CBT Reports 35 Percent Growth in Net Interest Income; Net Loss is Trimmed


HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 30, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company (Nasdaq:CTBC) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2007. The net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 was $388,000, or $0.11 per share, compared to a net loss of $610,000, or $0.17 per share, for the comparable period a year earlier. The fourth quarter loss also improved from the immediately preceding quarter decreasing $142,000, or 27%. Total assets rose $42.3 million from $136.4 million at December 31, 2006 to $178.7 million at December 31, 2007.

The results of operation for the year ended December 31, 2007 reflected improvement with a reduction in the net loss of $1.1 million, or 34%, to a net loss of $2.1 million, or $0.61 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.92 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Chairman and CEO David A. Lentini remarked, "I am encouraged by the financial results for 2007 especially given the very tough interest rate environment that existed throughout the year. We have completed our branch expansion plan with the addition of our Rocky Hill office in October 2007. With our seven banking centers located in and around the Hartford market, we are confident we can support all of our clients. I am also pleased to report that CBT has not engaged in any subprime lending activities. We will now concentrate on profitability, expanding our customer base, and continuing to provide high-touch service."

Results of Operations. For the three month period ended December 31, 2007, net interest income increased $367,000, or 32%, to $1.5 million compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The overall yield on assets rose from 7.00% to 7.04% and similarly the cost of funding rose from 4.41% to 4.46% for the comparable period a year earlier. The net interest margin (NIM) has continued to tighten and was 3.64% for the three month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to 3.74% for the comparable period a year earlier.

Net interest income rose 35% from $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 to $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Chief Financial Officer Anson Hall commented, "The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its target rates three times totaling 100 basis points from September to December 2007, and we maintained a fairly stable net interest margin. After reaching a low of 3.46% in the second quarter our NIM for all of 2007 was 3.59%, down from 3.85% for 2006. The FOMC has continued to cut rates in 2008, and we have had to continue adjusting our loan rates downward, while competitive pressures slow the rate of decline for deposits."

Noninterest expenses increased $202,000, or 11%, to $2.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 compared to $1.8 million for the comparable period a year earlier. Expenses related to opening and operating the two new branches in 2007, Windsor and Rocky Hill, are chiefly responsible for the increase. Other increases included higher maintenance and support costs for our core banking software and the employment of consultants to assist in developing CBT's Sarbanes-Oxley compliance program. General and Administrative expenses decreased $31,000 primarily as a result of cost containment efforts.

Balance Sheet Performance. Total assets at December 31, 2007, were $178.7 million, an increase of $42.3 million from the $136.4 million reported at December 31, 2006. During 2007, total loans outstanding increased $35.8 million to $142.7 million. Cash and cash equivalents totaling $11.5 million, an increase of $6.4 million from 2006, provides liquidity and a source for funding future loan growth. Deposits totaled $137.8 million, increasing $38.0 million from year end 2006. Management also added $5.0 million in long term debt. Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2007 was $20.4 million compared to $22.1 million at December 31, 2006 and primarily reflects the operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2007. Other components of stockholder's equity noting improvement were the unamortized portion of stock-related compensation and a rise in the market value of the Bank's investment portfolio. CBT's equity ratio remains strong at 11.44%

Asset Quality. The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2007 was $1.7 million compared to $1.4 million at December 31, 2006. This represents 1.19% and 1.29% of outstanding loans at the respective dates and reflects the risk in the portfolio. There were no charge-offs during the quarter.

At December 31, 2007, six loans totaling $599,000 were classified as nonperforming loans compared to two loans totaling $597,000 at December 31, 2006. The coverage ratio which measures the allowance for loan and lease losses to total nonperforming loans was 283% at December 31, 2007 compared to 232% at the prior year end.

CBT is a full service commercial bank headquartered in Hartford, CT, with banking centers conveniently located in Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill, Vernon, West Hartford, and Windsor.



 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Selected Performance Data
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Three months ended
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dollar values in thousands      Sept. 30,    Dec. 31,     March 31,
  except per share                 2006         2006         2007
 ----------------------------------------     --------     --------
 Total assets (EOP)              $123,325     $136,434     $155,554

 Net loss                        $   (844)    $   (610)    $   (638)
 Net interest margin                 3.69%        3.75%        3.70%
 Net interest spread                 2.57%        2.59%        2.57%
 Ratio of total stockholders'
  equity to total assets (EOP)      18.35%       16.19%       13.92%
 Weighted Avg shrs outstanding      3,524        3,531        3,531
 Loss per share                  $  (0.24)    $  (0.17)    $  (0.18)
 Book value per share (EOP)      $   6.34     $   6.19     $   6.07
 Allowance for loan losses to
  total loans (EOP)                  1.34%        1.29%        1.24%

                                       Three months ended
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 June 30,     Sept 30,     Dec. 31,
                                   2007         2007         2007
 ----------------------------------------     --------     --------
 Total assets (EOP)              $169,816     $181,457     $178,739

