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Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. Announces Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009

 

LAKEVILLE, Conn., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. ("Salisbury"), (NYSE AMEX: SAL), the holding company for Salisbury Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank"), announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Net income available to common shareholders was $549,000, or $.33 per common share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to a net loss of $(1,912,000), or $(1.13) per common share, for the third quarter of 2008. Annualized return on average common shareholder's equity was 5.40% for the third quarter of 2009 compared with -18.03 % for the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2008 included a securities loss arising from a $2,856,000 write-down of Freddie Mac preferred stock following the U.S. Government placing FHLMC into conservatorship.

Net interest and dividend income for the quarter increased $321,000 due primarily to a $78.6 million increase in average earning assets, which more than offset a 33 basis point decrease in the net interest margin to 3.52%. Excluding securities losses, all other non-interest income decreased $68,000 as a result of a decrease in credit card fees, attributable to the sale of the credit card portfolio in 2008, and lower Trust/Wealth Advisory Services income, offset in part by a $130,000 one-time life insurance benefit arising from the passing of John F. Foley, CFO, and increased banking service fees. Non-interest expense increased $967,000 due primarily to a $637,000 increase in compensation expense and $67,000 in other operating expenses. The increase in compensation expense included $378,000 in additional pension expense related to the retirement of John F. Perotti, CEO. The increase in other operating expense included $186,000 in additional FDIC deposit insurance premiums due to an increase in assessments and deposit growth.

President and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Cantele, Jr. stated, "Despite the challenges presented by current economic conditions, income from core operations remains strong. Our net interest margin improved from the previous quarter as a result of management's efforts to manage our assets and liabilities in today's interest rate environment. The growth in both loans and deposits primarily reflects our focus on doing what we do best, making loans and gathering deposits in the communities we serve. I believe the fundamentals of our core business remain solid and are reflected in the growth of our balance sheet."

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2009 net income available to common shareholders was $1,368,000, or $.81 per common share, compared to $152,000, or $.09 per common share, for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008. Annualized return on average common shareholder's equity was 4.59% for the 2009 period compared with 0.55% for the 2008 period. Net interest and dividend income increased $1,061,000 due primarily to a $58.1 million increase in average earning assets, which more than offset a 14 basis point decrease in the net interest margin to 3.58%. Securities losses for 2009 result from a $1,128,000 write-down for other than temporary impairment on five non-agency issued CMO securities in June 2009, offset in part by securities gains. Securities losses for 2008 result from the aforementioned $2,856,000 write-down of Freddie Mac preferred stock. Excluding securities losses, all other non-interest income increased $293,000 due to increases in gains on mortgage sales, mortgage servicing income, banking service fees and other income, including the aforementioned $130,000 one-time life insurance death benefit, offset in part by a $251,000 decrease in Trust/Wealth Advisory Services income due to the decline in the market value of assets under management, and a decrease in credit card fees, attributable to the sale of the credit card portfolio in 2008. Non-interest expense increased $2,245,000 due primarily to a $1,107,000 increase in compensation expense, $181,000 in professional services and $957,000 in other operating expenses. The increase in compensation expense included $530,000 in pension expense and $477,000 in salaries. The increase in other operating expense included $701,000 in additional FDIC deposit insurance premiums due to the 2009 special assessment, deposit growth and an increase in premiums.

Salisbury's assets increased to $564 million, up $69 million since December 31, 2008. Total net loans, including loans held for sale, were $312 million at September 30, 2009 reflecting an increase of $13 million, or 4.25%, since December 31, 2008. Non-performing assets increased $0.5 million during the quarter to $7.2 million at September from $6.7 million at June 30, 2009, compared with $5.1 million at December 31, 2008. A single loan relationship accounts for $3.0 million of the 2009 increase. Reserve coverage, as measured by the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans, increased slightly to 1.10% at September 30, 2009 compared with 0.90% at December 31, 2008 and 1.05% at September 30, 2008.

Deposits increased $70 million to $415 million from $345 million at December 31, 2008. This significant growth in deposits stems from customer preference for the safety of insured deposits versus market risk in the equity markets and a concerted effort by the Bank's staff to expand deposit relationships with customers. At September 30, 2009, book value per common share was $25.89 and tier 1 leverage and total risk-based capital ratios were 8.57% and 12.37%, respectively. In March 2009 Salisbury issued $8.8 million of preferred stock pursuant to the U.S. Treasury's TARP CPP.

As previously announced, the Board of Directors of Salisbury declared a third quarter dividend of $.28 per common share payable on November 6, 2009 to shareholders of record on October 23, 2009. In response to changes in regulatory requirements Salisbury is changing the timing of future dividend announcements to coincide with quarterly earnings announcements. Dividends, when declared, will generally be paid the last business day of February, May, August and November, although the Company is not obligated to pay dividends on those dates or at any other time.

