Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT DAVID A. BOCHNOWSKI
(219) 853-7575
NORTHWEST INDIANA BANCORP
REPORTS QUARTERLY EARNINGS
     Munster, Indiana — NorthWest Indiana Bancorp, the holding company for Peoples Bank, reported net income of $1.5 million, or $0.53 earnings per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.60 earnings per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The current year net income represented an 11.3% decrease, compared to the first quarter net income reported during the prior year. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, return on average assets (ROA) was 0.96% and return on average equity (ROE) was 11.70%.
     “Although soft loan demand and persistently high short-term interest rates continue to impact core income, the bright spots in the Bank’s performance include strong asset quality, stable operating expenses, and the growth of our Wealth Management Group,” said David A. Bochnowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
     At March 31, 2007, assets totaled $613.2 million, a decrease of $5.8 million or 0.9% for the three-month period. During the current quarter, the Bancorp’s loan portfolio decreased by $1.0 million, while the securities portfolio decreased by $2.5 million. Core deposits, which include checking, savings and money market accounts, decreased by $33.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007. The decrease in core deposits resulted, in part, from expected withdrawals by local government units. Core deposits represented 54.1% of the Bancorp’s total deposits at quarter end. Certificates of deposit growth totaled $12.2 million, while repurchase agreement balances decreased by $1.2 million.
     Net interest income, the difference between interest income from loans and investments and interest expense paid to fund providers, totaled $4.4 million for the current quarter, compared to $5.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, a decrease of 12.5%.
     Despite current economic pressures, the Bancorp’s non-performing loans to total assets remain at the manageable level of 0.55% at March 31, 2007. During the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, no additional provisions to the allowance for loan losses were required. Net charge-offs totaled $3 thousand for the current quarter, compared to net recoveries of $15 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The balance of $4.3 million in the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2007, is considered adequate by management based on its current analysis of loan portfolio credit quality, changes in the portfolio mix and local economic conditions.

 


 

     Noninterest income totaled $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, which is unchanged from the same period during the prior year. The current quarter noninterest income increased from wealth management operations, security and loan sales, and bank owned life insurance. According to Bochnowski, “The book value of assets under management by the Bank’s Wealth Management Group increased $10.7 million during the quarter to $155.6 million.”
     Noninterest expense totaled $3.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, compared to $3.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The change represents a decrease of $112 thousand, or 3.1%. The change is attributed to decreased compensation and benefit costs, timing of marketing expenses and other noninterest expenses related to banking operations.
     At March 31, 2007, shareholders’ equity stood at $50.8 million or 8.3% of total assets. The book value of the Bancorp’s stock stood at $18.11 at quarter-end.
     “At Peoples Bank, our strategic direction continues to consider the needs of our customers and the changing financial services landscape in Northwest Indiana. The Peoples brand will extend into Crown Point through the construction of our ninth banking center scheduled to open this fall. In addition, the Bank has acquired a site in Gary, with plans to expand into Portage, St. John and Valparaiso as well,” Bochnowski said.
     The NorthWest Indiana Bancorp stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under NWIN. The Bancorp’s subsidiary, Peoples Bank, has offices in East Chicago, Dyer, Hammond, Hobart, Merrillville, Munster, and Schererville, Indiana. The Bank’s website, www.ibankpeoples.com, provides information on the Bank’s products, services and investor relations.
     “Forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 may be included in this release. A variety of factors could cause the Bancorp’s actual results to differ from those expected at the time of this release. These include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions in the Bancorp’s market area, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, fluctuation in interest rates, demand for loans in the Bancorp’s market area, competition and other risks set forth in the Bancorp’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Bancorp in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Bancorp undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.
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NorthWest Indiana Bancorp
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
    (unaudited)          
Assets
               
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 14,736     $ 15,764  
Available-for-sale securities
    79,403       83,765  
Held-to-maturity securities
    17,112       15,247  
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
    3,544       3,544  
Loans held for sale
           
Loans receivable
    470,713       471,716  
Less: allowance for loan losses
    (4,264 )     (4,267 )
 
           
Net loans receivable
    466,449       467,449  
Premises and equipment
    14,347       14,603  
Foreclosed real estate
    368       323  
Cash value of bank owned life insurance
    10,920       10,822  
Other assets
    6,338       7,465  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 613,217     $ 618,982  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
 
               
Deposits
  $ 491,366     $ 512,931  
Borrowed funds
    66,871       51,501  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    4,205       4,540  
 
           
Total liabilities
    562,442       568,972  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
    50,775       50,010  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 613,217     $ 618,982  
 
           
Consolidated Income Statements
(Dollars in Thousands)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    (unaudited)  
    2007     2006  
Total interest income
  $ 8,865     $ 8,305  
Total interest expense
    4,455       3,266  
 
           
 
               
Net interest income
    4,410       5,039  
Provision for loan losses
    0       0  
 
           
 
               
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    4,410       5,039  
 
           
 
               
Total noninterest income
    1,038       1,035  
Total noninterest expenses
    3,508       3,620  
 
           
 
               
Income before income tax expenses
    1,940       2,454  
Income tax expenses
    454       778  
 
           
 
               
Net Income
  $ 1,486     $ 1,676  
 
           
Selected Financial Data
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Earnings per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.53     $ 0.60  
Diluted
  $ 0.53     $ 0.60  
Net interest margin
    3.17 %     3.62 %
Return on average assets
    0.96 %     1.10 %
Return on average equity
    11.70 %     14.24 %
                 
    At  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Stockholders’ equity as a percent of total assets
    8.28 %     7.67 %
Book value per share
  $ 18.11     $ 16.90