Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported core earnings per share of $0.29 for the quarter, adjusting for significant items, while the core loss per share was $0.84 [14][4] - The expected life of loan cash flows increased by approximately $195 million due to lower prepayment speeds and updated assumptions [10][11] - The company announced a new share repurchase authorization of $100 million to enhance shareholder value [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total loan originations in the Consumer Lending segment grew to $788 million, a 58% increase year-over-year, driven by over 100% growth in refinance originations [17] - The Federal Education Loan segment's net interest margin for Q3 was 84 basis points, up 14 basis points from the previous quarter [15] - The Consumer Lending segment's net interest margin was 239 basis points, compared to 232 basis points in the second quarter [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a record high in school lending originations of $260 million, the highest quarterly volume in its history [5] - Delinquency rates improved from 19% to 18.1%, while the net charge-off rate increased slightly to 15 basis points [16] - The company raised its full-year total loan originations guidance to approximately $2.4 billion, over 30% higher than initial guidance [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on reducing operating expenses and has exceeded its initial goal of $400 million in run-rate expense reductions ahead of schedule [8][22] - The company aims to capitalize on growth opportunities in the refinance market, particularly among high-quality borrowers, as interest rates potentially decrease [6][13] - The company plans to provide an update on its growth strategy for the Earnest business on November 19th [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the operating environment is influenced by changes in public policy and borrower repayment behavior, which have affected delinquency and charge-off rates [27][66] - The outlook for the fourth quarter is a range of $0.30 to $0.35 per share, reflecting continued strong origination growth and expense reductions [15][23] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to finance rapid asset growth through ABS issuances and other financing strategies [49][50] Other Important Information - The company completed its fourth term ABS financing of the year, backed by refinance loan collateral, indicating strong investor demand [12] - The total reserve build in the quarter was driven by various factors, including changes in borrower behavior and macroeconomic outlook [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about provision and delinquencies - Management explained that the provision expense reflects incremental defaults and lower prepayment rates, particularly in legacy portfolios [26][28] Question: Clarification on credit weakness sources - Management indicated that the majority of credit weakness is concentrated in legacy portfolios, with some changes in newer products but not as significant [38] Question: Discussion on reserve rate stabilization - Management noted that the reserve rate is influenced by new originations and the quality of loans, with expectations for the allowance to decrease as the portfolio runs off [57] Question: Impact of macroeconomic conditions on provisions - Management stated that macroeconomic conditions contributed minimally to the current provision, with the majority driven by trends in the legacy portfolio [77] Question: Outlook on competition and market opportunities - Management highlighted the company's strong position in the market and the potential for growth in both refinance and in-school lending segments [86][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted net income from continuing operations increased to $152.8 million or $0.81 per share, with adjusted return on assets at 1.13% for the quarter [6][10] - Adjusted pre-tax pre-provision net revenue reached a record $224 million, up nearly 9% from the prior quarter [9] - Total adjusted revenue of $517 million increased by $41 million or 9% in the quarter [10] - Net interest revenue was up $46 million or 12%, driven by a larger balance sheet and improved net interest margin [10] - Adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 56.5% [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits increased by $3.4 billion, with core customer deposits up $3.1 billion due to the influx from the Industry acquisition [6] - Loans increased by $1.3 billion, with $1 billion from the Industry acquisition and over $300 million in organic growth [6] - Adjusted non-interest revenue of $93.5 million decreased by $4.7 million, primarily due to seasonal declines in mortgage banking revenue [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The securities portfolio grew by $780 million in the quarter, reflecting an improved mix and interest rate profile compared to the prior quarter [10] - Net interest margin improved by six basis points to 3.46%, driven by improved securities yields and a decline in overall funding costs [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed the acquisition of Industry Bankshares and integrated it into its systems, aiming for growth in Central Texas and Georgia markets [4][5] - The company plans to leverage its deposit products and services more fully now that integration is complete [6] - The management expressed confidence in the performance and outlook for the markets, projecting growth in financial results through the end of the year [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the operating environment remains stable, with credit results in line with expectations and net charge-offs at 26 basis points annualized [7] - The company anticipates continued modest improvement in net interest margin through the end of the year and into next year [11] - Management highlighted strong pipelines and diverse growth opportunities across all business lines [75] Other Important Information - The company reported a decline in tangible book value per share by only $0.12 to $22.82, largely offset by strong operating earnings [5] - The company expects to continue building capital after the Industry transaction and is back in the buyback game sooner than anticipated [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the drivers of the slightly lower revenue and loan growth guide? - Management indicated that the shorter timeline for the year provides better clarity, and they expect good growth in the fourth quarter [19][20] Question: What sort of beta do you expect in the broker and time deposits as rates go down? - Management expects interest-bearing betas to reach about 50% and total deposits between 30% and 40% [22] Question: What is the expectation for DDA specifically as we go through the rest of the year? - Management noted that non-interest-bearing deposits finished Q3 at 20.6%, down from 21.2% at year-end 2024, with fluctuations due to customer behavior [28][30] Question: What should we think of as a good capital level or a base capital level that you're trying to manage to? - Management aims to be good stewards of capital, focusing on core organic growth and potential inorganic opportunities [34] Question: Can you provide insight into loan pricing and competition in recent weeks? - Management acknowledged competitive pressures but noted that yields have been holding steady, particularly in the Community Bank segment [80][81]