NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY Marketwire

FOR: STURGIS BANCORP INC.

Sturgis Bancorp Reports Earnings for First Quarter 2012

APR 24, 2012 - 09:39 ET

STURGIS, MI--(Marketwire - April 24, 2012) -  Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. (OTCBB: STBI) today announced a net income of $502,000 for the first quarter of 2012. 

Sturgis Bancorp is the holding company for Sturgis Bank & Trust Company (Bank), and its subsidiaries Oakleaf Financial Services, Inc. and Oak Mortgage, LLC. Sturgis Bancorp provides a full array of trust, commercial and consumer banking services from 11 banking centers in Sturgis, Bronson, Centreville, Climax, Colon, South Haven, Three Rivers and White Pigeon, Mich. Oakleaf Financial Services offers a complete range of investment and financial-advisory services. Oak Mortgage offers residential mortgages in all markets of the Bank.

Key Highlights for the first quarter of 2012:

Nonaccrual loans peaked in June 2011 at $14.5 million, up $9.3 million from December 31, 2010. Since June 2011, nonaccrual loans were reduced to $10.5 million at December 31, 2011 and further to $10.3 million at March 31, 2012.

President and CEO Eric L. Eishen stated: "I am pleased to provide a very positive first quarter financial performance. Loan quality is improving and core earnings are stable. The net interest income, non-interest income and non-interest expense have all been managed very closely. Our first quarter income is equivalent to the full year income for 2011. Income continues to be suppressed by sustained low interest rates and poor loan demand. However, fewer credit quality issues resulted in a significant reduction in the provision for loan losses in the first quarter. The Bank continues to maintain a significant reserve in our Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. It was only modestly reduced in the quarter. As the economy improves the Bank expects continued improvement in credit quality and therefore earnings. Management continues to focus on our core business. Earnings in the first quarter were also enhanced by strong mortgage refinance activity as rates continue to remain at historic lows."

Three months ended March 31, 2012 vs. three months ended March 31, 2011 - Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $502,000, or $0.25 per share, compared to a net loss of $117,000, or $0.06 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The tax equivalent net interest margin increased to 3.52% in 2012 from 3.02% in 2011. The increase in tax equivalent net interest margin is primarily due to the Bank's sales of low-margin investment securities, mostly in the third quarter of 2011. 

Noninterest income was $1.1 million in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011. Mortgage banking activities increased to $259,000, as loan sale volume continued relatively strong.

Noninterest expense decreased $84,000 in 2012, compared to 2011. Salaries and employee benefits decreased $81,000, or 4.9%, to $1.6 million. Real estate owned expense increased to $135,000, as the Company wrote down the carrying value of foreclosed assets. 

The Company provided $2,000 to the allowance for loan losses in the first three months of 2012, compared to $882,000 in the same quarter or 2011. Net charge-offs were $95,000 in 2012, compared to $734,000 in 2011. The $95,000 net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2012 represent the lowest quarterly net charge-offs in over three years. The net activity in the ALLL decreased the total allowance to 2.25% of gross loans at March 31, 2012, compared to 2.28% at December 31, 2011. 

Total assets increased to $326.4 million at March 31, 2012 from $314.3 million at December 31, 2011, primarily in cash and cash equivalents. Loans decreased $1.3 million from December 31, 2011, primarily in Home Equity Lines of Credit and Commercial Nonmortgage Loans. 

Noninterest-bearing deposits increased to $37.4 million at March 31, 2012 from $33.6 million at December 31, 2011. Interest-bearing deposits also increased to $208.1 million at March 31, 2012 from $201.0 million at December 31, 2011. These increases in deposit accounts are typical for the first quarter of each year, as municipalities deposit property tax revenues. Municipalities historically have reinvested those funds elsewhere during the second quarter of the year, and Management expects that pattern to continue for 2012. The number of checking accounts continues to increase, as the Bank continues to expand its customer base. 

Total equity was $25.4 million at March 31, 2012, compared to $24.9 million at December 31, 2011. Book value per share increased to $12.56 at March 31, 2012 from $12.34 at December 31, 2011.

During the worst part of the national financial crisis, the Company began including expanded ratios for the Bank's asset quality in quarterly press releases. Because the Company believes these ratios are meaningful and relevant to investors, the Company has elected to continue providing them.

