BUZZ-First Foundation slides after surprise Q4 loss, asset quality deterioration

** Shares of regional lender First Foundation FFWM.N plunge as much as 13.6%; last down 12.7% at $5.47

** FFWM posts Q4 adjusted loss of 17 cents/shr, compared with Wall Street expectations of a profit of 5 cents/shr - LSEG data

** Q4 net interest income of $51.3 mln missed estimates of $54 mln

** However, Q4 non-interest expense jumped 20% to $67 mln, above expectations of $58.1 mln, driven by higher compensation and benefits

** Provision for credit losses rocketed to $20.6 mln in Q4 from $229,000 a year earlier

** Q4 net charge-off ratio spiked to 0.70% from 0.02% a year earlier due to full write-offs of three commercial credit relationships

** FFWM stock slumped 35.9% in 2024