Improved Net Interest Margin and Earnings Highlight 2007 for Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area


MORRISTOWN, Tenn., Feb. 6, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area (Nasdaq:CNLA) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. Net income for the quarter was $708 thousand, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, compared with a $120 thousand, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share for the same prior year period. Year-to-date net income was $1.1 million or $0.59 per basic and diluted share as compared to $161 thousand or $0.09 per basic and diluted share for the prior year period. Highlights for the year of 2007 include:



  * Community National Bank completed its second profitable year in
    2007 with a return on average assets of 1.03% compared to 0.16%
    for the year ended December 31, 2006.  The return on average
    equity for the year ended December 31, 2007 was 7.23% compared to
    1.82% for 2006.

  * The strong earnings increase in the fourth quarter of 2007 was due
    to the recognition of a portion of the deferred tax benefit
    created primarily by net operating loss carry forwards in previous
    years.  The Bank recognized approximately 53% of the benefit or
    $655 thousand during 2007.  A valuation allowance for the balance
    of the deferred tax benefit will be maintained until management
    determines it is more likely than not that future earnings will be
    sufficient to use the tax benefit in the required time frame.

  * Net interest income for the quarter and year ended December 31,
    2007 was $934 thousand and $3.6 million respectively, compared to
    $820 thousand and $3.0 million for the quarter and year ended
    December 31, 2006, respectively.  The net interest margin for the
    quarter and year ended December 31, 2007 was 3.74% and 3.64%,
    respectively, as compared to 3.39% and 3.14% for the same periods
    in 2006.

  * Gross loans grew 5.6% for the twelve-month period from $73.0
    million at December 31, 2006 to $77.1 million at December 31,
    2007.  The majority of the loan growth was in construction and
    land development loans which increased 30.2% and residential real
    estate loans which increased 6.6%.

  * Deposits for the year ended December 31, 2007 declined 3.6% to
    73.1 million from $75.8 million at December 31, 2006. This decline
    is attributable primarily to the banks conservative pricing
    strategies as well as the lack of convenient branch locations for
    the Hamblen County market.

On January 28, 2008, the Bank opened a branch office located in a high traffic area in west Morristown. The added convenience provided by this branch, along with the experienced local staff, should spur future deposit growth.

Samuel F. Grigsby, Jr. CEO of Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area, commented, "The fourth quarter of 2007 and the entire year was very positive for our Bank. Now that we have established steady, consistent earnings, we should be able to execute our business plan and place branches in strategic locations, thus enabling us to grow, become more efficient, and increase earnings. Our net interest margin continues to improve, and that can only be a positive for future earnings. While 2008 may not be the greatest of years for the banking industry as a whole, I believe we are positioned well for the next rise in the economic cycle. Our markets remain strong, and we have not been affected as negatively as other parts of the country. It feels good to have established this earnings trend, and I think brighter days are ahead for our Bank."

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area's future activities. Such statements are subject to important factors that could cause Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include the factors identified in Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2006 under the heading "Risk Factors" which are incorporated herein by reference.



                     Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area
                                Financial Highlights
                                     (Unaudited)

                    Three-Months Ended               Year Ended 
                       December 31,                 December 31,
                   2007     2006  % Change     2007     2006  % Change
                --------------------------  --------------------------
                   All dollars in thousands except per share data
 EARNINGS
 Net interest
  income        $    934 $    820    13.9%  $  3,622 $  2,965    22.2%
 Provision for
  loan losses          7       60   -88.3%        96      209   -54.1%
 Noninterest
  income             104      129   -19.4%       403      317    27.1%
 Noninterest
  expense            978      769    27.2%     3,507    2,912    20.4%
 Income tax
  benefit            655       --   100.0%       655       --   100.0%
 Net income          708      120   490.0%     1,077      161   569.2%

 PER SHARE
  INFORMATION
 Earnings per
  share, basic  $   0.38 $   0.07   468.5%  $   0.59 $   0.09   558.9%
 Dividends per
  share               --       --      --         --       --      --
 Book value per
  share             8.63     7.89     9.4%      8.63     7.89     9.4%

 OPERATING
  RATIOS (1)
 Net interest
  margin            3.74%    3.39%             3.64%    3.14%
 Return on
  average assets    2.69%    0.47%             1.03%    0.16%
 Return on
  average equity   18.10%    3.38%             7.24%    1.82%
 Efficiency
  ratio             94.2%    81.0%             87.1%    88.7%
 Net charge
  offs / average
  loans             0.00%    0.01%             0.17%    0.04%

 AVERAGE
  BALANCES
 Loans          $ 76,951 $ 67,555    13.9%  $ 74,921 $ 61,444    21.9%
 Total earning
  assets          99,885   96,813     3.2%    99,488   94,484     5.3%
 Total assets    105,154  102,356     2.7%   104,450   98,896     5.6%
 Deposits         73,805   73,883    -0.1%    74,910   77,789    -3.7%
 Borrowed funds   15,178   13,658    11.1%    14,072   11,735    19.9%
 Stockholders'
  equity          15,647   14,206    10.1%    14,886    8,864    67.9%

                              As of December 31,      %
 END OF PERIOD BALANCES        2007        2006    Change
                             ----------------------------
 Loans                       $ 77,051   $ 72,971      5.6%
 Reserve for loan losses          702        734     -4.4%
 Total earning assets         100,695     98,922      1.8%
 Total assets                 106,519    104,348      2.1%
 Deposits                      73,125     75,823     -3.6%
 Borrowed funds                16,471     13,631     20.8%
 Stockholders' equity          16,327     14,300     14.2%

 ASSET QUALITY (END OF 
  PERIOD)                            
 Loans 90 days past due and 
  still accruing             $     --   $     17
 Nonaccrual loans                  20        295
 Foreclosed assets                505         --
                             -------------------
  Total nonperforming assets $    525   $    312
 Nonperforming assets / 
  total assets                   0.49%      0.30%
 Allowance for loan losses / 
  total loans                    0.91%      1.01%

 (1) Net income has been annualized for the quarterly calculations 
     and assumes the same net income result for each quarter.

            

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