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Zions Bancorporation, National Association: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings up on year, down on quarter: Net earnings were $221 million and diluted EPS $1.48, against $204 million and $1.37 a year earlier and $243 million and $1.63 in the second quarter. Source
  • Net charge-offs rose on two borrowers: Annualized net charge-offs were 0.37% of average loans, against 0.02%. Excluding the $50 million on two related borrowers, remaining net charge-offs were $6 million, or 4 basis points annualized. Source
  • Provision rose on two large loans: Provision for credit losses was $49 million, against $13 million a year earlier, primarily from two large related C&I loans. The second quarter had a negative provision of $1 million. Source
  • Net interest margin rose year over year: NIM was 3.28%, up from 3.03% a year earlier and 3.17% in the second quarter. The cost of deposits fell 47 basis points while the asset yield fell 19 basis points. Source
  • CVA loss weighed on capital markets fees: Net CVA on client swaps was an $11 million loss, or $0.06 per share, mainly from a valuation methodology update. Capital markets fees were $24 million, down from $28 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Efficiency ratio improved to 59.6%: Efficiency ratio was 59.6%, against 62.5% a year earlier. Management cited operating leverage, as adjusted pre-provision net revenue rose $53 million. Source
  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.3%: Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.3%, up from 10.7% a year earlier and 11.0% in the second quarter. Estimated CET1 capital was $7.7 billion, up 7%. Source

“We’re pleased with the Company’s core earnings, which included 14% growth in pre-provision net revenue over the prior year period, and 18% on an adjusted basis.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Issued $500 million of 4.70% fixed-to-floating senior notes in the third quarter of 2025, which the company said increased long-term debt. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Earnings up on year, down on quarter: Net earnings were $221 million and diluted EPS $1.48, against $204 million and $1.37 a year earlier and $243 million and $1.63 in the second quarter. Source
  • Nine-month earnings and EPS higher: Nine-month net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $633 million, against $537 million a year earlier, with diluted EPS of $4.25 against $3.61. Source
  • Net interest income drove the increase: Net interest income was $672 million in the third quarter, up $52 million or 8% from a year earlier and $24 million from the second quarter, mainly from lower funding costs. Source

Credit quality and a large charge-off

  • Net charge-offs rose on two borrowers: Annualized net charge-offs were 0.37% of average loans, against 0.02%. Excluding the $50 million on two related borrowers, remaining net charge-offs were $6 million, or 4 basis points annualized. Source
  • Provision rose on two large loans: Provision for credit losses was $49 million, against $13 million a year earlier, primarily from two large related C&I loans. The second quarter had a negative provision of $1 million. Source
  • Classified loans fell from prior quarter: Classified loans were $2.4 billion, or 4.00% of loans and leases, down from $2.7 billion or 4.43% in the second quarter and up from 3.55% a year earlier. Source
  • Nonperforming asset ratio edged up: Nonperforming assets were $324 million, or 0.54% of loans and leases and other real estate owned, against $313 million or 0.51% in the second quarter and $368 million or 0.62% a year earlier. Source
  • Allowance down on lower CRE reserves: Allowance for credit losses was $725 million, or 1.20% of loans, against $736 million a year earlier. The decline reflects lower CRE reserves, partly offset by more adverse economic scenarios. Source

“The quarter’s credit results were marred by a $50 million charge-off, and a $10 million specific reserve established against the approximate remaining balance, arising from loans to two related companies in which apparent irregularities and misrepresentations were recently detected.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

Net interest margin and funding costs

  • Net interest margin rose year over year: NIM was 3.28%, up from 3.03% a year earlier and 3.17% in the second quarter. The cost of deposits fell 47 basis points while the asset yield fell 19 basis points. Source
  • Deposit costs down 47 basis points: Cost of deposits was 1.67%, against 2.14% a year earlier and 1.68% in the second quarter. Management attributed the decline to the lower interest rate environment. Source
  • Asset yields fell with lower rates: Yield on interest-earning assets was 5.16%, against 5.35% a year earlier. The loan yield fell 24 basis points to 5.91%, and money market yields fell 100 basis points to 4.67%. Source
  • Loans replaced money market and securities: Average loans rose $2.1 billion from a year earlier, offset by $1.2 billion less money market investments and $1.2 billion less securities. Average interest-bearing liabilities fell $641 million. Source

