State Bancorp, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results

• Posts Net Income of $3.2 million - up 65% versus 2009
• Solid Quarterly Net Interest Margin of 4.16%
• Tangible Common Equity Ratio of 7.11%
• Non-Performing Loans at 0.8% of Total Loans

JERICHO, N.Y., Oct. 18, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- State Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq:STBC), parent company of State Bank of Long Island (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $3.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2010 compared with net income of $1.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted common share, a year ago. The 65.4% increase in 2010 third quarter earnings resulted from several factors, most notably a $785 thousand reduction in operating expenses, a $500 thousand reduction in the provision for loan losses, a $422 thousand increase in net interest income as a result of an improved interest margin and a $247 thousand increase in net gains on sales of securities. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded net income of $7.9 million, or $0.39 per diluted common share, compared with a net loss of $2.1 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, in the September 2009 year-to-date period.

Commenting on the third quarter 2010 results, President and CEO Thomas M. O'Brien stated, "There are several very encouraging trends evident in our third quarter results. Most importantly, credit quality has remained fairly steady over the past few quarters. We continue to manage credit aggressively and proactively. While economic conditions seemed to slow noticeably in the quarter, the Company's loan quality indicators have been generally stable. The economy appears to be walking a fine line between retreating and modest growth.

"Even in the face of historically low interest rates, the Company's third quarter 2010 net interest margin remained very impressive at 4.16%. Operating expenses also continue to be a significant focus, declining by almost 7% from 2009 and 6% from the second quarter 2010. Additionally, our balance sheet liquidity is strong and all of the Company's capital ratios are significantly in excess of the regulatory definition of a "well capitalized" institution. In my opinion, the rewards from the aggressive strategies that we have employed have begun to materialize.

"While I cautiously anticipate a few more quarters with a risk of higher charge-offs and credit uncertainty, we seem to be on the downward slope of this extended and painful credit cycle. While we cannot control the overall economy, we have consistently and forcefully addressed its impacts on our business. Our often stated goal is to be among the first to exit this economic calamity in the strongest possible condition. That remains a primary focus.

"Despite approximately $67 million in new loan originations this quarter, total loans outstanding remained essentially flat as loan growth was met with reductions of $54 million from loan prepayments, normal amortization and sales. Quality commercial loan demand remains difficult to identify. Nonetheless, the new business opportunities that we are seeing appear to be among the best that we have enjoyed in recent times. It is our expectation that commercial loan demand will remain tepid until improved sales activity led by end user demand picks up. Without meaningful private sector job creation, we believe economic expansion will remain a frustrating illusion and growth prospects will be constrained for an extended period marked by elevated disinflationary risks and high unemployment levels.

"We continue to evaluate the outcomes from recent banking legislation. New standards and regulations are on the horizon and it is unclear at this time what their impact will be on the community banking industry. The longer term certainty is that this industry will bear significantly increased compliance costs and a higher cost of capital. Consequently, it seems inevitable to me that banking industry consolidation will accelerate as these demands increase. We are well prepared to capitalize on this opportunity.

"Management believes that the Company will be in a position to begin TARP repayment in 2011. We are evaluating several alternatives that would allow the Company to begin the redemption process in a manner consistent with our previously stated desire to carefully weigh and protect the financial interests of our shareholders in any such redemption. With a tangible common equity ratio over 7% and Bank level capital ratios significantly above the regulatory well capitalized minimums, the Company is operating with a very strong capital base."

Performance Highlights

• Net Interest Margin: Net interest margin was 4.16% in the third quarter of 2010 versus 4.06% in the third quarter of 2009 and 4.16% in the second quarter of 2010;  
• Capital: The Company's Tier I leverage capital ratio was 9.33% at September 30, 2010 versus 9.25% at September 30, 2009 and 8.93% at June 30, 2010. The Company's tangible common equity ratio (non-GAAP financial measure) was 7.11% at September 30, 2010 versus 7.17% at both September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2010;
• Loan Loss Provision: The third quarter 2010 provision for loan losses decreased by $500 thousand to $2.5 million versus the third quarter of 2009 and decreased by $3.0 million versus the second quarter of 2010;
• Asset Quality: Non-accrual loans totaled $9 million or 0.8% of loans outstanding at September 30, 2010 versus $35 million or 3.1% of loans outstanding at September 30, 2009 and $7 million or 0.7% of loans outstanding at June 30, 2010. Net loan charge-offs of $1.3 million were recorded in the third quarter of 2010 versus $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2009 and net loan recoveries of $279 thousand in the second quarter of 2010. The allowance for loan losses totaled $32 million at September 30, 2010, $29 million at September 30, 2009 and $31 million at June 30, 2010. The foregoing allowance balances represented 2.9%, 2.7%, and 2.8% of total loans, respectively, at such dates. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-accrual loans, excluding non-accrual loans categorized as held for sale, was 357%, 116%, and 444% at September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2010, respectively. The Company held no other real estate owned during any of these reporting periods;
• Operating Efficiency: Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2010 decreased by 6.9% to $10.6 million from the $11.3 million reported in the third quarter of 2009 and decreased by 5.6% versus the second quarter of 2010. The Company's operating efficiency ratio improved to 60.7% in 2010 from 66.6% in the comparable 2009 period. The Company's efficiency ratio was 66.5% in the second quarter of 2010;
• Loans: Loans outstanding at September 30, 2010 were unchanged at $1.1 billion versus September 30, 2009 and were up 1% versus June 30, 2010;
• Core Deposits: Core deposits totaled $979 million at September 30, 2010 versus $899 million at September 30, 2009 and $948 million at June 30, 2010. Core deposits represented 71% of total deposits in the quarter ended September 2010, 69% of total deposits for the quarter ended September 2009 and 68% for the quarter ended June 2010. Demand deposits decreased by 7% to $336 million at September 30, 2010 versus $363 million at September 30, 2009 and declined by 12% from $381 million at June 30, 2010. Demand deposits represented 24% of total deposits at September 30, 2010, 28% at September 30, 2009 and 27% at June 30, 2010;
• Performance Ratios: Return on average assets and return on average common stockholders' equity were 0.78% and 9.09%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2010 and 0.47% and 5.01%, respectively, in the comparable 2009 period. For the second quarter of 2010, return on average assets and return on average common stockholders' equity were 0.40% and 3.96%.

