Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings of $140 million, translating to an EPS of $2.19 per diluted share for the second quarter, indicating a positive momentum in financial performance [4] - Net interest income grew for the fifth consecutive quarter, with a reported increase of $11.9 million and net interest margin expanding by two basis points [19] - Total outstanding loans increased by 2.5% quarter-over-quarter, representing over 10% on an annualized basis [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee income rose by 7.2% sequentially, with total fees and commissions contributing $197.3 million to revenue [5][15] - The core C and I loan portfolio grew by 1.1%, driven by Native American lending and general business loans, while the specialty lending portfolio decreased by 1.6% [9] - Trading revenue increased by 31% from the prior quarter, reaching $30.5 million, as trading activity normalized [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial real estate (CRE) business saw a quarter-over-quarter increase of 6.9%, primarily from multifamily housing, retail, and industrial projects [10] - The company maintained a loan-to-deposit ratio of 64%, positioning itself well for optimizing deposit pricing [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to launch a new mortgage finance line of business to support future loan growth, which is expected to enhance long-term sustainable growth [5][11] - The management emphasized a focus on organic growth, with M&A being a secondary strategy, indicating a selective approach to acquisitions [59][60] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in loan growth projections for the full year, citing robust growth in Q2 and strong pipelines across C and I and CRE [21] - The economic policy uncertainty is acknowledged as a risk factor, but it appears less significant than it did ninety days ago [22] Other Important Information - The company repurchased over 660,000 shares below $94 per share and redeemed $131 million of Tier two capital instruments, indicating a commitment to shareholder value [6][7] - Credit quality remains strong, with nonperforming assets decreasing to $74 million and a combined allowance for credit losses at 1.36% of outstanding loans [13][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for margin trajectory behind net interest income - Management indicated satisfaction with margin behavior, attributing expansion to fixed asset repricing and deposit pricing optimization [28][29] Question: Pace of loan growth through the quarter - Management noted that loan growth built throughout the quarter, with expectations for continued growth in the second half of the year [40][41] Question: Competitive environment for loan yields - Management acknowledged strong competition in key markets, with some spread compression observed in the C and I sector [44][45] Question: Guidance for fee income and factors affecting it - Management expressed confidence in continued growth across various fee income lines, driven by strong performance in fiduciary and asset management [54][55] Question: Outlook for mortgage finance and expected balances - Management anticipates approximately $500 million in commitments by year-end, with a focus on operational risk management [86][88] Question: Expectations for deposit growth and funding loan growth - Management expects to continue growing deposits while maintaining a strong loan-to-deposit ratio, with cash flows from the bond and loan books supporting growth [108][109]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings of $140 million, or EPS of $2.19 per diluted share for the second quarter, indicating a positive momentum in financial performance [4] - Net interest income grew for the fifth consecutive quarter, with a loan to deposit ratio of 64% and total capital levels remaining robust, with TCE reaching 9.6% and CET1 reaching 13.6% [6][7] - Total outstanding loans increased by 2.5% quarter over quarter, translating to over 10% on an annualized basis [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee income increased by 7.2% sequentially, with total fees and commissions contributing $197.3 million to revenue [5][14] - The core C and I loan portfolio grew by 1.1%, while the specialty lending portfolio decreased by 1.6% [8] - The commercial real estate (CRE) business saw a significant increase of 6.9% quarter over quarter, primarily driven by multifamily housing, retail, and industrial projects [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The trading revenue, including trading-related net interest income, was $30.5 million, representing a growth of 31% from the prior quarter [14] - Assets Under Management (AUMA) increased by $3.9 billion to $117.9 billion, reflecting increased market valuations and continued new business growth [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to launch a new mortgage finance line of business to support future loan growth, which is expected to enhance long-term sustainable growth [5][10] - The management emphasized the importance of investing in talent and systems to enable future growth, despite the increase in current period expenses [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving the loan growth outlook set at the beginning of the year, despite acknowledging economic policy uncertainty as a risk factor [21][22] - The company expects net charge-offs to remain below historical norms, supported by strong credit quality across the loan portfolio [12][22] Other Important Information - The company repurchased over 660,000 shares below $94 per share and redeemed all $131 million of Tier two capital instruments [7] - The combined allowance for credit losses is $330 million, or 1.36% of outstanding loans, indicating a healthy reserve level [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for margin trajectory behind NII - Management noted that margin behaved well in Q2, with good lift from fixed asset repricing and deposit pricing, expecting continued support for margin growth [27][28] Question: Loan growth pace through the quarter - Management indicated that loan growth built throughout the quarter, with expectations for continued growth in the second half of the year, particularly in C and I and CRE [36][39] Question: Competitive environment for loan yields - Management acknowledged strong competition in their markets, with some spread compression observed on the C and I side, but overall spreads are holding well [40][41] Question: Fee income guidance for the full year - Management expressed confidence in continued growth across various fee income lines, driven by strong performance in fiduciary and asset management, transaction card, and deposit service charges [49][50] Question: Outlook on mortgage finance and expected balances - Management expects to achieve approximately $500 million in commitments by the end of the year, with a utilization rate of around 25% to 50% [81][82] Question: Funding expectations for loan growth - Management indicated a strong loan to deposit ratio and expects to continue growing deposits, with cash flows from the bond book and loan book supporting funding needs [102][103]