Somerset Hills Bancorp Reports Earnings, Declares 5 Percent Stock Dividend and a Cash Dividend of $0.05 Per Share -- a 25 Percent Increase


BERNARDSVILLE, N.J., April 30, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Somerset Hills Bancorp (Nasdaq:SOMH) reported net income for the first quarter 2008. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net income was $444,000, or $0.08 per diluted share compared to $0.09 per diluted share during the first quarter 2007.

Somerset Hills Bancorp also declared a 5% stock dividend and a cash dividend of $0.05 per share (or a 25% increase) payable May 30, 2008 to shareholders of record as of May 16, 2008. This is the seventh consecutive year we have declared a 5% stock dividend and the fourth year we will pay an increased cash dividend.

At March 31, 2008, loans increased $13.0 million, or 6.9% to $201.3 million from $188.3 million when compared to March 31, 2007. At March 31, 2008, deposits decreased $15.9 million, or 6.2% to $239.2 million from $255.1 million when compared to March 31, 2007. During that same period, the net interest margin increased from 3.92% to 4.22% and core deposits represent 86.0 % of total deposits at March 31, 2008.

At March 31, 2008, total assets were $288.9 million, compared to $294.9 million at March 31, 2007.

Stewart E. McClure, Jr, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "As we look at the economic environment in early 2008, it is clear that the effects of the sub-prime and residential housing crisis continue. This in turn creates market conditions where loan demand is weak and competition for deposits is very strong. With this in mind, we are being cautious, temporarily deemphasizing growth and focusing on the quality of our assets and liabilities. Our numbers reflect the expense burden associated with our increased level of non-performing assets which we reported during fourth quarter 2007. We are working diligently to reduce that burden. Despite these challenges, we are pleased that our core deposits represent 86.0% of total deposits and our net interest margin has increased to 4.22%. We also remain focused on cross-selling and expense control. This has allowed us to limit non-interest expense growth to 2.3%, over first quarter last year, despite adding our sixth branch office during the last year.

"We look forward to operating in a better economic environment and believe we are positioning ourselves to improve net income at that time as a result of our efforts."

Somerset Hills Bancorp is a bank holding company for Somerset Hills Bank, a full service commercial bank with offices in Bernardsville, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Morristown, and Summit, New Jersey. Somerset Hills Bank focuses its lending activities on small- to medium-sized businesses, high net worth individuals, professional practices, and consumer and retail customers. The Bank operates a licensed mortgage company subsidiary, Sullivan Financial Services, Inc. and also operates Somerset Hills Wealth Management Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary licensed to provide financial services, including financial planning, insurance (life, health, property and casualty), mutual funds and annuities for individuals and commercial accounts, and Somerset Hills Title Group, LLC, which, with its partner, Property Title Group, provides title services in connection with the closing of real estate transactions. The common stock of the company is traded on NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SOMH. You can visit our website at www.somersethillsbank.com.



                        SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP
                 Selected Consolidated Financial Data
                             (Unaudited)

 ($ in thousands except per share data)         Three Months Ended
                                                     March 31
                                                 2008        2007
                                               --------    --------
 Income Statement Data:
      Interest income                          $  3,951    $  4,380
      Interest expense                            1,289       1,836
                                               --------    --------
      Net interest income                         2,662       2,544
      Provision for loan losses                      70           0
                                               --------    --------
      Net interest income after prov.
       for loan losses                            2,592       2,544
      Non-interest income                           465         598
      Non-interest expense                        2,437       2,383
                                               --------    --------
      Income before income taxes                    620         759
      Income tax expense                            176         239
                                               --------    --------
      Net income                               $    444    $    520
                                               ========    ========
 Balance Sheet Data:
      Total assets                             $288,933    $294,895
      Loans, net                                201,276     188,309
      Loans held for sale                         3,048       5,959
      Allowance for loan losses                   3,126       2,170
      Investment securities held to maturity     12,057      13,206
      Investment securities held for sale        24,400      38,714
      Deposits                                  239,203     255,142
      Shareholders' equity                       37,295      38,322

 Performance Ratios:
      Return on average assets                     0.65%       0.74%
      Return on average equity                     4.82%       5.54%
      Net interest margin                          4.22%       3.92%
      Efficiency ratio                             77.9%       75.9%

 Asset Quality:
      Nonaccrual loans                            2,759         236
      Net charge-offs                               144           0
      Allowance for loan losses to total loans     1.53%       1.14%
      Nonperforming loans to total loans           1.35%       0.12%

