STATEN ISLAND, NY--(Marketwire - Jul 10, 2012) - VSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSBN) reported net income of $371,857 for the second quarter of 2012, a decrease of $55,847, or 13.1%, from the second quarter of 2011. The following unaudited figures were released today. Pre-tax income was $685,495 in the second quarter of 2012, compared to $788,345 for the second quarter of 2011. Net income for the quarter was $371,857, or basic net income of $0.21 per common share, compared to a net income of $427,704, or $0.24 basic net income per common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. 

The $55,847 decrease in net income was due to an increase in the provision for loan losses of $40,000, an increase of non-interest expense of $35,761 and a decrease in net interest income of $32,027, partially offset by a decrease in the provision for income taxes of $47,003.

The $32,027 decrease in net interest income for the second quarter of 2012 occurred primarily because our interest income decreased by $55,484, while our cost of funds decreased by $23,457. The decline in interest income resulted from a $208,022 decrease in income from investment securities, due to a 63 basis point decrease in average yield and a $2.5 million decrease in average balance between the periods. The increase in interest income on loans was due to a $3.7 million increase in the average balance of loans and an 18 basis point increase in yield from the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012. Our average non-performing loans increased $516,711, from $6.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2011, to $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2012, although the level of non-performing loans declined from $10.9 million at December 31, 2011 to $7.2 million at March 31 2012 and to $6.2 million at June 30, 2012.

Interest income from other interest earning assets (principally overnight investments) increased by $10,815 due to a 6 basis point increase in yield, and a $11.5 million increase in average balance from the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012.

The most significant component of the decrease in interest expense was a $14,988 decrease in interest on time deposits as the average cost declined by 10 basis points due to a continuation of low market interest rates, partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in the average balance between the periods. Average demand deposits, an interest free source of funds for us to invest, increased $2.0 million, or 2.6%, from the second quarter of 2011, representing approximately 34% of average total deposits for the second quarter of 2012. Average interest-bearing deposits increased by $10.5 million, resulting in an overall $12.5 million increase in average total deposits from the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012.

The average yield on interest-earning assets declined by 37 basis points, while the average cost of funds declined by 11 basis points from the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012. The reduction in the yield on assets was principally due to the 63 basis point drop in the yield on investment securities, as new securities were purchased at market rates significantly below the rates we had been earning on securities repaid or matured, partially offset by the 18 basis point rise in the yield on loans. The decline in the cost of funds was driven principally by 12 basis point drop in the cost of money market deposits, 10 basis point drop in the cost of time deposits, a 9 basis point drop in the cost of saving account deposits and a 8 basis point drop in the cost of Now account deposits. Our interest rate margin decreased by 31 basis points from 3.69% to 3.38% when comparing the second quarter of 2012 to the same quarter in 2011, while our interest rate spread decreased by 26 basis points from 3.43% to 3.17%. The spread and margin both decreased because of the combined effect of the decline in earnings we were able to obtain on our investments securities and the adverse effect of the non-receipt of interest received on non-performing loans. These declines could not be offset by corresponding declines in the cost of deposits because the rates we paid on deposits were already low due to low markets rates so that we could not reduce them as much as the decline in the earnings on investment securities. In addition, we continued to incur interest expense on deposits that funded the non-performing loans that did not earn interest. Non-interest income increased to $628,231, or $4,938, in the second quarter of 2012, from $623,293 for the same quarter in 2011. 

Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the same quarter in 2011, non-interest expense increased by $35,761, totaling $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2012. Non-interest expense increased for various business reasons including a $35,302 increase in legal fees due to a higher level of collections, a $24,952 increase in other non-interest expenses due to other real estate owned costs of $15,241 and increased costs of electronic filing fees with SEC, a $14,500 increase in FDIC and NYSDFS assessments because of a lower regulatory assessment rate in the second quarter of 2011, a $14,011 increase in professional fees because of increased costs and a $9,075 increase in director fees because of an increase in the number of meetings in 2012. These increases were partially offset by a $49,683 decrease in salary and employee benefit costs due to reduced staff, an $8,067 decrease in computer expenses due to reduced contract expenses, and a $4,329 decrease in occupancy expenses due to a reduced level of fixed assets.

