German American Bancorp, Inc. Reports 1st Quarter Results and Declares Its Regular Quarterly Cash Dividends


JASPER, Ind., April 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:GABC) today announced the Company's 1st quarter earnings of $2,942,000, or $0.27 per share. On a per share basis, 1st quarter 2009 earnings were equal to the record $0.27 per share reported in the 1st quarter of last year. On a net income basis, the current year's reported 1st quarter earnings were only $78,000, or 2.6%, less than the $3,020,000 reported as last year's record 1st quarter earnings.

Mark A. Schroeder, President & CEO of German American, commenting on the 1st quarter results stated, "Our 1st quarter delivered yet another quarter of solid financial performance, coming on the heels of our record 2008 financial performance. In spite of the challenges of significantly increased FDIC insurance premiums and higher employee health benefit costs, we were able to post solid earnings by largely offsetting these higher operating costs through an improved level of net interest income and a reduction in the Company's credit costs. We're very pleased that our performance continues to set us apart within the financial services industry in terms of both earnings and credit quality."

Schroeder continued, "As compared to both the prior year-end and prior year quarter-end data, our Company's credit quality showed improvement by virtually every measure. We're encouraged that our customers have been able to continue to meet their credit obligations in the face of a difficult economic environment. Additionally, our securities portfolio hasn't been impacted by market value other-than-temporary impairment charges that have affected the securities portfolios of many other financial institutions. We are, however, acutely aware of the current economic reality and the challenges that may face the national economy and our market area in the coming months, and accordingly we continue to very closely monitor the performance of both our loan and our securities portfolios."

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share which will be payable on May 20, 2009 to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2009.

Balance Sheet Highlights

End-of-period loans outstanding declined by 9% on an annualized basis during the first quarter of 2009. The decrease was largely attributable to a seasonal decline in the Company's agriculture related loan portfolio. In addition, the Company's residential loan portfolio declined as market interest rates have continued to trend lower. The Company continues to actively originate residential mortgage loans, with the vast majority of production being sold into the secondary market. Partially offsetting the declines in other segments of the portfolio was an increase in the Company's commercial and industrial loan portfolio (including both real estate and non-real estate loans).


 End of Period Loan Balances
 ---------------------------                                Annualized
                              03/31/09  12/31/08  $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Commercial & Industrial
  Loans                       $510,324  $505,191  $  5,133          4%
 Agricultural Loans            144,524   159,923   (15,399)       -39%
 Consumer Loans                123,354   127,343    (3,989)       -13%
 Residential Mortgage Loans     94,164   100,054    (5,890)       -24%
                              --------  --------  --------
                              $872,366  $892,511  $(20,145)        -9%
                              ========  ========  ========

Average loans outstanding increased by just over 2% during the first quarter of 2009 compared with the first quarter of 2008. The increase in average loan balances was driven by the Company's commercial and industrial loans (including both real estate and non-real estate loans).


 Average Loan Balances
 ---------------------       Qtr Ended Qtr Ended
                              03/31/09  3/31/08   $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Commercial & Industrial
  Loans                       $507,059  $465,206  $ 41,853          9%
 Agricultural Loans            149,582   153,051    (3,469)        -2%
 Consumer Loans                125,652   129,269    (3,617)        -3%
 Residential Mortgage Loans    105,617   120,895   (15,278)       -13%
                              --------  --------  --------
                              $887,910  $868,421  $ 19,489          2%
                              ========  ========  ========

Non-performing loans totaled $8.2 million at March 31, 2009 compared to $8.4 million of non-performing loans at December 31, 2008. Non-performing loans represented 0.95% of total outstanding loans at March 31, 2009 and 0.94% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2008.

The Company's allowance for loan losses totaled $10.0 million at March 31, 2009, an increase of $522,000 or 5%, compared with $9.5 million at year-end 2008. The allowance for loan losses represented 1.15% of period end loans at March 31, 2009 compared with 1.07% of period end total loans at December 31, 2008.

End-of-period deposits increased approximately 5% at March 31, 2009 compared with year-end 2008. The increase was attributable to growth across all segments of the Company's core deposit base which is defined as its demand deposits (interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing), savings, money market, and time deposits in denominations of less than $100,000.


