Chino Commercial Bank Reports 109% Increase in Pre-Tax Earnings


CHINO, Calif., Jan. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Board of Directors of Chino Commercial Bank, N.A. (OTCBB:CKNA) announced the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004 with net income of $581,381, a 16.2% increase over net income for the same period last year. Pre-tax earnings for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $917,709, a 109.3% increase over the pre-tax earnings for the same period last year. Net income per share for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $0.71 per share as compared to $0.61 per share for the year ended December 31, 2003. Net income per fully diluted share was $0.66 and $0.59 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 respectively.

Net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004 was $170,185 or $0.18 per diluted share, a 35% increase compared to $125,853 or $0.13 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2003.

Dann H. Bowman, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are very pleased with the continued growth and profitability of the Bank. Despite being the first year earnings were fully taxable, net income during 2004 increased considerably over last year. Net earnings represent a return on beginning equity of 10.91%, and during the year the stock increased from a split adjusted price of $14.83 to $20.50 at year end, an appreciation of 38%. The consistent and steady growth in Deposits and Loans has allowed the Bank to show improved stability of earnings and efficiency. We are also pleased to report that the Bank ended the year with no loan delinquency and no loan losses."

Financial Condition

At December 31, 2004, total assets were $77.1 million, an increase of $18.5 million or 32% from December 31, 2003.

Total loans increased to $34.4 million at December 31, 2004 from $27.2 million at December 31, 2003 or an increase of 26%. The growth was primarily in real estate secured lending as both commercial real estate loans and construction loans increased.

Total deposits increased by 33% to $70.7 million at December 31, 2004 from $53.1 million at December 31, 2003. Non-interest bearing deposits increased by $15.3 million or 37.6% since December 31, 2003, and at year end represented 79% of total deposits.

Chino Commercial Bank's risk-based capital ratios were 13.80% for Tier 1 capital, 14.81% for Risk-based capital and 8.36% for Leverage capital on December 31, 2004.

Earnings

The Bank posted net interest income of $2,914,252 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $2,265,464 for the year ended December 31, 2003. Average interest-earning assets were $65.0 million with average interest-bearing liabilities of $13.7 million yielding a net interest margin of 4.48% for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to average interest-bearing assets of $47.1 million with average interest-bearing liabilities of $11.8 million yielding a net interest margin of 4.81% for the year ended December 31, 2003. The 33 basis points decline in the net interest margin was the result of the higher average balances in short-term investments that earn at a lower interest rate.

The Bank posted net interest income of $816,772 for the three months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $611,880 for the three months ended December 31, 2003. Average interest-earning assets were $70.1 million with average interest-bearing liabilities of $14.7 million yielding a net interest margin of 4.66% for the fourth quarter of 2004 as compared to average interest-bearing assets of $52.4 million with average interest-bearing liabilities of $13.3 million yielding a net interest margin of 4.67% for the three months ended December 31, 2003.

Non-interest income totaled $557,509 or an increase of 16.4% over $478,903 earned during the year ended December 31, 2003. Service charges on deposit accounts increased 29% to $429,622 due to higher volume of deposit accounts. Income from Mortgage Banking decreased by 53% to $66,207 due to reduced activity in the refinance market. Income from bank owned life insurance increased to $59,687 as the Bank purchased policies totaling $1.3 million in January 2004.

Non-interest income totaled $146,892 or 172% greater than the fourth quarter of 2003. Service charges on deposit accounts increased 18% to $120,601 due to the volume of overdraft and return item charges. Income from Mortgage Banking increased by 125% to $12,273. The loss of $49,699 in the fourth quarter of 2003 was due to a mark-to-market adjustment recorded on loans reclassified as held to maturity.

General and administrative expenses were $642,636 for the three months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $558,484 for the three months ended December 31, 2003. General and administrative expenses were $2,476,404 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $2,208,772 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The largest component of general and administrative expenses was salary and benefits expense of $326,003 for the three months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $287,643 for the three months ended December 31, 2003. Salary and benefits expense were $1,234,509 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $1,123,433 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in Salary and benefits expenses are reflective of the salary increases, incentive compensation and the increase in health and workers compensation expenses. Other components of general and administrative expenses that affected the increase were Audit and Professional fees which increased by $2,605 for the comparable three month period and increased by $32,747 for the comparable twelve month period primarily due to the increase of internal operational and information technology audits being conducted in 2004. Other expenses increased by $37,047 for the comparable three month period and increased by $79,629 for the comparable twelve month period due primarily to courier costs and client service charges that were affected by an increase in escrow deposits.