Earnings Summary for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2010

The Company recorded net income of $3.2 million during the third quarter of 2010 versus net income of $1.9 million in the comparable 2009 period. Net interest income increased by $422 thousand or 2.7% to $16.0 million in the third quarter of 2010 versus 2009. This increase resulted from a 10 basis point expansion of the Company's net interest margin to 4.16% in 2010. The improved margin resulted from a reduction in funding costs during the third quarter of 2010 versus 2009. 

The Company's third quarter 2010 average interest-earning asset yield was 4.93% versus 5.09% in the comparable 2009 period. The average yield on loans increased 11 basis points in the third quarter of 2010 to 5.56%. This improvement was due in part to the significant decline in non-accrual loans recorded in 2010 but was offset by a 79 basis point decline in the average yield on the Company's securities portfolio to 3.45% in the third quarter of 2010 versus 2009. The securities portfolio, which had an unrealized positive pre-tax mark to fair value of $9 million at September 30, 2010 and an estimated weighted average life of 2.4 years, increased by $31 million to $426 million at September 30, 2010 versus the comparable 2009 date and also increased by $57 million from June 30, 2010.

Contributing to the Company's lower funding costs in 2010 was a 36 basis point reduction in the Company's average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.07% in the third quarter of 2010 versus 1.43% in the third quarter of 2009. The lower cost of funds resulted from growth in savings account balances in 2010 (up $107 million or 20%) coupled with the Company's ongoing management of deposit rates during the past year as deposit pricing continues to ease in local markets. Total deposits increased by $78 million to $1.4 billion at September 30, 2010 versus September 30, 2009 but remained stable compared to June 30, 2010. Also contributing to the reduction in 2010 funding costs was the Company's December 2009 exchange of its high-cost $10 million, 8.25% subordinated notes, which were due to mature in 2013, for newly issued common stock.

The provision for loan losses was $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2010, representing a decline of $500 thousand versus the comparable 2009 period. The third quarter 2010 provision for loan losses exceeded net charge-offs by $1.2 million.

Net gains on sales of securities were $733 thousand in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $486 thousand for the same period last year and $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Third quarter 2010 total operating expenses decreased by $785 thousand or 6.9% to $10.6 million compared to the third quarter of 2009. This decline was primarily due to a $1.2 million reduction in other operating expenses resulting principally from a $1.0 million charge recorded in the third quarter of 2009 to write-down the carrying value of loans held for sale to their estimated fair value. Partially offsetting the foregoing expense reduction was a $377 thousand increase in marketing and advertising costs in the third quarter of 2010 versus 2009 as the result of enhanced corporate branding efforts.

The Company recorded income tax expense of $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 versus $1.1 million in the comparable period a year ago.

Earnings Summary for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

The increase in net income in the first nine months of 2010 to $7.9 million compared with a net loss of $2.1 million for the first nine months of 2009 resulted from several factors, most notably a $6.3 million decrease in the provision for loan losses and increases in net interest income and non-interest income of $3.0 million and $5.9 million, respectively.

The increase in net interest income was due to a 28 basis point widening of the Company's net interest margin to 4.27% in 2010 from 3.99% a year ago. The decrease in the provision for loan losses in 2010 versus the comparable 2009 period was due to several factors, most notably a significant reduction in non-accrual loans in 2010.

The growth in non-interest income in 2010 resulted principally from a $2.3 million increase in net gains on sales of securities coupled with a $4.0 million decrease in non-cash other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges. Deposit service charge income declined by $318 thousand in 2010 principally due to a lower volume of overdraft and other service charges.