             
    Percentage of Gross Loans     Percentage of Total Assets  
Past due and still accruing:   Mar. 31
2012
    Dec. 31 2011     Mar. 31 2012     Dec. 31 2011  
  Past due one month   0.49 %   0.53 %   0.39 %   0.43 %
  Past due two months   0.10 %   0.18 %   0.08 %   0.15 %
  Past due three or more months   0.19 %   0.14 %   0.15 %   0.12 %
Nonaccrual loans   4.00 %   4.07 %   3.14 %   3.34 %
Real Estate Owned   0.70 %   0.81 %   0.55 %   0.66 %
                         

This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in several places in this release and include statements regarding intent, belief, outlook, objectives, efforts, estimates or expectations of Bancorp, primarily with respect to future events and the future financial performance of the Bancorp. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause a difference between an ultimate actual outcome and a preceding forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and non-traditional competitors; changes in banking laws and regulations; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies, and assessments; the impact of technological advances; government and regulatory policy changes; the outcome of any pending and future litigation and contingencies; trends in consumer behavior and ability to repay loans; and changes of the world, national and local economies. Bancorp undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The numbers presented herein are unaudited.

For additional information, visit our website at www.sturgisbank.com.

   
   
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011  
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)  
             
    March 31, 2012     Dec. 31, 2011  
ASSETS                
  Cash and due from banks   $ 17,890     $ 7,297  
  Other short-term investments     18,295       15,443  
      Total cash and cash equivalents     36,185       22,740  
                   
  Interest-earning deposits in banks     4,760       4,760  
  Securities - Available for sale     265       265  
  Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost     4,064       4,064  
  Loans held for sale     1,417       986  
  Loans, net of allowance of $5,782 and $5,875     250,720       252,001  
  Premises and equipment, net     7,758       7,855  
  Goodwill     5,109       5,109  
  Originated mortgage servicing rights     1,291       1,279  
  Real estate owned     1,791       2,082  
  Bank-owned life insurance     9,046       8,976  
  Accrued interest receivable     1,112       1,191  
  Prepaid FDIC assessment     720       814  
  Other assets     2,143       2,136  
                   
      Total assets   $ 326,381     $ 314,258  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                
  Liabilities                
    Deposits                
      Noninterest-bearing   $ 37,421     $ 33,642  
      Interest-bearing     208,096       200,957  
        Total deposits     245,517       234,599  
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings     52,575       52,575  
  Accrued interest payable     342       344  
  Other liabilities     2,504       1,830  
      Total liabilities     300,938       289,348  
                 
Stockholders' equity                
  Preferred stock - $1 par value: authorized - 1,000,000 shares issued and outstanding - 0 shares                
  Common stock - $1 par value : authorized - 9,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 2,025,057 shares at March 31, 2012 and 2,019,235 at December 31, 2011     2,025       2,019  
  Additional paid-in capital     6,906       6,881  
  Retained earnings     16,588       16,087  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     (76 )     (77 )
    Total stockholders' equity     25,443       24,910  
                 
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 326,381     $ 314,258  
                       
                       
                       
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  
Three Months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011  
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)  
   
    Three Months ended March 31,  
    2012     2011  
Interest income                
  Loans   $ 3,138     $ 3,193  
  Investment securities:                
    Taxable     22       338  
    Tax-exempt     4       15  
  Dividends     36       30  
    Total interest income     3,200       3,576  
Interest expense                
  Deposits     371       689  
  Borrowed funds     424       454  
    Total interest expense     795       1,143  
                 
Net interest income     2,405       2,433  
                 
Provision for loan losses     2       882  
                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     2,403       1,551  
                 
Noninterest income:                
  Service charges and other fees     374       345  
  Investment brokerage commission income     299       278  
  Mortgage banking activities     259       249  
  Trust fee income     79       91  
  Increase in value of bank owned life insurance     69       69  
  Other income     (12 )     26  
    Total noninterest income     1,068       1,058  
Noninterest expenses:                
  Salaries and employee benefits     1,569       1,650  
  Occupancy and equipment     354       371  
  Data processing     175       171  
  Professional services     118       112  
  Real estate owned expense     135       66  
  Advertising     27       35  
  FDIC premiums     98       110  
  Other     326       371  
    Total noninterest expenses     2,802       2,886  
                 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)     669       (277 )
                 
Provision for income tax     167       (160 )
                 
Net income (loss)   $ 502     $ (117 )
                 
Earnings per share   $ 0.25     $ (0.06 )
Dividends declared per share   $ 0.00     $ 0. 01  
    Key Ratios:                
Return on average equity     7.93 %     (2.04 %)
Return on average assets     0.63 %     (0.13 %)
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)     3.52 %     3.02 %
                 


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Contacts:
Sturgis Bancorp
Eric Eishen
President & CEO
or
Brian P. Hoggatt
CFO
P: 269 651-9345