Associated Banc-p(US:ASB)2025-10-23 22:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company reported earnings of $0.73 per share, with total loans growing by 1% quarter-over-quarter and 3% year-over-year [8][10] - Net interest income reached a record $305 million in Q3, up 16% compared to 2024, while the net interest margin held steady at 3.04% [10][21] - The return on average tangible common equity improved to over 14%, a 250 basis point increase from Q3 of the previous year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial and industrial (C and I) loans grew by nearly $300 million in Q3 and by almost $1 billion year-to-date, leading the growth in total loans [9][15] - Core customer deposits increased by over $600 million in Q3, with a year-over-year growth of 4% or $1.2 billion [10][16] - Non-interest income for Q3 was $81 million, a 21% increase from the prior quarter, driven by capital markets revenue and wealth fees [10][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added $600 million in core deposits in Q3, contributing to a decrease in reliance on wholesale funding, which fell by 2% compared to Q2 [16] - The overall wholesale funding sources decreased, indicating a shift towards more stable funding sources [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth, particularly in commercial lending and deposit acquisition, by hiring talented relationship managers in underpenetrated metro markets [12][13] - The strategy includes remixing the balance sheet to replace low-yielding residential mortgages with higher-yielding commercial loans, enhancing profitability [13][14] - The company aims to maintain a conservative credit culture while proactively managing existing portfolios and emerging risks [7][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to grow and deepen its customer base despite macroeconomic uncertainties [8][12] - The outlook for 2026 remains positive, with expectations for continued growth in C and I loans and core deposits as non-compete agreements expire [12][19] - Management is closely monitoring credit quality and macroeconomic factors, maintaining a high degree of confidence in the loan portfolio [29][31] Other Important Information - The company expects total bank loan growth of 5% to 6% for the year, with a focus on maintaining credit discipline [15][19] - Capital ratios increased, with the CET1 ratio rising to 10.33%, indicating a strong capital position [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What happens when the remaining RMs come off their non-compete? - Management expects growth rates to accelerate as production is up 12% and the pipeline is up 31% [35][36] Question: Can you discuss the fee income and expectations for Q4? - Fee income can be lumpy, and a one-time asset gain in Q3 is not likely to repeat at the same level, but underlying capital markets and commercial production are expected to remain strong [39][40] Question: How do you see the return on average tangible common equity improving further? - Management believes there are opportunities to continue improving the return on equity, especially with the hiring of new talent and the response to rate cuts [41][42] Question: What drove the modest increase in deposit costs in Q3? - The increase was attributed to seasonality and higher pricing accounts coming back into play, but overall, management is comfortable with the net results [49][50] Question: What is the outlook for loan growth in residential and commercial real estate? - Residential loans are expected to continue running off, while commercial real estate payoffs may remain elevated, but new construction lending is increasing [59][62] Question: Is the company considering M&A for growth? - The focus remains on organic growth, but the company is open to opportunistic acquisitions if they align with its strategy [66] Question: How is the lending pipeline performing? - The increase in the lending pipeline is primarily due to new hires and market share gains rather than borrower optimism [72][74]