Income tax expense was $102,749 for the three months ended December 31, 2004 and $336,328 for the year ended December 31, 2004. Beginning January 2004, the Bank began recording tax expense on a monthly basis. An Income tax benefit was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2003 for $61,957. This benefit reflects the remaining net operating loss carry-forward tax benefit that the Bank recorded as a deferred asset in the period ending December 31, 2003.

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about the Bank's plans, objectives, management's expectations, intentions, relationships, opportunities, and technology and market condition statements. When used in these presentations, the words "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may" are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Bank's control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements for the reasons, among others, discussed in Bank's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003, which include: changes in general business and economic conditions may significantly affect the Bank's earnings; changes in level of market interest rates; changes in credit risks of lending activities and competitive factors; effective income tax rates, relationships with major customers, extent and timing of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. The Bank is not obligated to update and does not undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements made herein.



                         CHINO COMMERCIAL BANK
                   STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

                                            December 31,  December 31,
                                               2004           2003
                                            -----------   -----------
                                            (unaudited)

 ASSETS:
 Cash and due from banks                    $ 2,374,688     3,588,715
 Federal Funds sold                          10,925,000     9,350,000
                                            -----------   -----------
   Cash and cash equivalents                 13,299,688    12,938,715

 Interest-bearing deposits at banks           6,271,000     2,388,000
 Investment Securities available for sale    15,562,826     9,463,551
 Investment Securities held to maturity
  (fair value approximates $4,859,395 at
  December 31, 2004 and $5,378,919 at
  December 31, 2003)                          4,801,024     5,327,521
 Federal Reserve Bank stock, at cost            159,600       154,450
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost          283,500       168,100
 Pacific Coast Bankers' Bank stock, at cost      50,000        50,000
 Loans
   Loans held for sale                                0       126,558
   Construction                               3,520,772       468,101
   Real estate                               23,886,582    19,639,383
   Commercial                                 6,534,464     6,475,819
   Installment                                  635,609       596,534
   Farm/Agriculture                             346,261       360,269
   Unearned fees, net                          (119,328)     (122,260)
   Allowance for loan losses                   (407,046)     (329,398)
                                            -----------   -----------
     Loans, net                              34,397,314    27,215,006
                                            -----------   -----------
 Fixed assets, net                              389,965       438,393
 Accrued interest receivable                    258,528       189,574
 Prepaid & other assets                       1,612,617       267,698
                                            -----------   -----------
    Total Assets                            $77,086,062    58,601,008
                                            ===========   ===========

 LIABILITIES:
 Deposits
   Non-interest bearing                     $56,112,375    40,769,746
   Interest bearing
    Money market                             10,231,507     9,124,289
    Savings                                     926,275       565,012
    Time deposits of $100,000 or greater,
     due in one year                          1,802,181       897,603
    Time deposits less than $100,000,
     due in one year                          1,668,794     1,736,483
                                            -----------   -----------
   Total Deposits                            70,741,132    53,093,133
                                            -----------   -----------
 Accrued interest payable                        20,642        12,580
 Accrued expenses & other payables              422,994       165,301
                                            -----------   -----------
   Total Liabilities                         71,184,768    53,271,014
                                            -----------   -----------
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Common Stock, authorized 10,000,000 shares
   with a par value of $3.33 per share;
   issued and outstanding 818,453 at
   December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003,
   respectively                               2,728,230     2,728,230
  Additional paid-in capital                  2,590,600     2,590,893
  Accumulated earnings (deficit)                612,645        31,264
  Accumulated other comprehensive income        (30,181)      (20,393)
                                            -----------   -----------
   Total Stockholders' Equity                 5,901,294     5,329,994
                                            -----------   -----------
   Total Liabilities & Equity               $77,086,062    58,601,008
                                            ===========   ===========

                         CHINO COMMERCIAL BANK
                       STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                For the               For the
                          three months ending       year ending
                              December 31,          December 31,
                           ------------------  ----------------------
                             2004      2003       2004        2003
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
                         (unaudited)           (unaudited)
 Interest Income
  Interest Income
   - Securities            $233,873  $143,802  $  777,001  $  639,703
  Interest Income
   - Fed Funds               43,746    21,550     138,011      73,562
  Interest and fee income
   on Loans                 587,188   495,664   2,170,806   1,743,153
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
   Total Interest Income    864,807   661,016   3,085,818   2,456,418
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
 Interest Expense
  Interest Expense
   - Deposits                48,035    49,136     171,566     190,954
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
   Total Interest Expense    48,035    49,136     171,566     190,954
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
  Total net interest
   income                   816,772   611,880   2,914,252   2,265,464
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
 Provision for loan
  losses                     48,094    43,458      77,648      97,043
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
  Total net interest
   income after provision
   for loan losses          768,678   568,422   2,836,604   2,168,421
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
 Non-interest income
  Service Charges on
   Deposit Accounts         120,601   102,325     429,622     332,858
  Other miscellaneous
   fee income                (2,295)    1,332       1,993       4,985
  Income from Mortgage
   Banking                   12,273   (49,699)     66,207     141,060
  Income from Bank owned
   life insurance            16,313        --      59,687          --
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
    Total Non-interest
     income                 146,892    53,958     557,509     478,903
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------