Loans and deposits

  • Loans up 2% year over year: Loans and leases were $60.3 billion. Consumer loans rose $1.0 billion, mainly 1-4 family residential, and commercial loans rose $394 million, mainly C&I. Loans were $531 million lower than in the second quarter. Source
  • Customer deposits up year over year: Customer deposits excluding brokered were $71.1 billion, up from $70.5 billion. Reciprocal deposits were about $6.8 billion, against $7.3 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Product move shifted deposits to noninterest-bearing: Noninterest-bearing demand deposits rose $1.2 billion year over year, mainly from that product migration, while brokered deposits fell $1.4 billion. Source
  • Loan-to-deposit ratio rose: The loan-to-deposit ratio was 81%, against 78% a year earlier. Source

“Although loans contracted at a 3% annualized linked-quarter rate in the quarter, deposits, excluding brokered deposits, grew at an annualized rate of 7%.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation

Fee income, costs and efficiency

  • CVA loss weighed on capital markets fees: Net CVA on client swaps was an $11 million loss, or $0.06 per share, mainly from a valuation methodology update. Capital markets fees were $24 million, down from $28 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Noncustomer income rose on property sale: Noncustomer-related noninterest income rose on a $6 million gain on a bank-owned property sale and higher FHLB stock dividends. Securities gains were $11 million. Source
  • Noninterest expense up 5% year over year: Noninterest expense was $527 million, flat from the second quarter. Adjusted noninterest expense was $520 million, up 4% from a year earlier. Source
  • Salaries rose on severance and incentives: Salaries and benefits rose $20 million, mainly on higher severance and incentive accruals tied to improved profitability. Technology costs rose $4 million on software, licensing and maintenance. Source
  • Efficiency ratio improved to 59.6%: Efficiency ratio was 59.6%, against 62.5% a year earlier. Management cited operating leverage, as adjusted pre-provision net revenue rose $53 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.3%: Estimated CET1 ratio was 11.3%, up from 10.7% a year earlier and 11.0% in the second quarter. Estimated CET1 capital was $7.7 billion, up 7%. Source
  • Common dividend was $0.45 per share: Common dividend was $0.45 per share, against $0.41 a year earlier and $0.43 in the second quarter. Common dividends paid were $67 million. Source
  • Tangible book value per share up 17%: Tangible book value per share was $38.64, up $5.52 or 17% from a year earlier, mainly from retained earnings and smaller unrealized losses in AOCI. Source

Securities, borrowings and AOCI

  • Securities down 6% on principal reductions: Investment securities were $18.2 billion, down $1.1 billion or 6% from a year earlier, mainly from principal reductions net of reinvestments. Source
  • Borrowed funds rose 51% year over year: Borrowed funds were $5.2 billion, down from $7.0 billion in the second quarter. Long-term debt rose to $1.5 billion from $548 million a year earlier. Source
  • AOCI loss narrowed by $280 million: AOCI loss was $2.1 billion at quarter end, an improvement of $280 million from a year earlier, reflecting lower fair value on fixed-rate available-for-sale securities. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.28%
Net interest income Source$672 million
Loans and leases Source$60.3 billion
Total deposits Source$74.9 billion
Cost of deposits Source1.67%
Provision for credit losses Source$49 million
Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized) Source0.37%
Nonperforming assets Source$324 million, 0.54%
CET1 capital ratio Source11.3%
Efficiency ratio Source59.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Nonperforming assets are concentrated in the commercial and industrial, term CRE, and consumer 1-4 family residential portfolios. Source
  • Financial: Recovery of amounts owed on the two related-borrower credits relies on guarantors, and legal action has been started to pursue it. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it does not intend to sell any securities with unrealized losses, and absent sales or credit impairment those losses would not be recognized in earnings. 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.