 End of Period Deposit Balances
 ------------------------------
                                                           Annualized
                              03/31/09  12/31/08  $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Non-interest-bearing
  Demand Deposits             $149,197  $147,977  $  1,220          3%
 Interest-bearing Demand,
  Savings, & Money Market
  Accounts                     448,550   439,305     9,245          8%
 Time Deposits < $100,000      253,504   250,339     3,165          5%
 Time Deposits of $100,000
  or more & Brokered
  Deposits                     101,240   104,129    (2,889)       -11%
                              --------  --------  --------
                              $952,491  $941,750  $ 10,741          5%
                              ========  ========  ========

Average deposits increased approximately 5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. The increase in average deposits was driven by significant growth in the Company's non-maturity deposit balances.


 Average Deposit Balances
 ------------------------    Qtr Ended Qtr Ended
                              03/31/09   3/31/08  $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Non-interest-bearing Demand
  Deposits                    $146,308  $134,835  $ 11,473          9%
 Interest-bearing Demand,
  Savings, & Money Market
  Accounts                     445,524   376,768    68,756         18%
 Time Deposits < $100,000      253,184   278,264   (25,080)        -9%
 Time Deposits of $100,000
  or more & Brokered
  Deposits                     100,316   114,379   (14,063)       -12%
                              --------  --------  --------
                              $945,332  $904,246  $ 41,086          5%
                              ========  ========  ========

Income Statement Highlights

Quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to quarter ended March 31, 2008

Net income for the first quarter of 2009 totaled $2,942,000, a decrease of $78,000 or 3% compared to first quarter 2008 net income of $3,020,000.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, net interest income totaled $10,641,000 representing an increase of $522,000 or 5% over the first quarter of 2008. The tax equivalent net interest margin for the first quarter 2009 was 3.92% compared to 3.89% for the first quarter of 2008. The yield on earning assets totaled 5.82% during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to 6.83% in the same period of 2008 while the cost of funds totaled 1.90% during 2009 compared to 2.94% in 2008.

The provision for loan loss totaled $750,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, representing a decline of $594,000 from the first quarter of 2008. During the first quarter of 2009, the annualized provision for loan loss represented approximately 34 basis points of average loans while annualized net charge-offs represented approximately 10 basis points of average loans.

During the first quarter of 2009, non-interest income declined approximately 16% over the first quarter of 2008.


 Non-interest Income
 -------------------         Qtr Ended Qtr Ended
                              03/31/09   3/31/08  $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Trust and Investment
  Product Fees                $    390  $    587  $   (197)       -34%
 Service Charges on
  Deposit Accounts               1,060     1,183      (123)       -10%
 Insurance Revenues              1,487     1,903      (416)       -22%
 Other Operating Income            742       750        (8)        -1%
                              --------  --------  --------
   Subtotal                      3,679     4,423      (744)       -17%
 Net Gains on Sales of
  Loans and Related Assets         565       324       241         74%
 Net Gain (Loss) on
  Securities                        --       285      (285)      -100%
                              --------  --------  --------
 Total Non-interest Income    $  4,244  $  5,032  $   (788)       -16%
                              ========  ========  ========

Trust and investment product fees decreased 34% during the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period of 2008. Management believes this decline was primarily attributable to difficult and volatile economic and market conditions. Deposit service charges and fees declined by 10% due in large part to less customer utilization of the Company's overdraft protection program. Insurance revenues declined 22% due to a reduced level of contingency revenue at the Company's property and casualty insurance subsidiary, German American Insurance.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the net gain on sale of residential loans increased 74% over the gain recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The increase was attributable to higher levels of residential loan sales and a larger pipeline of residential mortgage loans in the first quarter of 2009, compared to the same period of 2008.

The Company had no security sale activity during the first quarter of 2009. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a net gain on securities of $285,000 resulting from the sale of approximately $16 million of agency mortgage related securities and a gain on the mandatory redemption on a portion of the Company's VISA stock holdings acquired as part of the initial public offering of VISA, Inc.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, non-interest expense increased approximately 8% compared with the same period of 2008.


