Amerant Bancorp Inc - AMTB STOCK NEWS

Amerant Bank has appointed Jeffrey K. Tischler as SEVP and Chief Credit Officer, effective March 17, 2025. In his new role, Tischler will oversee Credit Services, Portfolio Management, and Credit Risk functions while serving on the Executive Management Committee.

Tischler brings over 20 years of experience in banking and credit risk management. He previously served as Chief Credit Officer at City National Bank in Los Angeles and held senior leadership positions at Fifth Third Bank, including Credit Risk Executive and Head of Wholesale Excellence.

The appointment aligns with Amerant's strategic growth agenda, focusing on strengthening credit and risk management capabilities. Tischler holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University and has served on boards including Camp Tamarack and Jewish Vocational Services in Detroit.

Amerant Bank has announced NBA star Bam Adebayo as its newest brand ambassador, strengthening its presence in South Florida. The three-time NBA All-Star and Miami Heat player will participate in the bank's marketing initiatives through advertising, social media, and community engagement activities.

As part of this partnership, Adebayo will be featured in marketing campaigns, promotional content, and exclusive events, including meet-and-greets at Miami Heat's arena. He joins Amerant's existing roster of athlete ambassadors, including Raheem Mostert, Averee Dovsek, and Matthew Tkachuk.

The collaboration aligns with Amerant's sports partnerships portfolio, which includes naming rights to Amerant Bank Arena and partnerships with the Florida Panthers, Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Fort Lauderdale United FC.

Amerant Bancorp (NYSE: AMTB) reported Q4 2024 net income of $16.9 million ($0.40 per diluted share), compared to a Q3 2024 net loss of $48.2 million. For full-year 2024, the company reported a net loss of $15.8 million compared to net income of $32.5 million in 2023.

Key Q4 metrics: Total assets decreased 4.40% to $9.9 billion, gross loans declined 3.90% to $7.27 billion, and deposits decreased 3.17% to $7.9 billion. Net interest margin improved to 3.75% from 3.49% in Q3, while net interest income increased 8.2% to $87.6 million. The efficiency ratio improved to 74.91% from 228.74% in Q3.

The company declared a cash dividend of $0.09 per share, payable February 28, 2025. Management expects assets to exceed $10 billion in Q1 2025, with focus on executing their Florida growth strategy.

Amerant Bancorp (NYSE: AMTB) has announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock on January 22, 2025. The dividend will be paid on February 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as of February 14, 2025.

Amerant Bancorp, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida since 1979, operates through its subsidiaries: Amerant Bank, N.A., Amerant Investments, Inc., and Amerant Mortgage, The company provides deposit, credit, and wealth management services through its network of 19 banking centers, with 18 locations in South Florida and 1 in Tampa, FL.

Amerant Bancorp (NYSE: AMTB) has scheduled its fourth quarter 2024 earnings release for Wednesday, January 22, 2025 after market close. The company will host a conference call to discuss the quarterly results on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 9:00 AM ET.

Chairman and CEO Jerry Plush and Senior Executive Vice-President and CFO Sharymar Calderón will lead the conference call. Investors can access the earnings results through the company's investor relations website at investor.amerantbank.com under the 'Financial Results' section. The conference call will be available via dial-in and webcast, with a replay accessible on the company's website for approximately one month.

Amerant Bank has partnered with Sedano's Supermarkets to launch a community initiative benefiting Centro Mater, a nonprofit serving underserved children and families. The partnership involves distributing over 40,000 reusable shopping bags designed by Amerant Bank team member Alexis Dominguez at all Sedano's and Fresco y Más locations across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Tampa.

Customers can receive bags free of charge or purchase them with a voluntary donation, with all proceeds benefiting Centro Mater. The bags feature Hispanic-inspired designs reflecting local community culture and promote environmental sustainability through reduced plastic use.

Amerant Bank has appointed Braden R. Smith as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer, tasked with identifying and pursuing business opportunities aligned with the bank's strategic growth objectives. Additionally, Sharymar Calderon, who has served as EVP and Chief Financial Officer since May 2023, has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President. Smith, previously Vice Chairman at Wintrust Private Client, brings over 25 years of financial services experience. Calderon joined Amerant in June 2021 as Head of Internal Audit before becoming CFO in May 2023.

MidFirst Bank, the largest privately owned bank in the US, has completed its acquisition of Amerant Bank's (NYSE: AMTB) Houston operations. The deal includes six banking locations, 45 employees, and Amerant's Houston client relationships. The transition of banking locations and accounts will occur over the Veterans Day weekend, with locations reopening as MidFirst Bank on November 12. Houston is described as a strategic, fast-growing market important to MidFirst's Texas expansion plans.

Amerant Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: AMTB) has completed the sale of its Houston, Texas banking operations and six branches to MidFirst Bank. The transaction, which closed on November 8, 2024, included approximately $573.9 million of deposits and $479.2 million in loans. The strategic move allows Amerant to focus on accelerating growth in its core Florida markets, specifically in south Florida and greater Tampa areas. The company aims to strengthen its position as the bank of choice in these markets.