WSB Financial Posts Preliminary Third Quarter 2007 Earnings


BREMERTON, Wash., Oct. 23, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- WSB Financial Group (Nasdaq:WSFG), the parent company of Westsound Bank, today reported preliminary third quarter 2007 earnings of $1.3 million, compared to $1.1 million in the third quarter a year ago, and year-to-date net income grew to $3.8 million, compared to $3.1 million a year ago. Earnings per diluted share totaled $0.21 per diluted share, compared to the pre-IPO EPS of $0.36 per diluted share, a year ago. Year-to-date, EPS was $0.64 per diluted share, compared to $0.99 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2006. WSB Financial issued 2.6 million shares in its initial public offering in August 2006.

"Inadvertently, our preliminary financial results for the bank were filed with the FDIC and became publicly available this week. As a result, we are providing preliminary financial results for the company. While the results discussed in this release are accurate as of last Friday, they may change prior to the filing of our 10-Q in November," said David K. Johnson, President and CEO. "In fact, due to the recommendations of our bank regulators, it is likely that we will be adding to our reserves.

"In addition, I am saddened to report that Mark Freeman, our Chief Financial Officer, has requested and been granted a leave of absence due to health concerns. Mark is a valued member of our management team, and we wish him a speedy recovery," said Johnson. "In the meantime, we are seeking an interim Chief Financial Officer."

Third quarter preliminary results show that 38% loan growth and 30% deposit growth fueled a 24% increase in net interest income before provision for loan losses and a 15% increase in revenues compared to a year ago. Net interest margin, while still healthy, fell to 4.83% in the third quarter compared to 5.06% in the second quarter and 5.71% a year ago. Year-to-date net interest margin dropped 82 basis points to 4.98% from 5.80% a year ago. Asset quality declined during the quarter with non-performing loans growing to 0.63% of total loans and non-performing assets increasing to 0.94% of total assets at September 30, 2007.

"In coordination with our regulatory review, we have initiated a thorough review of our loan portfolio and decided to downsize our mortgage operation," Johnson said. "In the course of these reviews, certain deficiencies in our origination, administration and servicing of certain lending products were identified. We expect the regulators to follow up with further regulatory actions. Until the finalization of the regulatory exam, however, we are not able to quantify the requirements they may have.

We have also identified a number of loans that fall into the 30 to 89 day past due category, and placed some of these loans on nonaccrual status and boosted our reserves for loan losses. Based on the preliminary results, the allowance for loan losses grew 34% to $5.0 million at September 30, 2007, from $3.7 million a year ago. The allowance for loan losses represents 186% of non-performing loans and 1.17% of total loans as of the end of the third quarter.

WSB Financial remains well capitalized with equity to assets of 13.8% at September 30, 2007.

WSB Financial expects to report final results for the third quarter of 2007 on November 14, 2007.

ABOUT WSB FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

WSB Financial Group, Inc., based out of Bremerton, Washington, is the holding company for Westsound Bank and Mortgage. The company was founded in 1999, and currently operates nine full service offices located within 6 contiguous counties within Western Washington. Our website is http://www.westsoundbank.com.

This news release may contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements describe management's expectations regarding future events and developments such as future operating results, growth in loans and deposits, maintenance of the net interest margin, credit quality and loan losses, the efficiency ratio and continued success of the Company's business plan. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The words "should," "anticipate," "expect," "will," "believe," and words of similar meaning are intended, in part, to help identify forward-looking statements. Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are subject to risk and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially. In addition to discussions about risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements include, among others: (1) local and national general and economic condition; (2) changes in interest rates and their impact on net interest margin; (3) competition among financial institutions; (4) legislation or regulatory requirements; and (5) success of the Company's expansion efforts. WSB Financial Group, Inc. does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made. Any such statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
 ---------------------------------
 (Unaudited)                 Quarter Ended          Nine Months Ended
 (in thousands               -------------          -----------------
 except share     Sept. 30,  June 30,   Sept. 30,  Sept. 30,  Sept. 30,
 data)              2007       2007       2006       2007       2006
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
 Interest Income
  Interest and 
   fees on 
   loans        $    9,826 $    9,324 $    7,542 $   27,493 $   19,539
  Taxable 
   investment
   securities           88         71         68        232        199
  Tax exempt
   securities           18         19         19         56         57
  Federal funds
   sold                171        257         48        584        229
  Other interest
   income               39         44         11        133         67
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
   Total interest
    income          10,142      9,715      7,688     28,498     20,091

