ANNAPOLIS, Md., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMFB), the holding company for CommerceFirst Bank, earned a consolidated net profit of $678 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to a net profit of $295 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company continued its pattern of measured growth in fiscal year 2009. This growth has resulted in increased revenues as compared to prior periods. The Company continues to experience strong loan demand for both commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate loans. The Company has no consumer loans and commercial loans are primarily provided to locally owned business relationships that are based in the Bank's primary service area. A majority of commercial real estate loans are owner-occupied transactions. Key measurements and events for the year ended December 31, 2009 include the following: -- Net loans outstanding increased by 21.2% to $183.1 million as of December 31, 2009 from $151.1 million as of December 31, 2008. -- Loan quality was impacted by difficulties in the local economy for our business borrowers. The bank recorded a $1.6 million loan loss provision and in addition charged off $1.1 million in commercial industrial loans and commercial real estate loans during the year ended December 31, 2009. Other real estate- owned increased from $0 at December 31, 2008 to $2.5 million as of December 31, 2009 as the bank foreclosed upon and took ownership of two commercial real estate properties. The Company continues to review the impact on its loan customers of a challenging national and local economy and provides for estimated and occurred loan losses based on the reviews. -- Total assets as of December 31, 2009 increased by 20.3% to $200.4 million as compared to $166.6 million as of December 31, 2008. -- Deposits as of December 31, 2009 were $178.6 million, an increase of $33.4 million or 23% from December 31, 2008. -- The Company's net income increased to $678 thousand, or 129.9%, for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to net income of $295 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2008. -- Net interest income, the Company's main source of income, increased by $1.7 million or 31.9% during the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008. This increase was attributable to an increase in interest income of $1.2 million and a decrease in interest expense of $.5 million. Interest expense declined in spite of the increase in interest bearing deposits because of the re-pricing of a significant portion of the Company's longer term certificates of deposit as they were renewed or were replaced at substantially reduced rates during 2009. Most of this deposit re-pricing occurred during the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in the Company's net interest income was partially offset by the increase in the provision for loan losses of $969 thousand. The bank's net interest margin improved steadily during the past year, to 4.64% for the month of December 2009 compared to 3.67% in January 2009. -- Non-interest expenses were closely managed and increased by $287 thousand during 2009 compared to 2008 primarily as a result of a $264 thousand increase in FDIC deposit insurance. Forward Looking Statements. This press release includes forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates as to prospective events and circumstances that may or may not be in the Company's control and as to which there can be no firm assurances given. These forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties; there can be no assurance that any of these forward looking statements may prove to be correct and actual results may differ materially. CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 Unaudited December 31, December 31, 2009 2008 ---- ---- ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $10,488,307 $8,964,357 Investment securities - available-for-sale, at fair value - 3,085,770 Investments in restricted stocks, at cost 527,000 467,000 Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses 183,101,808 151,101,169 Other real estate owned 2,461,957 - Other assets 3,792,265 2,950,778 --------- --------- Total Assets $200,371,337 $166,569,074 ============ ============ LIABILITIES Deposits $178,645,491 $145,241,060 Other liabilities 783,872 1,017,457 ------- --------- Total Liabilities 179,429,363 146,258,517 ----------- ----------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock -$.01 par value; issued and outstanding 1,820,548 shares 18,205 18,205 Additional paid-in capital 17,852,931 17,852,931 Retained earnings 3,070,838 2,392,882 Accumulated other comprehensive income - 46,539 --- ------ Total Stockholders' Equity 20,941,974 20,310,557 ---------- ---------- Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $200,371,337 $166,569,074 ============ ============ CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 Unaudited December 31, December 31, 2009 2008 ---- ---- Interest income $11,928,141 $10,650,754 Interest expense 4,586,705 5,083,466 --------- --------- Net interest income 7,341,436 5,567,288 Provision for loan losses 1,616,167 647,105 --------- ------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 5,725,269 4,920,183 Non-interest income 719,685 569,068 Non-interest expenses 5,315,339 5,027,939 --------- --------- Income before income taxes 1,129,615 461,312 Income tax expense 451,659 166,397 Net income $677,956 $294,915 ======== ======== Basic earnings per share $0.37 $0.16 ==== ==== Diluted earnings per share $0.37 $0.16 ==== ==== DATASOURCE: CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. CONTACT: Richard J. Morgan, President and Chief Executive Officer, +1-410-280-6695

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