Monarch Financial Holdings Announces Increased Cash Dividend on Common Stock

CHESAPEAKE, Va., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNRK) announced an $0.08 per share cash dividend on Monarch's common stock at their May meeting.  Shareholders of record on June 1, 2011 will receive their dividend on June 22, 2011.  This semi-annual dividend represents an increase of 14% over the $0.07 dividend paid on June 15, 2010 and November 30, 2010.  "2010 was a great year for Monarch and we are off to a good start with our first quarter 2011 performance.  We want our shareholders to know how much we appreciate their support by increasing the semi-annual dividend on our common stock," stated Brad E. Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer.

Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. is the one-bank holding company for Monarch Bank.  Monarch Bank is a community bank with nine banking offices in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, Virginia.  OBX Bank, a division of Monarch Bank, operates offices in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, North Carolina.  Services are also provided through over fifty ATMs located in the South Hampton Roads area and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and "Monarch Online" consumer and business internet banking (monarchbank.com).  Monarch Mortgage and our affiliated mortgage companies have over twenty offices with locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and South Carolina.  Our subsidiaries/ divisions include Monarch Bank, OBX Bank, Monarch Mortgage (secondary mortgage origination), Coastal Home Mortgage, LLC (secondary mortgage origination), Regional Home Mortgage, LLC (secondary mortgage origination), Monarch Home Funding, LLC (secondary mortgage origination), Monarch Investments (investment and insurance solutions), Real Estate Security Agency, LLC (title agency) and Monarch Capital, LLC (commercial mortgage brokerage).  The shares of common stock of Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. are publicly traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "MNRK", and shares of our convertible preferred stock are publicly traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "MNRKP".  

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of federal securities laws that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Statements herein are based on certain assumptions and analyses by the Company and are factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: changes in interest rates; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; significant changes in the economic scenario: significant changes in regulatory requirements; and significant changes in securities markets.  Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and the cautionary language in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

www.monarchbank.com

SOURCE Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc.