Lincoln Bancorp Announces Fourth Quarter Earnings


PLAINFIELD, Ind., Jan. 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lincoln Bancorp (Nasdaq:LNCB) (the "Company"), the holding company of Lincoln Bank (the "Bank"), announced today that net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006 was $495,000, or $.10 for both basic and diluted earnings per share. This compared to net income for the comparable period in 2005 of $644,000, or $.13 for both basic and diluted earnings per share. Return on assets was .22% and return on equity was 1.97% for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to .30% and 2.56%, respectively, for the same period last year.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $2,900,000, or $.58 for basic and $.56 for diluted earnings per share. This compared to $1,199,000 or $.24 for basic and $.23 for diluted earnings per share for the same period of 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2006, return on average assets was .33% and return on average equity was 2.89% compared to .14% and 1.18%, respectively, for same period in 2005.

Assets totaled $883.5 million at December 31, 2006, an increase from December 31, 2005 of $39.1 million. Net loans including loans held for sale increased $38.0 million and cash and cash equivalents increased by $1.7 million.

Deposits totaled $655.7 million at December 31, 2006, an increase of $55.1 million from December 31, 2005. Interest-bearing deposits increased $57.8 million from year end 2005 levels while noninterest-bearing accounts declined by $2.7 million. The increases were in premium rate deposit accounts with a shift toward higher offered rates.

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $5,361,000 compared to $5,797,000 for the same period in 2005. Net interest margin was 2.60% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 compared to 2.95% for the same period in 2005. The average yield on earning assets increased 47 basis points for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 89 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2005 to the fourth quarter of 2006. This decreased net interest spread from 2.55% for the 2005 period to 2.13% for the 2006 period, or 42 basis points.

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $22,211,000 compared to $22,874,000 for the same period in 2005. The decline in spread noted above for the fourth quarter occurred throughout 2006 and resulted in a declining margin when compared to 2005. Net interest margin fell to 2.73% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 from 2.99% for the same period in 2005. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased by 56 basis points during 2006, however, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased by an average of 92 basis points. This reduced our net interest spread from 2.64% in 2005 to 2.28% in 2006, or 36 basis points.

The Bank's provision for loan losses for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $262,000 compared to $568,000 for the same period in 2005. Non-performing loans to total loans at December 31, 2006 were .38% compared to .59% at December 31, 2005, while non-performing assets to total assets were .31% at December 31, 2006 compared to .45% at December 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans at December 31, 2006 was .96% compared to .97% at December 31, 2005. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $884,000 compared to $2,642,000 last year for the same period. The primary reason for the increased provision in 2005 was the result of a $1,546,000 provision for one credit. The entire amount of the provision for that credit was ultimately recognized as a charge-off during 2005.

Other income for the three months ended December 31, 2006 was $1,500,000 compared to $1,182,000 for the same quarter of 2005. Efforts to improve noninterest income continue. The other income category increased to $235,000 during the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $101,000 for the same quarter in 2005, or $134,000. The largest single item of improvement was during the fourth quarter of 2005 when we incurred a loss on abandonment of a leased branch site totaling approximately $80,000. Additionally, during 2006 various customer fee related income sources increased. Nearly every category of other income showed improvement with the exception of loan servicing fee income. Loan servicing fees will continue to decline as we sell most of our residential real estate mortgage volume with servicing released to the buyer.

Other income for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $5,429,000 compared to $5,067,000 during the same period in 2005, or an increase of $362,000. The majority of this was the result of the increase in service charges on deposit accounts, up $110,000 as a result of more fees collected on customer overdrafts; a $111,000 increase in net realized gains (losses) on sale of available for sale securities; a $135,000 increase in point of sale income; and a $298,000 increase in other income. The largest single item of improvement in 2006 over 2005 in other income was due to a loss on abandonment of fixed assets during 2005 totaling $114,000; losses in 2006 were only $7,000. The balance of the increase in other income was the result of several items none of which were more significant. These were partially offset by decreases in: net gain on sale of loans, down $241,000 due to less loans sold; and, loan servicing fee income down $67,000 due to a decline in the amount of loans serviced by us for others.

Other expenses were $6,024,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 compared to $5,460,000 for the same three months of 2005, an increase of $564,000. The majority of the increase came in salaries and employee benefits, up $381,000 due to increased sales staff, incentives and benefit costs; professional fees, up $127,000 due to costs associated with compliance of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and, advertising and public relations, up $171,000 as we begin a significant promotion and sales effort.

Other expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 were $23,043,000 compared to $24,140,000 for the same period last year, a $1,097,000 decrease. During the second quarter of 2005, the Bank expensed balance sheet restructuring costs and contract costs relative to the retirement of two executive officers. This added $1,870,000 to other expenses for 2005 including $1,622,000 as prepayment fees on Federal Home Loan Bank advances. Normalized expenses in 2006 were up $773,000 over 2005. The largest increase was the cost of hospitalization benefits for employees, up $351,000. At December 31, 2006, the Company had approximately 226 full time equivalent employees compared to approximately 231 at the end of 2005 with 17 branch locations at the end of both years.