 Interest Expense
   Deposits          4,514      4,182      3,107     12,358      7,650
   Other borrowings     --         --          5          1         31
   Junior
    subordinated
    debentures         152        150        149        448        417
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
   Total interest
    expense          4,666      4,332      3,261     12,807      8,098

 Net Interest
  Income             5,476      5,383      4,427     15,691     11,993
  Provision for
   loan losses         497        326        464      1,314      1,267
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
   Net interest
    income after
    provision for
    loan losses      4,979      5,057      3,963     14,377     10,726

 Noninterest Income
  Service charges
   on deposit
   accounts             95         96         67        275        181
  Other customer
   fees                198        233        215        677        612
  Net gain on sale
   of loans            737        886        941      2,602      2,699
  Other income          (5)        16          1         47         52
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
   Total 
    noninterest
    income           1,025      1,231      1,224      3,601      3,544

 Noninterest
  Expense
  Salaries and
   employee
   benefits          2,510      2,576      2,260      7,753      6,246
  Premises lease        80         82         87        252        249
  Depreciation
   expense             206        204        156        603        429
  Occupancy and
   equipment           150        141        114        459        368
  Data and item
   processing          167        172        130        490        375
  Advertising
   expense              59         42         73        155        174
  Printing,
   stationary and
   supplies             38         45         58        143        159
  Telephone 
   expense              26         28         32         83         84
  Postage and
   courier              43         43         33        125         98
  Legal fees            34         71          8        143         33
  Director fees         70         66         69        193        231
  Business and
   occupation taxes     83         84         70        240        204
  Other expenses       610        596        356      1,646        952
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
   Total 
    noninterest
    expense          4,076      4,150      3,446     12,285      9,602

 Income before
  provision for
  income taxes       1,928      2,138      1,741      5,693      4,668
 Provision for
  income taxes         666        708        581      1,919      1,561
 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------
 Net Income     $    1,262 $    1,430 $    1,160 $    3,774 $    3,107
 =============================================== =====================

 Basic Earnings 
  per Common 
  Share         $     0.23 $     0.26 $     0.42 $     0.68 $     1.13
 Diluted 
  Earnings
  per Common 
  Share         $     0.21 $     0.24 $     0.36 $     0.64 $     0.99
 =============================================== =====================

 Average Number 
  of Common 
  Shares
  Outstanding    5,573,089  5,563,887  2,752,163  5,561,844  2,738,775
 Fully Diluted
  Average Common
  Shares
  Outstanding    5,885,411  5,926,369  3,203,347  5,933,747  3,149,552


 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 ---------------------------
 (Unaudited)                          Sept. 30,    Dec. 31,   Sept. 30,
 (in thousands except share data)       2007        2006        2006
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 ASSETS
 Cash and due from banks              $  8,538    $  9,048    $  8,310
 Fed funds sold                         21,825      17,150       5,500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total cash and cash equivalents      30,363      26,198      13,810
 Investment securities available
  for sale, at fair value                8,700       8,244       8,238
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock,
  at cost                                  319         234         234
 Loans held for sale                     6,650      11,007       5,947
 Loans receivable                      419,023     333,173     303,834
   Less: allowance for loan losses      (4,987)     (3,972)     (3,725)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Loans, net                            414,036     329,201     300,109
 Premises and equipment, net             9,496       7,846       6,604
 Accrued interest receivable             2,537       1,980       1,638
 Other assets                            4,096       2,044       1,500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 TOTAL ASSETS                         $476,197    $386,754    $338,080
 =====================================================================

