Biggest changeAverage Volume Average Rate Increase (Decrease) 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 vs. 2022 Volume Rate Total Change in interest earned on: $ 22,337,119 $ 18,823,810 6.27 % 4.30 % Loans $ 171,189 $ 418,765 $ 589,954 Securities: 9,097,110 9,616,691 2.36 2.00 Taxable (10,813 ) 33,673 22,860 3,790,921 3,885,153 3.38 3.16 Tax-exempt (3,142 ) 8,149 5,007 316,072 965,911 5.58 1.98 Federal funds and resell agreements (19,173 ) 17,711 (1,462 ) 2,046,349 2,408,468 5.04 0.77 Interest-bearing due from banks (3,203 ) 87,811 84,608 14,030 12,076 5.65 4.96 Trading securities 117 101 218 37,601,601 35,712,109 4.96 3.26 Total 134,975 566,210 701,185 Change in interest incurred on: 21,122,305 18,063,498 3.33 0.93 Interest-bearing deposits 32,883 503,774 536,657 169,997 249,663 4.97 2.10 Federal funds purchased (2,103 ) 5,307 3,204 2,005,418 2,527,426 4.22 1.40 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (8,697 ) 57,816 49,119 2,311,238 309,204 5.25 5.00 Borrowed Funds 105,080 806 105,886 $ 25,608,958 $ 21,149,791 3.59 % 1.06 % Total 127,163 567,703 694,866 Net interest income $ 7,812 $ (1,493 ) $ 6,319 Average Volume Average Rate Increase (Decrease) 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 vs. 2021 Volume Rate Total Change in interest earned on: $ 18,823,810 $ 16,629,867 4.30 % 3.72 % Loans $ 87,505 $ 103,229 $ 190,734 Securities: 9,616,691 7,422,432 2.00 1.72 Taxable 41,676 22,820 64,496 3,885,153 4,246,943 3.16 2.93 Tax-exempt (10,751 ) 9,636 (1,115 ) 965,911 1,234,533 1.98 0.81 Federal funds and resell agreements (2,599 ) 11,660 9,061 2,408,468 4,063,089 0.77 0.13 Interest-bearing due from banks (3,034 ) 16,199 13,165 12,076 23,480 4.96 4.33 Trading securities (492 ) 149 (343 ) 35,712,109 33,620,344 3.26 2.64 Total 112,305 163,693 275,998 Change in interest incurred on: 18,063,498 17,678,122 0.93 0.15 Interest-bearing deposits 589 140,552 141,141 249,663 163,744 2.10 0.04 Federal funds purchased 56 5,109 5,165 2,527,426 2,454,290 1.40 0.28 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 211 28,393 28,604 309,204 270,498 5.00 4.68 Borrowed Funds 1,895 917 2,812 $ 21,149,791 $ 20,566,654 1.06 % 0.22 % Total 2,751 174,971 177,722 Net interest income $ 109,554 $ (11,278 ) $ 98,276 32 Table 3 ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST MARGIN (in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 Average earning assets $ 37,601,601 $ 35,712,109 $ 33,620,344 Interest-bearing liabilities 25,608,958 21,149,791 20,566,654 Interest-free funds $ 11,992,643 $ 14,562,318 $ 13,053,690 Free funds ratio (interest free funds to average earning assets) 31.89 % 40.78 % 38.83 % Tax-equivalent yield on earning assets 4.96 % 3.26 % 2.64 % Cost of interest-bearing liabilities 3.59 1.06 0.22 Net interest spread 1.37 % 2.20 % 2.42 % Benefit of interest-free funds 1.15 0.43 0.08 Net interest margin 2.52 % 2.63 % 2.50 % The Company experienced an increase in net interest income of $6.3 million, or 0.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022.
Biggest changeAverage Volume Average Rate Increase (Decrease) 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023 Volume Rate Total Change in interest earned on: $ 24,212,645 $ 22,337,119 6.66 % 6.27 % Loans $ 121,804 $ 91,183 $ 212,987 Securities: 9,290,809 9,097,110 2.77 2.36 Taxable 4,664 37,917 42,581 3,634,588 3,790,921 3.44 3.38 Tax-exempt (4,989 ) 2,167 (2,822 ) 303,096 316,072 5.82 5.58 Federal funds and resell agreements (739 ) 720 (19 ) 3,482,402 2,046,349 5.23 5.04 Interest-bearing due from banks 74,976 3,979 78,955 22,311 14,030 6.53 5.65 Trading securities 491 131 622 40,945,851 37,601,601 5.37 4.96 Total 196,207 136,097 332,304 Change in interest incurred on: 25,224,201 21,122,305 3.89 3.33 Interest-bearing deposits 149,076 129,016 278,092 80,017 169,997 5.05 4.97 Federal funds purchased (4,538 ) 135 (4,403 ) 2,258,438 2,005,418 4.54 4.22 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 11,179 6,756 17,935 1,447,646 2,311,238 5.61 5.25 Borrowed Funds (47,986 ) 7,890 (40,096 ) $ 29,010,302 $ 25,608,958 4.03 % 3.59 % Total 107,731 143,797 251,528 Net interest income $ 88,476 $ (7,700 ) $ 80,776 Average Volume Average Rate Increase (Decrease) 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 vs. 2022 Volume Rate Total Change in interest earned on: $ 22,337,119 $ 18,823,810 6.27 % 4.30 % Loans $ 171,189 $ 418,765 $ 589,954 Securities: 9,097,110 9,616,691 2.36 2.00 Taxable (10,813 ) 33,673 22,860 3,790,921 3,885,153 3.38 3.16 Tax-exempt (3,142 ) 8,149 5,007 316,072 965,911 5.58 1.98 Federal funds and resell agreements (19,173 ) 17,711 (1,462 ) 2,046,349 2,408,468 5.04 0.77 Interest-bearing due from banks (3,203 ) 87,811 84,608 14,030 12,076 5.65 4.96 Trading securities 117 101 218 37,601,601 35,712,109 4.96 3.26 Total 134,975 566,210 701,185 Change in interest incurred on: 21,122,305 18,063,498 3.33 0.93 Interest-bearing deposits 32,883 503,774 536,657 169,997 249,663 4.97 2.10 Federal funds purchased (2,103 ) 5,307 3,204 2,005,418 2,527,426 4.22 1.40 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (8,697 ) 57,816 49,119 2,311,238 309,204 5.25 5.00 Borrowed Funds 105,080 806 105,886 $ 25,608,958 $ 21,149,791 3.59 % 1.06 % Total 127,163 567,703 694,866 Net interest income $ 7,812 $ (1,493 ) $ 6,319 42 Table 3 ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST MARGIN (in thousands) 2024 2023 2022 Average earning assets $ 40,945,851 $ 37,601,601 $ 35,712,109 Interest-bearing liabilities 29,010,302 25,608,958 21,149,791 Interest-free funds $ 11,935,549 $ 11,992,643 $ 14,562,318 Free funds ratio (interest free funds to average earning assets) 29.15 % 31.89 % 40.78 % Tax-equivalent yield on earning assets 5.37 % 4.96 % 3.26 % Cost of interest-bearing liabilities 4.03 3.59 1.06 Net interest spread 1.34 % 1.37 % 2.20 % Benefit of interest-free funds 1.17 1.15 0.43 Net interest margin 2.51 % 2.52 % 2.63 % The Company experienced an increase in net interest income of $80.8 million, or 8.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023.
Agency Securities December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 1,109,140 3.51 % $ 60,985 1.89 % Due after 1 year through 5 years 189,602 2.86 98,736 3.39 Due after 5 years through 10 years — — — — Due after 10 years — — — — Total $ 1,298,742 3.40 % $ 159,721 2.81 % 41 Mortgage-backed Securities State and Political Subdivisions December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 9,590 2.77 % $ 76,610 2.90 % Due after 1 year through 5 years 1,211,344 2.55 365,953 2.63 Due after 5 years through 10 years 2,368,394 1.73 422,410 2.92 Due after 10 years 31,457 3.80 422,002 3.29 Total $ 3,620,785 2.01 % $ 1,286,975 2.96 % Corporates Collateralized Loan Obligations December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 46,746 2.97 % $ — — % Due after 1 year through 5 years 214,084 1.97 159,371 6.96 Due after 5 years through 10 years 90,445 3.34 151,896 6.81 Due after 10 years — — 39,848 7.44 Total $ 351,275 2.48 % $ 351,115 6.95 % U.S.
Agency Securities December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 1,109,140 3.51 % $ 60,985 1.89 % Due after 1 year through 5 years 189,602 2.86 98,736 3.39 Due after 5 years through 10 years — — — — Due after 10 years — — — — Total $ 1,298,742 3.40 % $ 159,721 2.81 % Mortgage-backed Securities State and Political Subdivisions December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 9,590 2.77 % $ 76,610 2.90 % Due after 1 year through 5 years 1,211,344 2.55 365,953 2.63 Due after 5 years through 10 years 2,368,394 1.73 422,410 2.92 Due after 10 years 31,457 3.80 422,002 3.29 Total $ 3,620,785 2.01 % $ 1,286,975 2.96 % Corporates Collateralized Loan Obligations December 31, 2023 Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Fair Value Weighted Average Yield Due in one year or less $ 46,746 2.97 % $ — — % Due after 1 year through 5 years 214,084 1.97 159,371 6.96 Due after 5 years through 10 years 90,445 3.34 151,896 6.81 Due after 10 years — — 39,848 7.44 Total $ 351,275 2.48 % $ 351,115 6.95 % Table 15 SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY (in thousands) U.S.
Management expects collateral pledging requirements for public funds, loan demand, and deposit funding to be the primary factors impacting changes in the level of AFS securities. There were $10.1 billion of securities pledged to secure U.S. Government deposits, other public deposits, certain trust deposits, derivative transactions, and repurchase agreements at December 31, 2023.
Management expects collateral pledging requirements for public funds, loan demand, and deposit funding to be the primary factors impacting changes in the level of AFS securities. There were $10.5 billion of securities pledged to secure U.S. Government deposits, other public deposits, certain trust deposits, derivative transactions, and repurchase agreements at December 31, 2024.
While no list of assumptions, risks, or uncertainties could be complete, some of the factors that may cause actual results or other future events, circumstances, or aspirations to differ from those in forward-looking statements include: • local, regional, national, or international business, economic, or political conditions or events; • changes in laws or the regulatory environment, including as a result of financial-services legislation or regulation; • changes in monetary, fiscal, or trade laws or policies, including as a result of actions by central banks or supranational authorities; • the pace and magnitude of interest rate movements; • changes in accounting standards or policies; • shifts in investor sentiment or behavior in the securities, capital, or other financial markets, including changes in market liquidity or volatility or changes in interest or currency rates; • changes in spending, borrowing, or saving by businesses or households; • the Company’s ability to effectively manage capital or liquidity or to effectively attract or deploy deposits; • changes in any credit rating assigned to the Company or its affiliates; • adverse publicity or other reputational harm to the Company; • changes in the Company’s corporate strategies, the composition of its assets, or the way in which it funds those assets; • the Company’s ability to develop, maintain, or market products or services or to absorb unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with those products or services; 26 • the Company’s ability to innovate to anticipate the needs of current or future customers, to successfully compete in its chosen business lines, to increase or hold market share in changing competitive environments, or to deal with pricing or other competitive pressures; • changes in the credit, liquidity, or other condition of the Company’s customers, counterparties, or competitors; • the Company’s ability to effectively deal with economic, business, or market slowdowns or disruptions; • judicial, regulatory, or administrative investigations, proceedings, disputes, or rulings that create uncertainty for, or are adverse to, the Company or the financial-services industry; • the Company’s ability to address changing or stricter regulatory or other governmental supervision or requirements; • the Company’s ability to maintain secure and functional financial, accounting, technology, data processing, or other operating systems or facilities, including its capacity to withstand cyber-attacks; • the adequacy of the Company’s corporate governance, risk-management framework, compliance programs, or internal controls, including its ability to control lapses or deficiencies in financial reporting or to effectively mitigate or manage operational risk; • the efficacy of the Company’s methods or models in assessing business strategies or opportunities or in valuing, measuring, monitoring, or managing positions or risk; • the Company’s ability to keep pace with changes in technology that affect the Company or its customers, counterparties, or competitors; • mergers, acquisitions, or dispositions, including the Company’s ability to integrate acquisitions and divest assets; • the adequacy of the Company’s succession planning for key executives or other personnel; • the Company’s ability to grow revenue, control expenses, or attract and retain qualified employees; • natural disasters, war, terrorist activities, including instability in the Middle East and Russia's military action in Ukraine, pandemics, and their effects on economic and business environment in which the Company operates; • macroeconomic and adverse developments and uncertainties related to the collateral effects of the collapse of, and challenges for, domestic and international banks, including the impacts to the U.S. and global economies and reputational harm to the U.S. banking system; or • other assumptions, risks, or uncertainties described in the Risk Factors (Item 1A), Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Item 7), or the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8) in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or described in any of the Company’s annual, quarterly or current reports.
