Heritage Oaks Bancorp Reports Record 2007 Profits, Stable Asset Quality and Strong Loan and Deposit Growth


PASO ROBLES, Calif., Jan. 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Heritage Oaks Bancorp (Nasdaq:HEOP), the parent company of Heritage Oaks Bank, today reported preliminary financial results for 2007. Substantial loan and deposit growth, both organic and through its acquisition of Business First National Bank of Santa Barbara, contributed to record profits for the year ended December 31, 2007. In 2007, the company earned $6.9 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared to $6.6 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in 2006. For the fourth quarter of 2007 net income increased 20% to $2.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2006.

On October 12, 2007, Heritage Oaks Bancorp closed its acquisition of Business First National Bank of Santa Barbara in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $20 million. The company issued 850,213 new shares in conjunction with this acquisition, adding two full-service branches, $133 million in deposits and $124 million in loans. In connection with the transaction, Business First National Bank was merged with and into Heritage Oaks Bank and now operates as a division of Heritage Oaks Bank. The merger is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2008.

"Completing our acquisition of Business First National Bank of Santa Barbara in the fourth quarter enabled us to expand our branch network into a larger and more affluent market and added a complementary mix of loans and deposits to our balance sheet," stated Lawrence P. Ward, President and CEO. "With excellent asset quality and a well diversified portfolio of commercial loans, we are continuing to build a strong platform for growth in the attractive Central Coast markets."

2007 Highlights:



 * Net income increased 4% to $6.9 million, or $1.00 per diluted share.
 * Asset quality remained strong, with non-performing assets equaling
   just 0.05% of total assets.
 * Core deposits increased by 46% over a year ago, and represent 88% of
   total deposits.
 * Gross loans increased 38% to $613 million.
 * Return on average equity was 12.4% and return on average assets was
   1.14%.
 * Net interest margin was 5.47%.

Balance Sheet

Loans

The following table illustrates Loan Growth excluding the Business First Division:



                                                        Variance vs.
 Excludes Business First           Heritage                 2006
   Bank Account Type         12/31/07    12/31/06       $          %
                            ---------------------   -------------------
 Commercial, financial and
  agricultural              $  94,968   $  84,976   $   9,992    11.76%
 Real estate - construction   110,073     105,712   $   4,361     4.13%
 Real estate - commercial     242,193     237,401   $   4,792     2.02%
 Home equity lines of credit    9,167      10,792   $  (1,625)  -15.06%
 Installment loans to
  individuals                   5,040       5,598   $    (558)   -9.96%
 All other loans (including
  overdrafts)                     455         504   $     (49)   -9.73%
                            ---------   ---------   ---------   -------
  Total Gross Loans         $ 461,896   $ 444,983   $  16,913     3.80%
                            =========   =========   =========   =======

The following Table illustrates Loan Growth including the Business First Division:



                                                        Variance vs.
 Includes Business First             Total                  2006
   Bank Account Type         12/31/07    12/31/06       $          %
                            ---------------------   -------------------

 Commercial, financial and
  agricultural              $ 146,080   $  84,976   $  61,104    71.91%
 Real estate - construction   118,200     105,712   $  12,488    11.81%
 Real estate - commercial     322,928     237,401   $  85,527    36.03%
 Home equity lines of credit   17,470      10,792   $   6,678    61.88%
 Installment loans to
  individuals                   7,977       5,598   $   2,379    42.50%
 All other loans (including
  overdrafts)                     562         504   $      58    11.55%
                            ---------   ---------   ---------   -------
 Total Gross Loans          $ 613,217   $ 444,983   $ 168,234    37.81%
                            =========   =========   =========   =======

"The loans added from Business First are primarily Real Estate loans, all of which have undergone a thorough underwriting by our lenders to make sure they conform to our standards," said Ward. "These loans, along with our internally generated loans, combined to increase the Real Estate (other) loans in our portfolio by 36%." Net loans grew 38% to $605 million at December 31, 2007, from $439 million a year earlier. Of the total growth in loans 34% came from the Business First acquisition and 4% came from organic growth.

