Solid Profitability and EPS
Reported net income of $72.9 million and diluted EPS of $3.35 for the quarter; company maintained full-year EPS guidance of $8.55 to $9.05.
Tax Services Momentum
Tax services performed strongly: total tax product revenue for the 6 months ended March 31 increased ~13%; consolidated tax services revenue reported at $96 million; Refund Advance originations increased by over $200 million; tax services pre‑income of $62 million, up ~30%.
Noninterest Income Growth and Mix
Noninterest income grew 9% in the quarter and represented 55% of total revenue. Within tax and card business: consolidated noninterest income from Refund Advance and tax fees rose 18% quarter-over-quarter and refund transfer revenue grew ~7% in the quarter.
Card & Deposit Fee Strength
Core card and deposit fee income (excluding custodial servicing fees) increased 22% year-over-year, reflecting contribution from existing partner growth and new contracts signed last year.
Loan Originations and Commercial Finance Growth
Loans and leases grew 9% at March 31; core commercial finance loans increased ~$588 million. Origination volumes were strong with $367 million in commercial finance originations (at yields above portfolio yield) and $945 million in consumer finance originations during the quarter.
Net Interest Margin - YoY Improvement
Net interest margin for the quarter was 6.3%; adjusted net interest margin was 5.32%, a 23 basis point improvement versus the same quarter last year (management cites improvements driven in part by lower rate-related card expenses).
Strong Returns and Capital Actions
Six‑month return on average assets was 2.75% and return on average tangible equity was 40.69% (seasonally elevated due to tax cycle). Repurchased ~855,000 shares at an average price of $84.15 in the quarter, with ~3.4 million shares remaining under the buyback program.
Liquidity, Balance Sheet Optimization and Strategic Wins
Liquidity remained strong with $2.7 billion available. Deposits were relatively flat year-over-year with average custodial deposits up >$250 million, supporting higher servicing fee income. Announced a 3-year extension with a leading money-movement platform after quarter close; management described a robust partner pipeline and continued focus on asset rotation and balance sheet optionality.
Culture & Operational Investment
Earned Great Place to Work certification for the fourth consecutive year; continued investments in technology, risk & compliance, and people to support scalability and partner needs.