Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the fourth quarter, the company originated $29.4 million of loans held for investment, a 5% increase from $27.9 million in the prior quarter [5] - Loan principal payments and payoffs increased by 83% to $42 million from $23 million in the previous quarter [5] - The outstanding balance of loans held for investment decreased by $13.2 million from the previous quarter [9] - The net interest margin decreased by eight basis points to 2.94% compared to 3.02% in the prior quarter [9] - The average cost of deposits increased to 1.33%, up seven basis points, while the cost of borrowing increased to 4.58% [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loans held for investment decreased primarily in multifamily, commercial real estate, and commercial business loans, partially offset by a small increase in single-family loans [6] - The company continues to see moderate activity in loans held for investment despite cautious behavior from real estate investors [6] - The weighted average rate of loans originated in June was 6.69%, compared to 5.16% for loans held for investment as of June 30, 2025 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is monitoring commercial real estate loans, particularly those secured by office buildings, with a total exposure of $39.5 million, representing 3.8% of loans held for investment [7] - The company has approximately $117 million of loans repricing in September and $98 million repricing in December, both expected to increase by 15 basis points [11][27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for disciplined growth of the loan portfolio, recognizing the shift in monetary policy and the reversal of the inverted yield curve [13] - The strategy includes maintaining cash dividends and utilizing stock buyback programs as a responsible capital management tool [15] - The company is focused on improving operating efficiencies to lower operating expenses, with a projected run rate of $7.6 million to $7.8 million per quarter for fiscal 2026 [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that current credit quality remains strong, with nonperforming assets unchanged at $1.4 million [6] - The company is optimistic about the future, suggesting opportunities for expansion of the net interest margin in the upcoming quarters [12] - Management indicated that the mix of loans may shift based on performance, with a preference for a balanced portfolio of single-family and multifamily loans [19] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 76,000 shares of common stock in June and distributed about $3.8 million in cash dividends to shareholders for the fiscal year [15][16] - The company has exceeded well-capitalized capital ratios, allowing for the execution of its business plan without complications [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Has the recent uptick in prepayments shifted your view on portfolio mix or originations? - Management indicated that they prefer a 50% mix of single-family and multifamily loans but will adjust based on performance, noting recent strength in multifamily and commercial real estate [19] Question: Is there an efficiency ratio that you target? - Management stated that the current operating expense baseline can support future growth, and as the loan portfolio grows, the efficiency ratio is expected to improve over time [21] Question: Is the increased payout this quarter a function of increased competition? - Management responded that both pricing and structure are factors, with tighter underwriting characteristics contributing to credit quality [25] Question: What is the dollar value of loans repricing in the next two quarters? - Management confirmed approximately $117 million repricing in September and $98 million in December, with specific interest rates provided [27][28] Question: What is the seasonality of operating expenses? - Management noted that March typically sees higher operating expenses due to employer taxes, while July 1 sees merit increases impacting future quarters [28][29] Question: What is the range of the loan deposit ratio? - Management explained that a higher loan to deposit ratio is typical for their business model, with a recent reduction from the 120s to the mid-one teens [30][32]