FinWise Bancorp(FINW) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - FinWise Bancorp reported a net income growth of 26% for 2025, with a fourth-quarter net income of $3.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.27 [4][17] - Net interest income increased to $24.6 million from $18.6 million in the prior quarter, with a net interest margin rising to 11.42% compared to 9.01% [19] - Non-interest income grew to $22.3 million from $18 million in the previous quarter, primarily due to increases in credit enhancement income [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Loan originations for Q4 totaled $1.6 billion, exceeding guidance of $1.4 billion, bringing full-year originations to $6.1 billion, a 22% year-over-year growth [4][22] - Credit-enhanced product balances reached $118 million, surpassing the $115 million outlook [6] - SBA loan originations decreased quarter-over-quarter due to processing delays, but the environment normalized post-government reopening [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average interest-bearing deposits rose to $567.4 million from $523.9 million, driven by increased certificates of deposit and non-interest-bearing demand deposits [22] - The company anticipates a quarterly run rate of approximately $1.4 billion in loan originations for Q1 2026, with a projected 5% growth for the full year [22][23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building durable, long-term growth through strategic partnerships and expanding its credit-enhanced loan portfolio [9][10] - FinWise is exploring AI opportunities to enhance efficiency and automation while safeguarding sensitive data [9][70] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined approach to expense management while pursuing growth opportunities [4][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of credit trends and the overall performance of the portfolio [11] - The company expects a gradual moderation in non-performing loan migration, with proactive measures taken to manage risk [24][25] - Management views the current economic environment as stable, with solid demand for SBA loans despite recent originations being affected by timing delays [29] Other Important Information - The increase in net charge-offs for Q4 was attributed to refined servicing standards, which are expected to be a one-time event [12][68] - The company is committed to maintaining a positive operating leverage ratio, with revenues expected to grow faster than expenses [65] Q&A Session Summary Question: Opportunities to lower CD funding costs - Management indicated that CD funding costs are tied to wholesale funding and will decrease gradually as the Fed reduces interest rates [26][27] Question: Progression of MoneyRails and BIN Sponsorship potential - Management remains confident in the BIN payments strategy, although timing may be pushed out beyond initial expectations [28] Question: SBA business outlook and originations - Management noted solid demand for SBA loans, with a slight decrease in originations due to timing delays rather than demand issues [29] Question: Surge in non-interest-bearing deposits - The surge was attributed to strategic partners facilitating student loans, requiring collateral deposits [36] Question: Recontracting process with existing partners - Management reported a historically smooth recontracting process, with no significant concerns regarding upcoming renewals [40][41] Question: Impact of fintech obtaining bank charters - Management believes that not all fintechs will benefit from a banking charter, as it may not align with their business models [42][43] Question: Cross-selling products with existing partners - Management highlighted the potential for cross-selling products with existing partners, noting that it does not require the same scale as standalone products [46][47] Question: Clarification on the impact of servicing and administrative standards - The increased provision related to servicing changes was a one-time event, costing approximately $0.08 in earnings per share [68] Question: Examples of AI usage - Management is utilizing AI for coding, quality assurance, and compliance, with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency [70][71]