 LIABILITIES
 Deposits:
   Noninterest-bearing                $ 27,658    $ 26,864    $ 26,542
   Interest-bearing                    372,152     288,158     281,524
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total deposits                    399,810     315,022     308,066
 Accrued interest payable                1,764       1,109         989
 Other liabilities                         777         718         562
 Junior subordinated debentures          8,248       8,248       8,248
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   TOTAL LIABILITIES                   410,599     325,097     317,865
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Common Stock, $1 par value;
    15,357,250 shares authorized;
    5,574,853 shares issued and
    outstanding September 30, 2007,
    5,545,673 and 2,884,026 shares
    issued and outstanding at
    December 31, 2006 and
    September 30, 2006, respectively     5,575       5,546       2,884
 Additional paid-in capital             48,217      48,089       9,974
 Retained earnings                      11,828       8,054       7,401
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss      (22)        (32)        (44)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY           65,598      61,657      20,215
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
  EQUITY                              $476,197    $386,754    $338,080
 =====================================================================


 Financial Statistics
 --------------------        Quarter Ended           Nine Months Ended
 (Unaudited)                 -------------           -----------------
 (in thousands        Sept. 30, June 30,  Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
 except share data)     2007      2007      2006      2007      2006
 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------
 Revenues
 (Net interest income
  plus non-interest
  income)             $  6,501  $  6,614  $  5,651  $ 19,292  $ 15,537

 Averages
   Total Assets       $464,602  $441,352  $319,347  $435,427  $287,741
   Loans and Loans
    Held for Sale     $424,407  $395,639  $294,759  $394,448  $259,774
   Interest Earning
    Assets            $449,343  $427,049  $307,655  $421,274  $276,318
   Deposits           $388,079  $366,568  $290,712  $360,866  $259,636
   Shareholders'
    Equity            $ 65,319  $ 63,779  $ 18,872  $ 63,798  $ 17,668

 Financial Ratios
 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------
   Return on Average
    Assets                1.08%     1.30%     1.44%     1.16%     1.44%
   Return on Average
    Equity                7.67%     8.99%    24.40%     7.91%    23.50%
   Net Interest Margin    4.83%     5.06%     5.71%     4.98%     5.80%
   Efficiency Ratio       62.7%     62.7%     61.0%     63.7%     62.1%
   Non-performing
    Assets to Total
    Assets                0.94%     0.40%     0.00%     0.94%     0.00%


 Asset Quality
 --------------------        Quarter Ended           Nine Months Ended
 (Unaudited)                 -------------           -----------------
 (dollars in          Sept. 30, June 30,  Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
  thousands)            2007      2007      2006      2007      2006
 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------
 Allowance for Loan
  Losses Activity:

   Balance of
    Beginning of
    Period            $  4,492  $  4,407  $  3,289  $  3,972  $  2,520
     Charge-offs           (15)     (234)       (5)     (299)      (20)
     Recoveries             --        --        --        --        --
 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------
   Net Loan Charge-offs    (15)     (234)       (5)     (299)      (20)

   Reclassification of
    unfunded credit
    commitments             13        (7)      (23)       --       (42)
   Provision for Loan
    Losses                 497       326       464     1,314     1,267
 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------
   Balance at End of
    Period            $  4,987  $  4,492  $  3,725  $  4,987  $  3,725
 ================================================== ==================

   Selected Ratios:
     Net Charge-offs to
      average loans       0.00%     0.06%     0.00%     0.08%     0.01%
     Provision for loan
      losses to average
      loans               0.12%     0.08%     0.16%     0.33%     0.49%
     Allowance for loan
      losses to total
      loans               1.17%     1.10%     1.20%     1.17%     1.20%


 Nonperforming Assets:

   Non-Accrual loans  $  2,395  $    201  $     --
   Accruing Loans
    past due 90 days
    or more                282        --        --
 -------------------------------------------------
   Total
    non-performing
    loans (NPLs)      $  2,677  $    201  $     --
   Other real estate
    owned                1,795     1,605        --
 -------------------------------------------------
   Total
    non-performing
    assets (NPAs)     $  4,472  $  1,806  $     --

   Selected Ratios:
     NPLs to total
      loans               0.63%     0.05%     0.00%
     NPAs to total
      assets              0.94%     0.40%     0.00%


            

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