 General & Administrative
 Expenses
  Salaries & Benefits       326,003   287,643   1,234,509   1,123,433
  Occupancy & Equipment      65,979    61,712     254,320     249,509
  Data & Item Processing     47,536    45,118     191,533     175,040
  Advertising & Marketing    14,105    16,230      77,639      63,168
  Audit & Professional fees  38,558    35,953     172,185     139,438
  Insurance                   6,012     5,655      23,106      19,624
  Directors' fees and
   expenses                  17,590    16,367      66,034      61,111
  Other expenses            126,853    89,806     457,078     377,449
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
   Total general & admin-
    istrative expenses      642,636   558,484   2,476,404   2,208,772
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------

  Income before income
   tax expense              272,934    63,896     917,709     438,552
 Income tax expense         102,749   (61,957)    336,328     (61,957)
                           --------  --------  ----------  ----------
   Net income              $170,185  $125,853  $  581,381  $  500,509
                           ========  ========  ==========  ==========
 Basic Earnings per share  $   0.19  $   0.15  $     0.71  $     0.61
                           ========  ========  ==========  ==========
 Diluted Earnings
  per share                $   0.18  $   0.13  $     0.66  $     0.59
                           ========  ========  ==========  ==========

                         CHINO COMMERCIAL BANK
                     Selected Financial Highlights

                          For the three months     For the year ended
                           ended December 31,        December 31,
                           ------------------------------------------
                             2004      2003        2004       2003
                           --------  --------   ---------   ---------
 Selected Operating Data:
  Net interest income      $816,772   611,880   2,914,252   2,265,464
  Provision for loan
   losses                    48,094    43,458      77,648      97,043
  Non-interest income       146,892    53,958     557,509     478,903
  Non-interest expense      642,636   558,484   2,476,404   2,208,772
  Net income               $170,185   125,853     581,381     500,509
 Share Data:
  Basic income per share   $   0.19      0.15        0.71        0.61
  Diluted Income per share $   0.18      0.13        0.66        0.59
  Weighted average common
   shares outstanding
    Basic                   818,453   818,453     818,453     818,453
    Diluted                 883,672   864,872     881,338     853,173

 Performance Ratios:
  Return on average assets     0.89%     0.89%       0.82%       0.99%
  Return on average equity    11.54%     9.49%      10.26%       9.66%
  Equity to total assets at
   the end of the period       7.66%     9.10%       7.66%       9.10%
  Net interest spread          3.64%     3.58%       3.49%       3.59%
  Net interest margin          4.66%     4.67%       4.48%       4.81%
  Average interest-earning
   assets to average-
   bearing liabilities       477.83%   393.78%     473.56%     400.99%
  Core efficiency ratio       66.70%    83.78%      71.31%      80.50%
  Non-interest expense
   to average assets           3.37%     3.95%       3.50%       4.37%


 Selected Balance Sheet Data:               12/31/2004    12/31/2003

  Total assets                              $77,086,062    58,601,008
  Investment securities
   held to maturity                           4,801,024     5,327,521
  Investment securities
   available for sale                        15,562,826     9,463,551
  Loan receivable, net                       34,397,314    27,215,006
  Deposits                                   70,741,132    53,093,133
  Non-interest bearing
   deposits                                  56,112,375    40,769,746
  Stockholders' equity                      $ 5,901,294     5,329,994

 Regulatory capital ratios:
  Average equity to
   average assets                                  8.00%        10.26%
  Leverage capital                                 8.36%         9.48%
  Tier I risk based                               13.80%        16.64%
  Risk-based capital                              14.81%        17.74%

 Asset Quality Ratios:
  Allowance for loan losses
   as a percent of gross
   loans receivable                                1.17%         1.27%
  Net charge-offs to
   average loans                                    n/a         -0.16%
  Non-performing loans to
   total loans                                      n/a           n/a

 Number of full-service
  customer facilities                                1             1


            

Contact Data