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Bank of Hawaii(BOH) - 2023 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net income for Q3 2023 was $47.9 million, with earnings per common share increasing by $0.05 to $1.17 compared to the previous quarter [18] - Return on common equity was 15.38%, and the efficiency ratio was 61.66% [18] - Net interest income decreased by $3.4 million to $120.9 million, with net interest margin down by nine basis points to 2.13% [69][110] - Noninterest income totaled $50.3 million, including $14.7 million from gains on repurchase agreements, offset by a loss of $4.6 million from the sale of AFS securities [17][96] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial real estate portfolio represents 27% of total loans, with a weighted average loan-to-value of 55% [64] - The construction portfolio is 2% of total loans, primarily focused on low-income or affordable housing [12] - Loans delinquent by 30 days or more remained stable at 23 basis points, with criticized loans at 2% of total loans [68] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits grew by 2.4% to $20.5 billion in Q3, with a spot increase of 1.4% [57] - The visitor industry in Hawaii saw a 10% increase in spending and an 8% increase in arrivals year-to-date, despite a temporary decline due to the Maui wildfires [84] - The unemployment rate in Hawaii remains below the national average, indicating a strong local economy [59] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a strong deposit base and has built secondary sources of liquidity to support its operations [58] - The focus remains on lending in core markets of Hawaii and the West Pacific, leveraging long-standing relationships [63] - The company is actively managing its asset duration and has added $1.8 billion in interest rate swaps to hedge against rising rates [70][111] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a material slowdown in margin erosion compared to the prior quarter, with well-controlled expenses and improved capital levels [3] - The impact of the Maui wildfires on employment is uncertain, but there is optimism for recovery in the affected areas [6][8] - The lending environment is expected to remain modest, with potential opportunities arising from the rebuilding phase post-wildfires [22] Other Important Information - The company paid out $28 million in dividends to common shareholders during the quarter and declared a dividend of $0.70 per common share for Q4 2023 [35] - The allowance for loan and lease losses was $145.3 million, with a ratio of 1.04% to total loans [109] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for noninterest-bearing deposits? - Management indicated that noninterest-bearing deposits were down 2.9% on average for Q3, with expectations of stabilization around 28.5% [99] Question: How does the company view the impact of potential rate hikes? - Management believes that if the Fed maintains higher rates, it could lead to margin expansion, especially with hedges in place [101] Question: What are the expectations for loan growth into 2024? - The outlook for loan growth is moderate, with management anticipating a flat to slightly up trend in the lending environment [22][115]