Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a record quarterly net income increase of 76% and new loan production up 72% compared to Q2 2024 [5] - Revenue grew by $31 million, with pretax income increasing by $14 million, resulting in a core pretax return on equity of 24% [5][6] - The net interest margin (NIM) for the quarter increased to 3.82%, up 47 basis points from the previous quarter [9][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total loan portfolio grew by 30.8% year over year, reaching $5.9 billion in UPB [16] - Record loan production in Q2 was just over $725 million, a 13.3% increase from Q1 [14] - The weighted average coupon on new held-for-investment originations was strong at 10.5% [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a significant increase in transactions, particularly in commercial and residential properties, with a portfolio increase of approximately $1.4 billion [6] - Nonperforming loans slightly decreased to 10.3%, reflecting effective asset management and resolution efforts [9][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage its unique business structure as a C Corp to retain earnings and grow book value [11][12] - There is a focus on technology improvements to enhance operational efficiency over the next 12 to 18 months [35][36] - The company is exploring opportunities for alternative financing sources, including private capital, to support portfolio growth [43][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, citing healthy market conditions and a strong pipeline for new loans [22] - The target NIM is set at 3.5%, with expectations for sustainable growth in loan production [26][30] - The company believes it has not reached peak performance and sees room for improvement in efficiency [35][36] Other Important Information - The company completed four securitizations in Q2, issuing nearly $1 billion in securities, which provided significant liquidity [7][21] - Total liquidity at the end of Q2 was $139.2 million, with ample warehouse capacity to support growth [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss NIM expectations going into Q3 and loan growth for H2? - Management targets a consistent NIM of 3.5% and expects continued loan growth, although it may not be linear [26][30] Question: Are there opportunities for improvement or is this optimal performance? - Management believes there is room for improvement, particularly through technology enhancements to increase productivity [35][36] Question: How broad is the company's origination platform geographically? - The company operates in 48 states, with a strong presence in major MSAs, including a high-performing office in Miami [38][39] Question: Will the company consider incorporating loan sales into its financing strategy? - Management is open to exploring private credit sources and alternative financing structures to support growth [43][44] Question: What is driving the increase in prepayment rates? - Prepayment activity is driven by property sales and refinancing, with the company indifferent to the reasons due to prepayment penalty fees [45][46]

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]