** Shares of regional lender NBT Bancorp NBTB.O fall as much as 7.3%; last down 6.4% at $45.56
** NBTB late Monday posted a Q4 profit of 77 cents/shr, in line with Wall Street expectations, according to data compiled by LSEG
** However, Q4 non-interest expense jumped 13.7% to $100.8 mln, above analysts' estimates of $94.1 mln
** The jump came as NBTB shelled out more on salaries and benefits in Q4 compared with the quarter a year earlier
** Meanwhile, non-performing assets to total assets was 0.38% compared with 0.28% a year earlier, driven by a commercial real estate relationship that was written down to fair value
** Raymond James says slip in credit metrics raises concerns about future provisioning
** Adds that it expected a modestly negative stock reaction, given the credit slip-up and elevated expenses during Q4
** NBTB shares jumped 14% in 2024
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.