The following tables provide a break-down of the Bank's Construction / Land and Commercial Real Estate loan portfolios as of December 31, 2007:



 Construction / Land:
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
               Single 
 Single        Family
 Family      Residences                           Owner
 Residences    - Spec.    Tract   Land   Other   Occupied   Hospitality
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    10%          11%        1%     26%    26%      12%          14%
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------


 Commercial Real Estate:
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Commercial/                                    Multi-  Farm
 Industrial  Retail  Professional  Hospitality  Family  Land  Other
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    21%        17%       21%           18%        4%     4%    15%
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Deposits

"Building core deposits to fund our loan growth will continue to be a focal point for us in 2008," said Ward. "Last year we implemented a strategy of funding our increased loan demand through a new variable interest rate money market account. We also used this new account to help replace higher cost borrowings. Consequently, savings, NOW and money market balances more than doubled and total deposits increased 53% since the end of December 2006. Of that deposit growth, 29% came from the Business First acquisition and 24% came from internal growth. Additionally, these deposits vary with market rate changes, and are thus, a much more complementary funding source for our primarily floating rate loan portfolio." Total deposits grew 53% to $645 million at the end of 2007, compared to $421 million at the end of 2006 and total assets increased 38% to a record $746 million at year-end, compared to $542 million a year earlier.

The following table illustrates Deposit Growth excluding the Business First Division:



  Excludes Business First                               Variance vs.
    Bank Account Type              Heritage                2006
                             12/31/07    12/31/06       $          %
                            ---------------------   -------------------

 Demand Deposits            $ 123,392   $ 153,005   $ (29,613)  -19.35%
 Interest Checking             57,369      45,164   $  12,205    27.02%
 Savings                       18,830      23,406   $  (4,576)  -19.55%
 Money Market                 180,077      77,540   $ 102,537   132.24%
 Time Deposits                141,515     121,406   $  20,109    16.56%
                            ---------   ---------   ---------   -------
  Total Deposits            $ 521,184   $ 420,521   $ 100,663    23.94%
                            =========   =========   =========   =======

The following Table illustrates Deposit Growth including the Business First Division:



                                                         Variance vs.
 Includes Business First             Total                  2006
   Bank Account Type         12/31/07    12/31/06        $          %
                            ---------------------   -------------------
 Demand Deposits            $ 153,684   $ 153,005   $     679     0.44%
 Interest Checking             69,558      45,164   $  24,394    54.01%
 Savings                       41,599      23,406   $  18,193    77.73%
 Money Market                 206,754      77,540   $ 129,214   166.64%
 Time Deposits                173,214     121,406   $  51,808    42.67%
                            ---------   ---------   ---------   -------
  Total Deposits            $ 644,808   $ 420,521   $ 224,287    53.34%
                            =========   =========   =========   =======

Due to the significant deposit growth, Heritage Oaks reduced its Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) borrowings by $42 million in 2007. "We believe that we saved approximately 20-30 basis points by replacing FHLB borrowings with relationship core deposits," Ward noted. On September 20, 2007, the company issued $5.0 million in trust preferred securities. The Company is using the funds for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Business First.

Asset Quality

Asset quality remains strong with non-performing assets totaling only $338,000, or 0.05% of total assets at year-end. Three months earlier, Heritage Oaks' non-performing assets totaled $641,000, or 0.11% of total assets. Despite the strong asset quality, Heritage Oaks has increased its allowance for loan losses to $6.1 million, or 1.00% of total loans at year-end compared to $4.1 million or 0.92% of total loans at December 31, 2006. "Our non-performing loans consist of four loans, of which, one for approximately $260 thousand that is real estate secured has a Loan To Value (LTV) of approximately less than 65% and is current, two loans that are less than $20 thousand each and are paying as agreed, and one less than $50 thousand that is in the process of collection. We are closely monitoring all delinquent loans, reviewing them weekly and do not anticipate at this time any significant increase in non-performing loans. As a business bank, we do not hold any residential mortgages in our portfolio and have no direct exposure to the subprime mortgage situation. We are keeping a close eye on all our lending relationships, and frequently review our loan portfolio to maintain strong asset quality," added Ward.

Operating Results

"Although our net interest margin contracted as a result of our acquisition of Business First, the decline was not as significant as we thought it would be," Ward said. "Core deposit growth, generated by the success of our program to increase money market account balances contributed to keeping our margin above peer levels." In 2007, the net interest margin was 5.47% compared to 5.94% in 2006. For the fourth quarter, the net interest margin was 5.33% compared to 5.44% in the previous quarter and 5.72% in the fourth quarter a year ago.

