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Webster Financial Corporation (WBS)

Q3 2013 Earnings Call· Fri, Oct 11, 2013

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Transcript

Executives

Management

James C. Smith - Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chairman of Executive Committee, Chairman of Webster Bank and Chief Executive Officer of Webster Bank Glenn I. MacInnes - Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Webster Bank and Executive Vice President of Webster Bank

Analysts

Management

John G. Pancari - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division Steven A. Alexopoulos - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division Bob Ramsey - FBR Capital Markets & Co., Research Division Ken A. Zerbe - Morgan Stanley, Research Division Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group Casey Haire - Jefferies LLC, Research Division Mark T. Fitzgibbon - Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P., Research Division Matthew T. Clark - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division Collyn Bement Gilbert - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division David Darst - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division Dan Werner - Morningstar Inc., Research Division

Operator

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to Webster Financial Corporation's Third Quarter 2013 Results Conference Call. This conference is being recorded. Also, this presentation includes forward-looking statements within the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Webster's financial condition, results of operations and business and financial performance. Webster has based these results -- these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in Webster Financial's public filings within the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 8-K, containing our earnings release for the third quarter of 2013. I'll now introduce your host, Jim Smith, Chairman and CEO of Webster. Please go ahead, sir.

James C. Smith

Management

Thank you, Kevin. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Webster's Third Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast. I'm joined by CFO, Glenn MacInnes, for about 20 minutes of prepared remarks focused on business and financial performance in the quarter, followed by your questions. Beginning on Slide 2. Webster delivered solid third quarter results, as our bankers continued to excel in service to our customers and communities. Solid performance was driven by several factors. A stable net interest margin, unchanged once again linked-quarter at 3.32%, was aided by strong commercial loan originations and resulted in another quarterly record for net interest income, which grew more than $5 million year-over-year. Commercial and commercial real estate loans grew at a 14% annualized rate from June 30, as well as 14% year-over-year. While core noninterest income declined $1.7 million from 1 year ago on a reduction of $5.8 million in mortgage banking revenue, total revenue, nonetheless, grew by 2%. Core expenses declined both linked-quarter and year-over-year, an essential outcome given the anticipated reduction in mortgage banking revenue. Positive operating leverage of 3.9% kept the efficiency ratio right at 60%, compared to over 62% 1 year ago. Improved asset quality was marked with another linked-quarter decline in commercial classified assets, a 5% decline in nonperforming loans and the lowest gross charge-off since the fourth quarter of 2007. Rising housing prices and lower debt service are having a positive effect on distressed consumer's payment behavior. Given linked-quarter loan growth of 2%, or 7.5% annualized, and improving loan quality, the loan loss provision was flat linked-quarter and up $3.5 million year-over-year. The result was an 8.4% year-over-year increase in core pretax, pre-provision earnings, a 1.5% increase in pretax earnings and a 2.3% increase in earnings per share. Return on assets reached 93 basis points and return on equity was…

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Thank you, Jim. I'll begin on Slide 9, which summarizes our quarterly trend of net income available to common shareholders and key performance ratios. Of note, earnings are up from both prior year and linked-quarter despite the adverse impact of this quarter's decline in mortgage banking and the $2 million of additional preferred dividend cost related to our issuance in December of 2012. As you see, return on average assets was 93 basis points in Q3, and return on average tangible common shareholders' equity was 12.43%. Slide 10 highlights our core earnings drivers. Over the next few pages, I will discuss in more detail the key drivers of our earnings growth but would note, our average interest earning assets grew $243 million, compared to the second quarter and our net interest margin remained flat for the third straight quarter at 323 basis points. Combined, this resulted in the quarterly record in net interest income of $150 million in Q3 and an increase of $2.9 million from Q2. Noninterest income declined by $5.9 million from Q2, primarily due to a dropoff in mortgage banking results, which were the result of a decline in mortgages originated for sale. This resulted in a reduction of $5.2 million in revenue that I will discuss in more detail on Slide 14. The last primary driver of our earnings growth is our continued prudent management of core operating expenses, which reflect a decrease of $1.7 million from Q2. Taken together, our core pretax pre-provision earnings of $75.1 million were $1.3 million lower than Q2, while up about 9% from prior year. Slide 11 highlights the components of our net interest income in Q3 compared to Q2. The quarterly growth in average earning assets of $243 million more than offset a 5-basis-point decline in the yield on…

