Northern States Financial Reports First Quarter Results


WAUKEGAN, IL--(Marketwire - April 30, 2009) - Northern States Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: NSFC), holding company for NorStates Bank, an FDIC insured financial institution, today reported a first quarter 2009 loss of $1,457,000 or $.39 per basic and diluted share as compared with first quarter 2008 net income of $1,201,000, or $.29 per basic share. The first quarter 2009 loss was caused by a loss of $1,673,000 on the sale of other real estate owned and a provision for loan and lease losses of $1,704,000 reflecting continuing declines in real estate values on properties used as collateral on troubled loans. During the first quarter 2009, the Company also had a 20 basis point decline to the net interest spread, the difference between yields earned on loans and investments and rates paid on deposits and borrowings, compared to the first quarter 2008, due to increases to the Company's nonaccrual loans.

"While we consider any loss to be unacceptable, we are pleased with the progress made in the identification and resolution of our troubled credits this quarter," says NorStates Bank's President Scott Yelvington. "Further deteriorating real estate values continue to put pressure on our loan portfolio, resulting in our aggressive allocation to our loan loss reserve."

Total assets reached $652.1 million at March 31, 2009, increasing $11.4 million from total assets of $640.7 million at December 31, 2008. The increase in assets was attributable to growth in short-term federal funds sold that increased $29.8 million to $37.3 million at March 31, 2009, as compared with $7.5 million at December 31, 2008 -- as the Company increased its liquidity levels. Loans decreased slightly during the first quarter of 2009 and totaled $475.6 million at March 31, 2009 -- decreasing $5.2 million, or 1.1 percent as compared with $480.8 million at December 31, 2008. The decrease in loans was primarily due to the lower borrowing demands of the Bank's customers due to the poor economy.

Deposit totals at March 31, 2009 of $500.5 million remained relatively unchanged from December 31, 2008 deposit levels of $500.8 million. The deposit mix changed as core deposits of retail commercial checking, savings, money market and NOW accounts, generally considered more stable and lower cost deposits, increased $5.6 million to $212.8 million at March 31, 2009 as compared with December 31, 2008 core deposit levels. At the same time, higher cost time deposits declined $9.3 million.

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company received $17.2 million of funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's TARP Capital Purchase Program. These funds increased the Company's capital levels that at year-end 2008 already exceeded the regulatory minimums for capital adequacy and increased the Company's liquidity.

The Company's other real estate owned, consisting of properties that the Company has foreclosed upon, decreased $4.3 million to $6.3 million at March 31, 2009, as compared with $10.6 million at December 31, 2008. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company sold a luxury home that had been valued at $5.9 million for $4.2 million recognizing a $1.7 million loss on the sale. The Company's loss on the sale was due to declining values of luxury homes, large inventory, and the limited number of buyers for such homes. An additional $1.6 million in properties were foreclosed upon and transferred to other real estate owned from loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The Company made a provision for loan and lease losses of $1,704,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared with $263,000 during the same period last year. Most of the provision during the first quarter of 2009 was a result of the continued decrease in real estate collateral values on troubled loans due to the declining economy.

Nonperforming loans and leases were $39.5 million at March 31, 2009 increasing $2.4 million, as compared with $37.1 million at year-end 2008. Two loan relationships account for 66 percent of the total nonperforming loans at March 31, 2009. Nonperforming loans consist of nonaccrual loans that no longer earn interest and accruing loans that are 90 days past due and in the process of collection.

Impaired loans totaled $41.4 million at March 31, 2009, a reduction of $2.4 million from $43.8 million at December 31, 2008. The Company considers a loan to be impaired if principal and interest will not be collected under the contractual terms of the note and includes nonaccrual loans.

On April 21, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Northern States Financial Corporation determined that there would be no semi-annual cash dividend paid on June 1, 2009 due to the reduced earnings of the Company and to preserve capital.

About Northern States Financial Corporation

Northern States Financial Corporation is the holding company for NorStates Bank, a full-service commercial bank with eight branches in Lake County, Illinois. NorStates Bank is the successor to financial institutions dating to 1919. NorStates Bank serves the populations of northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company, are generally identifiable by the use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," or similar expressions. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ from those predicted. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations and could affect the outlook or future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, the potential for further deterioration in the credit quality of the Company's loan and lease portfolios, a continued increase in nonperforming loans, uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to ultimately recover on loans currently on nonaccrual status, unanticipated changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, increasing regulatory compliance burdens or potential legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the quality or composition of the Company's loan or investment portfolios, deposit flows, competition, demand for loan products and financial services in the Company's market area, and changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements.