Total revenues, consisting of net interest income before the provision for loan losses and non-interest income, increased 12% to $35.8 million in 2007 compared to $32.0 million a year ago. For the year, approximately 4% of the revenue increase was the result of the acquisition of Business First. Fourth quarter revenues grew 24% to $10.2 million from $8.3 million in the same quarter of 2006. For the quarter, approximately 15% of the revenue increase was the result of the acquisition of Business First. Net interest income increased 12% to $30.4 million in 2007 compared to $27.1 million in 2006. In the fourth quarter, net interest income increased 26% to $8.8 million, from $7.0 million a year ago. Interest and fees on loans increased 31% for the fourth quarter and 25% for the year compared to last year while interest expense increased by 47% and 58% for that same 3 month and 12 month time frame.

Non-interest income was $5.3 million in 2007, compared to $5.0 million in 2006. A recovery of approximately $200,000 from a 2001 operational loss is included in other non-interest income during the fourth quarter of 2006. For the fourth quarter of 2007, non-interest income increased 11% to $1.4 million, compared to $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Total non-interest expense increased 14% to $23.9 million in 2007, from $21.0 million in 2006. In the fourth quarter, non-interest expenses were $6.9 million compared to $5.5 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. "Our increase in salary and employee benefits and the increased occupancy costs are directly a result of our larger organization due to both the acquisition of Business First and our organic growth in 2007," said Ward. "Additionally, our occupancy expense increased in the second half of 2007 due to a sale leaseback transaction that was finalized in June 2007. The offset to this additional expense is an increase in interest income resulting from the investment of the funds we received by selling the properties."

The provision for income tax was approximately 200 basis points higher at 38.26 % in 2007 compared to 36.27 % in 2006. The amount of the tax provision is determined by applying the Company's statutory income tax rates to pre-tax book income, adjusted for permanent differences between pre-tax book income and actual taxable income. Such permanent differences include but are not limited to tax-exempt interest income, and increases in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance.

Performance Measures

Return on average assets was 1.11% in the fourth quarter and 1.14% for the year, compared to 1.23% and 1.32% for the respective periods in 2006. Return on average equity was 11.7% for the fourth quarter of 2007 and 12.4% for the year, compared to 13.5% and 14.1% in their respective periods in 2006.

The efficiency ratio was 67.3% in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to 66.9% in the previous quarter and 67.1% in the fourth quarter a year ago. For all of 2007, the efficiency ratio was 66.8% compared to 65.5% in 2006. The efficiency ratio measures operating expenses as a percent of revenues.

Shareholders' equity increased 40% to $69.5 million compared to $49.5 million a year ago. Book value per share was $9.49 at December 31, 2007, compared to $7.80 per share a year earlier. Tangible book value per share was $7.32 at December 31, 2007, compared to $6.84 a year earlier.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp is the holding company for Heritage Oaks Bank which operates as Heritage Oaks Bank and Business First, a division of Heritage Oaks Bank. Heritage Oaks Bank has its headquarters plus two branch offices in Paso Robles, two branch offices in San Luis Obispo, single branch offices in Cambria, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Templeton and Morro Bay and three branch offices in Santa Maria. Heritage conducts commercial banking business in San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County. The Business First division has two branch offices in Santa Barbara. Visit Heritage Oaks Bancorp on the Web at www.heritageoaksbancorp.com.

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for growth and income forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to the ability to successfully integrate the operations of Business First National Bank, increased profitability, continued growth, the Bank's beliefs as to the adequacy of its existing and anticipated allowances for loan losses, beliefs and expectations regarding actions that may be taken by regulatory authorities having oversight of the Bank's operations, interest rates and financial policies of the United States government, general economic conditions and California's energy crisis. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect financial results are included in Heritage Oaks Bancorp's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements proves to be incorrect, Heritage Oaks Bancorp's results could differ materially from those expressed in, implied or projected by such forward-looking statements. Heritage Oaks Bancorp assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.