James C. Smith

Management

Thanks, Glenn. In summary, Webster's third quarter results represented a continuation of our progress, as we implement strategies to produce positive and growing economic profits. We're building profitable relationships across the organization, adapting rapidly in light of changing consumer preferences and controlling expenses, while asset quality continues to improve and our capital position remains rock solid. We've taken another step this quarter toward our goal to be a high-performing regional bank. We're now pleased to take your comments and questions.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our first question today is coming from John Pancari from Evercore Partners.

John G. Pancari - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Your loan growth came in at the higher end of your guidance that you provided mid-quarter and at your analyst day. Can you give us just a little bit more color on what came in better than you were looking at the time you gave guidance? And what areas are you most positive on in terms of driving the growth in future quarters?

James C. Smith

Management

Yes. Actually, we're pleasantly surprised that the quarter ended strong. And I think those -- that's what actually occurred was strong, particularly on the Commercial Banking side, in virtually every area of Commercial Banking. Commercial real estate in particular and the multifamily group got a bump coming toward the end of the quarter. But generally, it was stronger-than-anticipated closings on the commercial side.

John G. Pancari - Evercore Partners Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Okay. And on that -- along those lines, in terms of the loan growth outlook, is it fair to assume you'll stay in this 2% linked-quarter range here in the coming quarters? Or do you expect a material change from that level?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes, John, it's Glenn. At least in the upcoming quarter, we feel pretty good about the pipeline. And Joe and -- Joe Savage's team have built a pretty strong pipeline going into 2014 as well.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is coming from Dave Rochester from Deutsche Bank.

David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Outside of that $1.2 million gain that you're talking about for 4Q in the mortgage banking line, just given your thoughts on mortgage activity going forward, where should we expect that mortgage banking line to normalize?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. So for the fourth quarter, I think, that we'll probably see settlements or volume for sale at around $100 million mark somewhere around there. The gain on sale rate, I would say, $150 million to $160 million. And so all in, I'd say, you'd probably expect to see $2 million to $2.5 million range, including that recapture of $1 million. Going into 2014, I think the more normal trend, given the mix between refi and purchased, you'd expect to see about $150 million to $200 million a quarter. You'd also probably see the gain-on-sale rate come down to more normal $125 million. So for the year, you'll probably see about $10 million on a full-year basis.

David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Great. So you definitely see upside from here in that line item?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. I think, quarter-over-quarter, and then going into next year, I think year-over-year will be down. But I think a more normal number for us is going to be $200 million a quarter and 125 basis points.

David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Great. That's good color. And then I was just wondering how much of the expense reduction this quarter potentially came from that mortgage banking operation? Did you realize any expense saves there?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Not -- it's not fully in the quarter. We did take some positions out. I think on the backside it was probably about 15% to 20% reduction in costs. But you don't see the full benefit of that in this quarter.

David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Can you kind of quantify what that full quarter benefit is?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. I mean, there has been some redirect on the consumer side on HELOCs and stuff like that. But I think, generally, it's about $1 million, $1.5 million that you'd see on an annual basis, as of right now, given the current volume.

David Rochester - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Analyst

Great. And you'd mentioned the stats from the CDs repricing in 4Q. Would you happen to have a schedule for next year? So is that -- the CDs that you're saying are going to roll off at a much lower cost than where we're seeing the cost for the total CD portfolios? Just wondering if you've got some of the higher-cost stuff rolling off next year.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. Not a lot of higher stuff next year. I mean, 58 -- I think the total portfolio is at $110 million. So nothing real big coming off next year.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Steven Alexopoulos from JPMorgan. Steven A. Alexopoulos - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: I wanted to start looking at the -- I guess, it was a 50-basis-point decline or so on the $516 million of Commercial Bank loan fundings. Are you guys needing to get much more competitive on price to put up the growth numbers you've been showing?

James C. Smith

Management

There has been competition on price, but we actually feel that our spreads have held up pretty well. In this case, we were comparing to a quarter that was an outlier on the upside when you look at Q2 for the reasons that I explained in my remarks. So yes, there is pricing pressure. But when we look at our performance -- and we measure this. Actually, we have an outside group take a look at it. We know that our pricing is holding up pretty well. And with spreads at about 308 basis points in the quarter, they're holding pretty well.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

The only thing I would add to that is that, Joe would -- we'd say in the commercial, the deals we don't participate in, the ones we walk away and split now about 50/50 between price and structure. And that was if you go back 1 year, it was more structure. The last 2 quarters has been more price, so it's sort of leveling out. Steven A. Alexopoulos - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: Okay. Are you guys noticing any disruption to the loan pipeline with a little bit of headlines around the government shutdown?

James C. Smith

Management

Not really at this point. I mean, we know that it's tough to get an SBA loan and working hard with our clients to make that happen. So where the government is directly involved, some concern. I guess the question is whether it's going to have a psychological impact at some point down the line. Steven A. Alexopoulos - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division: Okay. And just final question. With the efficiency ratio now just above 60% and you guys have spent a lot of time, right, getting that below 60% over the past year where you're saying mortgage is going to shake out, do you need to refocus the bank on new efficiency initiatives to make some traction there?

James C. Smith

Management

I would say we don't need to refocus because we're constantly focused on it all day, every day. And we continue to make good progress on the expense side, and you saw the Q3 relative to Q1 and Q2. And so we're looking at driving positive operating leverage by improving revenue and controlling expenses, including outright reductions in some areas. We've got programs for ECM, which is the Electronic Content Management, that could make a very significant impact on the expense side over the next couple of years. You've heard all the things we've been talking about on reducing square footage in the branch system, moving to the Universal Banker as we downsize the number of personal bankers overall because we're pushing transactions to the automated side. There are tens, maybe hundreds, of initiatives that are taking place in the company to control or drive down expenses even as we try to improve the revenue. So being at 60%, while we continue to look for ways to drive it into the 50s, is consistent with where we thought we'd be about now.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. The only thing I would add is that, also, if you look on the revenue side, obviously, we're up. Net interest income this quarter was a record for the organization. And where we're focused a lot of effort is on the Private Banking and Treasury & Payment services, which are fee-generating businesses. And we recognize that to be a top-performing bank. We need to get our annuity net interest income up as well. So that's another driver, in addition to all the expense rationalization.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Bob Ramsey from FBR Capital Markets. Bob Ramsey - FBR Capital Markets & Co., Research Division: Real quick on the margin front. Great to see that margins were stabilizing and sounds like it's going to be there -- stay there. I know you all said in the outlook it sort of assumes prepayments stay where they are. How much of a benefit was there from prepayments this quarter? I can't remember if you all said that in your remarks.

James C. Smith

Management

I didn't, but it was about 2 basis points. So -- and it's been 2 basis points for the last 2 quarters. So our core, if you just strip that out, say, our core of 3 21, was 3 21 again this quarter. Bob Ramsey - FBR Capital Markets & Co., Research Division: Okay, great. And I'm curious, too. I know you said that on the securities portfolio side, you think that yields probably have bottomed out this quarter there. But it sounds like you're still purchasing new securities below the portfolio yield. How was it that you sort of get to a stable overall portfolio yield?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. I think the premium amortization slows down as the portfolio goes out a little further, so that's a benefit. And that will be a -- it was a benefit in Q2 to Q3 and will be even more of a benefit going into Q4.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our next question is coming from Ken Zerbe from Morgan Stanley.

Ken A. Zerbe - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Analyst

Just a quick question on the taxes. Is there an opportunity for taxes to be lower? Because I know you mentioned the 30% as your expectation for fourth quarter. I believe that was your expectation prior to this. But if I read the press release right, you mentioned that, I guess, $0.5 million of the tax scheme that you took in the quarter related to reduction in your expectations for taxes this year. I'm just trying to make sure I get all the pieces right.

James C. Smith

Management

So that's the UTP runs, the state tax provision, which is going to bring us down to the 30%. It's already in that rate, so we think 30% is the right number.