For the first six months of 2012, pre-tax income decreased to $1,204,656 from $1,584,310 for the first six months of 2011, a decline of $379,654, or 24.0%. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $653,485, or basic net income of $0.37 per common share, as compared to a net income of $859,495, or basic net income of $0.48 per common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The $206,010 reduction in net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was attributable principally to a $185,158 decrease in net interest income, an $185,000 increase in the provision for loan losses and a $27,456 increase in non-interest expenses. The increase in non-interest expense of $27,456 was due primarily to a $50,024 increase in legal expenses due to a higher level of collections and a recovery of legal fees in 2011 previously expensed on a settled lawsuit, a $32,173 increase in other non-interest expenses due to OREO costs and increased costs of regulatory filings, a $19,750 increase in director fees due to increased meetings, and a $16,560 increase in professional fees because of increased costs. The increases were partially offset by a $41,403 decrease in employee salary and benefit costs due to reduced staff, an $21,901 decrease in computer expenses due to reduced contract expenses, a $18,000 decrease in FDIC and NYSBD assessments and a $9,747 decrease in occupancy expenses due to reduced level of fixed assets. Income tax expense decreased $173,644 due to the $379,654 decrease in pre-tax income. The net interest margin decreased by 37 basis points from the six months ended June 30, 2012 to 3.45% from 3.82%, in the same period in 2011. Average interest earning assets, for the six months ended June 30, 2012, increased by $10.1 million, or 4.4%, from the same period in 2011.

Total assets increased to $252.3 million at June 30, 2012, an increase of $10.5 million, or 4.3%, from December 31, 2011. The significant components of this increase were an $8.7 million increase in investment securities and a $3.8 million increase in loans, net, partially offset by a $1.9 million decline in cash and other liquid assets. Total deposits, including escrow deposits, increased to $223.7 million, an increase of $10.5 million, or 4.9%. We had increases of $4.5 million in money market accounts, $4.0 million in NOW accounts, $2.5 million in demand and checking deposits, $627,553 in savings deposits, and partially offset by a decrease of $1.2 million in time deposits from year end 2011. VSB Bancorp's Tier 1 capital ratio was 10.21% at June 30, 2012. 

Raffaele (Ralph) M. Branca, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s President and CEO, stated, "The continuing crisis in Europe has stalled economic growth in second quarter of 2012 and has reduced demand for our loan products. We continue to actively reduce our non-performing loans and we decreased them by $939,000 in this quarter. The limited investment options are putting pressure on our interest rate margin, which declined 7 basis points from the first quarter of 2012." Joseph J. LiBassi, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s Chairman, stated, "Our book value per share stands at $15.30, an increase of $0.49 per share from the second quarter of 2011. We also paid our nineteenth consecutive dividend to our stockholders. Our ROA was 0.55% and our ROE was 5.07% for the second quarter of 2012, which are lower than our FFIEC peer group. Our deposits have grown due to our philosophy of delivering the highest quality personal service to the businesses and professionals on Staten Island."

VSB Bancorp, Inc. ("Company") is the one-bank holding company for Victory State Bank. Victory State Bank, a Staten Island based commercial bank, which commenced operations on November 17, 1997. The Bank's initial capitalization of $7.0 million was primarily raised in the Staten Island community. The Bancorp's total equity has increased to $27.4 million primarily through the retention of earnings. The Bank operates five full service locations in Staten Island: the main office in Great Kills, and branches on Forest Avenue (West Brighton), Hyatt Street (St. George), Hylan Boulevard (Dongan Hills) and on Bay Street (Rosebank). 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to adverse changes in local, regional or national economic conditions, fluctuations in market interest rates, changes in laws or government regulations, weaknesses of other financial institutions, changes in customer preferences, and changes in competition within our market area. When used in this release or in any other written or oral statements by the Company or its directors, officers or employees, words or phrases such as "will result in," "management expects that," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "projected," or similar expressions, and other terms used to describe future events, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date of the statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. This statement is included for the express purpose of protecting the Company under the PSLRA's safe harbor provisions.

