State Investors Bancorp, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

METAIRIE, La., Oct. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- State Investors Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: SIBC), the holding company of State-Investors Bank, reported net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, of $208,000, an increase of $15,000, as compared to net income of $193,000 reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, were $0.07 for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 amounted to $655,000, a decrease of $27,000 from $682,000 in net income reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, were $0.23 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

The increase in net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 resulted primarily from a $37,000, or 1.4%, increase in total interest income, a decrease of $162,000, or 19.3%, in total interest expense, partially offset by a decrease of $9,000, or 13.0%, in non-interest income and an increase of $193,000, or 13.1%, in non-interest expense. Net interest income increased $199,000, or 11.4%, due to the $162,000 decrease in total interest expense as a result of an overall decline in the average cost of funds.  The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to an increase in occupancy expenses of $66,000, or 46.5%, as well as increases of $49,000, or 102.1% in professional expense, $29,000, or 16.7%, in other non-interest expense, $27,000, or 23.7%, in data processing expense, $23,000, or 56.1%, in deposit insurance premiums and $21,000, or 2.5%, in salaries and employee benefits expense, partially offset by decreases of $12,000, or 54.5% in advertising, $7,000, or 18.9%, in office supplies and postage and $3,000, or 4.8% in security expense. The increase in other non-interest expense was primarily due to increased public company expenses. A $30,000 provision for loan losses was made during the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

The decrease in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, was primarily due to a decrease of $164,000, or 2.0%, in interest income, and an increase of $549,000, or 12.5%, in non-interest expense. This was partially offset by a decrease of $609,000, or 23.1%, in total interest expense, an increase of $8,000 in non-interest income and a decrease in the provision for income taxes of $37,000. The decreases in both interest income and interest expense were due to a decrease in the yield on average loans and a decline in the average cost of funds. The increase in non-interest income was due to an $8,000, or 4.4%, increase in service charges, fees and other operating income, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to increases of $208,000 in professional fees, $172,000 in salaries and employee benefits expense, $172,000 in other non-interest expense, and $103,000 in occupancy expense, partially offset by decreases of $43,000 in advertising expense, $34,000 in deposit insurance premiums, and $28,000 in data processing expense. The increase in other non-interest expense was primarily due to increased public company expenses. 

At September 30, 2012, the Company reported total assets of $249.64 million, an increase of $19,000, compared to total assets of $249.62 million at December 31, 2011. The increase primarily reflects increases in net loans receivable of $4.1 million, or 2.3%, and in cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 million, or 18.0%, partially offset by decreases in investment securities of $4.5 million, or 8.5%, and $920,000, or 6.9%, in other assets. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas amounted to $42.0 million at September 30, 2012, compared to $42.3 million at December 31, 2011, a decrease of $265,000, or 0.6%. Deposits decreased $501,000, or 0.3%, at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011. At September 30, 2012, the Company reported $3.7 million of non-performing assets, or 1.5%, of total assets at such date, compared to $3.4 million of non-performing assets, or 1.4%, of total assets at December 31, 2011.

Total shareholders' equity decreased $53,000, or 0.1%, to $47.9 million at September 30, 2012, from $48.0 million at December 31, 2011, primarily due to the purchase of 83,789 shares for the employee benefit plans and 35,668 shares for the repurchase program, partially offset by net income of $655,000 for the nine months period ended September 30, 2012, and an increase in unrealized gain on securities available for sale of $565,000, net of the deferred tax effect.

The Company repurchased 35,668 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 at an average price per share of $13.06 under the share repurchase program announced in July 2012 which covered up to 145,475 shares. As of September 30, 2012, there were a total of 109,807 shares remaining for repurchase under the program.

State Investors Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for State-Investors Bank which conducts business from its main office and three full-service branch offices, in the greater New Orleans market area.

The State Investors Bancorp logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9932

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