasing by 25% [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted an 8.3% linked quarter annualized increase in loan balances on a legacy UMB basis, outperforming peer banks that reported a median increase of 3.3% [10] - Nonperforming loans related to legacy UMB were just eight basis points, consistent with prior quarters, while the median NPL ratio for peer banks was reported at 8.45% [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Heartland added over $14 billion in deposits and more than doubled the branch presence across 13 states, with a focus on achieving cost synergies and cultural integration [6][7] - The company aims to leverage the lower-cost, granular core deposits from the acquisition to enhance its net interest margin [7][8] - The management expressed confidence in the growth opportunities presented by the acquisition, particularly in new markets and with new clients [68][70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management is closely monitoring the impact of tariffs and general economic conditions, noting that most clients are currently able to pass on costs [16][17] - The company expects to maintain strong loan growth driven by market share gains rather than economic activity, with a robust production pipeline for the upcoming quarters [39][70] - Management emphasized their role as risk managers and their preparedness to navigate periods of uncertainty [17] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 12.6%, including a benefit from the remeasurement of deferred tax assets [23] - The company expects second quarter margins to range between 2.75% and 2.8%, influenced by various factors including excess liquidity and Fed rate movements [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you help us with the near-term NII trajectory? - Management highlighted that the first quarter EPS included a one-time tax benefit and noted adjustments for share count and mark-to-market impacts, indicating a positive outlook for future quarters [33][34][36] Question: What are the assumptions for core NIM in the second quarter? - Management expects core NIM to remain stable, influenced by additional month contributions from Heartland and potential rate cuts [50][52] Question: Any common thread among HTLF net charge-offs? - Charge-offs were identified through diligence and were part of normal business operations, with expectations for overall performance to align with historical trends [54][56] Question: How will Heartland contribute to loan growth? - The acquisition is expected to enhance growth through a larger deposit base and improved operational efficiency, with a strong pipeline of high-quality deals already emerging [68][70] Question: What is the outlook for deposit growth and DDA? - Management indicated that deposit growth is driven by client acquisition and higher average balances, with expectations for stability in the second quarter [86][90] Question: What is the plan for excess cash and balance sheet management? - The company plans to deploy excess cash into investments over the next three to six months, evaluating opportunities in treasuries and other securities [43][44] Question: How is the company addressing credit quality post-acquisition? - Management is aligning the acquired portfolio with UMB standards, ensuring that underwriting practices maintain high-quality credit performance [108][112]

Core Viewpoint - Red River Bancshares, Inc. reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with significant increases in net income, net interest income, and net interest margin, alongside a notable rise in cash dividends to shareholders [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - Net income for Q1 2025 was $10.4 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, marking an 11.2% increase from Q4 2024 and a 26.4% increase from Q1 2024 [2][3]. - The quarterly return on assets was 1.32%, and the return on equity was 12.85% [2]. - Net interest income rose to $24.6 million, a 3.9% increase from the previous quarter, driven by higher securities yields and lower deposit rates [3][9]. - The net interest margin increased by 13 basis points to 3.22% compared to the prior quarter [10]. Balance Sheet Overview - Total assets as of March 31, 2025, were $3.19 billion, reflecting a 1.2% increase from December 31, 2024, primarily due to a $20.6 million rise in deposits [3][23]. - Loans held for investment increased by $39.7 million, or 1.9%, to $2.11 billion [27]. - Total deposits reached $2.83 billion, up by $20.6 million, or 0.7%, compared to the previous quarter [33]. Dividend and Stock Repurchase - The quarterly cash dividend was increased by 33.3% to $0.12 per share for Q1 2025, up from $0.09 per share in 2024 [3][4]. - The company has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $5.0 million for 2025 [3]. Credit Quality and Provisions - The provision for credit losses was $450,000 for Q1 2025, an increase from $300,000 in the prior quarter, attributed to loan growth and economic uncertainties [13][32]. - Nonperforming assets totaled $5.2 million, or 0.16% of total assets, reflecting an increase from the previous quarter [31][45]. Noninterest Income and Operating Expenses - Noninterest income for Q1 2025 was $5.3 million, a 5.5% increase from the previous quarter, driven by higher brokerage income [14][15]. - Operating expenses decreased by 1.5% to $16.6 million, primarily due to lower data processing and loan expenses [18][19]. Market Position and Future Outlook - Red River Bank was ranked 14th among the top 50 best deposit franchises for banks with assets between $3.0 billion and $10.0 billion [3]. - The company remains focused on improving net interest margins and managing deposit costs while redeploying assets into higher-yielding investments [5][11].

