Middlefield Banc Corp. Reports 84% Increase in Net Income for First Six Months of 2012

MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Middlefield Banc Corp. (OTCQB:  MBCN), parent company of The Middlefield Banking Company and Emerald Bank, announced net income for the second quarter of 2012 of $1,640,000, or $0.85 per share.  Net income for the second quarter of 2011 was $720,000, or $0.44 per share.  Net income for the first six months of 2012 was $3,163,000, or $1.72 per share.  For the same period of 2011, net income of $1,722,000 equated to $1.05 per share.

Annualized returns on average equity ("ROE") and average assets ("ROA") for the 2012 second quarter were 13.22% and 1.01%, respectively, compared with 7.22% and 0.45% for the second quarter of 2011.  ROE and ROA were 13.02% and 0.97%, respectively, for the six month period of 2012.  Comparable results for the 2011 six month period were 8.89% and 0.55%, respectively.

"We are pleased to report a solid increase in earnings for the second quarter and first half of 2012," stated Thomas G. Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer. "To have been able to achieve these results during a period of continued economic and regulatory uncertainty is testament to our strong staff and keen community banking focus."

"We have continued to see many positive trends in our operations during the second quarter.  In spite of the current interest rate environment, which the Fed has chosen to keep at record low levels, and strong competitive pricing, we have been able to maintain a level of stability in our net interest margin.  As we move forward in 2012, we will continue to remain firmly focused on delivering excellent customer service, increasing value to our shareholders, and operating our company under safe and sound banking principles," Caldwell concluded.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2012 increased $460,000, or 9.0%, to $5,577,000 compared to $5,117,000 in the second quarter of 2011.  The net interest margin increased 29 basis points to 3.93% compared to the 3.64% reported for the year-ago quarter.  Net interest income for the first six months of 2012 increased by $988,000, or 9.7%, to $11,123,000.  For the same period of 2011, net interest income was $10,135,000.  The net interest margin for the 2012 six month period was 3.91%, a 25 basis point increase from the 3.66% reported for 2011.

"The improvement in our net interest income was driven by deliberate strategies initiated by management near the end of 2009.  This included an effort to maintain the maximum yield on newly originated loans, while pricing deposits so as to reduce funding costs," commented Donald L. Stacy, Chief Financial Officer.  "However, the challenges relative to consistent net interest margin improvement are far from over.  The Fed's policy of maintaining a continued low rate environment has led to aggressive pricing on the part of many of our competitors.  These market pressures have contributed to a 23 basis point decrease in our yield on earning assets for the six month period.  We have been able to offset this decline because our cost of interest-bearing liabilities has fallen 49 basis points for the same period."

Non-Interest Income and Operating Expenses

Non-interest income increased for both the three and six month periods.  During the second quarter, the company recorded a gain of $296,000 related to the sale of certain investment securities.  In 2011, a loss on securities of $37,000 was booked during the second quarter, with the six month figure reflecting a loss of $22,000.  Also, for the six month period, fees related to debit cards increased $72,000, while income from investment services grew $68,000.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2012 totaled $4,041,000, a decrease of $251,000 from the same period last year.  The two largest components of this decrease were salaries and benefits, which was down $144,000, and loss on the sale of other real estate owned which improved by $291,000.  For the first half of 2012, total non-interest expense of $7,823,000 was $174,000 less than the 2011 comparable period.  As with the quarter, a decrease in salaries and benefits combined with a lower loss on sale of other real estate owned were the primary factors. 

Balance Sheet

The company's total assets at mid-year 2012 stood at $649.8 million, a decrease of $4.7 million, or 0.7%, from the figure reported at December 31, 2011.  Net loans at June 30, 2012 were $403.1 million, up $8.1 million, or 2.0%, over the year-end 2011 position.  Total deposits stood at $571.7 million as of June 30, 2012.  This figure represents a decrease of $9.2 million, or 1.6%, from year-end 2011.  The investment portfolio, which is entirely classified as available for sale, stood at $173.4 million at June 30, 2012.  This reflects a decrease of $20.5 million from December 31, 2012, with the funds being utilized for loan growth and deposit run-off.  Stockholders' equity at June 30, 2012, was $53.2 million.  Tangible book value per share was $24.47. 

Asset Quality    

For the three months ended June 30, 2012, management added $450,000 to the allowance for loan losses, which compares to $700,000 for the same period of 2011.  The comparable six months figures are $1,050,000 for 2012 and $1,565,000 for 2011.  The lower loan loss provision was related to a lower level of charge-offs and a decrease in the total of non-performing assets.  Net charge-offs for the first six months of 2012 were $117,000, or 0.03% of average loans.  The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2012 stood at $7,752,000, or 1.89% of total loans.  At June 30, 2011, the allowance for loan losses was $7,027,000, representing 1.82% of total loans. 

The following table provides a summary of asset quality and reserve coverage ratios.

Dividends   

During the second quarter of both 2012 and 2011, Middlefield paid cash dividends of $0.26 per share.

Middlefield Banc Corp. headquartered in Middlefield, Ohio is a multi-bank holding company with total assets of $649.8 million.  The company's lead bank, The Middlefield Banking Company, operates full service banking centers and a LPL Financial® brokerage office serving Chardon, Cortland, Garrettsville, Mantua, Middlefield, Newbury, and Orwell.  The company also serves the central Ohio market through its Emerald Bank subsidiary, with offices in Dublin and Westerville, Ohio.  Additional information is available at www.middlefieldbank.com and www.emeraldbank.com

This press release of Middlefield Banc Corp. and the reports Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission often contain "forward-looking statements" relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry and, specifically, the financial operations, markets and products of Middlefield Banc Corp.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.  There are a number of important factors that could cause Middlefield Banc Corp.'s future results to differ materially from historical performance or projected performance.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) a significant increase in competitive pressures among financial institutions; (2) changes in the interest rate environment that may reduce interest margins; (3) changes in prepayment speeds, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (4) less favorable than expected general economic conditions; (5) legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect businesses in which Middlefield Banc Corp. is engaged; (6) technological issues which may adversely affect Middlefield Banc Corp.'s financial operations or customers; (7) changes in the securities markets; or (8) risk factors mentioned in the reports and registration statements Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Middlefield Banc Corp. undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.   

SOURCE Middlefield Banc Corp.