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Dec 31, 2024
Esquire Financial Q4 2024 Earnings Report
Esquire Financial's fourth quarter performance in 2024 was marked by strong growth in net income, driven by commercial loan and deposit growth.
Key Takeaways
Esquire Financial Holdings reported a strong fourth quarter and full year 2024, characterized by significant commercial loan and deposit growth. Net income for the quarter increased by 19% to $11.8 million, with earnings per diluted share at $1.37. The company's performance was supported by industry-leading returns on average assets and equity, along with expansion of total revenue and strong core deposit growth.
Net income increased by 19% to $11.8 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Core deposit growth totaled $105.9 million, a 28% annualized increase on a linked quarter basis.
Loan growth reached $99.6 million, or 31% annualized, fueled by commercial loans nationally.
Fee income remained stable at $6.2 million, representing 19% of total revenue, driven by the payment processing platform.
Esquire Financial
Esquire Financial
Forward Guidance
Esquire Financial anticipates that a portion of the elevated draws on existing commercial litigation related loans may paydown, tempering first quarter loan growth. However, based on the current commercial loan pipeline, the company anticipates 2025 loan growth to be commensurate with prior years.
Positive Outlook
- Active asset-liability management including managing client centric commercial law firm lending renewals including interest rate spreads and floors.
- Measured and flexible deposit-liability management.
- Continued commercial loan and core deposit growth.
- Will continue to produce industry leading growth.
- Will continue to produce industry leading earnings, returns, and performance metrics in the future.
Challenges Ahead
- Current quarter’s net interest margin was negatively impacted by both elevated interest earning cash balance and short-term market interest rates on our variable rate commercial loan portfolio on a linked quarter basis
- A portion of the elevated draws on existing commercial litigation related loans may paydown, tempering first quarter loan growth.
- Changes in average interest earning asset composition including cash and securities.
- Decreases in short-term market interest rates.
- Anticipated ISO and merchant attrition and changes in the volumes of our overall merchant risk profile.