Core Points - Blue Foundry Bancorp reported a net loss of $2.7 million for Q1 2025, consistent with the previous quarter and slightly improved from a loss of $2.8 million in Q1 2024 [1][6][35] - The company experienced a 27 basis points increase in net interest margin, reaching 2.16%, driven by improved yields on assets and reduced costs of liabilities [2][12] - Total loans increased by $42.2 million to $1.63 billion, with significant growth in commercial real estate and consumer loan portfolios [4][22] - Deposits rose by $43.9 million to $1.39 billion, with a notable increase in NOW and demand accounts [6][7][22] Financial Performance - Interest income for Q1 2025 was $22.7 million, a 4.3% increase from the previous quarter, while interest expense decreased by 2.8% to $12.0 million [6][12] - The provision for credit losses was $201 thousand, reflecting an increase in the commercial real estate portfolio [6][29] - Non-performing loans totaled $5.7 million, representing 0.35% of total loans, an increase from 0.33% in the previous quarter [29][36] Loan and Deposit Details - The consumer loan portfolio increased by $34.3 million, while the commercial real estate portfolio grew by $28.5 million [4][22] - Core deposits accounted for 47.6% of total deposits, slightly up from 47.3% at the end of 2024 [22] - Brokered deposits increased to $205 million, supplementing the reduction in retail time deposits [22] Capital and Asset Quality - Tangible book value per share increased to $14.81, while shareholders' equity decreased to $326.7 million due to share repurchases and year-to-date losses [2][22] - The allowance for credit losses on loans was 0.81%, with a coverage ratio of 229.81% for non-performing loans [29][36] - The company's capital ratios remain above the FDIC's "well capitalized" standards [23]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company originated $27.9 million in loans held for investment, a 23% decrease from $36.4 million in the prior sequential quarter [5] - Loan principal payments and payoffs were $23 million, down 33% from $34.3 million in the previous quarter [5] - Non-performing assets decreased to $1.4 million from $2.5 million, indicating improved asset quality [6] - The allowance for credit losses to gross loans held for investment decreased from 66 basis points to 62 basis points [9] - Net interest margin increased by 11 basis points to 3.02% compared to 2.91% in the previous quarter [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loans held for investment increased by approximately $5.4 million compared to the previous quarter, driven by an increase in single-family loans [6] - There were declines in multifamily, commercial real estate, construction, and commercial business loans [6] - The company has seen more consumer demand for single-family adjustable-rate mortgage products due to higher fixed-rate mortgage interest rates [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Economic uncertainty has increased due to current fiscal policy, impacting real estate investor activity [6] - The company noted a shift in consumer demand towards adjustable-rate mortgage products as fixed rates rise [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for disciplined growth of the loan portfolio, recognizing the shift to looser monetary policy [13] - The strategy includes maintaining cash dividends and utilizing stock buyback programs as a capital management tool [14] - The company is focused on improving operating efficiencies to lower operating expenses [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the potential for net interest margin expansion in the upcoming quarter, albeit at a slower pace than the current quarter [11] - The company is monitoring commercial real estate loans, particularly those secured by office buildings, and remains confident in their performance [7] - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty but indicated a commitment to growth [6][13] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 52,000 shares of common stock in the March quarter [14] - For the fiscal year to date, the company has distributed approximately $2.8 million in cash dividends and repurchased approximately $3.1 million worth of common stock [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about CD growth in the quarter - Management indicated that the growth was due to a remix of the liability profile and the opening of a government deposit desk, allowing for liquidity to pay down Federal Home Loan Bank advances [17] Question: Were new CDs at a better rate than wholesale market? - Management noted that the rates were similar to wholesale, and the strategy was adjusted due to lower short-term rates [18] Question: Thoughts on prepayment activity over the next twelve months? - Management stated that prepayment activity is difficult to predict, with lower prepayments observed in the March quarter due to mortgage rate volatility [28] Question: Capital allocation and potential buyback adjustments? - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining capital during uncertainty but indicated that if stock prices decline, they would consider repurchasing more shares [32][34] Question: Changes in loan competition behavior? - Management noted no significant changes in competition but acknowledged aggressive pricing in the multifamily loan market [35][36]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net income of $23.6 million, representing earnings per share of $0.83 and a return on assets (ROA) of 1.2% [5] - Net interest margin remained strong at 4.07%, marking ten consecutive quarters above 4% [14] - Total new loan fundings totaled $399 million in Q1, up 48% from the previous quarter and up 37% year-over-year [11] - Deposits increased by approximately $200 million or 12% annualized [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan growth was primarily driven by the commercial and industrial (C&I) portfolio, which saw a 7% annualized increase [10] - Service fee income represented 22.6% of total revenues, with a slight increase over the last quarter [5] - Consumer deposit service revenues decreased by 9% due to lower NSF activity [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted strong loan growth in high-growth markets, particularly in the C&I sector [10] - The credit quality remained stable, with nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans increasing to 1.21% [20] - The company experienced a decline in its commercial real estate portfolio, impacting overall loan growth [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to focus on relationship-based banking and is optimistic about growth opportunities in its markets [6][8] - There is a commitment to maintaining a strong capital position and sound credit risk management [9] - The company is open to opportunistic M&A but remains cautious about potential risks in the current market environment [22][66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the U.S. economy, particularly in their operational regions [8] - There is an acknowledgment of macroeconomic uncertainties impacting consumer investment and spending [15] - The company expects mid-single-digit growth for both loans and deposits for the full year [13] Other Important Information - The provision expense for the first quarter was $3.8 million, resulting in an allowance for credit loss ratio of 1.42% [19] - The company anticipates net charge-offs for the full year to be in the high teens to low 20s range in basis points [21] - The tangible book value per share improved to $34.88, with a CET1 ratio of 13.26% [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the drivers behind the lower expense guidance for 2025? - The lower expense guidance is linked to macroeconomic uncertainty and a slowdown in mortgage activity, impacting variable compensation [26][27] Question: How does the current environment impact thoughts around M&A? - The company remains opportunistic regarding M&A but is cautious about taking on risks that could jeopardize shareholder value [28][66] Question: Can you provide insights on loan growth and competition? - Loan growth remains strong, particularly in the C&I space, with competitive pricing and a robust pipeline for Q2 [36][39] Question: What is the outlook for deposit costs and growth in Southern California? - The company expects stable deposit costs but acknowledges competitive pressures; Southern California efforts have seen strong deposit growth [40][43] Question: Can you elaborate on the higher nonaccrual loan mentioned? - The nonaccrual loan was a $13 million credit with cross-border exposure in the manufacturing sector, contributing to the increase in nonperforming loans [70][71]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $156 million and net income of $43 million, an increase of $14 million or 48% compared to the same quarter last year, with earnings per diluted share rising to $0.34 from $0.23 [5][6] - The net interest margin improved by 45 basis points from the prior quarter to 3.87%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of margin improvement [11][12] - Non-interest income decreased by $11.7 million due to prior quarter transactions, but overall revenue grew by 19% compared to Q1 2024 [12][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average commercial loans increased by $121 million or 6.2% compared to the fourth quarter, reflecting a strategic shift towards commercial lending [13] - The consumer non-brokered average deposits increased by $68 million quarter over quarter, while brokered deposits decreased by $8 million [14] - The loan yields increased by 44 basis points to 6%, benefiting from an interest recovery [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average total deposits increased by $60 million quarter over quarter and grew by 1.7% or $200 million compared to Q1 2024 [14] - The cost of deposits decreased by 9 basis points quarter over quarter, with the current cost standing at 1.59% [14][15] - The overall coverage ratio is at 1.09%, reflecting prudent risk management amid market concerns [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus on sustainable, responsible, and profitable growth, with a strategic shift towards commercial lending and enhancing retail banking [6][7] - Integration activities for the merger with Pennswoods Bancorp are underway, expected to close by late July, which will position the company among the top 100 banks in the U.S. by asset size [8][9] - The company is also exploring de novo branch opportunities, particularly in Columbus and Indianapolis [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The current operating environment is characterized by significant market volatility and economic uncertainty, but the company remains focused on managing controllable factors [10][11] - The company expects to maintain its margin performance at or above the high end of its range, depending on future Fed rate cuts [22] - Loan growth will depend on the broader economic environment, which remains unpredictable [22] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share to shareholders of record as of May 8, 2025 [6] - Non-interest expense declined by 3.8% compared to the prior quarter, driven by disciplined expense management [12][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin guidance and future expectations - Management indicated a core margin of 3.48% and expects to be at the high end of the range, with potential impacts from