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First Financial Service Corporation Announces Quarterly Results

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Financial Service Corporation (the Company, Nasdaq: FFKY) today announced diluted net income per common share of $0.10 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared to $0.45 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Diluted net income per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $0.21, compared to $0.85 for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The second quarter and year-to-date earnings decline were driven by higher provision for loan losses, margin compression, other-than-temporary losses on security investments and higher operating expenses. Earnings available to common shareholders were also impacted by dividends paid on preferred shares.

"Our second quarter and year-to-date financial performance is a direct result of our continued efforts to manage risks in our loan portfolio as well as increased FDIC insurance premiums and non-interest expenses," commented Chief Executive Officer, B. Keith Johnson. "During both the first and second quarters of 2009, the Company recorded a large provision expense related partially to growth realized in the portfolio, but mainly due to increased general and specific reserves that were necessary due to continued deterioration in asset quality. As indicated last quarter, it is likely provision expense will remain elevated during the remainder of the year to compensate for ongoing weak economic conditions impacting some of our customer relationships as well as depressed residential and commercial real estate values. Our Company, like all financial institutions, also faced increased FDIC insurance premiums along with a special assessment to be paid in the third quarter, but was required to be fully accrued by June 30, 2009. Additionally, operating expenses during the first half of the year were higher as we strategically added two additional banking centers to our existing footprint. Overall, the Company continues to be proactive in working through its credit quality issues and strives to identify any potential weaknesses as soon as possible. This practice should help to reduce prolonged provisioning as the economy slowly starts to move toward recovery."

During the second quarter of 2009, the Company opened its twenty-first full-service banking center, which expanded the Bank's current footprint in Hardin County, Kentucky. The Fort Knox Banking Center complements the existing branch located in Radcliff, Kentucky and is located just outside the main entrance to the Fort Knox military base. The Bank continued its expansion efforts in July 2009 with its twenty-second branch. This branch is located in the Middletown area of Louisville, Kentucky and is the Company's fourth full-service branch in the Jefferson County area.

Total deposits were $821.0 million at June 30, 2009, an increase of $45.6 million from December 31, 2008. The increase was the result of several deposit promotions held earlier in the year. Competition for deposits remains very competitive in all of the markets we serve. Competition for deposits combined with continued repricing of variable rate loans could add to additional margin compression.

The demand for commercial lending continues to be strong across all of our markets. Commercial loans were $691.2 million at June 30, 2009, an increase of $53.6 million, or 8.40%, from December 31, 2008. The growth in the Company's commercial loan portfolio has favorably impacted the level of interest income generated by the Company. Average earning assets increased by $164.6 million as of June 30, 2009, compared to June 30, 2008. Despite the increase in earning assets, the Company's net interest margin realized a modest decline of fifteen basis points. Net interest margin decreased to 3.71% for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to 3.86% for the same period in 2008. The current Federal Funds rate remains in a range of 0.00% to 0.25%. Correspondingly, variable rate loans that are tied to the federal prime rate have been repriced downward in relation to the prime rate. However, interest rates paid on customer deposits have not adjusted downward proportionately with the declining interest yields on loans and investments. Sixty percent of deposits are time deposits that reprice over a longer period of time. The increase in the volume of earning assets did have a positive impact on net interest income, which increased $1,253,000 and $2,397,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the respective periods ended June 30, 2008.

The percentage of non-performing loans to total loans increased to 2.69% at June 30, 2009 compared to 1.86% at December 31, 2008 and 1.81% at June 30, 2008. Annualized net charge-offs as a percent of average total loans increased to 0.68% for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to 0.07% for December 31, 2008 and 0.10% for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Impacting this increase was primarily a charge-down of $2.0 million on one large commercial real estate loan the Company foreclosed on during the second quarter of 2009. $1.7 million of the $2.0 million charge-down was previously reserved during the prior year. Additionally, charge-offs were generally higher in all areas of the loan portfolio during the first half of 2009.