                  NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                           KEY PERFORMANCE DATA
                     ($ 000's, except per share data)

Quarter ended March 31:                                  2009      2008
                                                       --------  --------
Net Income (Loss)                                      $ (1,457) $  1,201
Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share            $   (.39) $    .29
Return on Average Assets                                   -.91%      .75%
Return on Average Equity                                  -8.60%     6.48%
Efficiency Ratio                                         118.56%    67.91%
Yield on Interest Earning Assets                           5.23%     6.22%
Cost of Interest Bearing Liabilities                       2.32%     3.11%
Net Interest Spread                                        2.91%     3.11%
Net Yield on Interest Earning Assets                       3.24%     3.61%


                  NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                           KEY PERFORMANCE DATA
                     ($ 000's, except per share data)

                                                     March 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                        2009       2008
                                                     ---------  ---------
Total Assets                                         $ 652,144  $ 640,719
Total Loans and Leases                                 475,616    480,812
Total Deposits                                         500,520    500,821
Total Stockholders' Equity                              76,535     61,614
Nonperforming Loans and Leases                          39,474     37,066
Impaired Loans and Leases                               41,392     43,756
Other Real Estate Owned                                  6,275     10,575
Nonperforming Loans and Leases to
 Total Loans and Leases                                   8.30%      7.71%
Book Value per Share                                 $   18.79  $   15.13
Number of Shares Outstanding                         4,072,255  4,072,255




NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ 000s) (Unaudited)

                                                   March 31,   December 31,
                                                      2009         2008
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Assets
Cash and due from banks                           $    11,756  $    14,108
Interest bearing deposits in financial
 institutions - maturities less than 90 days              209          242
Federal funds sold                                     37,331        7,518
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Total cash and cash equivalents                     49,296       21,868
Securities available for sale                          96,556      103,194
Loans and leases                                      475,616      480,812
Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses             (11,913)     (10,402)
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Loans and leases, net                              463,703      470,410
Federal Home Loan Bank stock                            1,757        1,757
Office buildings and equipment, net                     9,856        9,916
Other real estate owned                                 6,275       10,575
Goodwill                                                9,522        9,522
Core deposit intangible assets                            810          926
Accrued interest receivable and other assets           14,369       12,551
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Total assets                                   $   652,144  $   640,719
                                                  ===========  ===========

   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities
Deposits
   Demand - noninterest bearing                   $    56,078  $    57,313
   Interest bearing                                   444,442      443,508
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total deposits                                  500,520      500,821
Securities sold under repurchase agreements            38,754       42,574
Federal Home Loan Bank advance                         20,000       20,000
Subordinated debentures                                10,000       10,000
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance         1,206        1,011
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities          5,129        4,699
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Total liabilities                                  575,609      579,105

Stockholders' Equity
Common stock                                            1,789        1,789
Preferred stock                                        16,550            0
Warrants                                                  681            0
Additional paid-in capital                             11,584       11,584
Retained earnings                                      54,507       56,082
Treasury stock, at cost                                (9,280)      (9,280)
Accumulated other comprehensive income                    704        1,439
                                                  -----------  -----------
   Total stockholders' equity                          76,535       61,614
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $   652,144  $   640,719
                                                  ===========  ===========




NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
($ 000s, except per share data) (Unaudited)

                                                       Three months ended
                                                      March 31,  March 31,
                                                        2009       2008
                                                      ---------  ----------
Interest income
   Loans (including fee income)                       $   6,434  $    7,246
   Securities
      Taxable                                             1,254       1,888
      Exempt from federal income tax                         98         115
   Federal funds sold and other                               3          70
                                                      ---------  ----------
      Total interest income                               7,789       9,319
                                                      ---------  ----------
Interest expense
   Time deposits                                          2,255       2,826
   Other deposits                                           420         479
   Repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased        171         410
   Federal Home Loan Bank advances                           27          62
   Subordinated debentures                                  123         159
                                                      ---------  ----------
      Total interest expense                              2,996       3,936
                                                      ---------  ----------
Net interest income                                       4,793       5,383
Provision for loan and lease losses                       1,704         263
                                                      ---------  ----------
Net interest income after provision for loan and
 lease losses                                             3,089       5,120
                                                      ---------  ----------
Noninterest income
   Service fees on deposits                                 538         634
   Trust income                                             172         213
   Gain (loss) on sales of other real estate owned       (1,673)          0
   Other operating income                                   238         293
                                                      ---------  ----------
      Total noninterest income                             (725)      1,140
                                                      ---------  ----------
Noninterest expense
   Salaries and employee benefits                         2,101       2,216
   Occupancy and equipment, net                             732         634
   Data processing                                          391         439
   Legal                                                    239          84
   Audit and professional                                   271         352
   Amortization of intangible assets                        116         116
   Other operating expenses                                 973         589
                                                      ---------  ----------
      Total noninterest expense                           4,823       4,430
                                                      ---------  ----------
Income before income taxes                               (2,459)      1,830
Provision for income taxes                               (1,002)        629
                                                      ---------  ----------
Net income (loss)                                     $  (1,457) $    1,201
                                                      =========  ==========

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share           $   (0.39) $     0.29

Contact Information: For Additional Information, Contact: Scott Yelvington Executive Vice President (847) 244-6000 Ext. 201 Websites: www.nsfc.com www.nsfc.net