First Hawaiian, Inc. (NASDAQ:FHB) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Kelly Motta: Hi, good morning. And Jamie, it’s nice to have you on the call. I thought I would follow-up on the loan growth side. If you could provide any further outlook on what your mid-single-digit loan growth guidance incorporates in terms of growth in Hawaii versus on the mainland?

Jamie Moses: Yes. As we’ve talked about, we have seen the Hawaii activity increase, but then 2022 is more heavily weighted towards the mainland. So, I think it will still continue to be a mix between the two. On the dealer floor plan, most of that growth in Q4 was in the mainland. We have more of our lines in the mainland now as we’ve talked about on previous calls. So, as far as a ratio of dealer floor plan growth, it will be a little bit more heavily weighted towards mainland versus Hawaii, but primarily because there’s a large amount of lines to our mainland customers and our Hawaii customers. So, I think that will happen. On commercial real estate, we are still seeing transactions here in Hawaii, but we still look at them on the mainland as well. So, I think the mix might continue to go up a little bit, as far as the mainland portfolio, but not dramatically so.

Kelly Motta: Thanks. That’s helpful. I would like to turn back to the expense guidance. I think what you said implies about 118 million to maybe 120 million quarterly run rate, which is certainly a step-up from this quarter. Part of that was the FDIC, which you called out, which you don’t control of, but can we just walk through some of the other parts and kind of pressures you’re seeing? And conversely, is there any areas where, you know if you look into the next year and beyond where you can find areas of improvement on efficiencies?

Jamie Moses: Yes. Hi, Kelly. This is Jamie. I think we’ll always be looking at that and trying to improve some efficiencies wherever we can. I think the 3% to 3.5% guidance is, sort of reflective of inflation and inflationary pressure that we’re seeing, which I think is pretty normalized in this environment. And I think we want to make sure that we’re continuing to invest in the business. Continuing with the digital transformation that we’re undergoing. Core is, kind of behind us for the most part now. Now, we’re really looking to take advantage of all the options that that is going to bring us. So, I think the guide is a good number. Of course, we’ll always be looking, but I don’t see much difference off of the 4% to 4.5% inclusive of FDIC at this point.

Kelly Motta: Got it. Thanks so much for the help. I’ll step back.

Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Jared Shaw with Wells Fargo Securities. Your line is now open.

Jared Shaw: Hey, good morning. Jamie, congratulations. Hope you enjoy the weather there better than New England, it’s a little colder here today.

Jamie Moses: Thanks, Jared.

Jared Shaw: Maybe just looking at the €“ on the loan production side, what are you seeing in terms of new loan production rates? And then when you look at the construction pipeline funding up, is that funding up at rates or at lower rates from a, sort of prior rate environment or what is the construction funding looking like specifically to?

Robert Harrison: Jared, maybe I’ll start. This is Bob and ask Ralph to have some comments on it. We have seen the increase in margin in construction loans. And also an increase in rate because I think pretty much 100% of those are floating rate. So, we have seen an increase in both absolute rate and margin on that. So, that’s been a nice tailwind. We have seen quarter-over-quarter nice increase in our weighted average coupon across the entire loan portfolio. And so, maybe was there anything else Ralph you would add to that?

Ralph Mesick: No, not really. I mean, I think we’re at a point in the cycle where we would anticipate some improvement in the margins.