Release Date: October 30, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Alerus Financial Corp (ALRS, Financial) achieved a robust loan growth of 4% over the prior quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of loan growth.
- The company successfully closed its largest acquisition to date, Home Federal, which is expected to enhance its market position and operational capabilities.
- Alerus Financial Corp (ALRS) reported a 7% year-to-date deposit growth, demonstrating strong client acquisition despite a competitive environment.
- The wealth management division continues to perform well, with a 5.1% increase in revenues and a 5.4% increase in assets under management.
- The retirement services business had a record quarter of new revenue, with positive growth trends in plans and participants, supported by new leadership and team members.
Negative Points
- Alerus Financial Corp (ALRS) faced a challenging quarter with a decrease in net interest income by 6.1% over the prior quarter, primarily due to lower purchase accounting accretion and increased nonaccruals.
- The company experienced a decline in its net interest margin to 2.23%, impacted by nonaccrual loans and continued pricing pressure on deposits.
- Nonaccrual loans increased due to two large relationships, one involving personal issues and another an acquired CRE loan, which affected credit quality.
- Operating expenses trended upwards due to key hires, severance packages, and M&A-related expenses, putting pressure on short-term profitability.
- The competitive deposit market led to a migration from noninterest-bearing to interest-bearing deposits, increasing the cost of funds.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you provide more details on the large credit that went to nonaccrual status and its resolution timeline?
A: Karin Taylor, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, explained that the borrower has been proactive in injecting equity into the project to cover overruns. The project is about 87% complete and located in a prime area of the Twin Cities. They are exploring options to resolve the credit, aiming for completion by early 2025.
Q: What is the outlook for expenses, particularly those that are operational but not recurring?
A: Alan Villalon, Chief Financial Officer, noted that professional fees should normalize, and compensation expenses will stabilize as new hires are fully integrated. They are committed to reducing expenses on a standalone basis, despite the combined entity's expenses increasing due to the merger.
Q: How is the company achieving its strong loan growth, and what are the underlying market trends?
A: Jim Collins, Executive Vice President, Chief Banking and Revenue Officer, stated that the growth is primarily from taking market share, aided by new talent acquisitions. The economic conditions in their markets are stable, with moderate growth, allowing them to capitalize on opportunities as other banks remain less active.
Q: Can you discuss the margin outlook and the impact of deposit competition?
A: Alan Villalon mentioned that the margin is expected to improve, particularly in the latter half of the year, as deposit betas are expected to lag on the way down. They anticipate a path to a 3% margin by 2026, with deposit competition remaining a challenge.
Q: What are the expectations for the retirement and wealth businesses, and how will efficiency improvements impact profitability?
A: Jim Collins highlighted that they are focusing on efficiency, revenue growth, and reducing client turnover. They are forming new partnerships, such as with Mass Mutual, which has led to significant new client acquisitions. Margins are expected to improve steadily over time.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
