Wall Street Transcript Interview with Lee Brady, Chairman and CEO, & Michele M. Thompson, President and CFO of LaPorte Bancorp, Inc. (LPSB)
67 WALL STREET, New York - February 5, 2013 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Southeast & Midwestern Banks Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This special feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs and Equity Analysts. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
Topics covered: Heightened M&A Activity - Consolidation in Regional Banking - Growth in U.S. Midwest - Regulatory Obstacles and Fee Income Replacement - Rise of Commercial and Industrial Lending
Companies include: Laporte Bancorp, Inc. (LPSB) and many others.
In the following excerpt from the Southeast & Midwestern Banks Report, the top management at LaPorte Bancorp, Inc. (LPSB) discusses the outlook for the regional bank and the industry.
TWST: Please begin with a brief introduction of LaPorte Savings Bank.
Mr. Brady: LaPorte Savings Bank was established about 140 years ago, as a state-chartered mutual savings bank. In October of 2007, we converted to a publicly traded mutual holding company in conjunction with the acquisition of City Savings Financial Corp. in Michigan City, Indiana, and recently, in October 2012, we completed a transition to a fully public stock organization.
We have eight full-service retail offices in LaPorte and Porter Counties of northwest Indiana. We've grown from approximately $250 million of assets prior to the conversion/acquisition in 2007 to just over $485 million as of September 30, 2012. In addition to the traditional bank lending and deposit lines of business, LPSB entered into the mortgage warehouse business in 2009. We were able to bring on an individual who had an extensive background in running this specialized type of lending, which has enhanced the earnings and growth of the company.
TWST: What are some of the business and growth opportunities for LaPorte Savings Bank today?
Mr. Brady: We are focused on expanding our commercial lending in Porter and Lake Counties, as well as Michigan City. Our greatest growth opportunity is the Porter County market. We recently updated our strategic plan, and our primary goal is focusing on growth and profitability, while maintaining asset quality. Capital management has become increasingly important since we just fully converted and now have excess capital as a result. We are deploying the excess as best we can, initially through the mortgage warehouse, and in time through growth in commercial lending and other core business lines. We recognize this will take a period of time and are cognizant of shareholder value, which is of course a priority for us.
TWST: So how strong financially are you at this point and are there areas that you're attending to or need to focus on?
For more of this interview and many others visit the Wall Street Transcript - a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs, portfolio managers and research analysts. This special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
