Core Insights - Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (BLADEx) reported a strong performance in 2025, achieving record results for the fourth consecutive year, driven by double-digit portfolio growth and a shift towards fee-based income despite a declining interest-rate environment [4][7]. Financial Performance - The bank's net income for 2025 was $227 million, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, with a return on equity (ROE) of 15.4% and an adjusted ROE of 15.8% [3][7]. - In Q4, the bank generated $56 million in net income, described as one of the strongest quarters in its history, supported by interest and fee income [2][7]. Portfolio and Growth - The total credit portfolio grew by 12% to $12.6 billion, with approximately $800 million in loan growth (10%) and a 21% increase in contingent business [1][6]. - Management targets a commercial portfolio growth of 13-15% for 2026, with net interest margin (NIM) expected around 2.3% and ROE between 14% and 15% [5][17]. Income Sources - Net interest income rose by 5% year-over-year, reaching a record level, while non-interest income surged by 54%, now accounting for approximately 19-20% of total revenue [5][13]. - The bank's fee-generating activities, particularly in trade finance and structuring, contributed significantly to non-interest income, with fees from letters of credit and guarantees totaling $31.8 million in 2025 [13][18]. Asset Quality and Capital Management - Asset quality remained strong, with Stage 1 exposures at 98.2% of the credit portfolio and a total allowance for credit losses of $107 million, representing 276% of impaired credits [15][16]. - The bank's capital structure was strengthened through its first AT1 issuance in September 2025, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 17.4% and a regulatory capital adequacy ratio of 15.5% [16][17]. Funding and Deposits - Deposits increased by 22% year-over-year, representing 62% of total funding, supported by a $1.5 billion Yankee CD program [6][8]. - The bank's funding sources were diversified through transactions such as a Costa Rican colones issuance and a $150 million global syndicated loan [9].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Central Bancompany reported a net income of $107.6 million, or $0.47 per fully diluted share, with a return on average assets of 2.17% [3] - The net interest margin on an FTE basis was 4.41%, and the efficiency ratio on an FTE basis was 47% [3] - Asset quality remained stable with net charge-offs at 10 basis points and an allowance covering 131 basis points of total loans [3] - Capital levels at the holding company were well above target, with approximately $1.8 billion of excess capital, equating to $7.50 per share [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 1% quarter-over-quarter increase in ending loans and a 1.7% increase in non-public deposits [4] - The wealth management segment saw assets under advice grow to $16 billion, driven by strong investment performance and net new money [36] - Treasury management initiatives showed some seasonality, with a noted falloff in payments volume in the fourth quarter [37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a robust origination volume year-to-date in 2025, which was previously muted by higher levels of payoffs [16] - Non-public deposits grew by 1.7% in the quarter, with a year-over-year growth of approximately 6% [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - M&A remains a core part of the company's strategy, with a focus on acquiring high-quality targets with approximately $2 billion in assets [9] - The company is looking to expand into Texas while continuing to grow in existing markets [9] - The management emphasized a disciplined approach to deploying excess capital, prioritizing M&A opportunities [27] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the resumption of balance sheet growth and the potential for continued loan growth, although they refrained from providing specific guidance [13] - The company is focused on maintaining consistent credit underwriting standards, regardless of market conditions [15] - Management indicated that they do not foresee significant changes in spreads for new loan production, maintaining around 300 basis points over comparable Treasuries [22] Other Important Information - The company achieved a Net Promoter Score improvement of 2 points to 73 across its business lines [3] - The management team highlighted the importance of community service, with over 28,000 hours contributed in 2025 [2] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on M&A opportunities - Management confirmed that M&A is a core strategy, with ongoing discussions with potential targets and a focus on high-quality acquisitions [9][10] Question: Balance sheet growth pace - Management noted that loan growth was broad-based and indicated that customer demand will dictate future growth [13][15] Question: Spreads on new loan production - Management reported no spread compression and maintained spreads around 300 basis points over Treasuries [22] Question: Seasonal impact on deposit growth - Management acknowledged that a portion of deposit growth was seasonal due to property tax collections but emphasized overall strong growth [25] Question: Capital deployment post-IPO - Management reiterated that M&A opportunities are the primary focus for deploying excess capital raised during the IPO [27] Question: Wealth and treasury management growth - Management reported growth in assets under advice and ongoing investments in treasury management to sustain historical growth rates [36][37] Question: Credit portfolio health - Management indicated that there are no significant weaknesses in the credit portfolio, with a stable net charge-off rate [52][53]