                         Heritage Oaks Bancorp
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
               (dollars in thousands except share data)

                (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Percentage Change vs.
                 -------------------------------- --------------------
                 12/31/07     9/30/07   12/31/06   9/30/07   12/31/06
                 -------------------------------- --------------------
 Assets
  Cash and due
   from banks    $ 23,254    $ 20,316    $ 19,164     14.5%     21.3%
  Federal funds
   sold            23,165      14,260       3,870     62.4%    498.6%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
    Total cash
     and cash
     equivalents   46,419      34,576      23,034     34.3%    101.5%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----

  Interest bearing
   deposits with
   other banks        330       1,718         318    -80.8%      3.8%
  Securities
   available for
   sale            47,556      34,854      38,445     36.4%     23.7%
  Federal Home
   Loan Bank Stock,
   at cost          3,045       2,171       2,350     40.3%     29.6%
  Loans held for
   sale               902         902       1,764      0.0%    -48.9%
  Loans, net (1)  605,342     468,966     439,277     29.1%     37.8%
  Property,
   premises and
   equipment        6,390       5,017      14,581     27.4%    -56.2%
  Cash surrender
   value of life
   insurance        9,923       9,716       9,435      2.1%      5.2%
  Deferred tax
   assets           5,084       4,964       2,414      2.4%    110.6%
  Goodwill         11,117       4,865       4,865    128.5%    128.5%
  Core deposit
   intangible       4,551         883       1,148    415.4%    296.4%
  Other assets      4,895       4,058       4,143     20.6%     18.2%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
   Total assets  $745,554    $572,690    $541,774     30.2%     37.6%
                 ========    ========    ========    =====     =====
 Liabilities
  Deposits:
  Non-interest
   bearing
   demand        $153,684    $130,221    $153,005     18.0%      0.4%
  Savings, NOW,
   and money
   market         317,911     215,576     146,110     47.5%    117.6%
  Time deposits
   of $100K or
   more            75,966      50,666      30,630     49.9%    148.0%
  Time deposits
   under $100K     97,247      99,847      90,776     -2.6%      7.1%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
   Total deposits 644,808     496,310     420,521     29.9%     53.3%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
  FHLB advances
   and other
   borrowings       8,000          --      50,000       --     -84.0%
  Securities sold
   under agreements
   to repurchase    1,936       1,464       1,364     32.2%     41.9%
  Junior sub-
   ordinated
   debentures      13,403      13,403      16,496      0.0%    -18.8%
  Other
   liabilities      7,957       7,663       3,921      3.8%    102.9%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
    Total
     liabilities  676,104     518,840     492,302     30.3%     37.3%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
 Stockholders'
  equity
   Common stock,
    no par value;
    20,000,000
    shares
    authorized;
    issued and
    outstanding
    7,317,932;
    6,469,653; and
    6,345,639 for
    Dec. 31, 2007;
    Sept. 30, 2007
    and Dec. 31,
    2006 re-
    spectively     43,996      29,976      29,247     46.8%     50.4%
   Additional paid
    in capital        672         600         336     12.0%    100.0%
   Retained
    earnings       24,598      23,205      19,809      6.0%     24.2%
   Accumulated
    other com-
    prehensive
    income            184          69          80    166.7%    130.0%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
   Total stock-
    holders'
    equity        69,450      53,850      49,472     29.0%     40.4%
                 --------    --------    --------    -----     -----
   Total liabili-
    ties and
    stockholders'
    equity      $745,554    $572,690    $541,774     30.2%     37.6%
                ========    ========    ========    =====     =====

 (1) Loans are net of deferred loan fees of $1,732; $1,941; $1,625
     and allowance for loan losses of $6,143; $4,720; $4,081. for
     December 31, 2007, September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006
     respectively.