VSB Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
June 30, 2012
(unaudited)
					June 30,				December 31,
					2012				2011
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents					$	46,173,650			$	48,107,673
Investment securities, available for sale						117,168,156				108,500,489
Loans receivable						85,911,421				81,910,990
	Allowance for loan loss					(1,582,397	)			(1,343,020	)
		Loans receivable, net				84,329,024				80,567,970
Bank premises and equipment, net						2,161,386				2,332,727
Accrued interest receivable						558,568				582,942
Deferred tax asset						421,087				98,600
Other assets						1,523,085				1,656,054
		Total assets			$	252,334,956			$	241,846,455
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
Liabilities:
	Deposits:
		Demand and checking			$	74,967,126			$	72,507,555
		NOW				34,617,600				30,553,003
		Money market				31,407,708				26,909,220
		Savings				17,806,078				17,178,525
		Time				64,730,739				65,894,536
			Total Deposits			223,529,251				213,042,839
Escrow deposits						199,602				180,066
Accounts payable and accrued expenses						1,251,523				1,521,290
		Total liabilities				224,980,376				214,744,195
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock, ($.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized 1,989,509 issued, 1,787,809 outstanding at June 30, 2012 and 1,797,809 outstanding at December 31, 2011)					199				199
	Additional paid in capital					9,310,790				9,304,789
	Retained earnings					19,014,130				18,574,651
	Treasury stock, at cost (201,700 shares at June 30, 2012 and 191,700 shares at December 31, 2011)					(2,041,664	)			(1,935,596	)
	Unearned ESOP shares					(309,977	)			(394,516	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive gain, net of taxes of $1,164,708 and $1,309,447, respectively					1,381,102				1,552,733
		Total stockholders' equity				27,354,580				27,102,260
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	252,334,956			$	241,846,455

VSB Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
June 30, 2012
(unaudited)
						Three months				Three months				Six months				Six months
						ended				ended				ended				ended
						June 30, 2012				June 30, 2011				June 30, 2012				June 30, 2011
Interest and dividend income:
	Loans receivable					$	1,507,750			$	1,366,027			$	3,004,198			$	2,820,319
	Investment securities						789,865				997,887				1,582,435				2,010,439
	Other interest earning assets						24,418				13,603				48,072				24,741
		Total interest income					2,322,033				2,377,517				4,634,705				4,855,499
Interest expense:
	NOW						21,342				23,183				43,558				56,272
	Money market						58,159				61,101				114,871				120,480
	Savings						9,592				13,278				19,200				25,974
	Time						103,897				118,885				229,852				240,391
		Total interest expense					192,990				216,447				407,481				443,117
Net interest income							2,129,043				2,161,070				4,227,224				4,412,382
Provision for loan loss							65,000				25,000				240,000				55,000
		Net interest income after provision for loan loss					2,064,043				2,136,070				3,987,224				4,357,382
Non-interest income:
	Loan fees						10,582				13,036				19,592				40,606
	Service charges on deposits						548,557				536,148				1,101,275				1,058,385
	Net rental income						14,219				10,105				24,278				21,718
	Other income						54,873				64,004				103,811				110,287
		Total non-interest income					628,231				623,293				1,248,956				1,230,996
Non-interest expenses:
	Salaries and benefits						939,152				988,835				1,927,435				1,968,838
	Occupancy expenses						357,336				361,665				728,481				738,228
	Legal expense						70,276				34,974				149,984				99,960
	Professional fees						86,061				72,050				169,061				152,501
	Computer expense						65,180				73,247				116,668				138,569
	Director fees						72,000				62,925				145,125				125,375
	FDIC and NYSBD assessments						60,000				45,500				121,500				139,500
	Other expenses						356,774				331,822				673,270				641,097
		Total non-interest expenses					2,006,779				1,971,018				4,031,524				4,004,068
			Income before income taxes				685,495				788,345				1,204,656				1,584,310
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
	Current						431,673				565,691				728,919				980,381
	Deferred						(118,035	)			(205,050	)			(177,748	)			(255,566	)
		Total provision for income taxes					313,638				360,641				551,171				724,815
				Net income		$	371,857			$	427,704			$	653,485			$	859,495
Basic net income per common share						$	0.21			$	0.24			$	0.37			$	0.48
Diluted net income per share						$	0.21			$	0.24			$	0.37			$	0.48
Book value per common share						$	15.30			$	14.81			$	15.30			$	14.81