 Net loss                        $   (592)    $   (530)    $   (388)
 Net interest margin                 3.46%        3.58%        3.64%
 Net interest spread                 2.49%        2.54%        2.58%
 Ratio of total stockholders'
  equity to total assets (EOP)      12.25%       11.35%       11.44%
 Weighted Avg shrs outstanding      3,534        3,537        3,544
 Loss per share                  $  (0.17)    $  (0.15)    $  (0.11)
 Book value per share (EOP)      $   5.83     $   5.77     $   5.72
 Allowance for loan losses to
  total loans (EOP)                  1.22%        1.23%        1.19%

                                               Year ended
                                          --------------------
                                          Dec. 31,     Dec. 31,
                                            2006         2007
 -------------------------------------------------     --------
 Total assets (EOP)                       $136,434     $178,739

 Net loss                                 $ (3,238)    $ (2,148)
 Net interest margin                          3.85%        3.59%
 Net interest spread                          2.65%        2.53%
 Ratio of total stockholders'
  equity to total assets (EOP)               16.19%       11.44%
 Weighted Avg shrs outstanding               3,524        3,542
 Loss per share                           $  (0.92)    $  (0.61)
 Book value per share (EOP)               $   6.19     $   5.72
 Allowance for loan losses to
  total loans (EOP)                           1.29%        1.19%
 ------------------------------------------------------------------

Caution concerning forward-looking statements:

Statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, due to a number of factors which include without limitation the effects of future economic conditions, governmental fiscal and monetary policies, legislative and regulatory changes, changes in the interest rates, the effects of competition, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in any such forward-looking statements. CBT does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. See financial statements accompanying this release for additional data.



                THE CONNECTICUT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
                       Statements of Operations

               (Dollars in thousands,except share data)

                             Three Months Ended        Year Ended
                                 December 31,          December 31,
                             -------------------   -------------------
                               2007       2006       2007       2006
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
                                 (Unaudited)             (Unaudited)
 Interest and dividends:
  Loans, including fees      $  2,584   $  1,859   $  9,292   $  6,054
  Debt securities                 257        231      1,006        963
  Dividends                        33         40        104         82
  Federal funds sold               81         35        421         51
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total interest and
     dividend income            2,955      2,165     10,823      7,150
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Interest expense:
  Deposits                      1,216        866      4,541      2,469
  Borrowed funds                  214        141        742        584
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total interest expense      1,430      1,007      5,283      3,053
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net interest income            1,525      1,158      5,540      4,097
 Provision for loan losses         70        106        308        516
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net interest income,
  after provision for
  loan losses                   1,455      1,052      5,232      3,581
                             --------   --------   --------   --------

 Non-interest income:
  Service charges and fees         47         30        174         98
  Brokerage fee income             73         87        262         95
  Net gain/(loss) from
   sale of available-for-
   sale securities                  1        (17)       (41)       (17)
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Total non-interest income        121        100        395        176
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Non-interest expenses:
  Salaries and benefits         1,066      1,043      4,342      3,890
  Occupancy and equipment         426        326      1,493      1,202
  Data processing                  77         53        234        174
  Marketing                       101         81        440        649
  Professional services           165         99        524        444
  Other general and
   administrative                 129        160        742        636
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total non-interest
     expenses                   1,964      1,762      7,775      6,995
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net loss                    $   (388)  $   (610)  $ (2,148)  $ (3,238)
                             ========   ========   ========   ========
 Net loss per share:
  Basic                      $  (0.11)  $  (0.17)  $  (0.61)  $  (0.92)
  Diluted                    $  (0.11)  $  (0.17)  $  (0.61)  $  (0.92)

                            Balance Sheets
                      December 31, 2007 and 2006
                        (Dollars in Thousands)

                                                   2007         2006
                                                ---------    ---------
               ASSETS                                 Unaudited)

 Cash and due from banks                        $   3,411    $   4,589
 Federal funds sold                                 8,080          475
                                                ---------    ---------
    Cash and cash equivalents                      11,491        5,064

 Securities available for sale, at fair value      19,894       20,738
 Certificates of deposit                               76           76
 Federal Reserve Bank stock, at cost                  635          693
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost                945          728

 Loans                                            142,686      106,910
 Allowance for loan losses                         (1,693)      (1,384)
                                                ---------    ---------
    Loans, net                                    140,993      105,526

 Premises and equipment, net                        3,053        2,217
 Accrued interest receivable                          830          613
 Other assets                                         822          779
                                                ---------    ---------
                                                $ 178,739    $ 136,434
                                                =========    =========
         LIABILITIES AND
       STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 Deposits                                       $ 137,800    $  99,745
 Short-term borrowings                              2,255        1,453
 FHLB Advances                                     17,450       12,450
 Other liabilities                                    793          701
                                                ---------    ---------
    Total liabilities                             158,298      114,349
                                                ---------    ---------

 Stockholders' equity;
   Common stock, $1.00 par value;
    10,000,000 shares authorized; shares
    issued and outstanding: 3,572,450 at
    December 31, 2007 and 3,567,450 at
    December 31, 2006                               3,572        3,567
   Common stock warrants                              853          853
   Additional  paid-in capital                     29,700       29,582
   Restricted stock unearned compensation            (279)        (426)
   Retained deficit                               (13,142)     (10,994)
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss              (263)        (497)
                                                ---------    ---------
    Total stockholders' equity                     20,441       22,085
                                                ---------    ---------
                                                $ 178,739    $ 136,434
                                                =========    =========

            

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