Q4 2023 RBB Bancorp Earnings Call

Okay, got it. And then does that higher expense run rate for the first quarter, does that contemplate some hires that you guys have made recently? And if so, how do you guys kind of think about those hires impacting the growth outlook in both loans and deposits going forward?

Speaker Change: Thank you.

Speaker Change: I think without getting into all of the details of hires and, you know, the ins and outs of the salary expense, I think we believe we have the appropriate staff to be able to achieve goals in 2024 and grow appropriately.

Unnamed Speaker: We believe we have the appropriate staff to be able to achieve our goals in 2024 and grow appropriately. So I think it's all included in the number.

Speaker Change: so I think it's all included in the number thanks

Speaker Change: And if I could just follow up, are there any kind of guideposts that you guys can provide in terms of how to think about both loan and deposit growth during 2024?

Speaker Change: Thank you.

Speaker Change: So, I think that at the end of 2023, we have our loan-to-deposit ratio down just below 95%.

Speaker Change: I think, again, with the actions the bank took during 2023, and given the current economic outlook.

Speaker Change: We expect to participate in some loan growth.

Speaker Change: might be

Unnamed Speaker: Okay, thank you. And if I could just follow up, are there any kind of guidelines that you guys can provide in terms of how to think about both loan and deposit growth during 2024? So I think that at the end of 2023, we will have our loan to deposit ratio down just below 95%. I think again, with the actions the bank took during 2023 and given the current economic outlook, we expect to participate in some loan growth. Lightly.

Unnamed Speaker: It's a little bit premature to provide, I think, specific guidance there. We do expect to fund our loan growth with deposit growth as we move forward here. They provide a range, but it might be a little bit too wide at this point.