On its third quarter of 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 22, 2026, Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE:ASB) reported net interest margin expansion, which measures the difference between interest earned on assets and interest paid on deposits. Growing core customer deposits, which are low-cost checking and savings accounts, provides predictable funding for long-term loan growth. This organic deposit gathering lowers reliance on wholesale funding, which refers to higher-cost institutional borrowing. Three things management said stand out. Associated Banc-Corp added nearly $700 million in core customer deposits during the quarter, extending its household expansion to seven consecutive quarters. That deposit gathering lowers overall funding costs, so the bank doesn't have to rely on expensive borrowing. Management bought back $100 million of shares in the third quarter, marking its first major buyback program since 2021. The bank maintained a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio, a regulatory metric measuring core capital strength against risk-weighted assets, of 10.38%, so it's able to return capital while funding loan growth.
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