Financial Highlights - Full year adjusted Return on Average Assets (ROAA) was 1.24%[2] and Return on Average Tangible Common Equity (ROATCE) was 17.26%[2] - Adjusted diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) grew 10.4% year-over-year to $5.94[4] - Tangible book value per share grew 12.9% year-over-year to $37.20[4] Balance Sheet Growth - Total loans increased by 7.8% year-over-year[4], representing an increase of $4.1 billion[14] - Total deposits increased by 6.2% year-over-year[4], representing an increase of $4.0 billion[19] - Loans grew by 2.8% quarter-over-quarter[5,6,13], representing an increase of $1.5 billion[13] - Deposits grew by 0.9% quarter-over-quarter[5,6,17,18], representing an increase of $0.6 billion[18] Key Ratios - The loan-to-deposit ratio was 82.3%[5,6,8,10] - Net Interest Margin (NIM) was 3.35%[5,6] - Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 11.22%[5,6,8] - Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratio was 7.42%[5,6,8] Income Statement - Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) was $371.0 million[5] - Net income applicable to common was $254.7 million[5] - Diluted EPS was $1.59[5] - Efficiency ratio was 47.0%[5] Asset Quality - Commercial classified loans decreased by 5.0% year-over-year[4] - Criticized loans decreased by 6.2% quarter-over-quarter[5,6] - Classified loans decreased by 6.7% quarter-over-quarter[5,6] - Net charge-off ratio was 35 bps[5,6] Capital Management - The company repurchased 10.9 million shares during the full year[4] and 3.6 million shares during the fourth quarter[5,6] Outlook - The company expects full year loan growth of 5% to 7%[61] and deposit growth of 4% to 6%[61] - The company expects full year net interest income (NII) of $2.57 billion to $2.63 billion[61]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - 2025 was a record-breaking year for the company, achieving new full-year record levels in revenue, net interest income, fees, non-interest income, earnings per share, loans, and deposits [5] - End-of-period deposits grew by 6% year-over-year, with significant traction in both non-interest-bearing and time deposits [5] - End-of-period loans also increased by 6%, driven by growth in commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential mortgage lending [5] - Tangible book value per share grew by 17%, and the company generated a 17% return on tangible common equity [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee income grew by 12% in 2025, achieving record levels driven by strong performance in wealth management, derivatives, foreign exchange, deposit fees, and lending fees [11] - C&I loan growth in Q4 was primarily driven by new relationships, with expectations for continued strength in 2026 [9] - Residential mortgage lending also performed well, with a strong pipeline expected to contribute consistently to growth [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a fourth-quarter net interest income of $658 million, benefiting from short-term liability sensitivity and favorable deposit mix shifts [10] - The cost of deposits decreased by 23 basis points quarter-over-quarter, with a total reduction of 105 basis points since the start of the cutting cycle [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to disciplined capital management and delivering top-tier returns for shareholders through prudent growth and robust risk management [7] - A focus on deposit growth through dedicated business checking campaigns is planned to continue into 2026 [8] - The company aims to maintain a balanced growth strategy across multiple loan categories, including C&I, CRE, and residential mortgages [36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the economic outlook for 2026, anticipating stronger loan growth compared to 2025 [20] - The company is focused on maintaining high performance relative to peers, regardless of economic conditions [22] - Management expects net interest income growth to be in the range of 5%-7% for 2026, driven by balance sheet growth [11] Other Important Information - The board declared a $0.20 increase to the quarterly dividend, raising it to $0.80 per share, a 33% increase [7] - The company’s regulatory capital ratios remain well above regulatory requirements, with a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 15.1% [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth expectations for 2026 - Management acknowledged strong loan growth in Q4 but emphasized caution in projecting future growth due to potential economic volatility [21] Question: Areas of expense growth - The company is investing in