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Zions Bancorporation, National Association: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 October 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings per share rose to $1.78: Net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $262 million and diluted EPS $1.78, up from $221 million and $1.48 a year earlier. Second-quarter figures were $452 million and $3.05. Source
  • Improved credit quality lifted earnings: Management attributed higher earnings mainly to improved credit quality, with net loan charge-offs of $3 million against $56 million a year earlier. Source
  • Margin fell despite higher income: Net interest margin was 3.23%, against 3.28% a year earlier and 3.27% in the second quarter. Deposit growth reduced reliance on higher-cost borrowed funds. Source
  • Customer fee income up 18%: Customer-related noninterest income was $192 million, up 18%. Excluding net CVA changes, adjusted customer-related income was $182 million, up 5%. Source
  • Expenses rose 5% on pay and tech: Noninterest expense was $553 million, up 5%. Adjusted noninterest expense was $549 million, up 6%. Salaries rose $8 million and technology costs rose $6 million. Source
  • Efficiency ratio widened versus year ago: The efficiency ratio was 61.9%, against 59.6% a year earlier. It improved from 62.2% in the second quarter. Source
  • Deposits grew, led by interest-bearing: Total deposits were $77.9 billion, up $3.1 billion. Customer deposits excluding brokered rose 5% to $74.5 billion, including about $6.6 billion of reciprocal deposits. Source
  • Provision turned to a benefit: Provision for credit losses was an $8 million benefit, against a $49 million expense a year earlier and a $3 million expense in the second quarter. Source
  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.8%: The estimated CET1 capital ratio was 11.8%, against 11.3% a year earlier. CET1 capital was $8.3 billion, up 7% from a year earlier. Source

“This multifamily finance platform becomes an important strategic advantage in serving our commercial real estate clients, particularly in the fast-growing western markets we serve.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Acquisition of the Basis Multifamily Finance agency lending platform was completed in July 2026. Source
  • New: From the third quarter of 2026, derivative collateral interest expense is included in interest-bearing deposits rather than other short-term borrowings, which raised the reported cost of deposits by about 3 bps. Source

Earnings and results

  • Earnings per share rose to $1.78: Net earnings applicable to common shareholders were $262 million and diluted EPS $1.78, up from $221 million and $1.48 a year earlier. Second-quarter figures were $452 million and $3.05. Source
  • Improved credit quality lifted earnings: Management attributed higher earnings mainly to improved credit quality, with net loan charge-offs of $3 million against $56 million a year earlier. Source
  • Pre-provision revenue slightly lower: Adjusted PPNR was $338 million against $352 million a year earlier. Second-quarter adjusted PPNR was $332 million. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income rose 2%: Net interest income was $684 million, up $12 million from a year earlier, reflecting lower funding costs and balance sheet mix changes. Sequentially it rose $7 million. Source
  • Margin fell despite higher income: Net interest margin was 3.23%, against 3.28% a year earlier and 3.27% in the second quarter. Deposit growth reduced reliance on higher-cost borrowed funds. Source
  • Deposit costs rose from second quarter: Cost of deposits was 1.59%, against 1.67% a year earlier and 1.48% in the second quarter. Management cited a shift toward interest-bearing deposits and a presentation change. Source
  • Asset yields fell with rates: Yield on interest-earning assets was 4.91%, against 5.16% a year earlier. Loan yield was 5.63% and investment securities yield was 2.64%. Source

“Although an increased pace of loan payoffs, combined with a highly competitive market, produced flat loan growth compared to the second quarter, customer deposits grew nearly 10% annualized from second quarter levels.”

Harris H. Simmons, Chairman and CEO

Customer fees and capital markets

  • Customer fee income up 18%: Customer-related noninterest income was $192 million, up 18%. Excluding net CVA changes, adjusted customer-related income was $182 million, up 5%. Source
  • Capital markets income tied to CVA: Capital markets fees rose $22 million, largely from net CVA changes. Excluding CVA, they rose $1 million on higher swap fee revenue. Source
  • Noncustomer income down on securities: Noncustomer-related income fell $21 million, mainly on lower SBIC valuation gains. The second quarter had Visa Class B-1 share sale gains. Source

