Central Jersey Bancorp Reports Significant Increase in Operating Results for First Quarter of 2010

OAKHURST, N.J., April 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Central Jersey Bancorp CJBK, the parent company of Central Jersey Bank, N.A., reported net income and net income available to common shareholders of $740,000 and $554,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to $310,000 and $125,000, respectively, for the same period in 2009. The operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 represent increases over the same period in 2009 of $430,000, or 139%, and $429,000, or 343%, for net income and net income available to common shareholders, respectively. The net income available to common shareholders figure takes into account $141,250 in preferred stock dividends paid to the U.S. Department of the Treasury as part of the Capital Purchase Program ("CPP") and $45,000 in related preferred stock discount accretion during the three months ended March 31, 2010. The comparative increase in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 is primarily attributable to Central Jersey Bancorp not having to record a provision for loan losses during the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to recording a $3.1 million provision for loan losses during the three months ended March 31, 2009. There was no required provision for loan losses due primarily to an $8.6 million decrease in gross loan balances from December 31, 2009 and the net risk rating upgrade of certain commercial loans resulting from improved asset quality trends.  The absence of a first quarter 2010 loan loss provision was somewhat offset, on a comparative basis, by no gains on the sale of securities available-for-sale during the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to $1.8 million of gains recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2009.  Basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were both $0.06 and $0.01, respectively. 

Commenting on the first quarter of 2010, James S. Vaccaro, Chairman, President and CEO of Central Jersey Bancorp, stated, "The positive earnings comparisons reported for the first quarter of 2010 gives rise to cautious optimism.  Core operating results are healthier than we have seen in some time as margin expansion takes hold and credit costs become more normalized."  Mr. Vaccaro further explained, "While the economic environment continues to present formidable challenges, Central Jersey Bancorp's earnings progress is satisfying.  Additionally, continued diligence in the entire discipline of Asset Quality Management has resulted in two consecutive quarters of positive delinquency/classified/criticized asset trends.  Expense control, another area of significant focus, resulted in a modest reduction in year-over-year non-interest expenses despite a $132,000 increase in FDIC deposit insurance premiums.  We are anticipating that the balance of 2010 will be characterized by continued debate regarding the recession/recovery issue and understand that the local economy is, at best, fragile."  

Results of Operations

Net interest income was $4.7 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was comprised primarily of $5.2 million and $5.0 million, respectively, in interest and fees on loans, $795,000 and $1.9 million, respectively, in interest on investment securities and $56,000 and $33,000, respectively, in interest income on federal funds sold and due from banks, less interest expense on deposits of $1.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, interest expense on borrowed funds of $153,000 and $247,000, respectively, and interest expense on subordinated debentures of $39,000 and $57,000, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the average yield on interest-earning assets was 4.21% as compared to 5.87% for the same period in 2009. The average cost of deposits and interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was 1.28%, as compared to an average cost of 2.66% for the same period in 2009. The decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily due to significantly higher federal funds sold balances at an average yield of 19 basis points and lower reinvestment yields on cash flows derived from maturing and amortizing investment securities. The decrease in the average cost of deposits and interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily due to across-the-board reductions in deposit rates, which were reflective of the local banking market. The average net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was 3.49%, as compared to 3.53% for the same period in 2009.  On a linked quarter basis, net interest margin increased by 30 basis points from 3.19% during the fourth quarter of 2009 to the current 3.49% level. 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, there was no provision for loan losses, as compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2009. A provision for loan losses was not required for the three months ended March 31, 2010, due primarily to an $8.6 million decrease in gross loan balances from December 31, 2009 and the net risk rating upgrade of certain commercial loans resulting from improved asset quality trends. The recorded provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was due to the credit deterioration of certain commercial loans as a result of the rapid decline of general economic conditions.

Non-interest income, which consists of service charges on deposit accounts, income from bank owned life insurance, gains on the sale of investment securities available-for-sale, and other income, was $393,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to $2.2 million for the same period in 2009. Of this amount, there were no gains on the sale of investment securities available-for-sale for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to a $1.8 million gain on the sale of investment securities available-for-sale for the same period in 2009.     

Non-interest expense remained consistent at $4.0 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Non-interest expense generally includes costs associated with employee salaries and benefits, occupancy expenses, data processing fees, FDIC insurance premiums, core deposit intangible amortization and other operating expenses.

Financial Condition

Central Jersey Bancorp's assets, at March 31, 2010, totaled $571.3 million, a decrease of $6.4 million, or 1.1%, from the December 31, 2009 total of $577.7 million. The decrease in total assets was due primarily to an $8.6 million decrease in gross loan balances from December 31, 2009.

Cash and cash equivalents were $57.0 million at March 31, 2010, a decrease of $21.3 million from the December 31, 2009 total of $78.3 million. The decrease in liquidity is due primarily to the timing of cash flows related to Central Jersey Bank, N.A.'s business activities and the purchase of investment securities effected during the first quarter of 2010.

