Brian Martin's questions to Bank OZK (OZK) leadership • Q3 2025
Question
Brian Martin asked about the ongoing build-out of the Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) group, including plans for adding more staff, teams, or verticals, and the long-term potential for CIB's fee income as a percentage of total bank revenue.
Answer
George Gleason, Chairman and CEO, and Jake Munn, President of Corporate and Institutional Banking, detailed a disciplined, revenue-gated approach to CIB staff expansion, focusing on recruiting top-tier veteran talent. Jake Munn highlighted growth in specific CIB groups like Natural Resources, Corporate Banking and Sponsored Finance (CBSF), and Asset-Based Lending Group (ABLG), along with the optimization of Fund Finance. He emphasized CIB's inherent diversification across 40-45 unique industries and the commitment to high-quality hires that align with Bank OZK's credit culture. They reiterated that CIB is in its early stages but is expected to show continued growth and momentum, with careful management of expenses and efficiency.