 Per Share Data:
      Earnings per share- Basic                $   0.09    $   0.10
      Earnings per share- Diluted              $   0.08    $   0.09
      Book value per share                     $   7.17    $   7.30
     Tangible Book                             $   7.17    $   7.08


                        SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets
                        (Dollars in Thousand)

                                              March 31,   December 31,
                                                2008          2007
                                              ---------    ---------
 ASSETS

 Cash and due from banks                      $   9,180    $  12,069
 Federal funds sold                              21,500        5,800
                                              ---------    ---------
    Total cash and cash equivalents              30,680       17,869

 Loans held for sale                              3,048        3,063
 Investment securities held to maturity
  (Approximate market value of $11,964 in
   2008 and $13,531 in 2007)                     12,057       13,646
 Investment securities available for sale        24,400       27,954

 Loans receivable                               204,289      208,376
   Less allowance for loan losses                (3,126)      (3,201)
   Net Deferred costs                               113           82
                                              ---------    ---------
  Net loans receivable                          201,276      205,257

 Premises and equipment, net                      6,226        6,343
 Bank owned life insurance                        8,198        8,111
 Accrued interest receivable                      1,206        1,435
 Deferred tax asset                                 729          723
 Other assets                                     1,113        1,069
                                              ---------    ---------
 TOTAL ASSETS                                 $ 288,933    $ 285,470
                                              =========    =========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 LIABILITIES
  Deposits
   Non-interest bearing deposits-demand       $  51,165    $  53,783
   Interest bearing deposits-NOW, money
    market and savings                          154,636      159,462
   Certificates of deposit, under $100,000       18,749       19,170
   Certificates of deposit, $100,000 and over    14,653       12,258
                                              ---------    ---------
    Total deposits                              239,203      244,673
                                              ---------    ---------

 Federal Home Loan Bank Advances                 11,000        3,000
 Accrued interest payable                           521          523
 Taxes payable                                      123           --
 Other liabilities                                  791          653
                                              ---------    ---------
    Total liabilities                           251,638      248,849
                                              ---------    ---------
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Preferred stock-1,000,000 shares
   authorized; none issued                           --           --
  Common stock- authorized, 9,000,000 shares
   of no par value;issued and outstanding,
   5,200,915* in 2008 and 5,176,586* in 2007     37,692       37,513
  Accumulated deficit                              (651)        (896)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income            254            4
                                              ---------    ---------
    Total stockholders' equity                   37,295       36,621
                                              ---------    ---------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS`EQUITY    $ 288,933    $ 285,470
                                              =========    =========

   * Restated to reflect 5% stock dividends in 2008 and 2007


                        SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP
                  Consolidated Statements of Income
           (Dollars in Thousand Except For Per Share Data)

                                              Three months ended
                                                   March 31,
                                                 2008     2007
                                                ------   ------
                                                  (Unaudited)
 Interest Income
  Loans, including fees                         $3,437   $3,545
  Investment securities                            472      677
  Federal funds sold                                36      144
  Interest bearing deposits with other banks         6       14
                                                ------   ------
    Total interest income                        3,951    4,380

 Interest Expense
  Deposits                                       1,199    1,834
  Federal Home Loan Bank Advances                   90        2
                                                ------   ------
    Total interest expense                       1,289    1,836
                                                ------   ------

    Net Interest Income                          2,662    2,544

 Provision for  Loan Losses                         70       --
                                                ------   ------
    Net Interest Income After Provision
     for loan Losses                             2,592    2,544
                                                ------   ------
 Non-Interest Income
  Service fees on deposit accounts                  66       79
  Gains on sales of mortgage loans, net            257      415
  Other Income                                     142      104
                                                ------   ------
    Total Non-Interest Income                      465      598
                                                ------   ------
 Non-Interest Expenses
  Salaries and employee benefits                 1,305    1,260
  Occupancy expense                                484      454
  Advertising and business promotion                60      112
  Stationery and supplies                           43       66
  Data processing                                  139      135
  Other operating expense                          406      356
                                                ------   ------
    Total Non-Interest Expenses                  2,437    2,383
                                                ------   ------

    Income before provision for taxes              620      759

 Provision For Income Taxes                        176      239
                                                ------   ------
        Net Income                              $  444   $  520
                                                ======   ======
 Per share data*
  Net income -basic                             $ 0.09   $ 0.10
                                                ======   ======
  Net income -diluted                           $ 0.08   $ 0.09
                                                ======   ======

   * Restated to reflect 5% stock dividends in 2008 and 2007


            

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