Credit quality remained solid with nonaccruing loans at 51 basis points and past due loans at 27 basis points; provision for credit losses was $600,000 and net charge-offs were $647,000.
In-market deposits increased 1% quarter-over-quarter and 9% year-over-year, while brokered deposits declined $25 million and FHLB borrowings rose $151 million.
Net income for Q2 2025 was $13.2 million or $0.68 per share, up from $12.2 million and $0.63 per share in Q1 2025.
Net interest income increased 2% quarter-over-quarter to $37.2 million with a margin of 2.36%, up 7 basis points.
Noninterest income was $17.1 million, excluding a $7 million sale leaseback gain in Q1, adjusted noninterest income rose 9%.
Total loans grew by $44 million (1%), with commercial loans up 2% and residential loans down 1%.
Wealth management revenue increased 2% to $10.1 million, mortgage banking revenue rose 32% to $3 million.
Strategic Focus on Residential Mortgage Credit and Portfolio Diversification
The company reaffirmed its strategic focus on residential mortgage credit, emphasizing deep expertise in this area as a core competency.
Recent acquisitions, including Palisades Group and HomeXpress, are aimed at enhancing capabilities in mortgage management, non-QM origination, and portfolio diversification.
The firm is actively selling assets and releveraging securitizations to support liquidity and income, with a focus on Agency RMBS and MSRs to balance growth and risk.
Impact of Rising Interest Rates on Mortgage Portfolio and Earnings
Management highlighted that higher interest rates have positively influenced investment income and mortgage persistency, contributing to strong earnings despite a slight decline in net income from $204 million to $195 million year-over-year.
The company benefits from a high-quality insured portfolio with embedded equity, which reduces default-to-claim transition probability, providing a buffer against potential credit deterioration.
The second quarter saw a 3% increase in U.S. mortgage insurance in force to $247 billion, with a stable weighted average FICO score of 746, indicating maintained credit quality amid rising rates.
Persistency remained high at 86%, supported by nearly half of the portfolio having a note rate of 5% or lower, which is expected to sustain elevated levels in the near term.
Management emphasized that the macroeconomic environment, including interest rates, is favorable for the company's buy, manage, and distribute operating model, enabling high-quality earnings.
Capital returned to shareholders totaled $650 million year-to-date, including $150 million in dividends and $500 million in share repurchases, with plans to repurchase shares toward the upper end of the $500 million to $1 billion range for 2025.
Closed Block segment earnings declined significantly to $3.9 million from $24.4 million due to unfavorable Long-Term Care (LTC) benefits experience, with the LTC net premium ratio rising to 94.9%.
Colonial Life segment increased adjusted operating income slightly to $117.4 million from $116.9 million, with premium growth of 3.6% and a benefit ratio of 48.3%, producing an ROE of 18.6%.
Core operations premium growth was 4.6% in the quarter, driven by strong persistency and natural growth within the in-force block, keeping the company on track for its full year premium growth outlook of 3% to 6%.
Group disability benefit ratio was 62.2%, higher than the prior year due to lower recoveries but still within the low 60s expected range, with a robust ROE in excess of 25%.
Group life and AD&D benefit ratio increased to 69.7% from 65.4%, driven by higher average claim size, consistent with expectations of around 70%.
Holding company cash ended the quarter at $2 billion with a risk-based capital ratio of approximately 485%, well above targets.
International segment showed solid premium growth of 12% on a constant currency basis, with adjusted operating income slightly down to $41.6 million from $42.5 million, impacted by inflation differences.
Investment income from alternative assets yielded 7% annualized, slightly below the long-term target of 8% to 10%, with total alternative invested assets valued at $1.5 billion.
Unum Group reported second quarter 2025 adjusted after-tax operating income per share of $2.07, down from $2.16 in the same period last year, reflecting earnings pressure mainly from claims experience in group products and the Closed Block.
Unum U.S. supplemental and voluntary lines saw adjusted operating income increase to $123.2 million from $115.2 million, with a benefit ratio of 44.3%, improved from 45.1% due to favorable benefits experience.
Dafinchi