South Plains Financial Inc. published the transcript of its Third Quarter 2025 earnings conference call. The call was attended by CFO and Treasurer Steven B. Crockett, Chairman and CEO Curtis C. Griffith, President Cory T. Newsom, and Chief Credit Officer Brent Bates. Management highlighted strong quarterly performance driven by net interest income expansion supported by a low-cost deposit franchise, improving credit quality, and higher profitability. Griffith said the company is positioned to accelerate growth through both organic initiatives and potential acquisitions, noting, “I believe the Bank is firmly positioned to accelerate our asset growth through both organic growth and accretive M&A opportunities.” The team discussed elevated loan payoffs that pressured loan balances in the quarter, but expects moderation into 2026 as the bank expands its lending team by up to 20%. Newsom said the hiring plan is focused on producers, adding, “None of that includes support staff. That’s all production,” and cited a base of “probably about 40” lenders, with growth coming from markets including “Permian, Houston, and definitely in the Dallas area.” The bank also reviewed margin and funding trends, including deposit growth and a modest decline in deposit costs, and addressed one-time items that benefited loan yields and net interest margin. Crockett noted, excluding these items, “our third quarter NIM increased by 9 basis points to 3.99% from the linked quarter.” On credit, classified loans declined, aided by the “full collection of a $32 million multifamily property loan,” and the provision for credit losses fell to $500,000. The company redeemed $50 million of subordinated debt at the end of its call period; Crockett said there was “no expense to redeem it.” On fee income, non-interest income declined quarter over quarter largely due to lower mortgage banking revenue tied to mortgage servicing rights valuation, though management said it is positioned for an eventual recovery as rates decline. The company also reiterated its disciplined approach to M&A, emphasizing cultural fit and financial criteria; Newsom said, “It’s, number one, got to be a culture fit.” The full transcript can be accessed through the link below.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. South Plains Financial Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on February 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.