 Non-interest Expense
 --------------------        Qtr Ended Qtr Ended
                              03/31/09   3/31/08  $ Change   % Change
                              --------  --------  --------  ---------

 Salaries and Employee
  Benefits                    $  5,614  $  5,327  $    287          5%
 Occupancy, Furniture and
  Equipment Expense              1,529     1,472        57          4%
 FDIC Premiums                     335        26       309      1,188%
 Data Processing Fees              357       406       (49)       -12%
 Professional Fees                 607       564        43          8%
 Advertising and Promotion         288       233        55         24%
 Intangible Amortization           221       222        (1)         0%
 Other Operating Expenses        1,130     1,098        32          3%
                              --------  --------  --------
 Total Non-interest Expense   $ 10,081  $  9,348  $    733          8%
                              ========  ========  ========

Salaries and benefits expense increased approximately 5% during the first quarter of 2009 compared with the first quarter of 2008. The increase was nearly exclusively related to an increase in costs associated with the Company's self-insured health insurance plan.

The Company's FDIC insurance assessments increased in excess of $300,000 during the first quarter of 2009 compared with the first quarter of 2008. The Company's subsidiary bank is required to pay deposit insurance premiums to the FDIC. Because the FDIC's deposit insurance fund fell below prescribed levels in 2008, the FDIC has announced increased premiums for all insured depository institutions, including the Company's subsidiary bank, in order to begin recapitalizing the fund. Insurance assessments ranged from 0.12% to 0.50% of total deposits for the first quarter of 2009. Effective April 1, 2009 insurance assessments will range from .07% to 0.78%, depending on an institution's risk classification and other factors. The Company was in the lower end of the assessment range during the first quarter of 2009.

In addition, under an interim rule adopted during the first quarter of 2009 subject to public comment, the FDIC proposed to impose a one-time 20 basis point emergency assessment on all insured depository institutions to be paid on September 30, 2009, based on deposits at June 30, 2009. The FDIC has subsequently indicated the amount of this special assessment could decrease if certain events transpire. The interim rule also authorizes the FDIC to impose an additional emergency assessment of up to 10 basis points in respect of deposits for quarters ended after June 30, 2009 if necessary to maintain public confidence in federal deposit insurance. Each basis point of any future special assessment during 2009, based on the Company's most recent FDIC deposit insurance assessment, would cost the Company, on a pre-tax basis, approximately $95,000 in additional FDIC deposit insurance premium expense. While the interim rules are subject to change and the exact amount of the special assessment is reportedly under legislative and regulatory study, the Company expects that a material special assessment will be assessed by the FDIC in respect of the insured deposits of all banks as of June 30, 2009.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company's statements in this press release regarding the performance of its loan and securities portfolios and the prospects for special FDIC insurance assessments are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Actual results and experience could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in the press release. Factors that could cause actual experience to differ from the expectations implied in this press release include changes in interest rates; changes in competitive conditions; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of mergers and acquisitions and other business initiatives and strategies; changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies; changes in financial and capital markets; continued deterioration in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally, resulting in, among other things, credit quality deterioration and dampened loan demand; actions of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in accounting principles and interpretations; and actions of the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and German American undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof.


                    GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP, INC.
       (unaudited, dollars in thousands except per share data)


                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      March 31,
                                                 2009         2008
                                             -----------  -----------
 ASSETS
   Cash and Due from Banks                   $    18,450  $    28,209
   Short-term Investments                         28,930       60,888
   Investment Securities                         201,544      145,807

   Loans Held-for-Sale                            13,172        6,613

   Loans, Net of Unearned Income                 870,544      858,589
   Allowance for Loan Losses                     (10,044)      (9,198)
                                             -----------  -----------
     Net Loans                                   860,500      849,391

   Stock in FHLB and Other Restricted Stock       10,621       10,621
   Premises and Equipment                         21,970       23,152
   Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets           12,575       13,463
   Other Assets                                   36,541       36,816
                                             -----------  -----------
   TOTAL ASSETS                              $ 1,204,303  $ 1,174,960
                                             ===========  ===========

 LIABILITIES
   Non-interest-bearing Demand Deposits      $   149,197  $   142,281
   Interest-bearing Demand, Savings, and
     Money Market Accounts                       448,550      399,789
   Time Deposits                                 354,744      374,605
                                             -----------  -----------
     Total Deposits                              952,491      916,675

   Borrowings                                    130,036      144,454
   Other Liabilities                              13,723       14,364
                                             -----------  -----------
   TOTAL LIABILITIES                           1,096,250    1,075,493
                                             -----------  -----------

