Greene County Bancorp, Inc. Reports Higher Quarterly Earnings and is Named to Sandler O'Neill, Class of 2009 Small Cap-All Stars List

October 23, 2009 4:15 PM EDT

CATSKILL, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Greene County Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: GCBC), the holding company for The Bank of Greene County and its subsidiary Greene County Commercial Bank, today reported net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, which is the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 amounted to $1.2 million or $0.29 per basic and diluted share as compared to $809,000 or $0.20 per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $375,000, or 46.4%.

Donald E. Gibson, President and CEO, said "In addition to solid quarterly earnings we are pleased to report that the Company has been named to the Sandler O'Neill, Class of 2009 Small Cap-All Stars List. The objective of the Sm-All Stars is to identify the top performing small-cap banks and thrifts in the nation. Selection is based on growth, profitability, credit quality, and capital strength. Greene County Bancorp was one of only 30 selected for the 2009 Sm-All Stars list."

The most significant contributor to the improved earnings was higher net interest income, which increased $520,000 or 14.0% over the same quarter the prior year. Net interest income increased to $4.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $3.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. This was primarily the result of a $69.3 million increase in average earning assets from $373.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to $442.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and a 57 basis points decrease in the rates paid on average interest bearing liabilities from 2.05% to 1.48%, for the quarters ended September 30, 2008 and 2009, respectively. This was partially offset by a 60 basis points decrease in the yield on interest earning assets from 5.71% to 5.11% for the quarters ended September 30, 2008 and 2009 respectively, which led to a decrease in both the net interest rate spread and net interest margin when comparing these periods. Net interest rate spread decreased 3 basis points to 3.63% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to 3.66% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Net interest margin decreased 15 basis points to 3.83% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to 3.98% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Due to the worsening economic climate, management continues to closely monitor asset quality and adjust the level of the allowance for loan losses when necessary. The provision for loan losses amounted to $248,000 and $195,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, an increase of $53,000 or 27.2%. Contributing to the increased provision was continued growth in the loan portfolio, and an increase in nonperforming assets. Nonperforming assets amounted to $4.1 million and $2.0 million at September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, an increase of $2.1 million. Of this increase, $1.1 million was in residential mortgage loans, and $1.1 million were in commercial real estate loans. Home equity loans and non-mortgage loans declined slightly when comparing the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. The allowance for loan losses to total loans receivable has increased to 1.30% as of September 30, 2009 as compared to 0.78% as of September 30, 2008.

Noninterest income also contributed to enhanced earnings in the quarter ended September 30, 2009 by increasing $157,000 or 15.0% over the same quarter in the prior year. Noninterest income increased to $1.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $1.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The majority of the increase in noninterest income was the result of an other-than-temporary impairment charge recorded during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $221,000 ($135,000 net of tax) on a Lehman Brothers debt security held by the Company. There was no other-than-temporary impairment charge recorded during the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Noninterest expense was flat when comparing the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 at $3.4 million. During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company accrued $351,000 toward the expected future termination of its currently frozen defined benefit plan. The defined benefit pension plan was transferred to a single-employer plan from the previously existing multi-employer plan during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. As a result, pension expense decreased by $288,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Offsetting this decrease was additional expenses such as FDIC insurance premiums, compensation and depreciation. FDIC insurance premiums increased $117,000 to $135,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $18,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 as a result of both higher deposit balances and an increase in the rates assessed against the deposits. Compensation and depreciation increased due to the opening of the new Ravena branch in January 2009. Also included in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was a realized loss of $8,000 on the sale of foreclosed real estate. As of September 30, 2009, the Company held no foreclosed real estate.

Total assets grew $11.2 million or 2.4% to $471.7 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $460.5 million at June 30, 2009. Loans increased $8.4 million or 3.1% to $279.4 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $271.0 million at June 30, 2009. Securities held to maturity increased $2.5 million to $65.8 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $63.3 million at June 30, 2009. Funding the growth in assets was primarily deposit growth of $10.7 million, or 2.7% to $409.4 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $398.7 million at June 30, 2009. Total shareholders' equity amounted to $41.6 million at September 30, 2009, or 8.8% of total assets.

Headquartered in Catskill, New York, the Company provides full-service community-based banking in its ten branch offices located in Greene, Columbia and Albany Counties. Customers are offered 24-hour services through ATM network systems, an automated telephone banking system and Internet Banking through its web site at http://www.tbogc.com.

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, competition, technological developments, retention and recruitment of qualified personnel, and market acceptance of the Company's pricing, products and services.

                                                   At or For the Three

                                                   Months Ended September 30,

Dollars In thousands, except share and per share   2009         2008
data

Interest income                                    $5,656       $5,336

Interest expense                                   1,417        1,617

Net interest income                                4,239        3,719

Provision for loan losses                          248          195

Noninterest income                                 1,203        1,046

Noninterest expense                                3,384        3,360

Income before taxes                                1,810        1,210

Tax provision                                      626          401

Net Income                                         $1,184       $809

Basic EPS                                          $0.29        $0.20

Weighted average shares outstanding                4,105,312    4,096,149

Diluted EPS                                        $0.29        $0.20

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding        4,132,766    4,119,313

Dividends declared per share 1                     $0.17        $0.17

Selected Financial Ratios

Return on average assets                           1.02      %  0.82      %

Return on average equity                           11.59     %  8.87      %

Net interest rate spread                           3.63      %  3.66      %

Net interest margin                                3.83      %  3.98      %

Non-performing assets to total assets              0.87      %  0.45      %

Non-performing loans to total loans                1.49      %  0.78      %

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans  88.24     %  100.61    %

Allowance for loan losses to total loans           1.30      %  0.78      %

Shareholders' equity to total assets               8.83      %  8.37      %

Dividend payout ratio1                             58.62     %  85.00     %

Book value per share                               $10.14       $8.97

1 Greene County Bancorp, MHC, the owner of 53.5% of the shares of common stock
issued by the Company, waived its right to receive the dividends on such shares.
No adjustment has been made to account for this waiver. Dividend payout ratio
represents on an annualized basis the ratio of dividends per share divided by
basic earnings per share.

                                   As of September 30, 2009  As of June 30, 2009

Dollars In thousands

Assets

Total cash and cash equivalents    $15,142                   $9,443

Long term certificate of deposit   1,000                     1,000

Securities- available for sale,    93,450                    98,271
at fair value

Securities- held to maturity, at   65,777                    63,336
amortized cost

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at   1,495                     1,495
cost

Gross loans receivable             279,441                   271,001

Less: Allowance for loan losses    (3,632    )               (3,420    )

Unearned origination fees and      355                       321
costs, net

Net loans receivable               276,164                   267,902

Premises and equipment             15,125                    15,274

Accrued interest receivable        2,569                     2,448

Prepaid expenses and other assets  993                       1,152

Foreclosed real estate             ---                       215

Total assets                       $471,715                  $460,536

Liabilities and shareholders'
equity

Noninterest bearing deposits       $38,544                   $39,772

Interest bearing deposits          370,827                   358,957

Total deposits                     409,371                   398,729

FHLB borrowings, long term         19,000                    19,000

Accrued expenses and other         1,710                     2,543
liabilities

Total liabilities                  430,081                   420,272

Total shareholders' equity         41,634                    40,264

Total liabilities and              $471,715                  $460,536
shareholders' equity

Common shares outstanding          4,105,312                 4,105,312

Treasury shares                    200,358                   200,358

    Source: Greene County Bancorp, Inc.

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• Lehman Brothers
• Dividend
• FDIC
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