CBT Reports Improved Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2008


HARTFORD, Conn., July 22, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company (Nasdaq:CTBC)("CBT") announced a net loss of $295,000 or $0.08 per share for the second quarter of 2008. This represents an improvement of $297,000, compared to a loss of $592,000 or $0.17 per share for the same period in 2007. Total assets were $200.1 million at June 30, 2008, an increase of $21.4 million from $178.7 million reported at December 31, 2007.

Chairman and CEO David A. Lentini remarked, "I am pleased to say that CBT is making strong, steady progress toward achieving profitability in these very difficult economic times. This is the 11th consecutive quarterly improvement in year over year operating results."

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, CBT reported a $691,000 loss, or $0.19 per share, compared to a $1,230,000 loss or $0.35 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

Results of Operations. The results of operation for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 showed improvement of $297,000 or 50% from $592,000 reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Growth in net interest, still the bank's primary source of income, increased $334,000 and fee based income increased $11,000. Partially offsetting these gains were $17,000 increase in the provisions for loan losses and $31,000 increase in noninterest expenses. Noninterest expenses, the costs of day-to-day operation of the bank, remain tightly controlled with the increase representing a modest 1.6% year over year.

The increase in net interest resulted primarily from asset growth. Average earning assets were up $40 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2008 over the same period in 2007 lead principally by $34 million in loans. Despite the effect of Federal Open Market Committee actions that lowered the prime interest rate 2.75% between September 2007 and May 2008, the bank's net interest margin decreased a slight three basis points to 3.43% for the quarter compared to 3.46% in the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Noninterest income was $125,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2008 an increase of 10% compared to the same period a year earlier primarily due to the increased sales of fee based services. CEO Lentini commented, "While our core business is commercial loan origination, fee income provided from diverse sources is proving a modest complement to lending."

Noninterest expense increased $31,000 or 1.6%, to $1,994,000 for the three month period ending June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior year. It is notable that the increase resulted principally from higher facilities costs reflecting double digit rises in fuel, electricity and local property taxes.

Balance Sheet Performance. Total assets were $200.1 million at June 30, 2008, an increase of $21.4 million or 12%, compared to $178.7 million at December 31, 2007. Total loans outstanding grew $13.9 million to $156.6 million and total investments grew $7.8 million to $27.7 million at June 30, 2008. Asset growth was funded through a combination of increased deposits and increased borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. Total deposits were $147.4 million at June 30, 2008, an increase of $9.6 million from December 31, 2007.

Borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston totaled $30.5 million, increasing $13 million from the $17.5 million at December 31, 2007. The Bank continues to be well-capitalized with stockholders' equity of $19.3 million at June 30, 2008. The ratio of stockholders' equity to total assets was 11.44%.

Asset Quality. The provision for losses was $84,000 for the three month period ending June 30, 2008 compared to $67,000 in the same period a year prior. The provisions increased the allowance for loan losses to $1.9 million at June 30, 2008 or 1.21% of outstanding loans compared to $1.7 million or 1.19% of outstanding loans at December 31, 2007. Loans charged-off for the three month period ending June 30, 2008 totaled $23,000. There were no charged-off loans in the comparable period in 2007.

Total nonaccrual loans were $1.5 million and represented 0.93% of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2008, compared to $599,000, or 0.42% at December 31, 2007. The coverage ratio which measures the allowance for loan and lease losses to nonperforming loans was 130% at June 30, 2008. CBT had no other loans that were past due 90 days or more.

CEO Lentini concluded his remarks by saying "Having completed our branch expansion in 2007, our seven locations greet new customers every day. While no one has a crystal ball, I am confident that CBT will remain well-capitalized and capable of meeting the financial services needs of its growing base of customers."



 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Selected Performance Data
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Three months ended
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dollar
 values in
 thousands
 except     March 31, June 30,  Sept 30,  Dec. 31,  March 31, June 30,
 per share    2007      2007      2007      2007      2008      2008
 -------------------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

 Total
  assets
  (EOP)     $155,554  $169,816  $181,457  $178,739  $204,205  $200,128

 Net
  operating
  loss      $   (638) $   (592) $   (530) $   (388) $   (396) $   (295)
 Net
  interest
  margin        3.70%     3.46%     3.58%     3.64%     3.37%     3.43%
 Net
  interest
  spread        2.57%     2.49%     2.54%     2.58%     2.45%     2.75%
 Ratio of
  total
  stock-
  holders'
  equity to
  total
  assets
  (EOP)        13.92%    12.25%    11.35%    11.44%     9.82%     9.65%
 Weighted
  avg shrs
  outstanding  3,531     3,534     3,537     3,544     3,545     3,550
 Loss per
  share     $  (0.18) $  (0.17) $  (0.15) $  (0.11) $  (0.11) $  (0.08)
 Book value
  per share
  (EOP)     $   6.07  $   5.83  $   5.77  $   5.72  $   5.62  $   5.40
 Allowance
  for loan
  losses to
  total
  loans
  (EOP)         1.24%     1.22%     1.23%     1.19%     1.19%     1.21%
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 ------------------------------------------------  -------------------
                                                     Six months ended
 ------------------------------------------------  -------------------
 Dollar values in thousands                        June 30,   June 30,
  except per share                                   2007       2008
 ------------------------------------------------  --------   --------

 Total assets (EOP)                                $169,816   $200,128

 Net operating loss                                $ (1,230)  $   (691)
 Net interest margin                                   3.57%      3.42%
 Net interest spread                                   2.54%      2.62%
 Ratio of total stockholders'
  equity to total assets (EOP)                        12.25%      9.65%
 Weighted avg shrs outstanding                        3,532      3,550
 Loss per share                                    $  (0.51)  $  (0.19)
 Book value per share (EOP)                        $   5.83   $   5.40
 Allowance for loan losses to total loans (EOP)        1.22%      1.21%
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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



               THE CONNECTICUT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
                Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                     June 30,            June 30,
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                  2008      2007      2008      2007
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 (Dollars in thousands except       (Unaudited)         (Unaudited)
  share data)
 Interest and dividend income:
  Interest and fees on loans    $  2,564  $  2,254  $  5,154  $  4,285
  Debt securities                    340       245       582       495
  Dividends                           26        25        51        45
  Federal funds sold                  37       137       112       144
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Total interest and dividend
  income                           2,967     2,661     5,899     4,969
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Interest expense:
  Deposits                         1,030     1,185     2,243     2,089
  Borrowed funds                     279       152       500       343
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Total interest expense            1,309     1,337     2,743     2,432
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net interest income               1,658     1,324     3,156     2,537
  Provision for loan losses           84        67       221       127
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Net interest income, after
    provision for loan losses      1,574     1,257     2,935     2,410
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Non-interest income:
  Service charges and fees            55        43       103        83
  Brokerage commissions               70        70       136       124
  Gains(losses) from sales of
   available-for-sale
   securities, net                    --         1        65       (42)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Total non-interest income           125       114       304       165
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Non-interest expenses:
  Salaries and benefits            1,084     1,112     2,142     2,172
  Occupancy and equipment            432       345       866       681
  Data processing                     74        50       142        99
  Marketing                           75       106       140       221
  Professional services              111       116       210       221
  Other general and
   administrative                    218       234       430       411
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Total non-interest expenses     1,994     1,963     3,930     3,805
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net loss                       $   (295) $   (592) $   (691) $ (1,230)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Net loss per share:
 Basic                          $  (0.08) $  (0.17) $  (0.19) $  (0.35)
 Diluted                        $  (0.08) $  (0.17) $  (0.19) $  (0.35)


                            BALANCE SHEETS
                        (Dollars in Thousands)

                                ASSETS

                               June 30,     December 31,     June 30,
                                 2008          2007           2007
                             (Unaudited)                   (Unaudited)
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
 Cash and due from banks       $  3,913       $  3,411       $  5,407
 Federal funds sold               6,524          8,080         16,274
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
   Cash and cash equivalents     10,437         11,491         21,681

 Securities available 
  for sale                       27,740         19,894         20,125
 Certificates of deposit            491             76             76
 Federal Reserve Bank stock,
  at cost                           622            635            675
 Federal Home Loan Bank 
  stock, at cost                  1,567            945            914

 Loans                          156,582        142,686        123,665
 Less: allowance for loan
  losses                         (1,891)        (1,693)        (1,511)
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
 Loans, net                     154,691        140,993        122,154

 Premises and equipment, net      2,797          3,053          2,689
 Accrued interest receivable        866            830            765
 Other assets                       917            822            737
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
 Total Assets                 $ 200,128      $ 178,739      $ 169,816
                             ===========    ===========    ===========

                 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 Deposits                     $ 147,352      $ 137,800      $ 133,091
 Short-term borrowings            2,507          2,255          1,839
 Long-term debt                  30,450         17,450         12,450
 Other liabilities                  513            793          1,628
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
   Total liabilities            180,822        158,298        149,008
                             -----------    -----------    -----------

 Stockholders' equity;
   Common stock, $1.00 par 
    value; 10,000,000 shares
    authorized; 3,572,450 
    shares issued and 
    outstanding at June 30, 
    2008, and December 31,
    2007                          3,572          3,572          3,572
   Common stock warrants            853            853            853
   Additional paid-in 
    capital                      29,738         29,700         29,657
   Restricted stock unearned
    compensation                   (207)          (279)          (367)
   Retained deficit             (13,833)       (13,142)       (12,224)
   Accumulated other 
    comprehensive loss             (817)          (263)          (683)
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
   Total stockholders' 
    equity                       19,306         20,441         20,808
                             -----------    -----------    -----------
 Total Liabilities and
  Stockholders' Equity        $ 200,128      $ 178,739      $ 169,816
                             ===========    ===========    ===========

            

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