WILMINGTON, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NB&T Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NBTF), parent company of The National Bank and Trust Company, Wilmington, Ohio, announced net income for 2011 of $3.8 million, or $1.11 per share, compared to net income of $8.8 million, or $2.58 per share, for 2010. Net income for 2010 was higher largely due to a bargain purchase pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") assisted acquisition of certain of the assets and liabilities of American National Bank ("ANB"). In addition, the Company realized a pre-tax gain of $1.4 million on the sale of its insurance agency in January 2010.
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $617,000, or $.18 per share, compared to $718,000, or $.20 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010. The decline in net income from the same quarter last year is largely due to increased provision for loan losses related to higher realized and estimated losses, partially offset by gains on security sales of $620,000 and decreased bonus accruals.
Net interest income was $23.4 million for 2011, compared to $24.3 million for 2010. Net interest margin declined to 3.77% for 2011 from 3.83% for 2010. The net interest margin decreased primarily due to a decline in higher-yielding loans. Average loans outstanding for 2011, which had an average rate of 5.88%, decreased to $405.8 million from $419.7 million for last year. Due to increased liquidity from lower loan demand, the Company lowered rates on interest-bearing deposits and reduced higher cost Federal Home Loan Bank debt by $24.5 million, decreasing the cost of interest-bearing liabilities from 1.40% for 2010 to .93% for 2011. Net interest margin for the fourth quarter 2011 was 3.61%, compared to 3.69% for the fourth quarter of 2010.
The provision for loan losses for 2011 was $2,935,000, compared to $1,610,000 in 2010. Net charge-offs were $1,981,000 in 2011, compared to $1,671,000 in 2010. Charge-offs in 2011 increased primarily due to the first quarter write-down of one commercial real estate loan. The Company later foreclosed on this loan and the property securing the loan was sold. For the fourth quarter of 2011, the provision for loan losses was $1,525,000, compared to $425,000 for the same quarter last year. For the quarter, net charge-offs were $341,000, compared to $645,000 last year. The provision for loan losses is based on management's evaluation of the loan loss allowance considering specific loan reserves, general reserves related to charge-off experience and current economic conditions. Specific reserves on problem loans increased $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 primarily due to one large commercial loan relationship of approximately $1.0 million secured by intangible property and equipment. With the addition of that one large loan in the fourth quarter, non-performing loans increased to $12.1 million at December 31, 2011, compared to $10.5 million at December 31, 2010.
Commenting on these results, President & C.E.O. John J. Limbert said, "As we disclosed in our December 28, 2011 Form 8-K filing, our fourth quarter performance was negatively impacted due to the default in a single commercial loan credit. We increased our allowance for loan losses by $850,000 to address this default. At this time, we have not determined the actual loss potential. Additionally, specific other real estate owned property values continue to decline. New appraisals reflected this decline and the resulting devaluation required our reducing the balances of these properties by an additional $410,000. We were able to offset a significant part of these expenses by selling a portion of our securities portfolio and recognizing a gain and by the reversal of accrued performance-based compensation primarily allocable to executives." Limbert continued by saying, "At first review our year over year performance is significantly lower. However, our 2010 earnings contain a one-time, non-recurring, after-tax gain of approximately $5 million dollars. This amount is a bargain purchase gain from the FDIC assisted purchase of the American National Bank in Parma, and is virtually the entire difference in our earnings."
Total non-interest income was $9.7 million for 2011, compared to $16.4 million for 2010, reflecting the Company's 2010 bargain purchase pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million and the pre-tax gain of $1.4 million on the sale of its insurance agency. In 2011, the Company sold approximately $45.4 million in securities and realized gains of $1.8 million. No securities were sold in 2010. Total non-interest income was $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $1.9 million in the same quarter last year.
Total non-interest expense was $25.1 million in 2011, compared to $26.5 million in 2010. Non-interest expenses for 2010 were higher due to increased bonus plan expense and acquisition related expenses. Total non-interest expense was $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Non-interest expenses in the fourth quarter of 2010 were higher due to a prepayment penalty on the early payoff of Federal Home Loan Bank debt.
On December 20, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.30 per share, payable January 23, 2012 to shareholders of record on December 30, 2011. A dividend of $0.30 per share was also declared in the fourth quarter of 2010.