The book value of Lincoln Bancorp common stock was $18.63 per share at December 31, 2006 compared to $18.55 at December 31, 2005.

Lincoln Bancorp and Lincoln Bank are headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana with additional offices in Avon, Bargersville, Brownsburg, Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Franklin, Greenwood, Mooresville, Morgantown, Nashville and Trafalgar.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which involve significant risks and uncertainties. The companies intend such forward-looking statements to be covered in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. The companies' ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and involves a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which have been set forth in the companies' most recent annual reports on Form 10-K, which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein. The fact that there are various risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.



                             LINCOLN BANCORP
             SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COMPANY
                               (Unaudited)
             (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                               December 31 December 31
                                                    2006       2005
                                                 ---------   --------
 Balance Sheet Data:
 Total assets                                     $883,543    844,454
 Loans, net (including
  loans held for sale)                             632,996    594,974
 Cash and cash equivalents                          18,409     16,736
 Investment securities
  available for sale                               151,237    151,565
 Deposits                                          655,664    600,572
 Securities sold under
  repurchase agreements                             16,864     10,064
 Borrowings                                        103,608    127,072
 Stockholders' equity                               99,300     99,940

 Book value per common
  share                                           $  18.63   $  18.55
 Shares outstanding                              5,329,687  5,386,153
 Equity to assets                                    11.24%     11.83%
 Non-performing assets
  to total assets                                     0.31%      0.45%
 Non-performing loans
  to total loans                                      0.38%      0.59%
 Allowance for loan
  losses to total loans                               0.96%      0.97%


                             Three Months Ended       Year Ended
                                December 31           December 31
                               2006      2005       2006       2005
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
 Operating Data:
  Interest and Dividend 
   Income:
    Loans                     $11,020  $  9,745   $ 41,954   $ 37,444
    Investment securities       2,004     1,716      8,193      5,335
    Deposits with financial
     institutions and
     federal funds sold           181       209        582        644
    Dividend income               119       110        489        459
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
      Total interest
       and dividend income     13,324    11,780     51,218     43,882
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Interest Expense:
    Deposits                    6,650     4,395     23,638     13,783
    Borrowings                  1,313     1,588      5,369      7,225
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
       Total interest
        expense                 7,963     5,983     29,007     21,008
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Net Interest Income           5,361     5,797     22,211     22,874
    Provision for loan
     losses                       262       568        884      2,642
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Net Interest Income
   After Provision for
   Loan Losses                  5,099     5,229     21,327     20,232
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Other Income:
    Service charges on
     deposit accounts             580       534      2,180      2,070
    Net gains on sales
     of loans                     217       188        518        759
    Net realized gains
     (losses) on sales
     of available for
     sale securities               10       (53)        14        (97)
    Point of sale income          185       158        718      5,067
   Loan servicing fees             79        95        336        403
   Increase in cash value 
    of life insurance             194       159        689        673
   Other income                   235       101        974        676
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
    Total other income          1,500     1,182      5,429      5,067
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Other Expenses:
    Salaries and employee
     benefits                   3,070     2,689     11,663     10,791
    Net occupancy
     expenses                     506       502      2,024      1,936
    Equipment expenses            424       344      1,549      1,450
    Data processing
     expense                      597       526      2,334      2,355
    Professional fees             169        42        873        636
    Advertising and
     business
     development                  344       173        940        747
    Core deposit intangible
     amortization                 137       162        607        720
    Prepayment fees on
     Federal Home Loan
     Bank advances                 --        --         --      1,622
    Other expenses                777     1,022      3,053      3,883
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
       Total other
        expenses                6,024     5,460     23,043     24,140
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Income Before Income
   Taxes                          575       951      3,713      1,159
  Income tax expense
   (benefit)                       80       307        813        (40)
                            ---------  --------  ---------   --------
  Net Income                  $   495  $    644   $  2,900   $  1,199
                            =========  ========  =========   ========

  Basic Earnings 
   Per Share                  $  0.10  $   0.13   $   0.58   $   0.24
                            =========  ========  =========   ========
  Diluted Earnings 
   Per Share                  $  0.10  $   0.13   $   0.56   $   0.23
                            =========  ========  =========   ========

 Other Data:
  Interest rate spread           2.13%     2.55%      2.28%      2.64%
  Net interest margin            2.60%     2.95%      2.73%      2.99%
  Return on average assets       0.22%     0.30%      0.33%      0.14%
  Return on average equity       1.97%     2.56%      2.89%      1.18%

            

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