Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWB) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Jerry Baack: Yes, I mean, we’re always going to — if we find some great treasury management people, would be all over that. Outside of that, it’s really just some key replacements and upgrades to some of our staff in the risk area. But yes, generally overall, we don’t expect a lot of hires in 2023 but obviously we’re also going to continue to build and scale our business. So if the right people come along that we think adds to the value of our bank long term, we’re not going to shy away from that either.

Jeff Rulis: And maybe one last one, if I could. The mention of the CECL adoption coming, maybe a question for Jeff. Just I guess, how would you expect that to impact reserve levels? I mean, at this NPA level pretty skinny, but just want to kind of see what the kind of dual track kind of modeling looks like if you expect a big adjustment there?

Joe Chybowski: We don’t — as we said in prepared remarks, we don’t expect a material impact to day one. I think, as we talked to me within 5% of current levels, we feel really good about that percentage in the portfolio. And obviously as macro conditions can change on a future basis that certainly can change. But I think today where we sit the reserve levels under CECL we do feel those are appropriate.

Operator: And our next question will come from Ben Gerlinger with Hovde Group.

Ben Gerlinger: Just curious, in the prepared remarks, you guys said that the linked quarter change from 3Q to 4Q on margin compression is likely to be similar. So you kind of guiding towards a, call it, roughly 2.8, 2.85 type range, and then therefore kind of bottom in the first half and then increases? I just wanted to confirm that I got that, and then I’ve follow-up based on that.

Joe Chybowski: Yes, I think you think about it the right way.

Ben Gerlinger: So based off of that I know you have repricing throughout the back half of the year and let’s assume that the fed kind of slows things down. Can you get above 3 again before the end of FY ’23, or is it rather muted? I mean, I get that there’s upside and upside is good. But once you kind of hit the bottom, I’m just trying to look at the magnitude assuming that that kind of stops here, let’s call it, 5% terminal?

Joe Chybowski: Yes, I mean, I think it’s certainly an uncertain rate environment. I think when we consider all the variables on both sides of the balance sheet, I mean, we feel comfortable in the back half of the year that expansion is possible. I mean, I won’t specifically call it a number. I just think when you consider those inputs on the loans and the deposit — core deposit growth and given our rate outlook, I mean we’re assuming a 5% fed funds rate. I think, we’re comfortable with expansion in the back half. So I’ll leave it at that.

Ben Gerlinger: And then this is more philosophical in nature, and given that kind of slowed things down a little bit intentionally. I mean, just given the market is assuming higher rates across the board large costs makes sense. And I think you guys are doing a good job from a shareholder value perspective. So when you think longer term, are you taking things off the table in terms of initiatives intentionally for a year, or is it kind of more so really dependent upon the franchise growth of the deposit base longer term? I get that you guys manage expenses and there are so maybe things as potentially to retain profitability. But let’s say deposits — I mean growing deposits is the hard part of the business. I’m trying to think about the out years, and I get that we’re pretty far from 24 or beyond. I’m just trying to think, has the strategy changed or are you just tapping the brakes a little?