Exhibit 99.1
     
 
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
  July 18, 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 $1.4 million, or $0.51 earnings per basic and $0.50 earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.59 earnings per basic and $0.58 earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. The current year net income represented a 14.2% decrease, compared to the second quarter net income reported during the prior year. For the quarter ended June 30, 2007, return on average assets (ROA) was 0.93% and return on average equity (ROE) was 11.00%.
     For the six months ended June 30, 2007, the Bancorp reported net income of $2.9 million, or $1.04 earnings per basic and $1.03 earnings per diluted share, compared to $3.3 million, or $1.19 earnings per basic and $1.18 earnings per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The current six-month net income represented a 12.7% decrease over the six-month net income reported during the prior year. For the six months ended June 30, 2007, return on average assets (ROA) was 0.95% and return on average equity (ROE) was 11.36%.
     “Short term interest rates and slower than anticipated loan growth continue to negatively impact core earnings,” said David A. Bochnowski, chairman and chief executive officer. “Loan originations have not kept pace with the pay-off of commercial loan participations as borrowers seek permanent financing through long term debt instruments,” he added.
     At June 30, 2007, assets totaled $607.3 million, a decrease of $11.7 million or 1.9% for the six-month period. During the current period, the Bancorp’s loan portfolio decreased by $14.7 million, while the securities portfolio increased by $6.3 million. Contributing to the decrease in loan balances were several large commercial loan pay-offs. Core deposits, which include checking, savings and money market accounts, decreased by $19.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease in core deposits resulted, in part, from expected withdrawals by local government units. Core deposits represented 55.8% of the Bancorp’s total deposits at the end of the period. Certificates of deposit growth totaled $8.4 million, while repurchase agreement balances decreased by $762 thousand.
     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 quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to $4.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 9.4%. For the six months ended June 30, 2007, net interest income totaled $8.8 million compared to $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 11.1%.
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     “With the support of our board of directors, we’ve set a course for growth that is aligned with the Bancorp’s vision to create a stellar, high-performance community bank through the prudent allocation of our capital resources. With our strategically located banking centers and advanced technology, we remain committed to delivering products and services that conveniently bring value to our customers,” Bochnowski noted.
     In spite of current economic pressures, the Bancorp’s non-performing loans to total assets remain at the manageable level of 0.60% at June 30, 2007. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, $5 thousand in loan loss provisions were required. Net recoveries totaled $2 thousand for the current quarter, while net charge-offs totaled $1 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The balance of $4.3 million in the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 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 $1.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 3007, an increase of $39 thousand, or 3.7%. For the six months ended June 30, 2007, noninterest income totaled $2.1 million, an increase of $42 thousand, or 2.0%. The current quarter and six month noninterest income increased as a result of gains recognized from the sale of fixed rate mortgages and available-for-sale securities.
     Noninterest expense totaled $3.60 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to $3.56 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. The change represents an increase of $39 thousand, or 1.1%. The increase is the result of additional depreciation and data processing expense related to banking operations. Noninterest expense totaled $7.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared to $7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The change represents a decrease of $73 thousand, or 1.0%. The change is attributed to decreased compensation and benefit costs, timing of marketing expenses and other noninterest expenses related to banking operations.
     At June 30, 2007, shareholders’ equity stood at $50.5 million or 8.3% of total assets. The book value of the Bancorp’s stock stood at $18.01 at quarter-end.
     “In addition to the opening of a new Banking Center in Crown Point this fall, we have targeted sites in Gary, Valparaiso, St. John, Chesterton, and Portage for expansion,” Bochnowski said. “Our focus is to grow Peoples Bank through the efficient delivery of retail and small business banking products and services, aided by the efforts of experienced commercial loan officers and private banking specialists, and enhanced through strategic marketing initiatives.”
     According to Bochnowski, this expansion plan includes offering customers the opportunity to utilize the investment and trust services of the Bank’s Wealth Management Group. “This has already proven to be an attractive move for our customers as the book value of assets under management has grown to $175.7 million, an increase of 21.3% during the last six months,” Bochnowski noted.
     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,
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     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.

 


 

NorthWest Indiana Bancorp
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands)
                 
    June 30,        
    2007     December 31,  
    (unaudited)     2006  
Assets
               
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12,426     $ 15,764  
Available-for-sale securities
    88,674       83,765  
Held-to-maturity securities
    16,625       15,247  
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
    3,544       3,544  
Loans held for sale
    609        
Loans receivable
    456,973       471,716  
Less: allowance for loan losses
    (4,271 )     (4,267 )
 
           
Net loans receivable
    452,702       467,449  
Premises and equipment
    14,558       14,603  
Foreclosed real estate
    130       323  
Cash value of bank owned life insurance
    11,017       10,822  
Other assets
    6,977       7,465  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 607,262     $ 618,982  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Deposits
  $ 501,686     $ 512,931  
Borrowed funds
    51,144       51,501  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    3,886       4,540  
 
           
Total liabilities
    556,716       568,972  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
    50,546       50,010  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 607,262     $ 618,982  
 
           
Consolidated Income Statements
(Dollars in Thousands)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
Total interest income
  $ 8,847     $ 8,624     $ 17,712     $ 16,928  
Total interest expense
    4,422       3,728       8,877       6,994  
 
                       
 
                               
Net interest income
    4,425       4,896       8,835       9,934  
Provision for loan losses
    5       15       5       15  
 
                       
 
                               
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    4,420       4,881       8,830       9,919  
 
                       
 
Total noninterest income
    1,093       1,054       2,131       2,089  
Total noninterest expenses
    3,598       3,559       7,106       7,179  
 
                       
 
                               
Income before income tax expenses
    1,915       2,376       3,855       4,829  
Income tax expenses
    494       722       948       1,500  
 
                       
 
                               
Net Income
  $ 1,421     $ 1,654     $ 2,907     $ 3,329  
 
                       
Selected Financial Data
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Earnings per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.51     $ 0.59     $ 1.04     $ 1.19  
Diluted
  $ 0.50     $ 0.58     $ 1.03     $ 1.18  
Net interest margin
    3.21 %     3.50 %     3.19 %     3.56 %
Return on average assets
    0.93 %     1.07 %     0.95 %     1.08 %
Return on average equity
    11.00 %     13.89 %     11.36 %     14.06 %
                 
    At
    June 30,   June 30,
    2007   2006
Stockholders’ equity as a percent of total assets
    8.32 %     7.62 %
Book value per share
  $ 18.01     $ 17.00