Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ:IBCP) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

We are well underway in the use of teller recycle machines, which we see significant opportunities, and throughout the whole footprint. So those are a couple of examples. And obviously, every area is charged with just how do we get better. How do we get smarter? How do we have less touches, how do we better serve the customer? And so, I’m really excited about — I think there is room for us to continue to improve.

Eric Zwick : Thank you for taking my question.

Operator: [Operator Instructions]. Our next question comes from Damon DelMonte of KBW. Please go ahead.

Matthew Renck : This is Matt Renck filling in for Damon DelMonte. I hope everybody is doing good today. My first question was, are there any potential impacts from the UAW strike on your business? And do you think it could drive provision higher if the local economy starts to suffer?

William Kessel: So, Matt, thanks for the call. And I think, obviously, we’re in Michigan and it’s in our footprint. But I want to — let’s start off with the commercial side to it. And Joel, you’ve been speaking with our team and with our customer base, can give us an update there.

Joel Rahn: Yes. Of course, the big unknown is how long the strike lasts. So that’s the big qualifier. But we’ve been in regular contact with the customers that we have that would be directly impacted. Fortunately, in our portfolio, it’s really a pretty small percentage of our customer base and our portfolio. So, we’ve got fixed customers that would have a direct impact from the strike, at about $60 million in total outstanding today or about 3.5% of our portfolio so just to put that in perspective. So, we’re not — again, our portfolio is very well diversified, and we’re not real heavy in automotive supply. And we’re talking to those customers on a weekly basis. So far, the strike impact is phenomenal. But as it continues to drag on, at some point, it will affect the — even these Tier 2 suppliers, and they would be forced to lay people off. So, we have not seen that yet.

William Kessel: Yes. And I would just add then — Yes, Matt, I would just add then you carry over to the consumer portfolio, and we’ve had just minimally less than you count on one hand inquiries from the customer base in terms of, hey, if the strike continues, what can you work with me. So, it’s been very small and has not meaningfully impacted our performance metrics up to this point.

Matthew Renck : Okay. Great. And I don’t know if you can share it, but is there a point in time for the strike reaches that’s like in your mind, that’s when the trouble starts? Is it midway through next year, is It through the end of this year? If you could share that?

Joel Rahn: That’s really hard to quantify. If I had to just provide my personal opinion on when it would start to affect — ripple down into the supply base, it’s going to be soon, I mean, within the next I mean, 30 days to 45 days. When we initially talked to our customers at the very front end of the strike, which was back in mid-September, the general consensus was we’re fine for a month to six weeks. But if it drags on longer than that, it will start to affect our production. So, I think it’s sooner rather than later, but we’re all just hoping that the strike is resolved here in the next 30 days to 60 days.

Matthew Renck : Okay. Great. Thank you for the color. And then one last question for me. Just on the securities portfolio, could you remind us, do you have a targeted percentage of earning assets you want to work that down to or maintain?