Santa Cruz County Bank Reports Fourth Quarter, Year End Results

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank, (OTC Bulletin Board: SCZC), a locally owned and operated full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County, today announced earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009, the bank reported net income after tax of $203,000 compared to $17,000 for the same period ended December 31, 2008.  This represents an improvement of $186,000.  Net interest income for 2009 improved by $1.3 million over prior year as the bank's funding costs were managed to offset lower loan and investment yields.   Other contributing factors to net income included a decrease in loan loss provision during 2009 of $426,000 and an increase in non-interest income of $523,000.  Total Assets at December 31, 2008 were $229.1 million.  The bank experienced growth of more than $36 million in total assets during 2009, finishing the year at $265.1 million and capital that exceeds regulatory guidelines for a well-capitalized institution.

Total assets increased $3.1 million to $265.1 million at December 31, 2009, compared to $262.0 million at September 30, 2009. Gross loans increased $6.3 million, or 4%, to $156.5 million at December 31, 2009 from $150.2 million at September 30, 2009. Customer deposits remained relatively even between third quarter and fourth quarter, increasing by $100 thousand during that period.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the bank reported net income of $71,000, compared to net income of $218,000 for the comparable period in 2008. The decrease in net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 when compared to the prior year is primarily attributable to an increase in non-interest expense and an increase in provision for loan losses, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest income.

Net interest income increased by $214,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period for the prior year. This was attributable to a decrease of $235,000, or 39%, in interest expense from $598 thousand in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 to $363 thousand in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2009 even with deposit growth of 15%.  The changes in yields and costs are the result of the general decline in market interest rates that has accompanied the financial and general economic environment that evolved over the past 18 to 24 months.

The bank's provision for loan losses of $100,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 increased by $450,000 to $550,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009, reflecting the effect of the economy on the bank's borrowing customers and management's intention to be well positioned to withstand those effects.

The bank's non-interest income increased $319,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to the prior year. This was the result of increased gain on the sale of loans and investments as well as management's focused strategy to offset declining net interest margins with improvements in non-interest income sources.

Non-interest expense increased by $329,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same quarter one year earlier. The increases included expenses related to our growth as well as FDIC assessments resulting partially from growth in deposits and additional assessments caused by the large number of bank failures witnessed over the last two years.  Strategic measures have been implemented to reduce operating expenses during 2010.  These measures include the consolidation of our Business Lending Office into another existing facility and the reduction in staff from 70 to 65 full time equivalent staff.  One staff reduction resulted from the resignation of the Bank's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Sandi Eason, who left the Bank in January of this year.

David Heald, President and CEO commented, "2009 was a challenging year for community banks. Additional FDIC assessments to support our industry and continued economic instability continue to put pressure on earnings. We have adapted our operations to manage expenses and successfully navigate the bank in the present economy. In 2009 the bank achieved several significant milestones: the opening of our fifth location; surpassing $150 million in gross loans; $230 million in deposits; and $250 million in assets."

Annual Meeting Notice

The Bank's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on May 25, 2010 at Bittersweet Bistro at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  

About Santa Cruz County Bank

Headquartered in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Bank is a full service bank serving the banking needs of individuals and businesses throughout Santa Cruz County.  The Bank operates five full-service banking offices and two self-serve banking centers, all of which have received a Green Business Certification Award by the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program. The Bank's full-service banking offices are located in Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. The Bank commenced operations on February 3, 2004 in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz County Bank's common stock is listed on the Over the Counter (OTC) Bulletin Board under the stock symbol SCZC. More information on the Bank may be obtained through its website: www.sccountybank.com or by calling 831.457.5000.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.  

    
    
                           Selected Financial Data (unaudited)
                                 December 31, 2009
                                                            
                                                               
                                 Quarter       Quarter          Change      
                                  ended         ended      -----------------
                                12/31/09       9/30/09         $        %
                                --------      --------     ---------   -----
    
    Balance Sheet
    
    Total assets              $265,105,193  $262,035,379  $3,069,814     1%
    Gross loans                156,525,733   150,210,505   6,315,228     4%
    Allowance for loan
     losses                      2,898,478     2,545,379     353,099    14%
    Non interest-bearing
     deposits                   75,895,196    75,715,764     179,432     0%
    Total deposits             239,303,637   239,203,613     100,024     0%
    Shareholders' equity        19,592,977    19,452,637     140,340     1%
    
    
    
    Income Statement
    
    Interest income              3,026,098     2,948,926      77,172     3%
    Interest expense               363,308       376,941     (13,633)   -4%
    
      Net interest income        2,662,790     2,571,985      90,805     4%
    
    Provision for loan
     losses                        550,146       401,908     148,238    37%
    Non-interest income            588,946       537,675      51,271    10%
    Non-interest expense         2,571,465     2,622,623     (51,158)   -2%
    
      Net income (loss)
       before taxes                130,125        85,129      44,996    53%
    Income tax expense
     (credit)                       58,878        42,257      16,621    39%
                                    ------        ------
      Net income (loss) after
       taxes                       $71,247       $42,872      28,375    66%
                                   =======       =======
    
    
      Ratios
      Net interest margin               4.21%         4.31%
      Equity capital-to-
       total assets                      7.4%          7.4%
    
    
                                                                 Change
                               Year ended    Year ended   ------------------
                                12/31/09      12/31/08         $        %
                               -----------   -----------  -----------  -----
    
    Balance Sheet
    
    Total assets              $265,105,193  $229,100,085  $36,005,108    16%
    Gross loans                156,525,733   146,106,831   10,418,902     7%
    Allowance for loan
     losses                      2,898,478     2,885,298       13,180     0%
    Non interest-bearing
     deposits                   75,895,196    63,386,131   12,509,065    20%
    Total deposits             239,303,637   207,196,387   32,107,250    15%
    Shareholders' equity        19,592,977    18,987,974      605,003     3%
    
    Income Statement
                                Year-to-      Year-to-
                                  date          date
                                12/31/09      12/31/08         $        %
                               -----------   -----------  -----------  -----
    Interest income            $11,612,463   $11,453,697     $158,766     1%
    Interest expense             1,591,415     2,775,843  (1,184,428)   -43%
    
      Net interest income       10,021,048     8,677,854    1,343,194    15%
    
    Provision for loan
     losses                      1,250,196     1,676,176     (425,980)  -25%
    Non-interest income          1,979,111     1,455,894      523,217    36%
    Non-interest expense        10,388,305     8,433,453    1,954,852    23%
                                        --
      Net income (loss)
       before taxes                361,658        24,119      337,539  1399%
    Income tax expense
     (credit)                      158,787         6,943      151,844  2187%
                                   -------         -----
      Net income (loss) after
       taxes                      $202,871       $17,176      185,695  1081%
                                  ========       =======
    
    
    Ratios
    Net interest margin               4.34%         4.72%
    Equity capital-to-
     total assets                      7.4%          8.3%

SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank