Naugatuck Valley Financial Corporation Reports 2008 Year End and Fourth Quarter Results


NAUGATUCK, Conn., Jan. 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Naugatuck Valley Financial Corporation (the "Company") (Nasdaq:NVSL), the parent company of Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan (the "Bank"), announced net income of $1.4 million, or $0.20 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 and a net loss of $312,000, or $0.05 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to net income of $479,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and net income of $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Income for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2008 was significantly affected by Other Than Temporary Impairment ("OTTI") charges of $3.2 million taken in the quarter ended September 30, 2008, and $211,000 taken in the quarter ended December 31, 2008 on auction rate pass through certificates with Fannie Mae preferred stock as underlying collateral and the related tax effects. After the OTTI charges, the carrying value of the auction rate pass through certificates with Fannie Mae preferred stock as underlying collateral have been written down to $73,000. Without the OTTI charges and the related tax effects, net income for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 would have been $400,000 and $2.0 million, or $0.06 and $0.28 per share respectively, as shown in the table below.



                       SELECTED OPERATIONS DATA
 =====================================================================
                    Three Months Ended           For the Year Ended
                    December 31, 2008            December 31, 2008
                 -------------------------  --------------------------
                 Before    OTTI     After   Before     OTTI     After
                  OTTI    Charge    OTTI     OTTI     Charge    OTTI
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       (Unaudited)
                         (In thousands, except per share data)

 Total interest
  income         $ 7,255           $ 7,255  $28,203            $28,203
 Total interest
  expense          3,515             3,515   13,904             13,904
                 -------           -------  -------            -------
     Net
      interest
      income       3,740             3,740   14,299             14,299
                 -------           -------  -------            -------

 Provision for
  loan losses        200               200      675                675
                 -------           -------  -------            -------

 Net interest
  income after
  provision for
  loan losses      3,540             3,540   13,624             13,624
                 -------           -------  -------            -------

 Noninterest
  income (loss)      512    (211)      301    2,379   (3,427)  (1,048)
 Noninterest
  expense          3,539             3,539   13,454             13,454
                 -------           -------  -------            -------

 Income (loss)
  before
  provision for
  income taxes       513    (211)      302    2,549   (3,427)    (878)
 Provision
  (benefit) for
  income taxes       113    1,165  (1,052)      599     1,165    (566)
                 -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------

     Net income
      (loss)     $   400  $   954  $ 1,354  $ 1,950  $(2,262)  $ (312)
                 =======  =======  =======  =======  ========  =======

 Earnings
  (loss)
  per common
  share - basic
  and diluted    $  0.06           $  0.20  $  0.28            $(0.05)
 =====================================================================

John C. Roman, President and CEO, commented: "Although we are disappointed by the effects of the OTTI charges on our earnings, we are encouraged by our core results in 2008 which, without the OTTI charge, would have produced a 42% increase in net income as compared to 2007 results."

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 totaled $3.7 million compared to $3.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $602,000 or 19.2%. For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008, net interest income totaled $14.3 million compared to $11.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, an increase of $2.4 million or 20.6%. The increase in net interest income is due to an increase in the average balances of interest earning assets of 18.5% and 17.6% for the three and twelve month periods respectively, partially offset by decreases of 49 basis points and 26 basis points in the average rate earned on these assets over the same periods. The increase in interest earning assets is attributed primarily to an increase in the loan portfolio. The average balances in the loan portfolio increased by 19.8% in the three month period, and by 17.6% in the twelve month period. The largest increases were in the commercial mortgage portfolio followed by the residential mortgage portfolio.

The increase in interest income was partially offset by an increase in interest expense. Interest expense increased by $20,000, or 0.6% in the three month period and increased by $730,000 or 5.5% in the twelve month period, due to an increase in the average balances of deposits and borrowings. The average balances of deposits increased by 11.7% and 11.3% and the average balance of borrowings increased by 59.3% and 53.7% over the three and twelve month periods respectively, while the average rates paid on these deposits and borrowings decreased by 57 basis points and 40 basis points, respectively, over the same periods. The increases were primarily used to fund increased loan demand. The largest increases in deposits were in certificates of deposit, followed by smaller increases in savings accounts and money market accounts, partially offset by a decrease in checking accounts in the twelve month period. The increase in certificates of deposit was due primarily to competitive rate promotional accounts that were offered in conjunction with the opening of our 10th office in late June 2008.

Credit Quality

The Bank recorded a provision for loan losses of $200,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 compared to $100,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2007. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, the Bank recorded a provision of $675,000, compared to $151,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007. The increase in the provisions are due to the increased size of the loan portfolio, a change in the mix of the portfolio towards commercial loans which are generally riskier than one-to-four family loans, and general economic conditions.

Non-performing loans totaled $2.7 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2007. This increase was primarily due to the transfer of three commercial loans secured by real estate in the amount of $1.4 million to non-accrual status during this period. Management does not anticipate any losses on these loans due to the value of the real estate securing the loans.

Noninterest Income

Excluding the OTTI charge, noninterest income was $512,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $647,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, a decrease of 20.7%, primarily due to the loss on the sale of an investment. Excluding the OTTI charge, noninterest income was $2.4 million in both the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. Noninterest income, net of the OTTI charge, was $301,000 and a net loss of $1.0 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2008, respectively.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $3.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $3.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 noninterest expense was $13.5 million compared to $12.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007. The increase in both periods was primarily the result of increases in compensation costs, office occupancy, and computer processing costs over the 2007 periods. The increases were partially offset by a decrease in advertising expense.

Selected Balance Sheet Data

Total assets were $535.4 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $462.5 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of $72.9 million or 15.8%. Total liabilities were $489.8 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $412.1 million at December 31, 2007. Deposits at December 31, 2008 were $363.0 million, an increase of $41.6 million or 13.0% over December 31, 2007. Borrowed funds increased from $85.1 million at December 31, 2007 to $119.1 million at December 31, 2008. The increases in deposits and borrowings were primarily used to fund growth in loans.

Total stockholders' equity was $45.6 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $50.5 million at December 31, 2007, due to a net increase in the unrealized loss on available for sale securities of $2.4 million, stock repurchases of $2.2 million, net loss of $312,000 for the twelve month period, dividends of $614,000 paid to stockholders, and $676,000 in capital adjustments related to the Company's 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. At December 31, 2008, the Bank's regulatory capital exceeded the levels required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under applicable regulatory capital guidelines.

Mr. Roman added: "We are confident that our capital, reserves and asset quality, combined with an effective business plan, will provide us with the strength needed to weather the current economic downturn. We continue to be dedicated to building long term value for our shareholders and customers."

About Naugatuck Valley

Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan is headquartered in Naugatuck, Connecticut with nine other branches in Southwest Connecticut. The Bank is a community-oriented financial institution dedicated to serving the financial service needs of consumers and businesses within its market area.

The Naugatuck Valley Financial Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3632

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures in addition to results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). These measures include net income, noninterest income and earnings per share before the OTTI charge. These measures should not be construed as a substitute for GAAP measures; they should be read and used in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financial information. A reconciliation of the included non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is included elsewhere in this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements and all other statements that are not historic facts are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in the interest rate environment, legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our business, changes in accounting policies and practices, changes in competition and demand for financial services, adverse changes in the securities markets, changes in deposit flows and changes in the quality or composition of the Company's loan or investment portfolios. Additionally, other risks and uncertainties may be described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or its other reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks materialize, actual results may vary from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.



                   SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA
 ====================================================================
                                                  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                    2008       2007
 ---------------------------------------------------------   --------
                                                      (Unaudited)
                                                    (In thousands)
 ASSETS
 Cash and due from depository institutions        $  8,214   $  7,873
 Investment in federal funds                            33        497
 Investment securities                              63,844     66,454
 Loans receivable, net                             431,976    359,831
 Deferred income taxes                               2,833      1,332
 Other assets                                       28,486     26,540
                                                  --------   --------

     Total assets                                 $535,386   $462,527
                                                  ========   ========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Liabilities
   Deposits                                       $363,026   $321,398
   Borrowed funds                                  119,148     85,107
   Other liabilities                                 7,623      5,565
                                                  --------   --------

     Total liabilities                             489,797    412,070
                                                  --------   --------

 Total stockholders' equity                         45,589     50,457
                                                  --------   --------

     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $535,386   $462,527
                                                  ========   ========


                       SELECTED OPERATIONS DATA
 =====================================================================
                                Three Months Ended  For the Year Ended
                                   December 31,        December 31,
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                 2008       2007      2008      2007
 ---------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------
                                             (Unaudited)
                                 (In thousands, except per share data)
                       
 Total interest income           $ 7,255  $  6,633  $ 28,203  $ 25,030
 Total interest expense            3,515     3,495    13,904    13,174
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------
     Net interest income           3,740     3,138    14,299    11,856
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------

 Provision for loan losses           200       100       675       151
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------

 Net interest income after 
  provision for loan losses        3,540     3,038    13,624    11,705
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------

 Noninterest income (loss)           301       647   (1,048)     2,354
 Noninterest expense               3,539     3,104    13,454    12,422
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------

 Income (loss) before 
  provision for 
  income taxes                       302       581     (878)     1,637
 Provision (benefit) 
  for income taxes               (1,052)       102     (566)       217
                                 -------  --------  --------  --------

     Net income (loss)           $ 1,354  $    479  $  (312)  $  1,420
                                 =======  ========  ========  ========

 Earnings (loss) per 
  common share - basic 
  and diluted                    $  0.20  $   0.07  $ (0.05)  $   0.20
 =====================================================================

                       SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS
 =====================================================================
                                                                 
 SELECTED PERFORMANCE          For the Three Months    For the Year
 RATIOS: (1)                    Ended December 31,  Ended December 31,
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                  2008      2007      2008      2007
 ---------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------
                                   (Unaudited)

 Return on average assets          1.03%     0.42%    -0.06%     0.33%
 Return on average equity          11.99      3.78     -0.64      2.79
 Interest rate spread               2.90      2.80      2.88      2.75
 Net interest margin                3.00      2.98      3.02      2.94
 Efficiency ratio (2)              87.38     81.80    101.28     87.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:                               At December 31,
                                                 ---------------------
                                                    2008        2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      (Unaudited)
                                                (Dollars in thousands)
                                    
 Allowance for loan losses                       $   2,869   $   2,163
 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of      
  total loans                                        0.66%       0.60%
 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of      
  nonperforming loans                              107.13%     222.99%
 Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding   
  during the period                                    --%         --%
 Nonperforming loans                             $   2,678   $     970
 Nonperforming loans as a percent of            
  total loans                                        0.62%       0.27%
 Nonperforming assets                            $   2,678   $     970
 Nonperforming assets as a percent of           
  total assets                                       0.50%       0.21%
----------------------------------------------------------------------

 (1) All applicable quarterly ratios reflect annualized figures.
 (2) Represents non interest expense (less intangible amortization)
     divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.


            

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