Park National Corporation Reports First Quarter 2009 Performance and Declares Second Quarter Cash Dividend

Continued Strong Loan Growth Fuels Solid Results


NEWARK, Ohio, April 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Park National Corporation (Park) (NYSE Amex:PRK) today announced operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Net income available to common shareholders was $20.0 million, compared to $23.0 million for the same period in 2008. First quarter 2009 net income per diluted common share was $1.43, a 13.3 percent decrease from the first quarter 2008 net income per diluted common share of $1.65.

Net income figures for the first quarter of 2008 included a one-time benefit (reported in the "other income" category) of $3.1 million related to the Visa IPO. Net of taxes, this contributed $2.0 million to net income, or $0.14 to net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2008.

Park's board of directors also declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.94 per common share, payable on June 10, 2009 to common shareholders of record as of May 27, 2009.

"We are pleased with our first quarter performance. On March 11, 2009, we projected that net income available to common shareholders would be approximately $18 million for the first quarter and the actual results were $2 million higher," said Park Chairman, C. Daniel DeLawder.

The better-than-expected earnings for Park were largely due to a high volume of fixed rate residential mortgage loans. During the first quarter 2009, Park originated $181.6 million in fixed rate residential mortgage loans, compared to $55.6 million for the first quarter 2008. These loans are sold in the secondary market and Park maintains the servicing on these loans. The pre-tax real estate non-yield loan fee income was $5.0 million for the first quarter 2009, compared to $2.1 million for the first quarter 2008.

The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve System have continued their dedicated effort to facilitate extraordinarily low fixed interest rates for residential mortgage loans, and Park's loan volume has benefited from offering especially low rates on new and refinanced loans since the end of 2008.

According to DeLawder, the increase in home loan refinances is only partly generated by an excellent low interest rate environment. "People like the reliability of local service for their home loan. They want to speak directly with a knowledgeable, responsive lender who can deliver more than great low rates. That's been our lending style for decades and we're eager to help more people take advantage of the opportunity to save money and gain peace of mind," he said.

Park also experienced an increase in commercial and consumer loans during the first quarter. At March 31, 2009, Park had $4,562 million in total loans on its consolidated balance sheet, compared to $4,491 million at year-end 2008 and $4,253 million at March 31, 2008. Total loans increased overall by $70.2 million during the first quarter 2009, representing 6.3 percent annualized growth.

Deposit balances also increased during the first quarter 2009. At March 31, 2009, Park had total deposits of $4,920 million, compared to $4,762 million at year-end 2008 and $4,520 million at March 31, 2008.

Park's first quarter 2009 net loan charge-offs totaled $11.1 million, or an annualized 0.99 percent of loans outstanding. In the same period in 2008, net loan charge-offs were $8.6 million, or an annualized 0.82 percent of loans outstanding. The loan loss provision was $12.3 million in the first quarter 2009, compared to $7.4 million in the first quarter 2008. Park subsidiary Vision Bank (headquartered in Panama City, Fla.) had a loan loss provision of $8.5 million for the first quarter 2009, compared to $4.8 million for that period in 2008. Park's Ohio-based banking divisions had a total loan loss provision of $3.8 million for the first quarter 2009, compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2008.

First quarter of 2009 net income for Park's Ohio-based banking divisions was $25.4 million. "We continue to be very pleased with the earnings from Park's Ohio-based banking divisions. Last year was a record earnings year for that group with a net income of $94.9 million for year-end 2008," DeLawder said.

Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park National Corporation holds $7.1 billion in total assets (as of March 31, 2009). Park consists of 14 community bank divisions and two specialty finance companies. Park's Ohio-based banking operations are conducted through Park subsidiary The Park National Bank and its divisions which include Fairfield National Bank, Richland Bank, Century National Bank, First-Knox National Bank, Farmers and Savings Bank, United Bank, Second National Bank, Security National Bank, Unity National Bank, Citizens National Bank and The Park National Bank of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky. Park's other banking subsidiary is Vision Bank (headquartered in Panama City, Florida), and its Vision Bank Division (of Gulf Shores, Alabama). Park also includes Scope Leasing, Inc. (d.b.a. Scope Aircraft Finance) and Guardian Finance Company.