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Common Stock and Surplus                       79,519       79,437
   Retained Earnings                              24,417       17,869
   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income          4,117        2,161
                                             -----------  -----------
 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                      108,053       99,467
                                             -----------  -----------

 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                       $ 1,204,303  $ 1,174,960
                                             ===========  ===========

 END OF PERIOD SHARES OUTSTANDING             11,073,063   11,029,484

 BOOK VALUE PER SHARE                        $      9.76  $      9.02



                    GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP, INC.
       (unaudited, dollars in thousands except per share data)

                  Consolidated Statements of Income
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                      March 31,
                                                 2009         2008
                                              ----------   ----------

 INTEREST INCOME
   Interest and Fees on Loans                 $   13,394   $   15,459
   Interest on Short-term Investments                 17          186
   Interest and Dividends on Investment
    Securities                                     2,446        2,180
                                              ----------   ----------
   TOTAL INTEREST INCOME                          15,857       17,825
                                              ----------   ----------

 INTEREST EXPENSE
   Interest on Deposits                            4,005        6,187
   Interest on Borrowings                          1,211        1,519
                                              ----------   ----------
   TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE                          5,216        7,706
                                              ----------   ----------

   NET INTEREST INCOME                            10,641       10,119
   Provision for Loan Losses                         750        1,344
   NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR    ----------   ----------
    LOAN LOSSES                                    9,891        8,775
                                              ----------   ----------

 NON-INTEREST INCOME
   Net Gain on Sales of Loans and Related
    Assets                                           565          324
   Net Gain (Loss) on Securities                      --          285
   Other Non-interest Income                       3,679        4,423
                                              ----------   ----------
   TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME                       4,244        5,032
                                              ----------   ----------

 NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
   Salaries and Benefits                           5,614        5,327
   Other Non-interest Expenses                     4,467        4,021
                                              ----------   ----------
   TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE                     10,081        9,348
                                              ----------   ----------

   Income before Income Taxes                      4,054        4,459
   Income Tax Expense                              1,112        1,439
                                              ----------   ----------

 NET INCOME                                   $    2,942   $    3,020
                                              ==========   ==========

 EARNINGS PER SHARE & DILUTED EARNINGS PER
  SHARE                                       $     0.27   $     0.27


 WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING          11,036,942   11,029,484
 DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING  11,036,942   11,029,607



                    GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP, INC.
       (unaudited, dollars in thousands except per share data)


                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                   2009        2008
                                                ---------   ---------
 EARNINGS PERFORMANCE RATIOS
   Annualized Return on Average Assets               0.98%       1.06%
   Annualized Return on Average Equity              11.04%      12.29%
   Net Interest Margin                               3.92%       3.89%
   Efficiency Ratio (1)                             66.88%      61.19%
   Net Overhead Expense to Average Earning
    Assets (2)                                       2.10%       1.64%

 ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
   Annualized Net Charge-offs to Average Loans       0.10%       0.09%
   Allowance for Loan Losses to Period End
    Loans                                            1.15%       1.07%
   Non-performing Assets to Period End Assets        0.88%       0.91%
   Non-performing Loans to Period End Loans          0.95%       1.09%


 SELECTED BALANCE SHEET & OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
   Average Assets                              $1,196,390  $1,144,828
   Average Earning Assets                      $1,114,003  $1,055,886
   Average Total Loans                         $  887,910  $  868,421
   Average Demand Deposits                     $  146,308  $  134,835
   Average Interest Bearing Liabilities        $  930,900  $  897,373
   Average Equity                              $  106,558  $   98,295

   Period End Non-performing Assets (3)        $   10,604  $   10,730
   Period End Non-performing Loans (4)         $    8,237  $    9,332

   Tax Equivalent Net Interest Income          $   10,829  $   10,244
   Net Charge-offs during Period               $      228  $      190



 (1) Efficiency Ratio is defined as Non-interest Expense divided by
     the sum of Net Interest Income, on a tax equivalent basis, and
     Non-interest Income.

 (2) Net Overhead Expense is defined as Total Non-interest Expense
     less Total Non-interest Income.

 (3) Non-performing assets are defined as Non-accrual Loans, Loans
     Past Due 90 days or more, Restructured Loans, and Other Real
     Estate Owned.

 (4) Non-performing loans are defined as Non-accrual Loans, Loans
     Past Due 90 days or more, and Restructured Loans.


            

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