QNB Corp. Earns $1.6 Million in Third Quarter and Record $5.4 Million Year-to-Date

QUAKERTOWN, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QNB Corp. (the "Company" or "QNB") (OTC Bulletin Board: QNBC), the holding company for QNB Bank (the "Bank"), reported net income for the third quarter of 2010 of $1,618,000, or $0.52 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to $671,000, or $0.22 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 2009. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, QNB reported record net income of $5,407,000, or $1.74 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to net income of $2,992,000, or $0.96 per share on a diluted basis, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. Net income expressed as an annualized rate of return on average shareholders' equity was 12.69% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 compared with 7.32% for the same period in 2009.

"We are pleased with the company's third quarter financial performance which reflects the continuing solid core operating performance of the Bank. Strong loan and deposit growth coupled with a widening net interest margin, contributed to our success.  QNB remains a well capitalized institution by all regulatory standards," stated Thomas J. Bisko, Chief Executive Officer.  "We are also pleased to announce that David W. Freeman was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank and President of QNB during the quarter. Mr. Freeman has a background in community banking and shares the principles which have governed our financial institution since its inception."

Third quarter 2010's earnings compared with the third quarter of 2009 reflect higher net interest income, resulting from a widening of the net interest margin and strong growth in loans and deposits, a reduction in the provision for loan losses and lower other-than temporary impairment (OTTI) charges on investment securities.

The positive trend of increasing net interest income and net interest margin reported earlier in 2010 continued in the third quarter. Net interest income increased $1,114,000, or 20.2%, to $6,641,000 for the third quarter of 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2009. Net interest income for the third quarter of 2010 also reflects an improvement of $206,000, or 3.2%, compared to the second quarter of 2010. The net interest margin increased to 3.75% for the third quarter of 2010 compared to 3.38% for the third quarter of 2009 and 3.74% for the second quarter of 2010.

The improvement in net interest income and the net interest margin compared with the third quarter of 2009 primarily resulted from the impact of lower deposit costs partially offset by lower yields on investment securities. The interest rate paid on interest-bearing deposits declined by 74 basis points to 1.39% for the third quarter of 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2009. The decline in the rate paid on deposits largely resulted from the repricing of time deposits at lower market rates. The average rate paid on time deposits declined 108 basis points from 3.07% for the third quarter of 2009 to 1.99% for the third quarter of 2010. In comparison, the average rate earned on investment securities declined from 4.52% for the third quarter of 2009 to 3.94% for the third quarter of 2010, a decline of 58 basis points. Negatively impacting net interest income and the net interest margin in the third quarter of 2009 was the reversal of $100,000 of interest income on pooled trust preferred securities placed on non-accrual status partially offset by the recognition of a $29,000 prepayment penalty on a commercial loan. Excluding these two items the net interest margin would have been 3.42% in the third quarter of 2009.

Average earning assets grew by $55,248,000, or 7.9%, with average loans increasing 8.7% and average investment securities increasing 3.9% when comparing the third quarter of 2010 to the same period in 2009. The growth in loans was mainly related to real estate secured commercial loans and to a lesser degree commercial and industrial loans and tax-exempt loans. On the funding side, average deposits increased $61,096,000, or 10.0%, with average transaction accounts increasing 26.5%, or $74,413,000. The growth in transaction accounts is largely due to the success of QNB's newest high-rate deposit product, Online eSavings. The Online eSavings account was introduced in the second quarter of 2009 and continues to experience significant growth. This product had balances totaling $52,661,000 as of September 30, 2010 compared to $42,253,000 at June 30, 2010 and $5,540,000 at September 30, 2009.

Net interest income increased $3,172,000, or 19.9%, to $19,100,000 comparing the first nine months of 2010 and 2009. Over the 2010 time period, average loans and investment securities increased 9.5% and 7.4%, respectively, and average total deposits increased 12.5%. The net interest margin for the first nine months of 2010 was 3.71% compared to 3.42% for the first nine months of 2009, with lower deposit costs being the primary factor in the improvement.

As a result of loan growth, increases in non-performing, delinquent and classified loans and continued concerns related to current economic conditions, QNB continues to closely monitor the quality of its loan portfolio and has increased the allowance for loan losses to reflect these conditions. QNB recorded a provision for loan losses of $1,200,000 in the third quarter of 2010 and $2,600,000 for the first nine months of 2010. This compares to a provision of $1,500,000 for the third quarter of 2009 and $2,600,000 for the first nine months of 2009. The 2010 third quarter provision also represents an increase of $500,000 from the amount recorded in the second quarter of 2010. Net loan charge-offs were $77,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and $685,000 for the first nine months of 2010 compared with $511,000 for the third quarter of 2009 and $863,000 for the first nine months of 2009. QNB's allowance for loan losses of $8,132,000 represents 1.70% of total loans at September 30, 2010 compared to an allowance for loan losses of $5,573,000, or 1.27% of total loans at September 30, 2009.

Total non-performing loans, which represent loans on non-accrual status, loans past due more than 90 days and still accruing interest, and restructured loans were $9,908,000, or 2.07% of total loans, at September 30, 2010, compared to $5,199,000, or 1.19% of total loans, at September 30, 2009. Total delinquent loans, which include loans that are thirty days or more past due and non-accrual loans, increased to 2.93% of total loans at September 30, 2010, compared with 1.93% of total loans at September 30, 2009.

Total non-interest income was $1,004,000 for the third quarter of 2010, an increase of $490,000 compared with the same period in 2009. Lower credit related OTTI charges on the Bank's holdings of pooled trust preferred securities contributed to the improvement in non-interest interest income. During the third quarter of 2010 credit related OTTI charges were $51,000 compared to credit related OTTI charges of $753,000 for the corresponding quarter of 2009. These OTTI charges were partially offset by gains on the sale of securities of $4,000 and $103,000 for the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Fees for services to customers decreased $78,000 when comparing the third quarter of 2010 to the same 2009 quarter. The decrease was primarily caused by lower overdraft charges as a result of the implementation of new rules under Regulation E and a reduction in the per item fee charged to customers. ATM and debit card income increased $54,000 while gains on the sale of residential mortgages decreased $51,000 comparing these same periods.

Total non-interest expense was $4,478,000 for the third quarter of 2010, an increase of $552,000 compared with the third quarter of 2009. Salary and benefit expense increased $294,000 and was the largest contributing factor to the increase in non-interest expense. This increase is primarily attributable to $130,000 of severance related expenses for two former officers of the Bank and an incentive compensation accrual of $109,000. Net occupancy expenses increased $62,000, or 19.1%, when comparing the third quarter of 2010 to 2009. The majority of the increase relates to lease expense for the land where the permanent Wescosville branch was built. This branch opened in October 2010. Marketing expense increased $30,000 primarily related to several large community event sponsorships. Increases in accounting and auditing, consulting and third-party information technology services were the primary contributors to the $45,000 increase related to third-party services. FDIC insurance premium expense increased $33,000, to $268,000, comparing the third quarter of 2010 to 2009. Significant growth in deposits combined with a slightly higher assessment rate were the underlying factors in the increase in the premiums.

QNB Corp. offers commercial and retail banking services through the nine banking offices of its subsidiary, QNB Bank. In addition, QNB provides retail brokerage services through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and title insurance as a member of Laurel Abstract Company LLC.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company's financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Item lA. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

www.QNB.com

SOURCE QNB Corp.