CRANBURY, NJ--(Marketwire - Nov 2, 2012) - 1^ST Constitution Bancorp (NASDAQ: [ FCCY ]), parent company of 1^ST Constitution Bank, reported net income of $1.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, a 12% increase above the $1.2 million in net income, or $0.24 per diluted common share, reported for the third quarter of 2011.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported net income of $3.8 million, or $0.73 per diluted common share, a 35% increase in net income when compared to $2.8 million in net income, or $0.56 per diluted common share, reported for the first nine months of 2011. 

All share and per share data for the respective reporting periods have been adjusted for a 5% stock dividend paid on common shares on February 2, 2012. At September 30, 2012, the Company's tangible book value per common share was $10.70.

Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The growth in net income for the quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same periods in 2011 was principally the result of an increase in the Company's mortgage banking business, both retail and wholesale, and the Company's small business lending unit, partially offset by the increased non-interest expenses primarily associated with carrying costs and write-downs of foreclosed real estate."

Total assets at September 30, 2012 increased to $796.2 million from $791.7 million at December 31, 2011. Gross portfolio loans at September 30, 2012 were $497.2 million, up $21.8 million when compared to $475.4 million in loans at December 31, 2011; total investment securities at September 30, 2012 were $220.5 million, compared to $236.2 million at December 31, 2011, and total deposits at September 30, 2012 were $661.0 million, up from $623.9 million at December 31, 2011.

Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 totaled $7.2 million, an increase of 23.9% above the $5.8 million earned for the third quarter of 2011. Further supporting earnings was the continued generation of non-interest income, which increased by 7.1% to $1.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, from $1.2 million earned for the third quarter of 2011.

The Company reported a net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, of 4.08% for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, representing an increase of 59 basis points, when compared to the 3.49% net interest margin reported for the comparable three months ended 2011. The increase in margin was primarily as result of an increase in higher yielding interest-earning assets and lower rates on interest-bearing liabilities.

Non-interest expense increased to $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2011. The key increases in non-interest expense were $1.1 million in other real estate owned expenses related primarily to valuation write-downs, and $168,000 in salary and employee benefits primarily relating to merit increases, increased health costs, and overall increases in staffing levels.

For the third quarter of 2012, the provision for loan losses was $500 thousand, and net charge-offs were $64 thousand, compared to a provision for loan losses of $608 thousand and net charge-offs of $970 thousand for the third quarter of 2011. 

At September 30, 2012, the allowance for loan losses was $6.7 million, or 1.35% of total loans, compared to $5.5 million, or 1.16% of total loans, at December 31, 2011. Total non-performing assets, which includes nonaccrual loans and OREO, was, as a percentage of total assets, 1.89% at September 30, 2012 and 1.95% at December 31, 2011.

Regulatory capital ratios continue to reflect a strong capital position. The Company's total risk-based capital, Tier I capital, and leverage capital were 13.03%, 11.91%, and 9.21%, respectively, at September 30, 2012. The regulatory requirements to be considered "well-capitalized" for total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital, and leverage capital are 10%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. These ratios do not reflect the favorable impact of the recently completed common stock rights offering.

1^ST Constitution Bancorp, through its primary subsidiary, 1^ST Constitution Bank, operate fourteen branch banking offices in Cranbury (2), Fort Lee, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hillsborough, Hopewell, Jamesburg, Lawrenceville, Perth Amboy, Plainsboro, Rocky Hill, West Windsor, and Princeton, New Jersey.

1^ST Constitution Bancorp is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol "FCCY" and can be accessed through the Internet at [ www.1STCONSTITUTION.com ]

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management's confidence and strategies and management's expectations about new and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology and market conditions. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as "expect," "look," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "will," or similar statements or variations of such terms. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the direction of the economy in New Jersey, the direction of interest rates, effective income tax rates, loan prepayment assumptions, continued levels of loan quality and origination volume, continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, a higher level of net loan charge-offs and delinquencies than anticipated, bank regulatory rules, regulations or policies that restrict or direct certain actions, the adoption, interpretation and implementation of new or pre-existing accounting pronouncements, a change in legal and regulatory barriers including issues related to compliance with anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act laws, as well as the effects of general economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure. 1^ST Constitution Bancorp assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statements at any time, except as required by law.