                         Heritage Oaks Bancorp
                   Consolidated Statements of Income
               (dollars in thousands except share data)

                            (unaudited)
                    For the Three Months Ended    Percentage Change Vs.
                  -----------------------------   --------------------
                  12/31/07    9/30/07  12/31/06    9/30/07   12/31/06
                  -----------------------------   --------------------
 Interest Income:
  Interest and
   fees on loans   $12,337    $10,058   $ 9,423     22.7%      30.9%
  Investment
   securities          609        426       426     43.0%      43.0%
  Federal funds
   sold and
   commercial
   paper               208        385        35    -46.0%     494.3%
  Time certificates
   of deposit            1          1        48      0.0%     -97.9%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
    Total interest
     income         13,155     10,870     9,932     21.0%      32.5%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Interest Expense:
  NOW accounts         135         55        20    145.5%     575.0%
  MMDA accounts      1,582      1,216       622     30.1%     154.3%
  Savings accounts     169         21        24    704.8%     604.2%
  Time deposits
   of $100K or
   more                926        610       199     51.8%     365.3%
  Other time
   deposits          1,198      1,229     1,174     -2.5%       2.0%
  Other borrowed
   funds               364        411       942    -11.4%     -61.4%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
    Total interest
     expense         4,374      3,542     2,981     23.5%      46.7%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Net interest
  income before
  provision for
  loan losses        8,781      7,328     6,951     19.8%      26.3%
   Provision for
    loan losses        140        210       120    -33.3%      16.7%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Net interest
  income after
  provision for
  loan losses        8,641      7,118     6,831     21.4%      26.5%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Non Interest
  Income:
   Service charges
    on deposit
    accounts           829        645       581     28.5%      42.7%
   Other income        610        664       720     -8.1%     -15.3%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Total non-
  interest income    1,439      1,309     1,301      9.9%      10.6%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Non-Interest
  Expense:
   Salaries and
    employee
    benefits         3,819      3,238     3,039     17.9%      25.7%
   Occupancy and
    equipment        1,130        830       706     36.1%      60.1%
   Other expenses    1,925      1,709     1,794     12.6%       7.3%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Total non-
  interest
  expenses           6,874      5,777     5,539     19.0%      24.1%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Income before
  provision for
  income taxes       3,206      2,650     2,593     21.0%      23.6%
   Provision for
    income taxes     1,228      1,022       944     20.2%      30.1%
                   -------    -------   -------    -----      -----
 Net Income        $ 1,978    $ 1,628   $ 1,649     21.5%      20.0%
                   =======    =======   =======    =====      =====

 Average basic
  shares
  outstanding    7,316,866  6,472,653 6,355,466
 Average diluted
  shares
  outstanding    7,511,625  6,679,114 6,598,355
 Basic earnings
  per share        $  0.27    $  0.25   $  0.26
 Fully diluted
  earnings per
  share            $  0.26    $  0.24   $  0.25


                         Heritage Oaks Bancorp
                   Consolidated Statements of Income
               (dollars in thousands except share data)

                              (unaudited)             Percent Change
                         For the Years Ended        12/31/07  12/31/06
                    ------------------------------      vs.      vs.
                    12/31/07   12/31/06   12/31/05  12/31/06  12/31/05
                    ------------------------------  --------  --------
 Interest Income:
  Interest and fees
   on loans          $42,425    $33,897    $27,399     25.2%    23.7%
  Investment
   securities          1,956      1,927      2,100      1.5%    -8.2%
  Federal funds
   sold and
   commercial paper      785        539        667     45.6%   -19.2%
  Time certificates
   of deposit              8          9          9    -11.1%     0.0%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
    Total interest
     income           45,174     36,372     30,175     24.2%    20.5%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Interest Expense:
  NOW accounts           262         86         89    204.7%    -3.4%
  MMDA accounts        4,411      2,309      1,504     91.0%    53.5%
  Savings accounts       238        102        102    133.3%     0.0%
  Time deposits of
   $100K or more       2,046        626        413    226.8%    51.6%
  Other time
   deposits            4,914      3,845      1,371     27.8%   180.5%
  Other borrowed
   funds               2,880      2,348      1,537     22.7%    52.8%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
    Total interest
     expense          14,751      9,316      5,016     58.3%    85.7%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Net interest
  income before
  provision for
  loan losses         30,423     27,056     25,159     12.4%     7.5%
   Provision for
    loan losses          660        600        710     10.0%   -15.5%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Net interest
  income after
  provision for
  loan losses         29,763     26,456     24,449     12.5%     8.2%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Non Interest
  Income:
   Service charges
    on deposit
    accounts           2,774      2,427      2,430     14.3%    -0.1%
   Other income        2,575      2,525      2,579      2.0%    -2.1%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Total non-interest
  income               5,349      4,952      5,009      8.0%    -1.1%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Non-Interest
  Expense:
   Salaries and
    employee
    benefits          13,501     11,573      9,746     16.7%    18.7%
   Occupancy and
    equipment          3,381      2,607      2,491     29.7%     4.7%
   Other expenses      7,026      6,775      6,481      3.7%     4.5%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Total non-interest
  expenses            23,908     20,955     18,718     14.1%    12.0%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Income before
  provision for
  income taxes        11,204     10,453     10,740      7.2%    -2.7%
   Provision for
    income taxes       4,287      3,791      4,103     13.1%    -7.6%
                     -------    -------    -------   ------   ------
 Net Income          $ 6,917    $ 6,662    $ 6,637      3.8%     0.4%
                     =======    =======    =======   ======   ======