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of 'Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, a Connecticut chartered commercial bank serving the communities of northwestern Connecticut and proximate communities in New York and Massachusetts, since 1848, through full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury and Sharon, Connecticut, South Egremont and Sheffield, Massachusetts and Dover Plains, New York. The Bank offers a full complement of consumer and business banking products and services as well as trust and wealth advisory services.

Statements contained in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management as well as the assumptions made using information currently available to management. Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including among others: changes in market interest rates and general and regional economic conditions; changes in government regulations; changes in accounting principles; and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios and other factors that may be described in Salisbury's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commission's internet website (www.sec.gov) and to which reference is hereby made. Therefore, actual future results may differ significantly from results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

                                Salisbury Bancorp, Inc
                        SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
               (in thousands except ratios and per share amounts)

                                             Three month         Nine month
                                            period ended        period ended
                                            September 30        September 30
    STATEMENT OF INCOME                     2009     2008       2009     2008
                                            ----     ----       ----     ----

    Interest and dividend income          $6,703   $6,712    $19,577  $19,971
    Interest expense                       2,257    2,587      6,850    8,305
    Net interest income                    4,446    4,125     12,727   11,666
    Provision for loan losses                180      520        925      690
    Non-interest income
      Losses on securities, (net)              -   (2,671)      (692)  (2,317)
      Trust/Wealth Advisory                  463      543      1,433    1,684
      Service charges                        268      237        750      701
      Gains on sales of mortgage loans        63       50        312      161
      Mortgage servicing                      65       58        391      110
      Other                                  399      438        966      902
      Total non-interest income (loss)     1,258   (1,345)     3,160    1,241
    Non-interest expense
      Salaries and employee benefits       2,784    2,147      7,332    6,225
      Occupancy                              238      258        740      721
      Equipment                              265      219        705      650
      Data processing                        327      310      1,040    1,005
      Insurance                              244       58        833      148
      Printing and stationery                 58       66        225      201
      Professional fees                      308      218        832      651
      Legal expense                           68      116        276      282
      Amortization of core deposit
        Intangible                            41       41        123      123
      Other expense                          469      402      1,321    1,176
      Total non-interest expense           4,802    3,835     13,427   11,182
    Income (loss) before income taxes        722   (1,575)     1,535    1,035
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes       2      337        (83)     883
    Net income (loss)                     $  720 $ (1,912)   $ 1,618  $   152
    Net income (loss) available to
      common shareholders                 $  549 $ (1,912)   $ 1,368  $   152

    Per common share
    Diluted earnings (loss)               $ 0.33   $(1.13)    $ 0.81   $ 0.09
    Cash dividends                          0.28     0.28       0.56     0.84


    Statistical data
    Net interest margin
     (fully tax equivalent)                 3.52%    3.85%      3.58%    3.72%
    Efficiency ratio                       84.18    70.40      80.99    73.23
    Return on average assets                0.39    (1.58)      0.34     0.05
    Return on average common
     shareholders' equity                   5.40   (18.03)      4.59     0.55
    Weighted average equivalent
     common shares outstanding, diluted    1,687    1,686      1,686    1,685
                            Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.
                    SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
                (in thousands except ratios and per share amounts)


                                   September 30,  December 31  September 30,
    FINANCIAL CONDITION                2009           2008         2008
                                       ----           ----        ----
    Total assets                     $564,287       $495,754    $485,650
    Loans, net                        311,251        297,367     293,740
    Allowance for loan losses           3,429          2,724       3,105
    Securities                        180,721        155,916     149,873
    Cash and cash equivalents          35,302          9,660      12,740
    Intangible assets                  10,871         10,994      11,034
    Deposits                          414,799        344,925     344,609
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances    76,767         87,914      86,490
    Repurchase agreements              15,462         11,203      12,370
    Shareholders' equity               52,478         38,939      38,720
    Non-performing assets               7,168          5,175       1,591
    Deposits
     Demand (non-interest bearing)   $ 64,718       $ 65,479    $ 69,198
     NOW accounts                      37,635         26,097      27,121
     Money market                      65,252         57,648      60,578
     Savings and other                 86,084         70,180      69,724
     Certificates of deposit          161,110        125,521     117,988
     Total deposits                   414,799        344,925     344,609

    Per common share
    Book value                         $25.89         $23.10      $22.97
    Tangible book value                 19.44          16.58       16.42

    Statistical data
    Non-performing assets to
     total assets                        1.27%          1.04%       0.33%
    Allowance for loan losses to
     total loans                         1.10           0.92        1.06
    Allowance for loan losses
     to non-performing loans            50.80          54.81      224.03
    Common shareholders' equity
     to assets                           9.30           7.85        7.97
    Tangible common shareholders'
     equity to assets                    5.81           5.64        5.70
    Tier 1 leverage capital              8.57           7.74        7.54
    Total risk-based capital            12.37          11.59       13.15
    Common shares outstanding, net
      (period end)                     1,687           1,686       1,686

SOURCE Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.

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