Noninterest expense and efficiency

  • Expenses rose 5% on pay and tech: Noninterest expense was $553 million, up 5%. Adjusted noninterest expense was $549 million, up 6%. Salaries rose $8 million and technology costs rose $6 million. Source
  • Efficiency ratio widened versus year ago: The efficiency ratio was 61.9%, against 59.6% a year earlier. It improved from 62.2% in the second quarter. Source
  • Incentive pay and outsourcing drove costs: Salaries rose on higher incentive accruals tied to performance and higher benefits. Professional and legal services rose $6 million on outsourced services. Source
  • Headcount lower than a year ago: Full-time equivalent employees were 8,996, against 9,286 a year earlier and 9,039 in the second quarter. Source

Loans, deposits and funding

  • Loans up 4% from a year ago: Loans and leases were $62.5 billion, up $2.2 billion, with commercial up $1.3 billion and commercial real estate up $678 million. Sequentially loans were down $9 million. Source
  • Deposits grew, led by interest-bearing: Total deposits were $77.9 billion, up $3.1 billion. Customer deposits excluding brokered rose 5% to $74.5 billion, including about $6.6 billion of reciprocal deposits. Source
  • Borrowings down, senior notes up: Total borrowed funds fell $1.8 billion to $3.3 billion as short-term FHLB advances declined. Long-term debt rose 64% to $2.4 billion on senior note issuances. Source
  • Loan-to-deposit ratio at 80%: The loan-to-deposit ratio was 80%, against 81% a year earlier. Management attributed the change to deposits growing faster than loans. Source

Credit quality

  • Provision turned to a benefit: Provision for credit losses was an $8 million benefit, against a $49 million expense a year earlier and a $3 million expense in the second quarter. Source
  • Net charge-offs fell sharply: Net charge-offs were $3 million, or 0.02% annualized, against $56 million and 0.37% a year earlier. Prior-year charge-offs included $50 million on two related borrowers. Source
  • Classified loans declined: Classified loans were $2.1 billion, or 3.40% of loans, against $2.4 billion and 4.00% a year earlier, mainly on lower classified CRE from payoffs. Source
  • Nonperforming assets lower year over year: Nonperforming assets were $315 million, or 0.50% of loans and other real estate owned, against $324 million and 0.54% a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio rose to 11.8%: The estimated CET1 capital ratio was 11.8%, against 11.3% a year earlier. CET1 capital was $8.3 billion, up 7% from a year earlier. Source
  • Tangible book value up 13%: Tangible book value per common share was $43.50, up 13%, mainly from retained earnings growth and lower AOCI losses. It was $44.74 in the second quarter. Source
  • Goodwill rose on acquisition: Goodwill and intangibles rose by $229 million with the July 2026 acquisition, partly offsetting the gain in tangible book value. Source
  • Dividend up and shares repurchased: The common dividend was $0.48 per share, up from $0.45. The company repurchased 1.1 million shares for $75 million; none were repurchased a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 October 2026

  • Higher net interest income expected as rates rise: Management expects higher net interest income as rates rise, citing a moderately asset-sensitive balance sheet. Short- and medium-term rates began rising in the last month of the quarter. Source
  • Noninterest income growth expected to continue: Management expects continued improvement in noninterest income to carry into next year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.23%
Net interest income Source$684 million
Loans and loan growth Source$62.5 billion, up 4%
Deposits Source$77.9 billion, up 4%
Cost of deposits Source1.59%
Provision for credit losses Source$8 million benefit
Net charge-offs Source0.02% annualized
Nonperforming assets Source$315 million, 0.50%
CET1 ratio Source11.8%
Efficiency ratio Source61.9%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited an increased pace of loan payoffs and a highly competitive market as reasons loan growth was flat sequentially. Source
  • External: The allowance reflected less favorable economic forecasts and scenario weightings, partly offsetting lower CRE portfolio-specific reserves. Source
  • Financial: AOCI carried a $2.0 billion net loss, mainly from fixed-rate AFS securities as interest rates changed. Source
  • Financial: Nonperforming assets were concentrated in commercial and industrial, consumer 1-4 family residential, owner-occupied, and CRE term loans. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Repurchases include shares acquired under the company's announced plan and shares acquired for its stock compensation plan. Source
  • Not stated: Marketing and business development expense rose, attributed to customer acquisition and deposit growth initiatives. 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.