WILMINGTON, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NB&T Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NBTF), parent company of The National Bank and Trust Company, Wilmington, Ohio, announced net income for the third quarter of 2011 of $1.1 million, or $.33 per share. Net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $1.2 million, or $.36 per share. Net income for the first nine months of 2011 was $3.2 million, or $.93 per share, compared to $8.1 million, or $2.38 per share for the same period in 2010. Net income for 2010 was higher largely due to a bargain purchase pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") assisted acquisition of certain of the assets and liabilities of American National Bank ("ANB"). In addition, the Company realized a pre-tax gain of $1.4 million on the sale of its insurance agency in January 2010.
Commenting on these results, President & C.E.O. John J. Limbert said, "Our net interest margin decreased this quarter compared to last, as we, like many other banks, struggle to find quality loans. While the lower rate environment allowed us to realize positive gains on some security sales, the reinvestment of cash is also at lower rates and impacts margin. On the plus side, total nonperforming loans were down approximately $1.2 million from last quarter. A lot of work is yet to be done, but it is at least an improvement for now."
Net interest income was $5.8 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2010. Net interest margin decreased to 3.67% for the third quarter of 2011, compared to 3.84% for the same quarter last year. The net interest margin decreased primarily due to a decline in higher-yielding loans. Average loans outstanding for the third quarter of 2011, which had an average rate of 5.74%, decreased to $404.9 million from $432.2 million from the same quarter last year. Due to increased liquidity from lower loan demand, the Company lowered rates on interest-bearing deposits and reduced higher cost Federal Home Loan Bank debt by $24.5 million, decreasing the cost of interest-bearing liabilities from 1.40% for the third quarter of 2010 to .84% for the third quarter of 2011. Net interest margin for the first nine months of 2011 was 3.82%, compared to 3.88% for the first nine months of 2010.
The provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2011 was $475,000, compared to $225,000 in the same quarter last year. Net charge-offs were $466,000 in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $132,000 in the third quarter of 2010. The provision for loan losses was $1,410,000 for the first nine months of 2011, compared to $1,185,000 for the first nine months of 2010. Net charge-offs for the first nine months of 2011 were $1.6 million, compared to $1.0 million for the same period last year. Charge-offs in 2011 increased primarily due to the first quarter write-down of one commercial real estate loan. The Company later foreclosed on this loan and the property securing the loan was sold. The provision for loan losses is based on management's evaluation of the loan loss allowance considering specific loan reserves, general reserves related to charge-off experience and current economic conditions. Non-performing loans increased to $11.7 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $8.8 million at September 30, 2010. The year-over-year increase in non-performing loans is due primarily to two southwest Ohio commercial relationships, each between $850,000 and $950,000 and secured by commercial real estate or all business assets and one restructured mortgage loan for approximately $450,000.
Total non-interest income was $2.6 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $1.9 million for the third quarter of 2010. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company sold approximately $7.2 million in securities and realized gains of $421,000. No securities were sold in the third quarter of last year. In addition, NSF fee income and commission income on the sales of non-deposit investment products increased in the third quarter of 2011. Total non-interest income for the first nine months of 2011 was $7.0 million, compared to $14.5 million for the first nine months of 2010. In the first nine months of 2010, the Company had a bargain purchase pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million in the FDIC assisted acquisition of certain of the assets and liabilities of ANB. In addition, the Company realized a pre-tax gain of $1.4 million on the sale of its insurance agency in January 2010. In the first nine months of 2011, the Company sold approximately $23.0 million in securities and realized gains of $1.2 million, compared to no securities sales gains for the same period in 2010.
Total non-interest expense was $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2011, relatively unchanged from the $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2010. For the first nine months of 2011, non-interest expense was $19.0 million, compared to $20.0 million for the first nine months of 2010. Non-interest expenses for the first nine months of 2010 were higher due to increased bonus plan expense and acquisition related expenses.
On September 20, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.30 per share, payable October 24, 2011 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2011. This dividend represents a 3.4% increase over the $0.29 per share dividend declared in the third quarter of 2010.