MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 7, 2012) - 1^stCapital Bank (OTCBB: [ FISB ]) today announced financial results for the full year 2011. The successful year included record net income of $3,138,000 and a record level of total assets of $288,315,000. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased $2,132,000 or 212% compared to net income of $1,006,000 for the previous year. Diluted earnings per share for 2011 increased 210% to $0.99 from $0.32 in 2010. Approximately $1.2 million of the growth in net income and earnings per share was due to growth in earning assets, expanded net interest margin and improved operating leverage. Additional improvement in net income and earnings per share resulted from a non-recurring tax benefit of $895,000 recorded during 2011 compared to a tax expense of $148,000 recorded in the 2010 year. Pretax net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $2,243,000, an increase of $1,089,000 or 94% over $1,154,000 for the prior year. Total assets as of December 31, 2011 increased $61,481,000 (27%) from December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2011, 1^st Capital Bank maintained a strong capital position, with a Total Risk Based Capital ratio of 17.1% which is far in excess of the "well capitalized" minimum of 10.0% as currently set by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Key Highlights:

• Return on Average Assets and Equity of 1.35% and 10.31%, respectively
• Net Interest Margin of 4.54%
• Growth in loans of $24 million over the last twelve months
• Growth in deposits of $58 million over the last twelve months
• Strong composition of quality loans and core deposits
• Well capitalized, with a total risk based capital ratio of 17.1%
• Continued exceptional credit quality, NPAs/Assets of 0.08%
• Increase in book value per share to $10.07 up from $8.90 at year-end 2010
• Addition of five veteran banking professionals including Clay Larson and Vern Horton

"2011 was an important year for the Bank financially and strategically. Our 2011 financial results reflect the continued growth of the franchise through a relationship-based business model of attracting core deposit and commercial loan relationships," stated President and Chief Executive Officer, Fred Rowden. "In addition we were able to attract a number of experienced local banking professionals, with decades of experience, whose focus, expertise and objectives are entirely consistent with those established by 1^st Capital Bank. We expect these new professionals to enhance our business growth plans and expand our customer relationships going forward. These additions will create increased expenses in the short-run, but we believe the investments we are making now will position us exceptionally well for the future," concluded Rowden.

In March 2012, the Bank will open its newest banking facility located in the financial district of Monterey, California. This facility is an integral part of the Bank's long term strategic initiative to meet our growth objectives.

"1^st Capital Bank was recognized as a 'Preferred Lender' by the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") in December 2011," stated Rowden. "This recognition compliments our core competency as a business lending bank for locally owned and managed businesses," concluded Rowden. For the SBA fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, 1^st Capital Bank ranked second in SBA loan volume among all banks operating in Monterey County."

Financial Summary:

Total assets were $288,315,000 as of December 31, 2011. Growth in loans was the greatest contributor to total asset growth. Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses of $3,320,000, totaled $197,262,000 at December 31, 2011, an increase of $22,998,000 (13%) from December 31, 2010. The growth in loans was primarily funded by an increase in deposits of $58,306,000 (30%) to $255,583,000 at December 31, 2011.

Net interest income after the provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $9,506,000, an increase of $2,221,000 (30%) over the year ended December 31, 2010. Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $11,151,000, an increase of $1,973,000 (21%) over the year ended December 31, 2010. Average earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $224,112,000, an increase of $30,870,000 (16%) compared to $193,243,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010. While the yield on the loan portfolio increased slightly, the majority of the increase in interest income was due to growth in the loan portfolio.

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $980,000, a decrease of $271,000 (22%) from the year ended December 31, 2010. Average interest bearing liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $137,757,000, an increase of $14,081,000 (11%) compared to $123,676,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010. While average balances of interest-bearing deposit liabilities increased, interest expense decreased in 2011 from 2010 due to the repricing of the interest-bearing deposits throughout the year, reflecting the lower interest rate environment. The higher volume of interest-bearing liabilities increased interest expense $245,000 while the lower rates decreased the expense by $516,000.

These changes in the composition and pricing of 1^st Capital Bank's earning assets and deposit liabilities resulted in a net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2011 of 4.5% compared to 4.1% for the year ended December 31, 2010.

1^st Capital Bank recorded a provision for loan losses of $665,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $642,000 in the year ended December 31, 2010. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans outstanding was 1.66% at December 31, 2011 and 1.54% at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2011 there were $240,000 of non-performing, impaired loans and at 2010, there were none. The Bank did not have any real estate acquired through foreclosure at December 31, 2011 or 2010.

Noninterest income increased $28,000 (24%) to $144,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010, largely due to service charges from the growth in the Bank's deposit portfolio.

Noninterest expenses increased by $1,160,000 (19%) to $7,407,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. The majority of this increase was due to the overall growth of the Bank including the addition of nine new staff during the year which represents a 20% increase in FTE.

A non-recurring net income tax benefit of $895,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to a provision for income taxes of $148,000 during the previous year. Recognition of an income tax benefit in the second quarter of 2011 resulted from the removal of the valuation allowance previously recognized against the Bank's net deferred tax assets. The strength of actual and forecasted earnings of the Bank eliminated the need for this valuation allowance.

About 1^stCapital Bank:

1^st Capital Bank is focused on providing lending, deposit and highly efficient cash management services such as remote deposit and online banking to small-to-medium size businesses and their owners and specialized banking services for the healthcare industry. The Bank is a full service financial institution with branches located in Monterey, Salinas and King City. The Bank's corporate offices are located at 5 Harris Court, Building N, Suite 3, Monterey, California. 93940. Information regarding the Bank may be obtained from the Banks website at [ www.1stcapitalbank.com ]. Copies of the Bank's press releases are available on the website.

Forward Looking Statements:

In addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader of this press release should understand that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that might cause such a difference include, among other matters, changes in interest rates; economic conditions including inflation and real estate values in California and the Bank's market areas; governmental regulation and legislation; credit quality; competition affecting the Bank's businesses generally; the risk of natural disasters and future catastrophic events including terrorist related incidents and other factors beyond the Bank's control; and factors discussed in the Bank's periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the FDIC. The Bank does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.