WSB Holdings, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

BOWIE, Md., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WSB Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSB), the parent company of Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B., (the "Bank") today announced results of operations for both the fourth quarter and the twelve month period ending December 31, 2009.  WSB reports net earnings of $209,000 or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2009, compared to net earnings of $327,000 or $0.04 per basic and diluted share for the comparable period of the prior year.  WSB reports net loss for the year ending December 31, 2009 of $5.7 million, or $(0.73) per basic and diluted share, compared to net earnings of $236,000 or $.03 per basic and diluted share for the twelve months ending December 31, 2008.  The decrease in net income for the three month period ended December 31, 2009 is primarily the result of a decrease in the gain on the sale of loans and loan related fees.  The decrease in net income for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009 is primarily the result of allocating an additional $9.5 million to the Company's Allowance for Loan Losses.  Non-interest income for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2009 decreased primarily as the result of an other than temporary impairment charge of $692,800 on one of our mortgage-backed securities.  

"While we have made progress in the resolution of distressed credits and we have seen some early signs of economic improvements, the lingering challenges caused by the recession and the impact of uncertain real estate valuations, resulted in the Company increasing our reserves by an additional $100,000 in the fourth quarter.   Although we are disappointed in the need for the additional reserves, we feel this is consistent with our philosophy of aggressively and proactively dealing with our asset quality issues," said Phillip C. Bowman, Chief Executive Officer.

WSB also announced the Board of Directors has suspended the cash dividend.  This represents a reduction of two cents from the prior quarter.  Mr. Phillip C. Bowman, CEO, said, "The Board feels that with the continued economic uncertainty that the decision to suspend the dividend for the foreseeable future was appropriate to ensure the continuation of a strong balance sheet.  The Bank continues to remain well in excess of the regulatory levels for being 'well capitalized' and continues to seek for new opportunities to grow the Bank in a conservative manner.  WSB is optimistic that there are opportunities for conservative loan growth and that continued reduction in the Bank's interest cost will help the Bank through this most difficult period.  We recognize the value of the dividend to our shareholders and remain committed to the long term best interests of our customers and of our shareholders and the return to the distribution of dividends as the market uncertainties improve."

About The Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B.

The Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B. is a $430 million full service community bank serving the business and consumer needs of the Washington, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Southern Maryland communities.

Headquartered in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, WSB serves the banking needs of growing businesses with commercial lending facilities, commercial real estate financing, residential mortgages, and residential construction financing for both developers and individual home owners.  The Bank offers a full range of deposit services and products for both consumers and businesses, through internet banking and its branches located in Anne Arundel, Prince George, and Charles counties.  Remote deposit capture services for our commercial customers now allow us a commercially viable means to serve the depository needs of businesses beyond our branch network.  The Bank continues to offer temporary FDIC insurance coverage of $250,000 per depositor through December 31, 2013.  This is an extension from the original date of December 31, 2009.   The relevant legislation provides that the FDIC coverage insurance will return to $100,000 on January 1, 2014.

For more information, visit http://www.twsb.com or call 301-352-3120.

    
    
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                                 (Unaudited)
    
                             Three Months Ended December 31,
                             ------------------------------
                                   2009                2008   % Change
                                   ----                ----   --------
    Interest Income          $5,805,000          $6,430,000     (10)%
                                                                
    Interest Expense         $2,967,000          $3,772,000     (21)%
    Net Interest Income      $2,838,000          $2,658,000       7%
    Non-Interest Income        $794,000            $840,000      (5)%
    Non-Interest Expenses    $3,099,000          $3,225,000      (4)%
    Provision for Loan 
     Losses                    $100,000            $130,000     (23)%
    Net Earnings               $209,000            $327,000     (36)%
    Basic Earnings Per Share      $0.03               $0.04     (12)%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share    $0.03               $0.04     (13)%
    Dividends Declared Per Share  $0.02               $0.04     (50)%
    Average Shares 
     Outstanding              7,851,656           7,563,523       4%
    Average Diluted Shares
     Outstanding              7,858,021           7,748,246       1%
    
    
    
                            Twelve Months Ended December 31,
                            -------------------------------
                                   2009                2008   % Change
                                   ----                ----   --------
    Interest Income         $24,632,000         $27,064,000      (9)%
    Interest Expense        $13,591,000         $15,538,000     (13)%
    Net Interest Income     $11,041,000         $11,526,000      (4)%
    Non-Interest Income      $1,819,000          $3,163,000     (42)%
    Non-Interest Expenses   $12,714,000         $12,636,000       1%
    Provision for Loan                                           
     Losses                  $9,450,000          $2,230,000     324%
    Net Earnings            $(5,716,000)           $236,000   (2522)%
    Basic Earnings Per Share     $(0.73)              $0.03   (2619)%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share   $(0.73)              $0.03   (2519)%
    Dividends Declared Per Share  $0.12               $0.18     (33)%
    Average Shares
     Outstanding              7,849,105           7,585,155       3%
    Average Diluted Shares
     Outstanding              7,849,105           7,910,908      (1)%
    
    
                                      As of December 31,
                                      -----------------
                                   2009                2008   % Change
                                   ----                ----   --------
    Total Assets           $437,954,000        $454,542,000      (4)%
    Non-Accrual Loans       $25,343,000         $18,327,000      38%
    Accruing Loans More
     than 4 Months 
     Past Due                $1,611,000                  $0       0%
    Non-Performing Loans    $26,954,000         $18,327,000      47%
    Non-Performing Assets   $32,607,000         $23,773,000      37%
    Total Loans Held-For-
     Investment            $249,236,000        $241,941,000       3%
    Deposits and
     Borrowings            $382,821,000        $398,255,000      (4)%
    Total Stockholders'
     Equity                 $52,857,000         $53,690,000      (2)%
    Book Value Per Share          $6.73               $6.86      (2)%
    Return on Average                                         
     Assets                       (1.26)%              0.05%  (2620)%
    Return on Average                                          
     Equity                      (10.58)%              0.39%  (2813)%
    
    
    
                                                                Excess over
                                                               Levels to be
                                        To be Considered      Considered Well
                                        Well Capitalized        Capitalized
    As of            Washington           Under Prompt          Under Prompt
    December 31,      Savings              Corrective            Corrective
    2009:           Bank, F.S.B.             Action                Action
    ----            ------------             ------                ------
                   Amount    Ratio       Amount   Ratio        Amount   Ratio
    Tier 1
     capital
     (to
     risk
     weighted
     assets)   $46,742,817  16.96%   $16,539,556  6.00%    $30,203,261  10.96%
    Total
     capital
     (to
     risk
     weighted
     assets)    46,701,267  16.94%    27,565,926 10.00%     19,135,341   6.94%
    Core
     capital
     (leverage)
     (to 
     tangible
     assets)    46,742,817  10.76%    21,729,517  5.00%     25,013,300   5.76%

Forward-Looking Statements: The statements in this release regarding the company's addressing asset quality issues, growth of the Bank, loan growth, reducing interest costs, reinstatement of dividends and market improvements  are forward-looking statements within the meaning of and pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assessments of potential developments affecting market conditions, interest rates and other economic conditions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement made in this release. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, further deterioration in the housing market or in general economic conditions in our market areas, the impact of new governmental regulations, and unexpected changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand and real estate values, as well as other risks and uncertainties, as described by WSB in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and in such other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Office of Thrift Supervision, which are available on the Bank's website at www.twsb.com.   WSB will not update forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after a forward-looking statement was made.

SOURCE WSB Holdings, Inc.