While no list of assumptions, risks, or uncertainties could be complete, some of the factors that may cause actual results or other future events, circumstances, or aspirations to differ from those in forward-looking statements include: • local, regional, national, or international business, economic, or political conditions or events; • changes in laws or the regulatory environment, including as a result of financial-services legislation or regulation; • changes in monetary, fiscal, or trade laws or policies, including as a result of actions by central banks or supranational authorities; • the pace and magnitude of interest rate movements; • changes in accounting standards or policies; • shifts in investor sentiment or behavior in the securities, capital, or other financial markets, including changes in market liquidity or volatility or changes in interest or currency rates; • changes in spending, borrowing, or saving by businesses or households; • the Company’s ability to effectively manage capital or liquidity or to effectively attract or deploy deposits; • changes in any credit rating assigned to the Company or its affiliates; • adverse publicity or other reputational harm to the Company; • changes in the Company’s corporate strategies, the composition of its assets, or the way in which it funds those assets; • the Company’s ability to develop, maintain, or market products or services or to absorb unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with those products or services; 36 • the Company’s ability to innovate to anticipate the needs of current or future customers, to successfully compete in its chosen business lines, to increase or hold market share in changing competitive environments, or to deal with pricing or other competitive pressures; • changes in the credit, liquidity, or other condition of the Company’s customers, counterparties, or competitors; • the Company’s ability to effectively deal with economic, business, or market slowdowns or disruptions; • judicial, regulatory, or administrative investigations, proceedings, disputes, or rulings that create uncertainty for, or are adverse to, the Company or the financial-services industry; • the Company’s ability to address changing or stricter regulatory or other governmental supervision or requirements; • the Company’s ability to maintain secure and functional financial, accounting, technology, data processing, or other operating systems or facilities, including its capacity to withstand cyber-attacks; • the adequacy of the Company’s corporate governance, risk-management framework, compliance programs, or internal controls, including its ability to control lapses or deficiencies in financial reporting or to effectively mitigate or manage operational risk; • the efficacy of the Company’s methods or models in assessing business strategies or opportunities or in valuing, measuring, monitoring, or managing positions or risk; • the Company’s ability to keep pace with changes in technology that affect the Company or its customers, counterparties, or competitors; • mergers, acquisitions, or dispositions, including the Company’s ability to integrate acquisitions and divest assets; • the Company’s ability to complete the planned issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the forward sale agreements; • the Company’s ability to manage the expenses associated with the merger with HTLF and the impact these expenses may have on the Company’s financial results; • the benefits from the merger with HTLF may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; • the Company’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate the merger of HTLF; • the adequacy of the Company’s succession planning for key executives or other personnel; • the Company’s ability to grow revenue, control expenses, or attract and retain qualified employees; • natural disasters, war, terrorist activities, including instability in the Middle East and Russia's military action in Ukraine, pandemics, and their effects on economic and business environment in which the Company operates; • macroeconomic and adverse developments and uncertainties related to the collateral effects of the collapse of, and challenges for, domestic and international banks, including the impacts to the U.S. and global economies and reputational harm to the U.S. banking system; or • other assumptions, risks, or uncertainties described in the Risk Factors (Item 1A), Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Item 7), or the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8) in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or described in any of the Company’s annual, quarterly or current reports.
Trust and securities processing income consists of fees earned on personal and corporate trust accounts, custody of securities services, trust investments and wealth management services, and mutual fund assets servicing. This income category increased by $20.0 million, or 8.4% in 2023, compared to 2022, and increased by $13.1 million, or 5.8%, in 2022, compared to 2021.