Ken A. Zerbe - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Analyst

Okay, so no change there. And then just a broader question on the economic growth or the loan growth. We've heard from other banks just saying that the improvement that we're seeing in the economy, albeit however modest it is, isn't necessarily translating a ton into loan growth. Obviously, you guys are doing very well on the loan growth side. Is Connecticut, the Northeast just simply a stronger market? Or is there anything else specifically that's driving the loan growth aside from economic factors?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

What's happening here is we're taking a bigger share of what's out there than we were before. We've added some bankers in the last couple of years. And in addition to the strong core we have, have been able to bring new clients to Webster. We also have been doing very well in Greater Boston. We're seeing traction in New York and Westchester County and now down into the city. We have our commercial real estate operations are on a regional basis, so we've had some success in the Philadelphia area. So when you look at the loan portfolio, it's not just the franchise, but it's the region around us as well. So we've got a little bit of a bigger market there for CRE, for ABL, for equipment finance. And all of those have contributed to our growth. I really -- I want to really be clear that I think that the quality of our bankers and the reputation of the bank and our ability to put out a term sheet and then live by it is key in our ascension in the considered set.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Jason O'Donnell from Merion Capital Group. Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group: Glenn, I apologize if I missed it, but with respect to the mortgage banking business, what was the dollar volume of mortgages sold in the third quarter versus the second quarter?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

So the dollar volume of our pipeline, there's 2 pieces. One is what we settled in the third quarter, and the dollar volume went from -- Q2 to Q3 went from 216 to 198 so an 8% reduction there. On the pipeline, which was the bigger driver of the revenue reduction, the mortgage pipeline went from 210 to 100, or a 53% reduction. And then you -- then we also had the impact of compressing rates going from 154 to 60 basis points on the pipeline. Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group: Okay, 154 to 60. Okay.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group: Perfect. Great, that's helpful. And then on the expense front, given the objective that you all have in place to significantly reduce square footage going forward, how much do you think you can eliminate in the way of occupancy expense between now and, say, the end of next year?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

We're still -- I mean, I think, we're at a total of $49 million on an annual basis on occupancy spent. So I would say, take 10% off of that, somewhere around there. But does it all occur next year? No. Probably some into 2015 as well. Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group: Okay. So 10%, but that could be spread out between, let's say, next year and first of the following...

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes, at least. Jason A. O’Donnell - Merion Capital Group: Okay. And then Jim, on the executive management front, have you and the board come to a decision yet as to whether you'll be filling the COO role or is that still an open question at this point?

James C. Smith

Management

We have not, it's still an open question. I do want to say though that we've got a very strong group of executives here who have closed ranks and have taken up the responsibilities. And I think I've already said to you separately that we've laid out what our plans are. We intend to complete those plans and meet our timelines. We've got a very good talent development program here. We have succession planning at every level in the company. And so this really has been an opportunity, over the near term, for our team to move up and show what they can do and do extremely well.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is coming from Casey Haire of Jefferies.

Casey Haire - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Just a quick question on the loan growth guide, it feels, I guess, a little conservative. If we look back to your fourth quarters and years past, you guys have obviously done pretty well in the Commercial front with seasonality. I'm just curious, are you guys just being conservative? Or do you expect an acceleration and a slowdown on the consumer side of the house?

James C. Smith

Management

Yes. There was an acceleration last year in the fourth quarter, if you're comparing it to that, which was based off of a tax play or tax concerns, as well as, I think, it was the sequester going on back then, right? So there was a lot of pull forward last fourth quarter. I don't think -- we're not anticipating that in our forecast. And then I think that we'll probably also have some commercial real estate pay downs in the fourth quarter -- this fourth quarter as well. I think all things considered that that's why we are where we are from a guidance standpoint.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

And another thing, you mentioned the question about being conservative. I guess what we'd say is we don't want to overpromise. We're not conservative by design but we're careful.

Casey Haire - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. And then on the fee side, wealth management was down quarter-to-quarter. I know that's an area that you guys are optimistic about. Why would that be down in an up quarter for market levels?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

So last quarter was a record for the organization on wealth management. This quarter, it was down about $823,000, or that's what it is now. And about $200,000 of that was as a result of the sale of nonstrategic assets under management. So that's about a third of the -- the other 2/3 were, quite frankly, just seasonality, the lower volumes.

