MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOFG) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Brian Martin: Just maybe one last one, Barry. Not to beat a dead horse on the margin, but it sounds as though without quantifying where they go, it sounds like maybe the margin trough in the second quarter. Is that how you would think about it today based on the pressure and the competitive factors that you’re currently experiencing?

Barry Ray: Second quarter and maybe, potentially, flat into the third quarter and then maybe some positive benefit in the latter half of the year, Brian, is how I think about it.

Brian Martin: Yes. Okay. And just remind me the level of — you talked about, I think, a portion that reprices. How much of the loan book would reprice over maybe the next 12 months? Is that — do you have a handle on what that is? Or could you give us a little perspective on that?

Barry Ray: I think about 35% of our earning assets reprice and/or mature over the course of the year.

Brian Martin: Okay. 35%. And the new loan yield you’re putting on today, the origination rate, where was it? I think you said that or maybe I missed it.

Barry Ray: Yes, in my comments, it was just above 6% was the coupon — average coupon in the fourth quarter.

Brian Martin: Got you. Okay. Cool. Thank you. And then how about just maybe — I don’t — maybe it’s for you, Barry, or someone else. Chip, just on the fee income outlook, I mean Chip talked about the opportunities on the wealth side, maybe being a little muted with the performance in the market this year, but it sounds like a significant opportunity. Maybe just kind of frame up the outlook on mortgage and wealth or just kind of fee income in general, how we should think about that or at least maybe near term and maybe more gets divulged at your — as you kind of unveil your plan, but any help on the fee income side would be appreciated.

Chip Reeves: Brian, minus equity valuations, we’re bullish on the wealth management space here at MOFG right now. Len mentioned that $180 million of AUM was brought on in 2022. We believe that number will increase and potentially increase substantially here in 2023. Obviously, equity valuations may determine a little bit of actually what comes to the revenue line item there. Mortgage banking is challenged. I think we know that from other — for the housing inventory is still low. Rates are high. Our pipelines in the mortgage business, it’s obviously seasonally adjusted as well now, but are challenged. And so that is a business that, frankly, we do not expect great momentum in, in 2023.

Brian Martin: Okay. And then maybe just in general, how to think about the — maybe growth? I don’t know whether you look at growth year-over-year in fee income in aggregate or just — there’s a lot of puts and takes last year as far as noise going through there and even — so just trying to think about what the run rate is, a realistic run rate to start the year and maybe as you progress and get some momentum, but its fourth quarter’s level kind of that level? Or is it — should we be thinking about it being lower to start?

Chip Reeves: I think — this is Chip again, Brian. That $8.5 million to $9 million range is, I think, a good range to begin the year.

Brian Martin: Okay. Perfect. And just last one for me, more housekeeping. Just on the outlook for accretion income, Barry, any insight as far as how that may evolved through the year? I guess, is it just kind of stair step down from where we are today? Is that how to best think about it in any significant payoffs or paydowns? Is this a good level?