AUBURN, Ind., Nov. 21, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp (OTCQB Symbol PBNI), the Holding Company for Peoples Federal Savings Bank of DeKalb County, declared a Fiscal 2012 first quarter dividend. According to G. Richard Gatton, Chairman, "Because of our continued profitability improvement; high equity to assets ratio of 12.65%; a 6.27% ROE and an ROA of .79%, the Board felt it was prudent to increase the quarterly dividend to $.20 per share. This increase represents a 5.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate."
As of November 21, 2011, Peoples had 2,453,347 shares outstanding. The closing price of Peoples Bancorp stock as of November 18, 2011, was $16.80 per share as listed on the OTCQB Exchange under the symbol of PBNI. At September 30, 2011, Peoples had stockholders equity of $61,618,203and a book value of $25.12.
Peoples Bancorp, through its subsidiary, Peoples Federal Savings Bank of DeKalb County, operates eleven full-service offices in Indiana, located in Auburn, Avilla, Garrett, Howe, Kendallville, LaGrange, Middlebury, Topeka, Waterloo, and two offices in Columbia City. Peoples Federal operates four full-service offices in Michigan, with two offices located in Three Rivers and offices at Schoolcraft and Union.