technology, hiring for wealth management, commercial banking, and risk management, with a focus on supporting future growth [25][26] Question: Fee income growth trends - Management aims to continue double-digit growth in fee income, supported by investments in various business areas [33] Question: Commercial real estate (CRE) growth opportunities - Management expects to see increased activity in CRE lending, focusing on long-term relationships with experienced operators [34][36] Question: Capital management and buyback strategy - The company will continue to be opportunistic with buybacks, focusing on creating value for shareholders [100] Question: Credit charge-off guidance for 2026 - The increase in charge-off guidance reflects potential individual credit issues, despite overall strong credit metrics [46][48] Question: Net interest margin outlook - Management expects to offset declining rates with balance sheet growth, maintaining a focus on dollar net interest income [52] Question: Deposit costs and trends - The company has been disciplined in managing deposit costs and expects to maintain a beta exceeding 0.5 [45] Question: Blockchain and cryptocurrency integration - Management is monitoring developments in blockchain technology but sees it as still early for significant integration into their services [70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, East West Bancorp achieved record levels in multiple categories including revenue, net interest income, fees, non-interest income, earnings per share, loans, and deposits, with a 6% year-over-year growth in both deposits and loans [4][5] - The tangible book value per share grew by 17%, and the return on tangible common equity was also 17% [5] - A quarterly dividend increase of 33% was announced, raising it to $0.80 per share [5][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The end-of-period loans grew by 6%, driven by growth in commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential mortgage lending [4][6] - Fee income increased by 12% in 2025, achieving record levels across various fee-based businesses [10][11] - The efficiency ratio for the fourth quarter was reported at 34.5%, with total operating non-interest expenses growing by 7.5% [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The bank's core deposit growth was prioritized, with a 1% improvement in demand deposit accounts (DDA) to 25% of total deposits [6] - The net interest income for the fourth quarter was $658 million, benefiting from balance sheet growth and favorable deposit mix shifts [9] - The bank expects total loan growth in 2026 to be in the range of 5%-7%, driven by continued strength in C&I and residential mortgage production [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to disciplined capital management and aims to deliver top-tier returns through prudent growth and robust risk management [5][14] - Investments in technology and hiring are expected to drive future growth, with a focus on wealth management and commercial banking [24][58] - The bank is exploring inorganic growth opportunities to bolster fee income, while maintaining a strong capital position [51][53] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the economic outlook for 2026, anticipating stronger loan growth compared to 2025 [20][21] - The bank is focused on maintaining high performance relative to peers, regardless of economic conditions [21] - Credit quality remains strong, with low levels of net charge-offs projected for 2026 [13][17] Other Important Information - The allowance for credit losses was increased from $791 million to $810 million, maintaining a ratio of 1.42% [14] - The bank's Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio stands at 15.1%, well above regulatory requirements [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Loan growth expectations for 2026 - Management acknowledged strong loan growth in Q4 but emphasized caution in projections due to seasonal patterns and economic uncertainties [19][20] Question: Expense growth areas - The bank is focusing on technology investments, hiring for wealth management, commercial banking, and risk management as key areas driving expense growth [24] Question: Fee income growth trends - Management aspires to continue double-digit growth in fee income, supported by investments in various business segments [26][27] Question: Commercial real estate (CRE) growth opportunities - There is an expectation for increased activity in CRE lending, but the bank will remain selective in partnerships [30][31] Question: Capital management and buyback strategy - The bank will continue to manage buybacks opportunistically, focusing on creating shareholder value without urgency [73] Question: Credit charge-off guidance for 2026 - The increase in charge-off guidance reflects potential individual credit migrations, despite overall strong credit quality [36][37] Question: Net interest margin outlook - The bank expects to offset declining rates with balance sheet growth, maintaining a focus on dollar net interest income [40][41] Question: Deposit costs and beta trends - Management is confident in maintaining a deposit beta exceeding 0.5, with a current beta of 0.6 [34][35]