Provision for loan loss expense increased $1,399,000 to $1,913,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the same period ended June 30, 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, provision for loan loss expense increased $2,860,000 to $3,958,000 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. The increase for the quarter and year-to-date periods in 2009 was related to growth in the loan portfolio and from the specific reserves set aside for loans classified during 2009. Provision expense was also higher due to increasing the general reserve factors for commercial real estate loans during the year as the level of classified loans has increased sharply. As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, management's emphasis will be to proactively review credit quality and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Although resulting in substantial provisioning in the second half of 2008 and continuing into 2009, we believe that this proactive approach will put the Company in a better position to withstand the uncertainty over the next few quarters.

Non-interest income decreased $50,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008. Customer service fees on deposit accounts increased $13,000 for the second quarter 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008. Gain on sale of mortgage loans increased $116,000 due to continued refinance activity, while brokerage commissions decreased $26,000, for the current quarter compared to same quarter in the prior year. Other income increased $109,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2008. The increase in other income is attributable to fees generated on loans. The decrease in non-interest income was also reflective of $233,000 in write-downs on other real estate owned and $245,000 of other-than-temporary credit losses on four pooled trust preferred security investments. For the six months ended June 30, 2009 non-interest income decreased $1,000, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. Customer service fees on deposit accounts increased $74,000 for the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Gain on sale of mortgage loans increased $145,000, while brokerage commissions decreased $51,000, for the first half of 2009 compared to same period in the prior year. Other income increased $265,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008. The increase in other income is attributable to a gain on sale of other real estate owned recorded during the first quarter. The decrease in non-interest income was reflective of other-than-temporary impairment losses of $400,000 on four pooled trust preferred security investments and by $250,000 in write-downs on other real estate owned during 2009. Other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded in 2008 were on equity securities.

Non-interest expense increased $1.9 million to $8.4 million and $3.4 million to $16.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the same periods ended June 30, 2008. Contributing to the increase in non-interest expense for the quarter was an increase in employee compensation expense. Twenty employees were added at the end of June 2008 as a result of the Farmers State Bank acquisition. Further contributing to the increase to non-interest expense were increases in office occupancy expense and equipment, information systems and outside services, amortization for core deposit intangible and marketing and advertising. FDIC insurance premiums also increased for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods ended June 30 2008. All financial institutions were subject to higher FDIC premiums beginning in the second quarter 2009. The FDIC also imposed a special assessment on all financial institutions that will be paid on September 30, 2009, which was fully accrued by the Company as of the end of the second quarter. Additionally, other expenses increased $266,000 and $604,000 for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 30, 2009 over the same periods in 2008. The increase was related to higher interchange expenses, postage and courier, loss on NOW accounts, loan expenses and repair and maintenance of other real estate owned.

First Financial Service Corporation is the parent bank holding company of First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, which was chartered in 1923. The Bank serves the needs and caters to the economic strengths of the local communities in which it operates and strives to provide a high level of personal and professional customer service. The Bank offers a variety of financial services to its retail and commercial banking customers. These services include personal and corporate banking services, and personal investment financial counseling services. Today, the Bank serves seven contiguous counties encompassing Central Kentucky and the Louisville Metropolitan area, including Southern Indiana, through its 22 full-service banking centers and a commercial private banking center.

This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical income and those presently anticipated or projected. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Such risks and uncertainties include those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, risks of adversely changing results of operations, risks related to the Company's acquisition strategy, risk of loans and investments, including the effect of the change of the local economic conditions, risks associated with the adverse effects of the changes in interest rates, and competition for the Company's customers by other providers of financial services, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

First Financial Service Corporation's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "FFKY." Market makers for the stock are:

    Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.              FTN Midwest Securities

    J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Company, Inc.  Howe Barnes Investments, Inc.

