Hancock Whitney Corporation (Nasdaq: HWC) today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Net income for the third quarter of 2022 totaled $135.4 million, or $1.55 per diluted common share (EPS), compared to $121.4 million, or $1.38 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2022. The company reported net income for the third quarter of 2021 of $129.6 million, or $1.46 per diluted common share. The third quarter of 2021 included ($1.4) million, or ($0.01) per share after-tax, of net nonoperating income items. These items included Hurricane Ida expenses of $5.1 million and severance reversal ($1.9) million, offset by the gain of $4.6 million from the sale of the remaining Hancock Horizon Funds.

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) totaled $174.7 million, up $27.8 million, or 19%, linked-quarter
• Total loan growth of $739.5 million, or 14% LQA
• Slight increase in criticized commercial loans of $23.4 million, or 8%, linked-quarter; nonperforming loans remained at historically low levels
• ACL coverage remained strong at 1.50%
• Deposits decreased $915.2 million, or 12% LQA
• NIM increased 50 basis points (bps) to 3.54%
• CET1 ratio estimated at 11.12%, up 4 bps; TCE ratio 6.73%, down 48 bps
• Efficiency ratio improved to 51.62%

“Results for 3Q22 reflect one of the highest performing quarters in the history of our company,” said John M. Hairston, President & CEO. “Similar to last quarter, loan growth exceeded our expectations and was partially funded by the remaining excess liquidity on our balance sheet. This shift in earning asset mix, coupled with the most recent Fed rate increases, drove a 50 basis point widening in our net interest margin. Our asset quality metrics remain near historically low levels, the efficiency ratio improved to 51.6% and our CET1 capital remained strong. These results reflect a well-positioned company focused on improving shareholder value.”

Loans

Total loans were $22.6 billion at September 30, 2022, up $739.5 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2022. Improving line utilization and fewer paydowns contributed to growth in markets and lines of business. Average loans totaled $22.1 billion for the third quarter of 2022, up $481.2 million, or 2%, linked-quarter.

Management expects total loan growth to be 8-9% at year-end 2022 compared to year-end 2021.

Deposits

Total deposits at September 30, 2022 were $29.0 billion, down $915.2 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2022. The decrease in deposits is primarily due to elevated consumer spending, commercial clients deploying excess liquidity into working capital, current rate offerings and expected seasonal outflows.

DDAs totaled $14.3 billion at September 30, 2022, down $385.5 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2022 and comprised almost half (49%) of total period-end deposits. Interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits totaled $10.9 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of $431.9 million, or 4%, linked-quarter. Compared to June 30, 2022, time deposits of $961.7 million were down $10.5 million, or 1%. Interest-bearing public fund deposits decreased $87.3 million, or 3%, linked-quarter, ending September 30, 2022 at $2.8 billion.

Average deposits for the third quarter of 2022 were $29.2 billion, down $799.3 million, or 3%, linked-quarter. Management expects 2022 period-end deposit levels to be down 3-4% compared to year-end 2021, including fourth quarter of 2022 seasonal year-end deposit growth.

Asset Quality

The total allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $339.6 million at September 30, 2022, up slightly from June 30, 2022. During the third quarter of 2022, the company recorded a positive provision for credit losses of $1.4 million, compared to a negative provision of $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. There were $1.3 million of net charge-offs in the third quarter of 2022, or 0.02% of average total loans on an annualized basis, compared to net recoveries of $0.7 million, or (0.01%) of average total loans in the second quarter of 2022. The ratio of ACL to period-end loans was 1.50% at September 30, 2022, compared to 1.55% at June 30, 2022.

The company’s overall asset quality metrics currently sit near historically low levels, with criticized commercial loans up $23.4 million, or 8%, linked-quarter and total nonperforming loans remaining flat linked-quarter. Nonperforming assets (NPAs) totaled $43.8 million at September 30, 2022, virtually unchanged from June 30, 2022. During the third quarter of 2022, total nonperforming loans remained relatively flat, while ORE and foreclosed assets were down $1.4 million, or 40% linked-quarter. Nonperforming assets as a percent of total loans, ORE and other foreclosed assets was 0.19% at September 30, 2022, down 1 bp from June 30, 2022.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin (NIM)

Net interest income (TE) for the third quarter of 2022 was $282.9 million, an increase of $34.6 million, or 14%, from the second quarter of 2022.

The net interest margin (NIM) (TE) was 3.54% in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 50 bps linked-quarter. Changes related to the recent Fed increases in rates and a shift in the mix of earning assets led to a 64 basis point improvement, slightly offset by the impact from the cost of funds (-13 bps) and PPP loans (-1 bp). Additional NIM detail and guidance can be found in the third quarter earnings investor deck.

Average earning assets were $31.8 billion for the third quarter of 2022, down $997.0 million, or 3%, from the second quarter of 2022. The decrease reflects the deployment of excess liquidity which partially funded the strong loan growth experienced this quarter.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income totaled $85.3 million for the third quarter of 2022, down $0.3 million, or less than 1%, from the second quarter of 2022.

