Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

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So, even that group is growing in total commitments. So, we think we are going to see good diversification and probably better contributions from some of those community bank units in the next year than we saw in the last year, and that was positive. So, we are constructive on the continued trend toward diversification in the portfolio.

Brian Martin: Got it. And the pipeline in the ABL portfolio is pretty healthy at this point.

George Gleason: Yes. Brandon, do you want to comment on that?

Brandon Hamlin: Yes. No, it is. And as George said, they had a good year last year, and they have got some great credits on the book, and looking at some others here early in the year. And one of the things I would note about that particular portfolio, those credits have a very nice sort of accordion characteristic to it, if you will. But defensively as sales volume pulls in, our credit to weigh ahead of that with the formulaic structure, but also as these businesses experience great health and expansion opportunities. You don’t have to necessarily book a new credit to realize a good pipeline there. We actually had three different credits expand during Q4 and was it more last night with another credit a customer that is contemplating expansion as well. So, really, really encouraged about the growth opportunities for that portfolio.

Brian Martin: Got it. Okay. No, that’s helpful. And maybe, Tim, I might have missed it, what you said earlier on the expenses, but just given that ramp up and kind of the hiring and what you guys talked about even the increases starting this year, just kind of the growth rate, or how should we think about that ramp-up in expense growth from kind of this fourth quarter level, which is obviously a peak as we get into 2023 and would it be year-over-year or quarterly, just did you provide anything on that, or maybe I missed what you said there?

Tim Hicks: Yes. No, year-over-year, we are expecting low double-digit increase. If you are starting with fourth quarter, Q1 is always seasonally tough. You got a full load of FICA. You have got health insurance increases. You have got a good amount of raises that come in. So €“ and then you have got the FDIC insurance that’s kicking in. The increase there is kicking in 01/01. And then advertising and marketing, we are doing a lot of that right now. So, I would expect another healthy level of increase in Q1 and maybe not as much increase as we get throughout the year, but overall, year-over-year, low-double digits.

Brian Martin: Got it. Okay and that’s helpful. And then just one other one was on the a, the repurchases, just kind of your outlook there? And then just on the deposit front, just the broker deposits were up a bit. Just kind of wondering what the appetite is there, just kind of where you want to see that trend as you kind of go throughout the year or just over the next couple of years?

George Gleason: Tim, do you want to take the repurchase?

Tim Hicks: Yes. Let me take the repurchases. Obviously, we grew a lot in our funded and unfunded balance in Q4. We purchased some, not as much as we had in previous quarters. We have got really good capital levels and a good earnings profile. I think we can do multiple things at the same time. So, we will look to be opportunistic on the share repurchase and find opportunities where we may have quarters that are above that fourth quarter number and there may be quarters where we are below that number. So, we will be opportunistic and try to find opportunities to see where we use that authorization.

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