Enterprise Financial Services Corp (NASDAQ:EFSC) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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I think we’re still stable from here. It’s just without — with the day count disadvantage at this point, Q4 to Q1, you’re going to reset a little bit lower and then we’ll get back to more improvement.

Brian Martin: Got it. And the monthly margin in December, did you give what that was?

Keene Turner : I didn’t give — I might have given what it was, but it was 121 – sorry 421. So it’s only a few basis points lower than where we were in the quarter. And November and December were right on top of each other. So from that perspective, we were in pretty good shape. And margin in the fourth quarter was a little bit more diluted because of the deposit experience we had with the inability to time out the brokered CDs or pay those down just in time. So I think margin in and of itself in the quarter was maybe a little bit more muted than we thought it would be and maybe that will shift a little bit with positive mix here in the first quarter.

Brian Martin: Got it. Okay. And then last 1 for me is just on the capital levels and kind of the optionality you have there, just how you’re thinking about the capital utilization in 2024 as far as I think from a buyback perspective, M&A, just in general, organic growth, kind of how you’re thinking about that?

Jim Lally : Yes, this is Jim. I would say this — that it primarily it’s going to be for growth. Right now, we’ve got a lot on our plate relative to continue growing our business. We’ve got the core conversion, what have you. So M&A certainly, we’re talking — we’ll always talk but certainly, M&A is further down the list. And I’m not sure the buybacks come into play or not this year. But really, it’s about focusing on our — utilizing for our growth going forward.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Andrew Liesch with Piper Sandler.

Andrew Liesch: Just a question on the growth in the specialty deposits. I guess, what’s the outlook for that business? I know you guys have been spending a lot of money in investing in that. And just — is the growth going to be lumpy? Are there wins in 1 quarter or the next, is there any seasonality there? Just curious how we should be looking at how those balances trend?

Scott Goodman : Andrew, it’s Scott. I think the overall comment is, yes, we do expect those to continue to grow, I think, steady. The seasonality that exists amongst really the 3 main business lines, right, the property management, third-party escrow and community associations, mainly in the community associations where those accounts generally fund up early in the year and then they’re depleted throughout the year as expenses are paid, and then reopened again in the fourth quarter. So that’s the main seasonality. But I think if you look at that business over time, you’ll see that it’s also growing. So I think we view those very favorably from a cost and a relationship perspective, and we’ll continue to invest and grow.

Andrew Liesch: Got it. You’ve covered all my other questions. I’ll step back.

Operator: I would now like to turn the call over to Jim Lally for closing remarks.

Jim Lally : Well, thank you very much, and thank you all for joining us this morning and for your interest in our company, and we look forward to speaking to you again after the first quarter. Have a great day.

Operator: This concludes today’s call. You may now disconnect.

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