    Stifel Nicolaus & Company                  Knight Securities, LP



                       FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION
                            Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                    (Unaudited)

                                                        June 30,  December 31,
    (Dollars in thousands, except share data)              2009          2008
                                                           ----          ----

    ASSETS:
    Cash and due from banks                             $17,523       $17,310
    Interest bearing deposits                             2,513         3,595
                                                          -----         -----
        Total cash and cash equivalents                  20,036        20,905
                                                         ------        ------

    Securities available-for-sale                        33,976        15,775
    Securities held-to-maturity, fair value of $1,803
     Jun (2009) and $6,846 Dec (2008)                     1,804         7,022
                                                          -----         -----
         Total securities                                35,780        22,797
                                                         ------        ------

    Loans held for sale                                   6,140         9,567
    Loans, net of unearned fees                         975,712       903,434
    Allowance for loan losses                           (14,236)      (13,565)
                                                        -------       -------
          Net loans                                     967,616       899,436
                                                        -------       -------

    Federal Home Loan Bank stock                          8,515         8,515
    Cash surrender value of life insurance                8,834         8,654
    Premises and equipment, net                          31,965        30,068
    Real estate owned:
      Acquired through foreclosure                        8,319         5,925
      Held for development                                   45            45
    Other repossessed assets                                 93            91
    Goodwill                                             11,931        11,931
    Core deposit intangible                               1,501         1,703
    Accrued interest receivable                           4,443         4,379
    Deferred income taxes                                   884         1,147
    Other assets                                          2,414         1,451
                                                          -----         -----

      TOTAL ASSETS                                   $1,102,376    $1,017,047
                                                     ==========    ==========

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES:
    Deposits:
      Non-interest bearing                              $58,555       $55,668
      Interest bearing                                  762,422       719,731
                                                        -------       -------
          Total deposits                                820,977       775,399
                                                        -------       -------

    Short-term borrowings                               114,600        94,869
    Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank                 52,809        52,947
    Subordinated debentures                              18,000        18,000
    Accrued interest payable                                263           288
    Accounts payable and other liabilities                2,707         2,592
                                                          -----         -----

      TOTAL LIABILITIES                               1,009,356       944,095
                                                      ---------       -------
    Commitments and contingent liabilities                    -             -

    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
     Serial preferred stock, $1 par value per share;
      authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and
      outstanding, 20,000 shares with a liquidation
      preference of $20,000 Jun (2009)                   19,754             -
    Common stock, $1 par value per share;
     authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and
     outstanding, 4,696,762 shares Jun (2009), and
     4,668,030 shares Dec (2008)                          4,697         4,668
    Additional paid-in capital                           34,730        34,145
    Retained earnings                                    35,666        36,476
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                 (1,827)       (2,337)
                                                         ------        ------

      TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                         93,020        72,952
                                                         ------        ------
      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     $1,102,376    $1,017,047
                                                     ==========    ==========



                       FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION
                        Consolidated Statements of Income
                                   (Unaudited)


    (Dollars in thousands,           Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
     except per share data)                June 30,              June 30,
                                       2009       2008       2009       2008
                                       ----       ----       ----       ----
    Interest and Dividend Income:
      Loans, including fees         $14,155    $13,348    $28,099    $27,380
      Taxable securities                305        309        613        693
      Tax exempt securities             118        105        224        205
                                        ---        ---        ---        ---
        Total interest income        14,578     13,762     28,936     28,278
                                     ------     ------     ------     ------

    Interest Expense:
      Deposits                        4,346      4,808      8,846     10,494
      Short-term borrowings              47        183         90        505
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances   600        601      1,197      1,197
      Subordinated debentures           329        167        658        334
                                        ---        ---        ---        ---
        Total interest expense        5,322      5,759     10,791     12,530
                                      -----      -----     ------     ------

    Net interest income               9,256      8,003     18,145     15,748
    Provision for loan losses         1,913        514      3,958      1,098
                                      -----        ---      -----      -----
    Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses        7,343      7,489     14,187     14,650
                                      -----      -----     ------     ------