Casey Haire - Jefferies LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. Got you. And just last one for me. So on the capital management side, I know you guys are not focused on M&A right now. But why not use some of the excess capital? Or what's holding you back from using some of the excess capital towards share buyback, given a pretty attractive stock price?

James C. Smith

Management

Yes. Well, we've said that we would look at share buyback, but opportunistically. And that's just how we look at it. So we're funding our -- capitalizing our loan growth with the horizon looking pretty bright there. And looking at our dividend, what our payout ratio ought to be. And then we've got approved buyback capability that we'd use under opportunistic circumstances.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

The other thing I would add is that we've always done it with an eye toward our stress testing as well and the severely adverse scenario. And so that's another component as we look at our capital plan.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Mark Fitzgibbon from Sandler O'Neill + Partners. Mark T. Fitzgibbon - Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P., Research Division: Glenn, I wonder if you could clarify for us the -- you'd mentioned there was $1.3 million in revenue recognition that was delayed in the mortgage banking business. Why was that exactly?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

It's the mark on the asset -- this is the timing of the lower of cost or market accounting. And what it does is it requires you to mark the asset, either the lower of cost or the market, in this case, the costs. And then as you sell the asset, you get to realize the gain. There's about $1.2 million that we will sell in the fourth quarter. And if rates stay constant, we'll realize the gain at that point. Mark T. Fitzgibbon - Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P., Research Division: Okay. And then secondly, you guys have previously suggested a target for the reserve-to-loan ratio at sort of in that 1 20 to 1 25 range and you're basically there now. Would -- should we expect reserve releases to stop or slow dramatically? Or have you sort of recalibrated your target for reserve levels?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. So I think that when you look at reserve releases as a percent of earnings, it continues to come down, especially when you look at it versus prior year quarters. But really the driver there, Mark, is the portfolio quality, which, as you saw on our slide, continues to improve. So would it come down from the 1 27? Probably yes. I think that we've given guidance before saying that 1 20 was probably right, and we're always reevaluating that whether that's the right number. But that's going to be driven by the portfolio quality. You saw also that our charge-offs -- our gross charge-offs were down to the lowest level, at least in 5 or 6 quarters. So while net charge-offs weren't down, it was because of lower recovery. So there is a lot of favorable indicators that we're seeing both on the asset quality side and charge-offs side that lead us to evaluate our provision levels.

James C. Smith

Management

Right. So there is room for further modest reserve releases over the near term. But longer term, we'd expect that the provision would exceed the charge-offs. Mark T. Fitzgibbon - Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P., Research Division: Okay. And then lastly, you talked a lot about the strong commercial pipeline. Could you tell us, in dollars, how big that is today?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

So I think that -- going into $300 million.

James C. Smith

Management

It's -- yes.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

About $330 million. $330 million?

James C. Smith

Management

Around $330 million. It's probably 10% lower what it was at the end of the last quarter, but it's actually growing as we speak.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Matthew Clark from Credit Suisse. Matthew T. Clark - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Yes, just a couple of quick ones. You mentioned mortgage expense is expected to be down 10% in the upcoming quarter. Can you just quantify what the expenses were embedded in the second and third quarter run rates?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Absolute dollars, I don't have that in front of me. But what I would tell you it's primarily in the compensation line because it's staff related. And it's -- the first tranche is all temporary health, and over time go away in response to volume reductions and then it gets more into the core. You see our $900,000 decline in compensation quarter-over-quarter. A piece of -- a component of that is that, but it's not a full component.