Service charges on deposits were up $2.8 million, or 14%, from the second quarter of 2022. As previously announced, the company expects to begin eliminating certain NSF and OD fees in December 2022.

Bankcard and ATM fees were down $0.5 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2022. Investment and annuity income and insurance fees were down $1.5 million, or 19%, linked-quarter. The decline in investment and annuity income was related to a temporary disruption from the conversion to a new sales and servicing platform during the quarter. Trust fees were down $1.3 million, or 7% linked-quarter, due to the seasonal impact of tax preparation fees in the second quarter of 2022.

Fees from secondary mortgage operations totaled $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2022, up $0.3 million, or 10%, linked-quarter.

Other noninterest income totaled $14.8 million, down $0.2 million, or 1%, from the second quarter of 2022.

Noninterest Expense & Taxes

Noninterest expense totaled $193.5 million, up $6.4 million, or 3% linked-quarter.

Personnel expense totaled $118.9 million in the third quarter of 2022, up $3.8 million, or 3%, linked-quarter. The increase was due to higher incentive pay and an additional workday in the quarter, slightly offset by lower payroll taxes.

Occupancy and equipment expense totaled $16.9 million in the third quarter of 2022, virtually unchanged from the second quarter of 2022. Amortization of intangibles totaled $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2022, down $0.2 million, or 4%, linked-quarter.

Gains on sales of ORE and other foreclosed assets exceeded related expenses by $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2022, and $88 thousand in the second quarter of 2022. Other operating expense totaled $56.0 million in the third quarter of 2022, up $4.5 million, or 9%, linked-quarter. The increase in other expenses is related to ongoing technology investments.

The effective income tax rate for third quarter 2022 was 20.7%.

Capital

Common stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2022 totaled $3.2 billion, down $169.3 million, or 5%, from June 30, 2022. The tangible common equity (TCE) ratio was 6.73%, down 48 bps from June 30, 2022. The company’s CET1 ratio is estimated to be 11.12% at September 30, 2022, up 4 bps linked-quarter. During the third quarter of 2022, the company repurchased 50,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $48.02 per share. This stock repurchase is part of the Board authorization to repurchase up to 4,338,000 shares of the company’s common stock, set to expire December 31, 2022. To-date the company has repurchased 1,654,244 shares under this authorization.

Conference Call and Slide Presentation

Management will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 to review these results. A live listen-only webcast of the call will be available under the Investor Relations section of Hancock Whitney’s website at investors.hancockwhitney.com. A link to the release with additional financial tables, and a link to a slide presentation related to third quarter results are also posted as part of the webcast link. To participate in the Q&A portion of the call, dial 844-200-6205 or 646-904-5544, access code 658288.

An audio archive of the conference call will be available under the Investor Relations section of our website. A replay of the call will also be available through October 25, 2022 by dialing 866-813-9403 or 929-458-6194, access code 374610.

About Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, and Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures to describe Hancock Whitney’s performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. The reconciliations of those measures to GAAP measures are provided either in the financial tables or in Appendix A thereto.

Consistent with the provisions of subpart 229.1400 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation S-K, “Disclosures by Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants,” the company presents net interest income, net interest margin and efficiency ratios on a fully taxable equivalent (“TE”) basis. The TE basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments using the statutory federal tax rate to increase tax-exempt interest income to a taxable equivalent basis. The company believes this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources.

The company presents certain additional non-GAAP financial measures to assist the reader with a better understanding of the company’s performance period over period, as well as to provide investors with assistance in understanding the success management has experienced in executing its strategic initiatives. These non-GAAP measures may reference the concept “operating.” The company uses the term “operating” to describe a financial measure that excludes income or expense considered to be nonoperating in nature. Items identified as nonoperating are those that, when excluded from a reported financial measure, provide management or the reader with a measure that may be more indicative of forward-looking trends in the company’s business.

Important Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements that we may make include statements regarding our expectations of our performance and financial condition, balance sheet and revenue growth, the provision for credit losses, loan growth expectations, management’s predictions about charge-offs for loans, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and our operations, the impacts related to Russia’s military action in Ukraine, Federal Reserve action with respect to interest rates, the adequacy of our enterprise risk management framework, potential claims, damages, penalties, fines and reputational damage resulting from pending or future litigation, regulatory proceedings and enforcement actions; the ongoing impact of future business combinations on our performance and financial condition, including our ability to successfully integrate the businesses, success of revenue-generating and cost reduction initiatives, the effectiveness of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities to manage risks, projected tax rates, increased cybersecurity risks, including potential business disruptions or financial losses, the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, the financial impact of regulatory requirements and tax reform legislation, the impact of the change in the referenced rate reform, deposit trends, credit quality trends, the impact of natural or man-made disasters, the impact of PPP loans and forgiveness on our results, changes in interest rates, inflation, net interest margin trends, future expense levels, future profitability, improvements in expense to revenue (efficiency) ratio, purchase accounting impacts, accretion levels and expected returns.

In addition, any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “forecast,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “focus,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.” Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement made in this release is subject to the safe harbor protections set forth in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in other periodic reports that we file with the SEC.

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