 Average basic
  shares out-
  standing         6,651,594  6,333,924  6,167,937
 Average diluted
  shares out-
  standing         6,884,575  6,595,793  6,551,389
 Basic earnings
  per share          $  1.04    $  1.05    $  1.08
 Fully diluted
  earnings per
  share              $  1.00    $  1.01    $  1.01

 Additional Financial Information
 (dollars in thousands)
                                                         Percentage
                          For the Quarters Ended          Change vs.
                      -----------------------------    ----------------
                      12/31/07    9/30/07   12/31/06   9/30/07 12/31/06
                      --------   --------   --------   ----------------
 LOANS
 Commercial,
  financial and
  agricultural        $146,080   $101,748   $ 84,976     43.6%    71.9%
 Real estate -
  construction/land    118,200    105,054    105,712     12.5%    11.8%
 Real estate - other   322,928    253,860    237,401     27.2%    36.0%
 Home equity lines
  of credit             17,470      8,897     10,792     96.4%    61.9%
 Installment loans
  to individuals         7,977      5,580      5,598     43.0%    42.5%
 All other loans
 (including overdrafts)    562        488        504     15.2%    11.5%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
    Total gross loans $613,217   $475,627   $444,983     28.9%    37.8%
                      ========   ========   ========   ===============
 Loans held for sale  $    902   $    902   $  1,764      0.0%   -48.9%

 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN
  LOSSES
 Balance, beginning
  of period           $  4,720   $  4,520   $  3,863      4.4%    22.2%
 Provision expense         140        210        120    -33.3%    16.7%
 Credit losses charged
  against allowance       (213)       (16)       (42)  1231.3%   407.1%
 Recoveries of loans
  previously charged
  off                      115          6        140   1816.7%   -17.9%
 Credit from purchase
  of Business First
  Bank                   1,381         --         --       --       --
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
    Balance, end of
     period           $  6,143   $  4,720   $  4,081     30.1%    50.5%
                      ========   ========   ========   ===============
 Net (charge-offs)/
  recoveries          $    (98)  $    (10)  $     98    880.0%  -200.0%
 Net charge-offs/
  average loans
  outstanding             0.02%      0.00%    -0.02%    681.3%      --
 Allowance for loan
  losses/total loans
  outstanding             1.00%      0.99%      0.92%     0.9%     9.2%

 NON-PERFORMING ASSETS
 Loans on non-accrual
  status              $    338   $    641   $     55   -47.3%    514.5%
 Loans more than 90
  days delinquent,
  still accruing            --         --         --       --       --
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
    Total non-per-
     forming loans         338        641         55   -47.3%    514.5%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
 Other real estate
  owned (OREO)/re-
  possessed assets          --         --         --       --       --
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
    Total non-per-
     forming assets   $    338   $    641   $     55   -47.3%    514.5%
                      ========   ========   ========   ===============

 Total non-performing
  assets to total
  assets                  0.05%      0.11%      0.01%   -59.5%   346.6%

 DEPOSITS
 Non-interest bearing
  demand              $153,684   $130,221   $153,005     18.0%     0.4%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
 Interest-bearing
  demand                69,558     56,931     45,164     22.2%    54.0%
 Regular savings
  accounts              41,599     21,606     23,406     92.5%    77.7%
 Money market accounts 206,754    137,039     77,540     50.9%   166.6%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
  Total interest-
   bearing transaction
   and savings
   accounts            317,911    215,576    146,110     47.5%   117.6%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
 Time deposits under
  $100 thousand         97,247     99,847     90,776     -2.6%     7.1%
 Time deposits of
  $100 thousand or
  more                  75,966     50,666     30,630     49.9%   148.0%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
   Total time deposits 173,213    150,513    121,406     15.1%    42.7%
                      --------   --------   --------   ---------------
 Total deposits       $644,808   $496,310   $420,521     29.9%    53.3%
                      ========   ========   ========   ===============

