Investor Relations

LOANS INCREASE 9.5 PERCENT, ACHIEVES MILESTONE OF $1 BILLION

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bank of Marin Bancorp (“Bancorp”, NASDAQ: BMRC) announces 2011 annual earnings of $15.6 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 14.8%, from $13.6 million a year ago. Earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $2.89 on a diluted basis, up $0.34 from $2.55 in the prior year. 2011 earnings include the impact of the FDIC¹-assisted acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of certain liabilities of the former Charter Oak Bank on February 18, 2011 (the “Acquisition”).

Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $3.4 million compared to $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $0.63 compared to $0.73 in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“We are pleased to report record earnings and strong loan growth this year driven by our Napa and San Francisco markets,” said Russell A. Colombo, Chief Executive Officer. “In this environment, we are encouraged by the lending relationships we are building in new and core markets, which should position us well for future growth.”

Bancorp also provides the following highlights on its operating and financial performance for the year and fourth quarter of 2011:

• Fourth-quarter 2011 earnings include a pre-tax $683 thousand write-off of the Napa core deposit intangible asset (included in other expense), primarily due to a significant decline in alternative funding costs since the Acquisition. This write-off reduced diluted earnings per share by 7 cents in the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.
• Fourth-quarter 2011 earnings reflect a $2.5 million provision for loan losses, an increase of $1.5 million from the same quarter a year ago. The increase primarily represents the provision for loan losses on acquired loans, as well as an increase in general reserves related to loan growth.
• Total loans grew $89.8 million, or 9.5% in 2011, primarily due to the loans acquired in Napa and growth in the San Francisco market. In the fourth quarter loans grew $38.5 million, or 3.9%, primarily in the Marin and San Francisco markets.
• Total deposits grew $187.2 million, or 18.4%, over a year ago, with non-interest bearing deposits growing $77.4 million or 27.4%. Non-interest bearing deposits totaled 29.9% of deposits at December 31, 2011, compared to 27.8% at December 31, 2010.
• Credit quality remains solid with non-performing loans at 1.16% of total loans, down from 1.37% a year ago. The loan loss reserve as a percentage of non-performing loans totaled 122% at December 31^st, compared to 96% a year ago.
• On January 19, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share. The cash dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2012 and will be payable on February 10, 2012.

Loans and Credit Quality

The loan portfolio reached $1.0 billion at December 31, 2011, representing an increase of $89.8 million, or 9.5%, over December 31, 2010. The increase reflects $61.8 million of loans purchased at fair value without loss share as part of the Acquisition, as well as growth in the Bank’s commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and home equity portfolios, partially offset by a decreased emphasis on certain product lines, including construction and other residential lending.

Non-performing loans totaled $12.0 million or 1.16% of Bancorp’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2011, compared to $10.7 million or 1.08% at September 30, 2011 and $12.9 million, or 1.37%, a year ago. Accruing loans past due 30 to 89 days totaled $7.4 million at December 31, 2011, compared to $5.0 million at September 30, 2011 and $352 thousand a year ago.

“We continue to realize the benefit of our consistent, disciplined, and proactive approach to managing loans, resulting in a high quality portfolio,” said Kevin Coonan, Chief Credit Officer. “We focus on strong underwriting practices and active account management to maintain our strong credit quality, which protects our customers, shareholders and the overall health of the Bank.”

Non-performing loans exclude certain PCI² loans from the Acquisition that are accreting interest. PCI loans totaled $6.0 million at December 31, 2011 (including loans totaling $3.4 million that are accreting interest), compared to $6.5 million at September 30, 2011, and $9.4 million at the Acquisition. The decline reflects the Bank’s conscious efforts in resolving problem loans.

The provision for loan losses totaled $7.1 million and $5.4 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in the provision for loan losses is primarily driven by $2.3 million of loan loss provision related to the acquired loans, where credit quality has deteriorated since the Acquisition. The allowance for loan losses of $14.6 million totaled 1.42% of loans at December 31, 2011, compared to 1.33% and 1.32% at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Net charge-offs in 2011 totaled $4.8 million compared to $3.6 million in the prior year. The increase in net charge-offs primarily relates to $1.5 million of charge-offs related to the acquired loans.

Bancorp’s loan loss provision totaled $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $500 thousand in the prior quarter. This increase primarily reflects a higher level of specific reserves on Bank of Marin-originated commercial and industrial loans, as well as personal loans. In addition, the increase reflects newly identified reserves on acquired loans and an increase in general reserves relating to loan growth. The loan loss provision increased $1.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2010, which is primarily related to the provision for loan losses on acquired loans, as well as an increase in general reserves related to loan growth. Net charge-offs in the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $1.1 million, compared to $1.2 million in the prior quarter and $682 thousand in the same quarter a year ago.

Deposits

Total deposits grew $187.2 million, or 18.4%, from a year ago to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2011. The higher level of deposits reflects growth in most deposit categories, except for CDARS® time deposits, which decreased $20.6 million. Non-interest bearing deposits comprised 29.9% of total deposits at December 31, 2011, compared to 31.8% at September 30, 2011 and 27.8% a year ago.