Complete financial tables are included below.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT under the private securities litigation reform act of 1995

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: deterioration in the asset value of Park's loan portfolio may be worse than expected; Park's ability to execute its business plan successfully and within the expected timeframe; general economic and financial market conditions, and weakening in the economy, specifically, the real estate market and credit market, either national or in the states in which Park and its subsidiaries do business, are worse than expected; changes in the interest rate environment reduce net interest margins; competitive pressures among financial institutions increase significantly; the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of Park and its subsidiaries; demand for loans in the respective market areas served by Park and its subsidiaries, and other risk factors relating to the banking industry as detailed from time to time in Park's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of Part I of Park's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Park does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.



                      PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
                         FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

  INCOME STATEMENT AND RATIOS   
                                        THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                              MARCH 31,
                               ---------------------------------------
                                                              PERCENT
                                  2009          2008           CHANGE
                               ----------    ----------    -----------
 NET INTEREST INCOME           $   68,233    $   61,484         10.98%
 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES         12,287         7,394         66.18%
 OTHER INCOME                      19,210        21,039         -8.69%
 GAIN ON SALE OF SECURITIES            --           309
 OTHER EXPENSE                     45,862        43,277          5.97%
 INCOME BEFORE TAXES               29,294        32,161         -8.91%
 NET INCOME                        21,390        22,978         -6.91%
 NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO
  COMMON SHAREHOLDERS (x)          19,950        22,978        -13.18%
 NET INCOME PER COMMON
  SHARE-BASIC (x)                    1.43          1.65        -13.33%
 NET INCOME PER COMMON
  SHARE-DILUTED (x)                  1.43          1.65        -13.33%
 RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS (x)        1.15%         1.42%
 RETURN ON AVERAGE COMMON
  EQUITY (x)                        14.66%        16.02%
 CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED
  PER SHARE                          0.94          0.94          0.00%

 INCOME STATEMENT AND RATIOS 
  (NON GAAP)

 RETURN ON AVERAGE TANGIBLE
  ASSETS (c)(x)                      1.16%         1.46%
 RETURN ON AVERAGE TANGIBLE
  REALIZED COMMON EQUITY (a)(x)     17.67%        21.72%

 OTHER RATIOS

 YIELD ON EARNING ASSETS             5.81%         6.83%
 COST OF PAYING LIABILITIES          1.84%         3.07%
 NET INTEREST MARGIN                 4.26%         4.19%
 NET LOAN CHARGE-OFFS          $   11,097   $     8,648
 NET CHARGE-OFFS AS A PERCENT
  OF LOANS                           0.99%         0.82%


 BALANCE SHEET

                                March 31,     Dec. 31,      March 31,
                                  2009          2008           2008
                               ----------    ----------    -----------
 INVESTMENTS                   $2,035,622    $2,059,051    $1,956,035
 LOANS                          4,561,508     4,491,337     4,253,363
 LOAN LOSS RESERVE                101,279       100,088        85,848
 GOODWILL AND OTHER
  INTANGIBLES                      84,608        85,545       143,550
 TOTAL ASSETS                   7,059,175     7,070,720     6,781,365
 TOTAL DEPOSITS                 4,920,213     4,761,750     4,519,756
 BORROWINGS                     1,378,686     1,554,754     1,581,465
 EQUITY                           656,218       642,663       591,179
 COMMON EQUITY                    560,306       546,942       591,179
 TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY (b)       475,698       461,397       447,629
 COMMON BOOK VALUE PER SHARE        40.10         39.15         42.33
 TANGIBLE COMMON BOOK VALUE
  PER SHARE (b)                     34.05         33.02         32.05
 NONPERFORMING LOANS              156,957       162,357       107,303
 NONPERFORMING ASSETS             191,130       188,205       127,416
 PAST DUE 90 DAY LOANS              7,807         5,421         4,032