future rate cuts [30] Question: Deposit growth drivers - The company is transitioning from CDs to more liquid products, with new money market rates around 3.75% [34][38] Question: Credit trends and tariff impacts - Management noted minimal current impact from tariffs, with exposure to manufacturing, transportation, and hospitality sectors being monitored [45] Question: Commercial loan build-out and market share - The company continues to take share in newer verticals and has seen stronger pipelines compared to the previous year [46][54] Question: Competitive landscape and yield trends - New commercial loan yields are at 7.26%, with roll-off yields at 6.76%, indicating competitive pressure [61] Question: Future M&A activity - Management remains open to future M&A opportunities but is currently focused on internal efficiencies and execution [81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company originated $27.9 million in loans held for investment, a 23% decrease from $36.4 million in the prior sequential quarter [6] - Loan principal payments and payoffs were $23 million, down 33% from $34.3 million in the previous quarter [6] - Non-performing assets decreased to $1.4 million from $2.5 million in the prior quarter [8] - The allowance for credit losses to gross loans held for investment decreased from 66 basis points to 62 basis points [10] - Net interest margin increased by 11 basis points to 3.02% compared to 2.91% in the previous quarter [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loans held for investment increased by approximately $5.4 million compared to the previous quarter, with an increase in single-family loans [7] - There were declines in multifamily, commercial real estate, construction, and commercial business loans [7] - The company has seen more consumer demand for single-family adjustable-rate mortgage products due to higher fixed-rate mortgage interest rates [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Economic uncertainty has increased due to current fiscal policy, impacting real estate investor activity [7] - The company noted that the current credit quality remains strong, with only $199,000 of early-stage delinquencies reported [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for disciplined growth of the loan portfolio, recognizing a shift to looser monetary policy [14] - The strategy includes maintaining cash dividends and utilizing stock buyback programs as a responsible capital management tool [16] - The company is focused on improving operating efficiencies to lower operating expenses [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the potential for net interest margin expansion in the upcoming quarter, albeit at a slower pace than the current quarter [12] - The company is monitoring the impact of mortgage rate volatility on prepayment activity, which has historically affected their loan portfolio [31] - Management indicated that they are prepared to adjust their lending strategy based on market conditions and competitive pricing [43] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 52,000 shares of common stock in the March quarter [16] - For the fiscal year to date, the company has distributed approximately $2.8 million in cash dividends and repurchased approximately $3.1 million worth of common stock [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about CD growth in the quarter - Management explained that they remixed the liability profile and opened their government deposit desk, accumulating government deposits which provided liquidity to pay down Federal Home Loan Bank advances [19] Question: Were the new CDs at a better rate than wholesale market? - Management noted that the rates were similar to wholesale, and the strategy change was due to a decrease in short-term rates [20] Question: Thoughts on prepayment activity over the next twelve months? - Management indicated that prepayment activity is difficult to predict, but lower mortgage rates tend to increase activity [31] Question: Capital allocation and potential buyback adjustments? - Management stated that while having more capital is preferable during uncertainty, they have already set their capital plans for the fiscal year [37] Question: Changes in loan competition behavior? - Management noted that they have not seen significant changes in competition, although some aggressive pricing in multifamily loans has been observed [39]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income of $21,500,000 for the first quarter of 2025, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $0.71, with an annualized return on average assets of 1.03% and an annualized return on average tangible common equity of 14.14% [5][14] - There was a linked quarter decrease in loans of $94,400,000 or 2%, primarily due to payoff activity in the commercial real estate (CRE) portfolio [5][14] - The net interest margin increased by three basis points to 2.86%, and net interest income rose by $145,000 or 0.3% compared to the linked quarter [6][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter commercial loan production totaled approximately $142,000,000, representing a 46% increase over the first quarter of 2024, with only $52,000,000 funded during the quarter [9][10] - The average rate of loans funded during the first quarter was approximately 7.3% [15] - Nonperforming assets remained low at 0.39% of total assets, with classified loans totaling $67,000,000 as of March 31, compared to $48,000,000 on December 31 [12][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the Texas economy is anticipated to grow at a faster pace than the overall projected U.S. growth rate [6] - The securities portfolio decreased by $76,900,000 or 2.7% from the previous