                                                        For the
                    For the Three Months Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                  ------------------------------  --------------------
                  12/31/07    9/30/07   12/31/06   12/31/07  12/31/06
                  ------------------------------  --------------------
 PROFITABILITY/
  PERFORMANCE
  RATIOS
 Operating
  efficiency         67.26%     66.89%     67.12%     66.83%     65.47%
 Return on average
  equity             11.65%     12.09%     13.53%     12.37%     14.10%
 Return on average
  tangible equity    14.51%     13.54%     15.46%     14.36%     16.22%
 Return on average
  assets              1.11%      1.12%      1.23%      1.14%      1.32%
 Other operating
  income to average
  assets              0.80%      0.90%      0.97%      0.88%      0.98%
 Other operating
  expense to average
  assets              3.84%      3.97%      4.14%      3.95%      4.16%
 Net interest
  income to average
  assets              4.91%      5.04%      5.20%      5.02%      5.37%
 Non-interest
  income to total
  net revenue        14.08%     15.16%     15.77%     14.95%     15.47%

 ASSET QUALITY AND
  CAPITAL RATIOS
 Non-performing
  loans to total
  gross loans         0.06%      0.13%      0.01%
 Non-performing
  loans as a %
  of ALLL             5.50%     13.58%      1.35%
 Non-performing
  loans to primary
  capital             0.49%      1.19%      0.11%
 Leverage ratio       9.60%     10.69%     11.00%
 Tier I Risk-Based
  Capital Ratio      10.08%     11.65%     11.51%
 Total Risk-Based
  Capital Ratio      11.03%     12.58%     12.36%

 AVERAGE BALANCES
  AND RATES
 (dollars in thousands)

 Average
  Investments     $ 50,525   $ 38,166   $ 41,981   $ 42,619   $ 44,089
 Average federal
  funds sold        18,137     29,447      2,534     15,878     11,179
 Average loans     585,484    466,749    437,623    497,374    400,229
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 Average earning
  assets           654,146    534,362    482,138    555,871    455,497
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 Average non-
  earning assets    61,090     46,858     52,629     54,649     52,311
 Allowance for
  loan losses       (5,932)    (4,600)    (3,938)    (4,784)    (3,931)
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
   Average assets  709,304    576,620    530,829    605,736    503,877
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
 Average non-
  interest bearing
  demand deposits  151,483    133,432    142,582    141,123    146,458
 Average interest
  bearing deposits 458,143    353,845    274,081    353,249    267,183
 Average borrowings 23,634     26,804     60,638     48,363     38,568
 Average non-
  interest bearing
  liabilities        8,701      9,098      5,186      7,074      4,432
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
   Average
    liabilities    641,961    523,179    482,487    549,809    456,641
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 Average equity     67,343     53,441     48,342     55,927     47,236
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
   Average
    liabilities
    and equity    $709,304   $576,620   $530,829   $605,736   $503,877
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
 Interest rate
  yield on loans      8.36%      8.55%      8.54%      8.53%      8.47%
 Interest rate yield
  on investments      4.79%      4.44%      4.48%      4.61%      4.39%
 Interest rate
  yield on federal
  funds sold          4.55%      5.19%      5.48%      4.94%      4.82%
 Interest rate
  yield on interest-
  earning assets      7.98%      8.07%      8.17%      8.13%      7.99%
 Interest rate
  expense on
  deposits            2.61%      2.55%      1.94%      2.40%      1.68%
 Interest rate
  expense on other
  borrowings          6.11%      6.08%      6.16%      5.95%      6.09%
 Interest rate
  expense on
  interest-bearing
  liabilities         3.60%      3.69%      3.53%      3.67%      3.05%
 Average equity to
  average assets      9.49%      9.27%      9.11%      9.23%      9.37%
 Net interest margin  5.33%      5.44%      5.72%      5.47%      5.94%


            

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