OFG Bancorp (NYSE:OFG) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Maritza Arizmendi: Yeah. Well, what we’re seeing is as you have seen in the first two quarters, we have moved the beta from 11% to almost 15% during the quarter. As we see the mix and the change in the funding that we have, we continue to see cost of funds increasing. But we will continue to have this yield on the loan book growing as well as the mix in the balance sheet will improve in the earning asset side. So that’s why we continue to see cost of fund increasing, but the yield on the loan book also increases our NIM being stable for the next 2 quarters.

Timur Braziler : Okay, great. And then just last for me on the credit front. Maritza, I missed the aggregate amount of the 3 mainland credits. And then just more broadly, as you look at your credit portfolio, any color you can provide on if there’s any similarities on the borrower on those three credits? And then just in the mainland, kind of the areas that you’re putting more attention and focus on.

Maritza Arizmendi: No. These were really very specific situations to these three loans that are related or not contaminate the rest of the portfolio as we have a very well-diversified portfolio. We have — we don’t have any concentration in any industries in that portfolio and it’s very well diversified through U.S. So these are really very specific situations related to supply chains, and we don’t see anything that relates to the whole portfolio. That’s the way we see in these cases. And as I mentioned, they were really, really specific. And we’re optimistic on those three cases also because management has continued to make the restructuring in a very efficient way and the perspective on those three loans continue to be good.

Jose Rafael Fernandez: And just to add, the aggregate amount is $18 million on the three loans.

Timur Braziler : Okay. Great. Thanks for the questions. Nice quarter.

Jose Rafael Fernandez: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question will come from Brett Rabatin with Hovde Group. Your line is open.

Brett Rabatin : Hey, good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. Wanted to start with — good morning. Wanted to start with the efficiency ratio guidance, and Maritza, it had been in the mid-50s and sounds like you’ve tweaked that down to low-50s to mid-50s. And so I know there was a recapture of ORE or there was a gain in the quarter that minimized the expenses this quarter. But would it be fair to assume the expense trajectory is still higher from here? Can you give us some additional color on your expectations for the back half in terms of spending and what might impact the expense levels? Thanks.

Maritza Arizmendi: Thanks for the question. And if we take out that gain in repossessed, the expenses increased $1.8 million during the quarter, mostly because of technology. As we have been disclosing in prior calls and we’re disclosing in this call, particularly how this technology is playing for us. That will continue to be an element going forward. And that’s why we continue to, as I mentioned in my prepared remarks, talking about $90 million to $92 million as an ongoing expense for the next quarter. We know that in the long term, this technology will bring some efficiency, but the timing, it will evolve. So I cannot tell you when it will happen. But we know that in the long-term, this will bring some efficiency to us. And we will continue to invest, and that’s why we are giving you this guidance of $90 million to $92 million as we continue executing on our digital first strategy.