James C. Smith

Management

Actually, we benefit from a very efficient mortgage banking origination processing, closing and the like. We only have about 100 people, or slightly less, that actually support from the back office all the activities we have with our 80-plus mortgage loan originators in the market. Plus, we've got 20 people in the Customer Care Center. We've got our branches, our banking centers that are referring business as well. So very efficient to begin with and very careful to structure it that way, but there will be savings in Q4. Matthew T. Clark - Crédit Suisse AG, Research Division: Okay. And then on the premium amortization front, can you give us what the change was there in the quarter?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Quarter-over-quarter, the amortization change was, let's see, about -- so it was about, let's see, about $600,000. If rates stay constant, you'll see an acceleration of that into the fourth quarter.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Collyn Gilbert from KBW. Collyn Bement Gilbert - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division: Glenn, just a question on the loan yield. Could you just tell us what the blended origination yield was in the quarter, and then also what the roll-off yield was of loans in the quarter?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Sure. The blended yield for the quarter, 3 79. Well, the production during the quarter. Roll off, I don't have in front of me, I'll have to come back to you. I just don't have that. Collyn Bement Gilbert - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division: Okay. Okay. And then on the securities side, with you kind of getting to the bottom end of the yield, are you finding yourself managing that securities portfolio more to yield or duration? Because I know you guys, in the last couple of quarters, have been putting on a lot of shorter-duration paper.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

I would say it's more toward duration. Collyn Bement Gilbert - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division: Okay. So even keeping that duration on the shorter end or trying to keep it where it is, do you still think yields can -- have bottomed here on the Securities side?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes, we do. Collyn Bement Gilbert - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division: Okay. And then just on the reserve comment. So if we're -- if we move, migrate to that sort of 1 20 or so over the next 3 quarters or whatever the timeline might be, are you anticipating then a pretty sizable drop in net charge-offs for next year? Because I'm just trying to reconcile the provision may be only up slightly for next year, you're still putting on some good loan growth. So I guess in order for that formula to work, it would have to assume that net charge-offs drop quite a bit.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. Our target is not to have net charge-offs at 47 basis points. So that will be a steady decline. You're not going to see it drop immediately. But I think a more normal charge-off number would be in the 30 basis point range. But it's just a matter of stepping down to that.

James C. Smith

Management

Right. And then going back to the comment made before, the overall asset quality, as well as the loan growth, will both be considered not only in terms of the provision, but in terms of what the overall coverage ought to be. The 1 20 isn't absolute at the bottom, it could be depending upon loan quality, it could be less than that.

Operator

Operator

Our next question is coming from David Darst from Guggenheim Securities.

David Darst - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division

Analyst

I wonder if you could quantify maybe what you see is the opportunity in the HSA Bank to integrate with the carriers and the exchanges?

James C. Smith

Management

Sure. Actually, our strategy in HSA Bank is to make sure that we have a full consumer-directed health care platform so that we provide the notional reimbursement accounts such as the health reimbursement accounts and flexible savings accounts, as well as HSAs, to give us a better opportunity to win business as we go forward, and to move upmarket to be able to talk directly with carriers and TPAs and benefits administrators, as well as large employers, and we've been moving in that direction for some time. We expect that platform conversion to take place sometime in 2014. It will give us the opportunity to offer that multi-purse product. So by doing that and recognizing that the world is moving more toward the personal responsibility, the consumer managing their healthcare expenses, it bodes well for growth overall in CDH [ph] accounts and, in particular, in HSA accounts. The providers that have the multi-purse find in the last 1.5 years or so that their HSA accounts grew much faster than they would have had they not had the multi-purse. Therefore, we think it's reasonable to expect a growth rate. We're not going to say it's going to keep growing at 20, but it's definitely double-digit growth in the foreseeable future. And it's even possible that adoption of these accounts could accelerate, which would create additional opportunity for us.

David Darst - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division

Analyst

As you work on the platform conversion, is there a point next year where there's like a -- maybe a one time step-up in the deposit base?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

No. The step-up will come from improved results in the enrollment period. Most of the enrollments for these accounts take place toward the end the year. So we see them really show up in the first quarter of the following year, because that's when the enrollments take place. And then as you saw in the second and third quarters, relatively modest growth over the balance of the year. So it's by having the additional capabilities that will be more effective in gaining market share from the carriers and the TPAs and the like. So it's not a step-up. As immediately as a result of the platform, it's what the platform allows you to do in soliciting for new business.

David Darst - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division

Analyst

Okay. And then maybe discussing the New York City hub, is there any particular focus, maybe commercial, real estate or CNI that, that team is targeting? And then, are you looking at that to increase the capacity or add more teams there? Or do you have the platform you want?