 RATIOS

 LOANS/ASSETS                       64.62%        63.52%        62.72%
 NONPERFORMING LOANS/LOANS           3.44%         3.61%         2.52%
 PAST DUE 90 DAY LOANS/LOANS         0.17%         0.12%         0.09%
 LOAN LOSS RESERVE/LOANS             2.22%         2.23%         2.02%
 TOTAL EQUITY/ASSETS                 9.30%         9.09%         8.72%
 COMMON EQUITY/ASSETS                7.94%         7.74%         8.72%
 TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY/
  TANGIBLE ASSETS (d)                6.82%         6.61%         6.74%


 (x)  Reported measure excludes the impact of the preferred stock
      issued to the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program
      and uses net income available to common shareholders.

 (a)  Net Income available to common shareholders for each period
      divided by average tangible realized common equity during the
      period. Average tangible realized equity equals average
      stockholders' equity during the applicable period less (i)
      average goodwill and other intangibles during the period, (ii)
      average accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes,
      during the period, and (iii) Preferred stock.


 RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE
 REALIZED COMMON EQUITY:

                                                 THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                     MARCH 31,
                                                 -------------------
                                                   2009       2008
                                                 --------   --------
 AVERAGE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                    647,853    576,879
 Less:  Preferred stock                           95,802         --
           Average goodwill and other
            intangibles                           85,142    144,119
       Average accumulated other
        comprehensive income, net of taxes         8,997      7,306
 AVERAGE TANGIBLE REALIZED COMMON EQUITY         457,912    425,454
                                                 ========   ========


 (b)  Tangible common book value per share equals ending stockholders'
      equity less preferred stock and goodwill and other intangibles at
      the end of the period, divided by actual common shares
      outstanding at the end of the period.


 RECONCILIATION OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TO TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY:

                                March 31,     Dec. 31,      March 31,
                                  2009          2008           2008
                               ----------    ----------    -----------
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY             656,218       642,663       591,179
 Less: Preferred stock             95,912        95,721            --
       Goodwill and other
         intangibles               84,608        85,545       143,550
 TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY           475,698       461,397       447,629
                               ==========    ==========    ===========


 (c)  Net income available to common shareholders divided by average
      tangible assets. Average tangible assets equals average assets
      less goodwill and other intangibles.


 RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE ASSETS TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS

                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                       MARCH 31,
                                               -----------------------
                                                   2009         2008
                                               ---------     ---------
 AVERAGE ASSETS                                7,059,725     6,492,513
 Less average goodwill and other intangibles      85,142       144,119
 AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS                       6,974,583     6,348,394


 (d)  Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets. Tangible
      assets equals total assets less goodwill and other intangibles.


 RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL ASSETS TO TANGIBLE ASSETS:

                                March 31,     Dec. 31,      March 31,
                                  2009          2008           2008
                               ----------    ----------    -----------
 TOTAL ASSETS                   7,059,175     7,070,720     6,781,365
 Less: Goodwill and other
  intangibles                      84,608        85,545       143,550
 TANGIBLE ASSETS                6,974,567     6,985,175     6,637,815
                               ==========    ==========    ===========


 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
 Consolidated Statements of Income
 (dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                              -------------------------
                                                  2009          2008
                                              -----------   -----------
 Interest income:
    Interest and fees on loans                $    69,088   $    79,010
    Interest on:
       Obligations of U.S. Government, its
        agencies and other securities              23,828        20,705
       Obligations of states and political
        subdivisions                                  422           654
    Other interest income                              27            99
          Total interest income                    93,365       100,468

 Interest expense:
    Interest on deposits:
       Demand and savings deposits                  2,905         7,358
       Time deposits                               14,374        19,199
    Interest on borrowings                          7,853        12,427
       Total interest expense                      25,132        38,984

          Net interest income                      68,233        61,484

 Provision for loan losses                         12,287         7,394

          Net interest income after
           provision for loan losses               55,946        54,090