“The significant increase in deposits we’ve seen this year, particularly core deposits, is an indication of the strength of our customer relationships,” said Christina Cook, Chief Financial Officer. “As a local community bank, our goal is to provide the highest level of personalized service across all the markets we serve.”

Earnings

The acquired operations of the former Charter Oak Bank contributed approximately $3.2 million to Bancorp’s pre-tax 2011 income, including $2.9 million of accretion on purchased non-credit impaired loans, $2.3 million in loan loss provision, $1.9 million of gains recognized in interest income on pay-offs of PCI loans, $1.0 million in Acquisition-related third-party costs, $683 thousand impairment write-off of the core deposit intangible asset (discussed previously) and $146 thousand in pre-tax bargain purchase gain. The acquired operations of the former Charter Oak Bank reduced Bancorp’s pre-tax fourth-quarter income by approximately $769 thousand, including $1.3 million in loan loss provision, $683 thousand impairment write-off of the core deposit intangible asset, $241 thousand of accretion on purchased non-credit impaired loans and $208 thousand of gains recognized in interest income on pay-offs of PCI loans. The quarterly and year-to-date income amounts discussed above exclude allocated overhead and allocated cost of funds. The current level of accretion is expected to continue to decline.

The tax-equivalent net interest margin was 5.13% in 2011 compared to 4.95% in 2010. The net interest income for 2011 totaled $63.8 million, representing an increase of $8.9 million, or 16.2%, from 2010. The increase primarily reflects the Acquisition of loans from the former Charter Oak Bank and a reduction in the cost of deposits, partially offset by the $924 thousand pre-payment penalty on the FHLB advance in the third quarter of 2011.

The tax-equivalent net interest margin was 4.79% in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to 4.76% in the prior quarter and 4.92% in the same quarter last year. Net interest income totaled $15.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of $498 thousand, or 3.3%, from the prior quarter, and an increase of $1.7 million, or 11.8% from the same quarter last year. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2010 primarily reflects the effect of the Acquisition of loans from the former Charter Oak Bank and a reduction in the cost of deposits due to the low interest rate environment.

The 2011 non-interest income totaled $6.3 million, an increase of $748 thousand, or 13.5%, from last year. The increase from last year relates to higher Wealth Management and Trust Services fee income, higher ATM and debit card interchange fee income (due to a higher level of customers and activity) and the pre-tax bargain purchase gain of $146 thousand from the Acquisition. Non-interest income in the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $1.5 million, compared to $1.4 million in the same period last year, and remained relatively unchanged from the prior quarter.

Non-interest expense totaled $38.3 million and $33.4 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing a $4.9 million or 14.8% increase. The increase primarily reflects higher personnel and occupancy costs associated with branch expansion, approximately $1.0 million of one-time Acquisition-related third-party costs, $725 thousand of impairment and amortization of the core deposit intangible asset, as well as higher data processing and marketing costs, partially offset by lower FDIC insurance expense.

Non-interest expense totaled $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of $313 thousand, or 3.3%, from the prior quarter, primarily due to the write-off of the core deposit intangible asset, partially offset by lower personnel costs. Non-interest expense increased $1.7 million, or 21.1% from the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to $725 thousand of impairment and amortization of the core deposit intangible asset, higher personnel and occupancy costs associated with branch expansion and higher marketing costs, partially offset by lower FDIC insurance expense due to a change in the FDIC assessment base.

About Bank of Marin Bancorp

Bank of Marin, as the sole subsidiary of Bank of Marin Bancorp, is the premier community and business bank in Marin County with 17 offices in Marin, San Francisco, Napa and Sonoma counties. Bank of Marin offers business and personal banking, private banking and wealth management services, with a strong focus on supporting local businesses in the community. Incorporated in 1989, Bank of Marin has received the highest five star rating from Bauer Financial for more than twelve years (www.bauerfinancial.com) and has been recognized for several years as one of the "Best Places to Work in the Bay Area" and one of the "Top Corporate Philanthropists" by the San Francisco Business Times. With assets of $1.4 billion, Bank of Marin Bancorp is included in the Russell 2000 Small-Cap Index and has been recognized as a Top 200 Community Bank for the past five years by US Banker Magazine.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations regarding economic, legislative, and regulatory issues that may impact Bancorp’s earnings in future periods. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.” Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current management expectations include, but are not limited to, estimated fair values related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed of the former Charter Oak Bank, general economic conditions, the economic downturn in the United States and abroad, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, real estate values, and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting Bancorp’s operations, pricing, products and services. These and other important factors are detailed in various securities law filings made periodically by Bancorp, copies of which are available from Bancorp without charge. Bancorp undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

¹Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

² Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans

for Bank of Marin Bancorp
Sandy Pfaff, 415-819-7447
sandy@pfaffpr.com

Source: Bank of Marin Bancorp