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SouthState Bank Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income was $246.6 million, up from $215.2 million in the second quarter. Reported diluted EPS was $2.42 against $2.11, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.58 against $2.30. Source
  • Net interest income rose $22 million: Net interest income was $600 million, up $22 million or 4% from the prior quarter. Net interest margin was 4.05% non-tax equivalent and 4.06% tax equivalent, against 4.02% in the second quarter. Source
  • Loans and deposits each grew 3%: Ending loans rose $401 million and ending deposits rose $376 million, each 3%. Average loans rose 5% and average deposits rose 5%. The ending loan to deposit ratio was 88%. Source
  • Provision was $5.1 million: Provision for credit losses was $5.1 million, against $7.5 million in the second quarter. The allowance plus the unfunded commitment reserve was 1.38% of loans, against 1.45% in the prior quarter. Source
  • Capital ratios reported on preliminary basis: Tier 1 common equity ratio was 11.5%, up from 11.2%. Total risk-based capital was 14.0%, down from 14.5%. Tangible common equity was 8.8%. September 30 ratios are preliminary. Source
  • Independent integration cited as completed: The CEO attributed the 20% return on tangible equity to the Independent integration, capital markets fee growth and balance sheet growth. Source

“Growth in top line revenue and bottom-line income led to a 30% year-over-year increase in earnings per share”

John C. Corbett, SouthState's Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly cash dividend per common share SourceDividend payable November 14, 2025$0.60 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Quarterly dividend held at $0.60 per share, the rate raised in the second quarter. Source
  • New: The company redeemed $405 million of subordinated debentures during the quarter. Source

Earnings and returns

  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income was $246.6 million, up from $215.2 million in the second quarter. Reported diluted EPS was $2.42 against $2.11, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.58 against $2.30. Source
  • Revenue rose led by net interest income: Revenue, non-tax equivalent, was $699 million, up $34 million or 5% from the prior quarter, with net interest income providing most of the increase. Source
  • Tangible equity returns reported higher: Return on average tangible common equity was 19.6% and adjusted return was 20.8%. Return on average assets was 1.49%, with adjusted return at 1.59%. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income rose $22 million: Net interest income was $600 million, up $22 million or 4% from the prior quarter. Net interest margin was 4.05% non-tax equivalent and 4.06% tax equivalent, against 4.02% in the second quarter. Source
  • Loan yield and deposit cost increased: Total loan yield was 6.48%, up 0.15% from the prior quarter. Total deposit cost was 1.91%, up 0.07% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Acquired-loan accretion rose sharply: Accretion on acquired loans was $83.0 million, up from $63.5 million in the second quarter. The remaining loan discount to be accreted totals $309.8 million as of September 30, 2025. Source

“The successful integration of Independent Financial, fee income growth in capital markets, and steady balance sheet growth resulted in a return on tangible equity of 20%.”

John C. Corbett, SouthState's Chief Executive Officer

Loans and deposits

  • Loans and deposits each grew 3%: Ending loans rose $401 million and ending deposits rose $376 million, each 3%. Average loans rose 5% and average deposits rose 5%. The ending loan to deposit ratio was 88%. Source

Fee income and capital markets

  • Noninterest income rose $12 million: Noninterest income was $99.1 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Correspondent banking and capital markets income increased, reaching $21.2 million net of centrally-cleared variation margin expense. Source

Expenses and efficiency

  • Merger-related costs fell from prior quarter: Total noninterest expense was $372.3 million against $375.1 million. Operating expense was $351.5 million, and merger, branch consolidation and severance related expense was $20.9 million. Source
  • Efficiency ratio at 50%: The efficiency ratio was 50%, or 49.88% tax equivalent. The adjusted efficiency ratio, which excludes merger-related and other items, was 47%. Source
  • Intangible amortization eased slightly: Pre-tax amortization of intangible assets was $23.4 million in the quarter, against $24.0 million in the second quarter. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Provision was $5.1 million: Provision for credit losses was $5.1 million, against $7.5 million in the second quarter. The allowance plus the unfunded commitment reserve was 1.38% of loans, against 1.45% in the prior quarter. Source
  • Nonperforming assets held near prior level: Total nonperforming assets were $320.8 million, little changed from $323.8 million. Nonperforming loans were 0.63% of period end loans, the same as the second quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Capital ratios reported on preliminary basis: Tier 1 common equity ratio was 11.5%, up from 11.2%. Total risk-based capital was 14.0%, down from 14.5%. Tangible common equity was 8.8%. September 30 ratios are preliminary. Source
  • Subordinated debentures redeemed: The company redeemed $405 million of subordinated debentures during the quarter. The second quarter had included issuance of $350 million of 7% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes. Source
  • Book value per share increased: Book value per share was $89.14, up from $86.71. Tangible book value per share was $54.48, up from $51.96. Source

Integration and strategy

  • Independent integration cited as completed: The CEO attributed the 20% return on tangible equity to the Independent integration, capital markets fee growth and balance sheet growth. Source
  • Company description updated: The company description now lists Tennessee among its states and says more than 1.5 million customers, against more than one million in the second-quarter release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 October 2025

  • Dividend payment date: The $0.60 quarterly dividend is payable November 14, 2025 to shareholders of record as of November 7, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source4.05% non-tax equivalent; 4.06% tax equivalent
Net interest income Source$600 million, up $22 million
Loans SourceEnding loans $47.7 billion, up $401 million (3%)
Deposits SourceEnding deposits $54.1 billion, up $376 million (3%)
Deposit costs Source1.91% total deposit cost
Provision for credit losses Source$5.1 million
Net charge-offs Source$32.2 million, 0.27% annualized
Nonperforming assets Source$320.8 million; 0.49% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source11.5% (preliminary)
Efficiency ratio Source50% (49.88% tax equivalent)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net charge-offs for the quarter were attributed mainly to one credit that was charged off during the period. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management describes the Independent integration as successful and links it to a 20% return on tangible equity. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.