Hilltop Community Bancorp, Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results

SUMMIT, N.J., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilltop Community Bancorp, Inc. (the Corporation) (OTC Bulletin Board: HTBC), the holding company for Hilltop Community Bank (the Bank) today reported net income of $598,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, 4.5% higher than net income of $572,000 for the previous year.  Net income available to common shareholders was $0.13 per share, basic and diluted, in 2010, compared to $0.12 per share, basic and diluted, in 2009, after accounting for preferred stock dividends and related accretion. The dividends and accretion were connected to the Capital Purchase Program preferred stock that was part of the Corporation's capital structure in 2009 and the first few months of 2010. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $122,000 ($0.04 per share, basic and diluted), compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 when net income was $292,000 ($0.08 per share, basic and diluted).

Total assets were $157.1 million at December 31, 2010, down approximately $8.8 million from the prior year-end 's total asset figure, reflecting a similar decline in gross loans. The allowance for loan losses increased by $163,000 in 2010 and the ratio of loan loss reserves to total loans was 1.89% at December 31, 2010, considerably higher than the average for other community banks in our peer group.  Tangible book value per common share was $6.37 at the end of 2010.    

In a joint statement, Chairman of the Board Richard D. Wellbrock and President & CEO Mortimer J. O'Shea commented: "We're pleased that our full year earnings were up slightly in 2010, despite the continuing challenges of the economy. In particular, the deleveraging that normally accompanies a slowdown has certainly evidenced itself in our marketplace. Loan demand is down, but we have money to lend and our lenders are diligently working with referral sources to generate new commercial loan opportunities. Lower borrowing rates are beginning to affect our interest rate spreads but our balance sheet is well positioned to respond favorably when rates eventually move up. In this environment, our lenders and branch managers have accepted the challenge of developing new business and we are already seeing positive results from their efforts. Hilltop continues to boast a strong capital position and our legal lending limit now exceeds $3 million, another indicator of our growth over the past eleven years."

Hilltop Community Bancorp, Inc. is the parent holding company for Hilltop Community Bank. Hilltop Community Bank is a New Jersey state-chartered commercial bank which commenced operations in February 2000. The Bank operates as a locally headquartered, community bank engaged in a general commercial banking business. The Bank has offices in Summit, Berkeley Heights and Madison, and administrative offices in New Providence. The service area includes surrounding communities in Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset Counties.

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the private Securities Litigation reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management's confidence and strategies and management's expectations about new and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, technology and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, successful implementation and integration of acquisitions, the effects of economic conditions and the impact of legal barriers and structures. Actual results may differ from such forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statements at any time.

SOURCE Hilltop Community Bancorp, Inc.