Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:FULT) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Daniel Tamayo: Maybe we just start off, just a clarification on the loan growth guidance. I think, Mark, you talked about that moderating. I’m assuming you’re talking about from the prior guidance of the 4% to 6% and not relative to the strong growth in the second quarter?

Mark McCollom: Well, no, what I’m referring to is the strong growth that we’ve seen really in the first half of the year relative to what a typical year would be. So my comments on moderation is from the pace that we’ve seen in the first half of the year.

Daniel Tamayo: Okay. So how should we think about those comments? I mean if you could – I mean is that mid-single digit then still kind of in line with what you’re thinking about for the back half of the year?

Mark McCollom: Yes, Danny, we would – those targets in the 4% to 6% range as we look forward, we had very strong loan growth in the first quarter. We had good growth again in the second quarter. As we’re focused on appropriate risk-adjusted returns on loan pricing, we think we’ll moderate from there. But our long-term targets and full-year, we expect us to still be in that 4% to 6% range.

Daniel Tamayo: Okay. And then in terms of funding that growth, you mentioned your loan-to-deposit ratio is kind of in the middle of your – of the range that you’re comfortable with now. Is that – should we infer that you could continue to let that drift up if you do lose some deposits? Or do you think you would be inclined to fund it with brokered or something kind of on the higher end of funding cost if you want to maintain that around 99%?

Curtis Myers: Yes. Our goal is to grow the deposit base. As we move forward, we referenced we’re growing accounts, we’re growing deposit accounts specifically. We’re fighting that trend of average account balances coming down. So we are very focused on growing deposits in a measured pace with loans. If that doesn’t happen, we feel we have access to other sources to continue to support loan growth. But our strategy is – what our long-term strategy has been is to grow loans and deposits in a more equal basis as we get back to and are now at historical kind of fully loaned position.

Daniel Tamayo: Okay. Yes, that makes sense. But as we think about kind of the rest of the year and in terms of the net interest income guidance, that assumes you talked about with the non-interest bearing, but that’s kind of a mix shift of what’s already there. If you’re growing loans, that assumes you’re funding it with what kind of deposit? I mean are you assuming when you’re – in terms of rate?

Curtis Myers: Yes. So I mean, we want to grow non-interest bearing deposits. It’s really difficult in this environment. So then we would look to grow through deposit acquisition of new customers, which are typically promotional rate. And then we have plenty of capacity on broker deposits from there. So we think we have sources. Organic growth, we’ve done a good job over time, and we really want to grow customer-by-customer. We recognize in this environment, it’s tough to grow deposits. So we’re making sure we have capacity to continue to support loan customers if we’re getting the appropriate risk-adjusted return.

Daniel Tamayo: Understood. Okay. Well, I appreciate we – you giving me some color into getting there on the funding side? Thanks guys.

Curtis Myers: Thanks, Danny.

Mark McCollom: You bet, Danny.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] And our next question will come from the line of Chris McGratty from KBW. Your line is open.

Christopher McGratty: Great. Mark, just a clarification on the 40% beta. That’s interest-bearing deposit beta full cycle?

Mark McCollom: That is the total deposit beta.