Total operating expenses decreased by $304 thousand or 0.9% to $32.7 million in 2010, primarily due to a $1.0 million charge recorded in the third quarter of 2009 to write-down the carrying value of loans held for sale to their estimated fair value and a $918 thousand decrease in FDIC and NYS assessment expenses in 2010 resulting primarily from a $730 thousand FDIC special assessment recorded in the second quarter of 2009. These decreases were offset by a $1.3 million increase in salaries and other employee benefits expenses resulting from increases in performance-based compensation accruals. In addition, marketing and advertising expenses increased by $533 thousand in 2010 to $1.3 million due to an expanded corporate advertising and branding campaign.

The Company recorded a $4.7 million income tax expense in the first nine months of 2010 versus a $914 thousand income tax benefit in the comparable 2009 period.

Asset Quality

Non-accrual loans totaled $9 million or 0.8% of total loans outstanding at September 30, 2010 versus $35 million or 3.1% of total loans outstanding at September 30, 2009 and $7 million or 0.7% of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2010. The decrease in non-accrual loans at September 30, 2010 compared to September 30, 2009 resulted primarily from loan sales and charge-offs during the fourth quarter of 2009. The $2 million increase in non-accrual loans at September 30, 2010 compared with June 30, 2010 was primarily due to the addition to non-accrual status of one secured classified relationship which is in bankruptcy. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-accrual loans amounted to 357% at September 30, 2010 versus 116% at September 30, 2009 and 444% at June 30, 2010.

At September 30, 2010, the Company had $7.2 million in troubled debt restructurings, primarily consisting of a classified $6.5 million secured, performing land loan in Roslyn, New York, compared to $437 thousand at September 30, 2009 and $6.9 million at June 30, 2010. The borrower requested and was granted an interest rate concession. This credit has been on the Company's watch list since 2008 and is fully advanced.  

As of September 30, 2010, the Company's allowance for loan losses amounted to $32 million or 2.9% of period-end loans outstanding. The allowance as a percentage of loans outstanding was 2.7% at September 30, 2009 and 2.8% at June 30, 2010.  

The Company recorded net loan charge-offs of $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2010 versus net charge-offs of $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2009 and net recoveries of $279 thousand in the second quarter of 2010. As a percentage of average total loans outstanding, these net amounts represented, on an annualized basis, 0.5% for the third quarter of 2010, 0.6% for the third quarter of 2009 and (0.1)% for the second quarter of 2010. 

The Company has held no other real estate owned since 2005.

Capital

Total stockholders' equity was $154 million at September 30, 2010 compared to $152 million at September 30, 2009 and $153 million at June 30, 2010. The increase in stockholders' equity versus September 30, 2009 is largely reflective of net income earned in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and the equity recorded as a result of the December 2009 exchange of the Company's $10 million 8.25% subordinated notes for an aggregate of 1,656,600 shares of common stock valued at $6.50 each, partially offset by the net loss recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Company's return on average common stockholders' equity was 7.31% for the first nine months of 2010 versus (4.26%) in the September 2009 year-to-date period.

The Company has $20 million in outstanding trust preferred securities that qualify as Tier I capital. During 2010, the weighted average cost of the Company's trust preferred securities was 3.54% versus 4.32% a year ago.

The Bank's Tier I leverage, Tier I risk-weighted and total risk-weighted capital ratios were 9.23%, 11.89% and 13.16%, respectively, at September 30, 2010. Each of these ratios exceeds the regulatory guidelines for a "well capitalized" institution, the highest regulatory capital category.

The Company's capital ratios exceeded all regulatory requirements at September 30, 2010. The Company's tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP financial measure) was 7.11% at September 30, 2010 versus 7.17% at both September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2010.

The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock during the first nine months of 2010. Under the Board of Directors' existing authorization, up to 512,348 shares may be repurchased from time to time as conditions warrant. The Company does not presently anticipate repurchasing any of its shares in the immediate future.

Corporate Information

State Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for State Bank of Long Island. In addition to its seventeen branches located in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Manhattan, the Bank maintains its corporate headquarters in Jericho. The Bank has built a reputation for providing high-quality personal service to meet the needs of our diverse customer base which includes commercial real estate owners and developers, small to middle market businesses, professional service firms, municipalities and consumers. The Bank maintains a web site at www.statebankofli.com with corporate, investor and branch banking information.

Non-GAAP Disclosure

This press release includes a non-GAAP financial measure of our tangible common equity. A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are required to be disclosed by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and the Company's marketplace performance. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the numbers prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "is confident that," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and a variety of factors that could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in: market interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, the quality and composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, demand for financial services in the Company's primary trade area, litigation, tax and other regulatory matters, accounting principles and guidelines, other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, pricing and services and those risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC. Investors are encouraged to access the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC for financial and business information regarding the Company at www.statebankofli.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to publish revised events or circumstances after the date hereof.