- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB +0.5%) after the close on Friday announced a Q4 increase of $13M in the loan loss allowance for its energy portfolio. The move brings the loss ratio up to 5.6% at year-end vs. 3.8% a quarter earlier, and will cut EPS by about $0.03. Full results are due on Jan. 21.
- The warning is notable, says Evercore ISI's Stephen Moss, in that the bank's $752M energy portfolio (4% of total loans) consists entirely of 1st-lien E&P credits on oil and gas reserves. Previously, Evercore had seen the greatest near-term risk to earnings as coming from oilfield services loans, but the ASB move suggests rapidly growing stresses for E&P borrowers.
- Lenders on watch include: Cullen/Frost (CFR -0.6%), where energy makes up 16% of total loans, Zions (ZION -0.8%) (8%), Comerica (CMA -0.1%) (7%), Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI +0.1%) (7%), Independent Bank Group (IBTX +0.9%) (7%), and Prosperity Bancshares (PB -0.9%) (4%). Cullen/Frost and Prosperity are reiterated at Sell.