    Non-interest Income:
      Customer service fees on
       deposit accounts               1,645      1,632      3,122      3,048
      Gain on sale of mortgage loans    355        239        532        387
      Net impairment losses
       recognized in earnings          (245)      (216)      (400)      (216)
      Write down on real estate
       acquired through foreclosure    (233)         -       (250)         -
      Brokerage commissions              99        125        192        243
      Other income                      469        360        897        632
                                        ---        ---        ---        ---
        Total non-interest income     2,090      2,140      4,093      4,094
                                      -----      -----      -----      -----

    Non-interest Expense:
      Employee compensation and
       benefits                       4,149      3,480      8,151      6,898
      Office occupancy expense and
       equipment                        808        679      1,656      1,332
      Marketing and advertising         245        209        510        423
      Outside services and data
       processing                       795        766      1,588      1,483
      Bank franchise tax                257        253        521        503
      FDIC insurance premiums           788         94        967        184
      Amortization of core
       deposit intangible               100          -        201          -
      Other expense                   1,302      1,036      2,633      2,029
                                      -----      -----      -----      -----
        Total non-interest expense    8,444      6,517     16,227     12,852
                                      -----      -----     ------     ------

    Income before income taxes          989      3,112      2,053      5,892
    Income taxes                        274      1,013        577      1,910
                                        ---      -----        ---      -----
    Net Income                          715      2,099      1,476      3,982
    Less:
       Dividends on preferred stock    (213)         -       (480)         -
       Accretion on preferred stock     (14)         -        (25)         -
                                        ---        ---        ---        ---
    Net income available
     to common shareholders            $488     $2,099       $971     $3,982
                                       ====     ======       ====     ======

    Shares applicable to
     basic income per share       4,687,983  4,664,235  4,682,683  4,663,784
    Basic income per share            $0.10      $0.45      $0.21      $0.85
                                      =====      =====      =====      =====

    Shares applicable to
     diluted income per share     4,726,226  4,692,565  4,685,686  4,695,358
    Diluted income per share          $0.10      $0.45      $0.21      $0.85
                                      =====      =====      =====      =====

    Cash dividends declared per
     share                           $0.190     $0.190     $0.380     $0.380
                                     ======     ======     ======     ======



                            FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION
                         Unaudited Selected Ratios and Other Data

                                      As of and For the     As of and For the
                                     Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
                                          June 30,              June 30,
                                          --------              --------
    Selected Data                       2009      2008        2009      2008
    -------------                       ----      ----        ----      ----

    Performance Ratios

    Return on average assets            0.18%     0.94%       0.18%     0.90%

    Return on average equity            2.10%    11.14%       2.12%    10.65%

    Average equity to average assets    8.64%     8.40%       8.73%     8.46%

    Net interest margin                 3.70%     3.88%       3.71%     3.86%

    Efficiency ratio from
     continuing operations             74.42%    64.25%      72.97%    64.77%

    Book value per share                                    $15.60    $16.23

    Average Balance Sheet Data

    Average total assets          $1,081,033  $902,889  $1,060,382  $889,087

    Average interest earning
     assets                        1,009,231   834,872     991,283   826,719

    Average loans                    967,067   797,436     953,357   785,939

    Average interest-bearing
     deposits                        770,843   661,799     765,798   650,537

    Average total deposits           830,239   721,399     822,555   707,504

    Average total stockholders'
     equity                           93,358    75,837      92,535    75,192

    Asset Quality Ratios

    Non-performing loans as a
     percent of total loans (1)                               2.69%     1.81%

    Non-performing assets as a
     percent of total loans (1)                               3.55%     2.23%

    Allowance for loan losses as
     a percent of total loans (1)                             1.46%     1.06%

    Allowance for loan losses as
     a percent of non-performing
     loans                                                      54%       59%

    Annualized net charge-offs
     to total loans (1)                                       0.68%     0.10%

    (1) Excludes loans held for sale.


SOURCE First Financial Service Corporation