James C. Smith

Management

Yes. It's really -- it's broadly Commercial Banking, products and services, loans, deposits, cash management services. We already have our asset-based lending group headquartered where our regional president will be, which is part that we keep our expenses low as well. We already have begun recruiting additional bankers for that market. We expect, in particular, to see opportunities in commercial real estate, Middle Market, CNI and, as I mentioned, ABL. And of course, there's a big multifamily market there as well that we think that we could tap into.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Matthew Kelley from Sterne Agee. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: On the $257 million of originations in commercial real estate during the quarter, how much of that came out of the Metro New York multifamily business? And what was the yield on that, would be the second question.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

So out of the -- for New York, let's see, for the quarter. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: Yes, the multifamily, out of the $257 million.

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

I would say, probably $34 million. It's not a real big number. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: Okay, got you. And what were the yields on that compared to the overall commercial real estate origination yield?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Probably mid-3s. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: Mid-3s, got you. And then going back to the HSA Bank, how would you size up profitability for that as a stand-alone business? You take in deposits. You presumably are buying securities with that liquidity. You got a fee income stream. It looks like the fees cover the bulk of the expenses. So how would ROAs and ROEs stack up for that as a stand-alone business line? And how should we be thinking of that as that grows at detached [ph] rates going forward?

James C. Smith

Management

Well, we look at it really as providing low-cost deposits that have long duration and low elasticity; therefore, a very stable long-term funding source. So the way we look at it is to say, right now, the fee revenue covers about 90% of the expenses. Internally, we'd say we would price the deposits against our transfer price here for deposits of that duration. We put up higher capital against this business, as a deposit business, because it is a specialty business. And then we look at the kind of returns we get, and we definitely earn well in excess of the cost of capital. So if you are trying to figure out how to spread them, we'd say the spread, right about now, would be around 200 basis points. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: Okay, got you. And then I just want to make sure we're clear. You're trying to integrate your products with the Aon Hewitts, Towers of the World that are creating the actual private exchanges that we're reading about? Is that correct? Did you defer HSA Bank?

James C. Smith

Management

We're actually -- yes, we're trying to provide a product that would be useful in the exchanges, right, and integrated into the exchange, which we have not yet done, by the way, because the exchanges are just coming on. But we're -- that's part of the ramp up that we're doing, is ensuring that we are able to integrate with the exchanges. But in the meantime, we're talking directly to carriers. We're talking to large employers, TPAs, benefits administrators and the like, in addition to brokers and direct to individuals. But the health exchanges will be an increasingly important part of the business. Matthew Brandon Kelley - Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., Research Division: Got it. And then one question on expenses. You haven't really quantified or talked about outsourcing some of your IT operation. You had a separate agreement when you announced the Jones Lang deal on that front. Maybe just talk about that, give us a little update on what that is targeted to save?

James C. Smith

Management

I think we're still -- having just on JLL 2 quarters ago and FIS as well, we're still in the early stages of that. I mean, you're starting to see some of that come though on both the occupancy line and the technology. As I highlighted for the quarter, you saw that come down. But I don't have an absolute number for each of those. I think you'll see it become more pronounced in our trends as we go forward.

Operator

Operator

Our next question today is coming from Dan Werner from Morningstar.

Dan Werner - Morningstar Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Glenn, in the investment securities portfolio, are you transferring any securities, specifically agency mortgage-backs from available to sell to health to maturity, to kind of protect yourself from capital hits? Or -- and if you are fine, I'm just wondering, is that a policy or a strategy you're considering going forward if certain interest rates rise here significantly?

Glenn I. MacInnes

Management

Yes. I mean, we've been fairly consistent with being 50/50, our split. And new purchases are going more into the AFS portfolio. But I think we have retained -- I'm sorry, new purchases are going more into ACM [ph], but we have retained sort of that 50/50 split.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. We have reached the end of our question-and-answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to management for any further or closing comments.

James C. Smith

Management

I just want to thank you all for being with us today. Have a good day. Thank you, Kevin.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. This does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time and have a wonderful day. We thank you for your participation today.