Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Derek Meyer: Yes. So when we did our forecast, rates had – were a little bit softer, and it did assume a September increase that’s moved forward a little bit. We do think, again, as I just stated, most of our margin, the pressure is behind us. We – our outlook and our NII guidance for the rest of the year contemplates a margin in the range of 2.80 to 2.70. So we think that stabilization is helpful. And that’s what our outlook suggests.

Andrew Harmening: I’d just expand on that, Daniel, by saying we think we’ll support a big portion of loan growth in the second half with the deposit growth that we’re going to have. We are asset sensitive and expect that we will have some benefit to the rate increase, and we can pretty clearly see what that will be. On the deposit side, there could be some modest deposit mix shift continue for the rest of the year. And if we need to get any wholesale funding, we factored that in. So when we believe that we won’t call the very bottom on margin. I think that would be too bold. But we definitely see a more clear path right now than we saw 90 days ago. And barring any extraordinary industry-wide news that we’ve had each of the first two quarters of the year, we do think that we’re in the range of the bottom.

Daniel Tamayo: Okay. And just lastly, just related to that, on the rate hike date, if we do get it in July as the futures are expecting here rather than September, would you think it would have much impact on the guidance, maybe push you a little bit towards the higher end of the range – I’m sorry, the lower end of the range for NII?

Derek Meyer: Yes. I don’t think there are level of precision that high part of our NII guidance includes rate of growth on the earning assets. So, it could be helpful. But I don’t think the resolution is that high.

Daniel Tamayo: Okay, all right thank you for taking all my questions.

Derek Meyer: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from Jared Shaw with Wells Fargo Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Jared Shaw: Hi, thanks. I guess just following up on the funding. I guess, first, when Derek, when you said the margin 2.70 to 2.80, is that your view for the full year? Or is that for the second half of the year?

Derek Meyer: That’s for the second half of the year.

Jared Shaw: Okay. Okay. And then when we look at the funding outlook. It’s good to hear that you feel encouraged, that there’s opportunity for growth. I guess what’s driving that optimism for consumer deposit growth? Is it just you can put a rate out there and that will attract money or is this more full relationship? I guess as we look at that growth, is that all going to come in the form of CDs? Or do you think that there’s opportunity to attract relationships, and should we think that the DDA level is sort of found a floor here as a percentage of deposits?

Andrew Harmening: Yes. All good questions. And it’s not a one thing for us. We started, as you know, several prongs to this. I would focus on mobile satisfaction. We know it’s the most visited site we have. And so when you increase your satisfaction there, what you look for immediately is a decrease in attrition. We’ve seen a double-digit decrease in attrition. And by the way, that’s during a very volatile second quarter. So that’s one indicator of what we’ve had. We’ve seen growth in our customer base on consumer and business each of the last three months. We have seen a growth in our core commercial outside of government banking. The government banking dollars that we’ve seen runoff have typically been collateralized low-margin deals, and that’s over $300 million.

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