quarter, driven primarily by maturities and principal payments [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company anticipates mid-single digit loan growth for the year despite the first quarter's loan reduction, with a loan pipeline exceeding $1,900,000,000, the largest in the last 24 to 36 months [5][10] - The company is expanding its commercial and industrial (C and I) initiatives, which now represent approximately 25% of the total pipeline [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the current market conditions and the potential for loan growth, despite recent uncertainties related to tariff announcements and negotiations [6] - The company expects to see a positive impact on margins due to anticipated repricing of the CD portfolio and new swaps implemented in the second quarter [33][34] Other Important Information - The company did not purchase any shares of common stock during the first quarter but has repurchased 196,419 shares at an average price of $26.82 per share after the quarter ended [19] - The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 18%, with an estimated annual effective tax rate of 18% for 2025 [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the loan pipeline and guidance for loan growth? - Management confirmed that the loan pipeline is the largest seen in a while, with expectations of 25% to 30% pull-through historically [28] Question: What is the outlook for the margin given the CD portfolio? - Management anticipates a positive impact on the margin as a portion of the CD portfolio matures and reprices lower [33] Question: Can you provide context on the recent expense reductions? - The decrease in expenses was not due to targeted reductions but rather a result of lower salaries and employee benefits, along with other factors [39] Question: What is the status of the restructured CRE credit? - The restructured loan is located in Austin, Texas, and while it was moved to nonperforming status, the borrower has not missed any payments and leasing activity is positive [41] Question: What is the outlook for swap fee income? - Management expects swap fee income to increase in the upcoming quarters, projecting it to be several times higher than the first quarter [51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net income of $23.6 million, representing earnings per share of $0.83 and a return on assets (ROA) of 1.2% [5] - The net interest margin was strong at 4.07%, maintaining above 4% for ten consecutive quarters [14] - Loans increased by 7% and deposits grew by 12% annualized at the end of the quarter [5][11] - The loan to deposit ratio improved to 94.3% from 95.6% at the end of the previous year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Service fee income represented 22.6% of total revenues, showing slight growth over the last quarter [5] - The C&I portfolio drove loan growth, while the commercial real estate portfolio experienced a decline [10] - Total new loan fundings totaled $399 million, up 48% from the previous quarter and 37% from the same quarter last year [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted strong growth in savings and money market accounts, with total annualized growth at 20% [12] - The credit quality remained stable, with nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans increasing to 1.21% [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on relationship-based banking and aims to deliver positive operating leverage in 2025 and beyond [5][19] - The management believes there is significant growth potential in their markets due to a small market share [10] - The company is considering opportunistic M&A activities, particularly in challenging market conditions [29][66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the U.S. economy, particularly in their operational regions [9] - They acknowledged macroeconomic uncertainties but did not see pervasive issues in their loan portfolio [6][20] - The company expects mid-single-digit growth for both loans and deposits for the full year [13] Other Important Information - The provision expense for the first quarter was $3.8 million, resulting in an allowance for credit loss ratio of 1.42% [20] - The company’s tangible book value per share improved to $34.88, with a CET1 ratio of 13.26% [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the lower expense guidance for 2025? - The lower expense guidance is linked to macroeconomic uncertainty and a slowdown in mortgage activity, impacting variable compensation [27][28] Question: How does the current environment affect M&A thoughts? - The company remains opportunistic regarding M&A, feeling confident in their capital levels and not wanting to risk shareholders with volatile assets [29][30] Question: Can you provide insights on loan growth and competition? - Loan growth remains strong, particularly in the C&I space, with competitive pricing and a robust pipeline [38][41] Question: What is the outlook for deposit costs and growth? - The company expects stable deposit costs but acknowledges competitive pressures; growth is driven by both corporate and consumer sides [42][45] Question: Can you clarify the impact of the MSR write-down on mortgage revenue? - The impact was primarily from the MSR net capitalization due to macro rate changes and CPR, with negligible effects from hedging [54] Question: What is the company's interest rate sensitivity? - The company is slightly asset sensitive but generally neutral regarding interest rate changes [68] Question: Can you provide more details on the nonaccrual loan mentioned? - The nonaccrual loan was a $13 million credit with cross-border exposure in the manufacturing sector, contributing to the increase in nonperforming loans [70][71]