Associated Banc-Corp reports Q4 EPS 70c, consensus 66c

Fourth quarter 2022 net interest income of $289 million was up 9%, or $25 million, from the prior quarter. Net interest margin of 3.31% was up 18 basis points from the prior quarter. "This quarter served as a fitting exclamation point for the most profitable year in our company’s 162-year history," said President and CEO Andy Harmening. "By listening to our customers and empowering our colleagues, we’ve enhanced engagement, deepened relationships, and delivered more meaningful solutions to the communities we serve. This momentum has enabled us to add nearly $4.6 billion in high-quality loan balances over the course of the year, expand margins, drive operating leverage into the double-digits, and enhance our profitability profile. Importantly, we’ve achieved all of this without abandoning our foundational discipline on expenses and credit quality."