 Other income                                      19,210        21,039

 Gain on sale of securities                            --           309

 Other expense:
    Salaries and employee benefits                 25,487        24,671
    Occupancy expense                               3,158         3,025
    Furniture and equipment expense                 2,378         2,317
    Other expense                                  14,839        13,264
       Total other expense                         45,862        43,277

          Income before income taxes               29,294        32,161

 Income taxes                                       7,904         9,183

          Net income                          $    21,390   $    22,978

 Preferred stock dividends                          1,440            --

          Income available to common
           shareholders                       $    19,950   $    22,978

 Per Common Share:

          Net income - basic                        $1.43         $1.65
          Net income - diluted                      $1.43         $1.65

          Weighted average shares - basic      13,971,720    13,964,572
          Weighted average shares - diluted    13,971,720    13,964,572


 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
 Consolidated Balance Sheets
 (dollars in thousands, except share data)

                                                       March 31,
                                              --------------------------
                                                  2009          2008
                                              -----------    -----------
 Assets

    Cash and due from banks                   $   108,523    $   176,350
    Money market instruments                       17,844          8,547
    Investment securities                       2,035,622      1,956,035

    Loans                                       4,561,508      4,253,363
    Allowance for loan losses                     101,279         85,848
       Loans, net                               4,460,229      4,167,515

    Bank premises and equipment, net               68,177         68,816
    Goodwill and other intangibles                 84,608        143,550
    Other assets                                  284,172        260,552

             Total assets                     $ 7,059,175    $ 6,781,365


 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Deposits:
       Noninterest bearing                    $   746,594    $   711,151
       Interest bearing                         4,173,619      3,808,605
          Total deposits                        4,920,213      4,519,756
    Borrowings                                  1,378,686      1,581,465
    Other liabilities                             104,058         88,965
          Total liabilities                     6,402,957      6,190,186


    Stockholders' Equity:
       Preferred Stock (200,000 shares
        authorized in 2009 and -0- in 2008;
        100,000 shares issued in 2009 and
        -0- in 2008)                               95,912             --
       Common stock (No par value;
        20,000,000 shares authorized in
        2009 and 2008; 16,151,137 shares
        issued in 2009 and 16,151,188
        in 2008)                                  301,210        301,213
       Common stock warrants                        4,297             --
       Accumulated other comprehensive
        income, net of taxes                       17,144         10,627
       Retained earnings                          445,320        487,443
       Treasury stock (2,179,424 shares in
        2009 and 2,186,624 shares in 2008)       (207,665)      (208,104)
          Total stockholders' equity              656,218        591,179

             Total liabilities and
              stockholders' equity            $ 7,059,175    $ 6,781,365


 PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
 Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
 (dollars in thousands)

                                              Three Months Ended
                                                  March 31,
                                         --------------------------
                                             2009           2008
                                         -----------    -----------
 Assets

    Cash and due from banks              $   128,206    $   141,568
    Money market instruments                  23,746         11,501
    Investment securities                  2,019,651      1,717,375

    Loans                                  4,549,313      4,229,423
    Allowance for loan losses                100,453         87,273
       Loans, net                          4,448,860      4,142,150

    Bank premises and equipment, net          68,351         69,018
    Goodwill and other intangibles            85,142        144,119
    Other assets                             285,769        266,782

             Total assets                $ 7,059,725    $ 6,492,513


 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Deposits:
       Noninterest bearing               $   773,512    $   705,014
       Interest bearing                    4,055,678      3,768,060
          Total deposits                   4,829,190      4,473,074
    Borrowings                             1,470,677      1,343,208
    Other liabilities                        112,005         99,352
          Total liabilities                6,411,872      5,915,634


    Stockholders' Equity:
       Preferred stock                        95,802             --
       Common stock                          301,210        301,213
       Common stock warrants                   4,297             --
       Accumulated other comprehensive
        income, net of taxes                   8,997          7,306
       Retained earnings                     445,212        476,464
       Treasury stock                       (207,665)      (208,104)
          Total stockholders' equity         647,853        576,879

             Total liabilities and
              stockholders' equity       $ 7,059,725    $ 6,492,513


            

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