Trust and securities processing income consists of fees earned on personal and corporate trust accounts, custody of securities services, trust investments and wealth management services, and mutual fund assets servicing. This income category increased by $33.4 million, or 13.0% in 2024, compared to 2023, and increased by $20.0 million, or 8.4%, in 2023, compared to 2022.
The tax-equivalent interest income totaled $26.4 million, $25.8 million, and $26.3 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. (2) Loan fees are included in interest income. Such fees totaled $17.7 million, $18.2 million, and $17.1 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. (3) Loans on nonaccrual are included in the computation of average balances.
The tax-equivalent interest income totaled $25.9 million, $26.4 million, and $25.8 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. (2) Loan fees are included in interest income. Such fees totaled $21.4 million, $17.7 million, and $18.2 million in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. (3) Loans on nonaccrual are included in the computation of average balances.
The Company’s HTM securities portfolio consists of U.S. agency-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, general obligation bonds, and private placement bonds. The Company’s HTM portfolio, net of the ACL totaled $5.7 billion as of December 31, 2023, a decrease of $170.6 million from December 31, 2022.
The Company’s HTM securities portfolio consists of U.S. agency-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, general obligation bonds, and private placement bonds. The Company’s HTM portfolio, net of the ACL totaled $5.4 billion as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $312.3 million from December 31, 2023.
The provision for credit losses, including provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures, totaled $41.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is an increase of $3.3 million, or 8.8%, compared to the same period in 2022. The provision for credit losses, including provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures, totaled $37.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The provision for credit losses, including provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures, totaled $61.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is an increase of $19.8 million, or 48.1%, compared to the same period in 2023. The provision for credit losses, including provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures, totaled $41.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
This follows an increase of $98.3 million, or 12.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2021. Average earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $1.9 billion, or 5.3%, compared to the same period in 2022. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to 2.52% for 2023 compared to 2.63% in 2022.
This follows an increase of $6.3 million, or 0.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. Average earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $3.3 billion, or 8.9%, compared to the same period in 2023. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to 2.51% for 2024 compared to 2.52% in 2023.
The amounts presented are not necessarily indicative of actual future charge-offs in any particular category and are subject to change. 2023 2022 At December 31: Allowance for credit losses Percent of loans to total loans Allowance for credit losses Percent of loans to total loans Commercial and industrial $ 155,658 42.8 % $ 136,737 43.7 % Specialty lending — 2.2 — 2.9 Commercial real estate 45,507 38.4 39,370 36.2 Consumer real estate 6,941 12.8 6,148 12.9 Consumer 1,089 0.7 494 0.7 Credit cards 7,935 1.8 6,866 2.1 Leases and other 2,608 1.3 2,221 1.5 Total allowance for credit losses on loans $ 219,738 100.0 % $ 191,836 100.0 % Table 5 presents a summary of the Company’s ACL for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The amounts presented are not necessarily indicative of actual future charge-offs in any particular category and are subject to change. 2024 2023 At December 31: Allowance for credit losses Percent of loans to total loans Allowance for credit losses Percent of loans to total loans Commercial and industrial $ 160,912 42.5 % $ 155,658 42.8 % Specialty lending — 1.8 — 2.2 Commercial real estate 77,340 39.5 45,507 38.4 Consumer real estate 4,327 12.4 6,941 12.8 Consumer 966 0.8 1,089 0.7 Credit cards 14,272 2.3 7,935 1.8 Leases and other 1,272 0.7 2,608 1.3 Total allowance for credit losses on loans $ 259,089 100.0 % $ 219,738 100.0 % Table 5 presents a summary of the Company’s ACL for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Noninterest expense increased $6.3 million, or 2.6%, primarily due to increases of $2.3 million in operational losses, $2.1 million in regulatory fees, $1.9 million in salaries and employee benefits, and $1.2 million in bankcard expense. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in technology, service, and overhead expenses.
Noninterest expense increased $11.7 million, or 4.7%, primarily due to increases of $6.4 million in technology, service, and overhead expenses, $5.2 million in salaries and employee benefits, and $1.0 million in bankcard expense, partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million in operational losses.