Investment securities totaled $128.7 million at March 31, 2010, an increase of $24.5 million, or 23.5%, over the December 31, 2009 total of $104.2 million. The increase was primarily due to the purchase of $26.0 million of government-sponsored agency securities held-to-maturity, $5.5 million of mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity, $15.0 million of government-sponsored agency securities available-for-sale, and $356,000 of municipal bond and note obligations.  These purchases were partly offset by maturities and calls of $10.0 million of government-sponsored agency securities available-for-sale, $8.4 million of municipal bond and note obligations and $383,000 of mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity and principal paydowns of $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.  In addition, at March 31, 2010, the net change of the unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities increased by $408,000 from $1.6 million on December 31, 2009 to $2.0 million on March 31, 2010.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, totaled $361.2 million at March 31, 2010, a decrease of $8.3 million, or 2.3%, from the $369.5 million balance at December 31, 2009. Gross loans totaled $370.5 million at March 31, 2010, a decrease of $8.6 million, or 2.3%, from the $379.1 million balance at December 31, 2009. The decrease in loan balances was due primarily to principal pay downs of commercial real estate loans, consumer home equity loans and lines of credit during the period. Organic balance sheet growth is challenging as quality incremental loan volume is somewhat constrained by overall sluggish economic activity.

Deposits, at March 31, 2010, totaled $456.1 million, a decrease of $11.8 million, or 2.5%, from the December 31, 2009 total of $467.9 million. The decrease in deposit balances was reflective of decreases in public fund deposits.

Borrowings were $45.6 million at March 31, 2010, as compared to $47.6 million at December 31, 2009, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 4.2%. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in overnight borrowings of $10.0 million offset by growth in the sweep account for business customers of $8.1 million.

At March 31, 2010, book value per common share and tangible book value per common share were $4.89 and $4.79 respectively, as compared to $4.76 and $4.65, respectively, at December 31, 2009.

Asset Quality

• Troubled asset trends continued to improve in most areas as delinquencies, which totaled $7.0 million at March 31, 2010, decreased by $679,000, or 8.8%, on a linked quarter basis, from the $7.7 million total reported at December 31, 2009. The decrease was due primarily to the payoff of a previously delinquent loan totaling $753,000. From the recorded highpoint of $13.2 million at September 30, 2009, total delinquencies have decreased by $6.2 million, or 47.0%, as of March 31, 2010.
   
• Non-accrual loans increased by $220,000, or 2.5%, on a linked quarter basis, from $7.9 million at December 31, 2009 to $8.1 million at March 31, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the addition of one loan totaling $400,000 to non-accrual status, which was partly offset by the charge-off of one loan totaling $200,000. From the highpoint of $8.5 million at June 30, 2009, total non-accrual loans have decreased by $427,000, or 5.0%, as of March 31, 2010.
   
• The aggregate of total delinquencies, non-accrual loans, and Other Real Estate Owned ("OREO") decreased by $459,000, or 2.8%, on a linked quarter basis, from $16.6 million at December 31, 2009 to $16.2 million at March 31, 2010. From the highpoint of $21.6 million at September 30, 2009, the aggregate of total delinquencies, non-accrual loans, and OREO have decreased by $5.5 million, or 25.4%, as of March 31, 2010.
   
• Total criticized/classified loans decreased by $7.7 million, or 19.0%, on a linked quarter basis, from $40.2 million at December 31, 2009 to $32.6 million at March 31, 2010. The decrease is due primarily to the risk rating upgrade of certain loans which migrated out of the criticized/classified category. From the highpoint of $41.9 million at September 30, 2009, total criticized/classified loans have decreased by $9.6 million, or 28.5%, as of March 31, 2010.

The allowance for loan losses, which began the year 2010 at $9.6 million, or 2.54% of total loans, decreased to $9.3 million at March 31, 2010, or 2.51% of total loans. The $313,000 decrease is due primarily to loan charge-offs totaling $358,000, which were partially mitigated by recoveries totaling $44,500.

About the Company

Central Jersey Bancorp is the holding company and sole shareholder of Central Jersey Bank, N.A. Central Jersey Bank, N.A. provides a full range of banking services to both individual and business customers through thirteen branch facilities located in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. Central Jersey Bancorp is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol "CJBK."  Central Jersey Bank, N.A. can be accessed through the internet at CJBNA.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements about the future expectations of Central Jersey Bancorp and its subsidiary, Central Jersey Bank, N.A., including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the companies' actual results could differ materially from expected results. Among these risks, trends and uncertainties are the effect of governmental regulation on Central Jersey Bank, N.A., interest rate fluctuations, regional economic and other conditions, the availability of working capital, the cost of personnel and technology, and the competitive market in which Central Jersey Bank, N.A. competes.