Archive for the ‘Financial’ Category

The Principal Financial Group Announces Executive Promotions

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa, Mar 28, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
The
Principal Financial Group®

/quotes/zigman/289371/quotes/nls/pfg PFG
+1.42%


announces the following executive promotions, effective immediately:


Angela Sanders to senior vice president; remains controller, The
Principal®


Roberto Walker to senior vice president; remains president, Principal
International Latin America

“These well-deserved promotions reflect our commitment to comprehensive
succession planning and thoughtful implementation of our growth
strategies,” said Larry Zimpleman, chairman, president and chief
executive officer of The Principal.

Sanders joined The Principal in 1989 as a staff accountant in the
financial reporting department. She most recently served as vice
president and continues her role as controller in the corporate
accounting department.

Sanders earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the
University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. She is a Certified Public
Accountant.

Walker joined Principal International in 1996 and is based in Santiago,
Chile. He most recently was vice president and continues his role as
president of Principal International Latin America. He has held several
roles including chief operating officer of Principal International Latin
America, country head of Principal Mexico and chief investment officer
and chief financial officer of Principal Chile.

Prior to joining Principal Chile, Walker was chief investment officer of
Citibank Global Asset Management and managing director of Citibank Asset
Management in Chile. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business
administration with specializations in economics and finance from
Universidad de Chile.

About the Principal Financial Group The Principal Financial
Group® (The Principal ®)(1) is a global
investment management leader including retirement services, insurance
solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses,
individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products
and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance
through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in
1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500®, the Principal
Financial Group has $335.0 billion in assets under management(2)and
serves some 18.0 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia,
Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal
Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit
www.principal.com .

(1) “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are
registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member
of the Principal Financial Group. (2) As of Dec. 31, 2011.

SOURCE: The Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group
Jaime Naig, 515-247-0798
naig.jaime@principal.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

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PFG

Principal Financial Group Inc.

US

: NYSE Euronx


$
29.93

+0.42
+1.42%

Volume: 1.89M
April 2, 2012 4:00p

P/E Ratio13.94
Dividend Yield2.41%

Market Cap$8.90 billion
Rev. per Employee$649,841

Altair Nanotechnologies Reports 2011 Financial Results

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

RENO, NV, Mar 28, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Altair)

/quotes/zigman/1371897/quotes/nls/alti ALTI
-4.57%



, a provider of
advanced lithium-ion battery technologies and systems, today reported
financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Financial Highlights for the full year of 2011 compared to 2010

— Revenues decreased 33 percent from $7.8 million to $5.2 million.
— Gross loss of $0.6 million compared to gross profit of $2.0 million.
— Operating expenses of $20.5 million compared to $22.5 million.
— Net loss of $19.9 million compared to $22.3 million.
— Cash used for operations and capital assets of $15.2 million compared
to $16.2 million.

For the full-year 2011, Altair reported a 33 percent decrease in
revenues to $5.2 million, down $2.6 million from $7.8 million for
2010. Cost of goods sold was 111% of revenue versus 74% of revenue in
2010. Operating expenses were down 9 percent to $20.5 million in 2011
from $22.5 million in 2010. Net loss in 2011 was $19.9 million, or
$0.43 per share, compared to a net loss of $22.3 million, or $0.84
per share for 2010. The basic and diluted weighted average shares
outstanding for the year were 46.9 million in 2011, compared to 26.6
million in 2010.

Revenues from product sales increased from $3.5 million in 2010 to
$4.6 million in 2011 as a result of continued sales to Proterra and
sales to Zhuhai Yintong Energy Co., Ltd (YTE). Commercial
collaborations, contracts and grants decreased $3.9 million from $4.3
million in 2010 to $0.4 million in 2011 as we reached the final
conclusion of our contracts with the Office of Naval Research and
U.S. Army as a result of the Canon transaction. For the year, gross
margin was lower by $2.6 million due to several factors. The first of
these is reduced sales volume associated with the elimination of our
military sales in 2011. Secondly, there was a loss on the sale of
product to YTE, an affiliate of Canon Investment Holdings Limited
(Canon), therefore a related party to Altair. We anticipate that YTE
will assist in facilitating our entry into the China market. Finally
there were charges to inventory reserve related to quality problems
with a battery cell supplier. Operating expenses were down $2.0
million primarily as the result of reductions in product development
expenses and improved cost efficiency in the sales and marketing
area.

Altair's cash and cash equivalents increased by $41.8 million, from
$4.7 million at December 31, 2010 to $46.5 million at December 31,
2011. This is primarily due to two capital raises, net of issuance
costs, totaling $57.8 million in 2011, reduced by cash used in
operations of approximately $14.7 million.

2011 Highlights

-- On July 22, 2011 Altair closed the Canon transaction for a gross
capital raise of $57.5 million.
-- On September 17, 2011 our Board of Directors appointed Dr. H. Frank
Gibbard as President and Chief Executive Officer and Stephen B. Huang
as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
-- On February 1, 2012 our Board of Directors approved a business plan
that included the expansion of business activities into China. We
anticipate this expansion will allow us to participate in the
fast-growing China market.
-- On January 17, 2012 Altair and Inversiones Energeticas S.A. de C.V.
entered into a further extension to the May 2, 2012 automatic
termination provision of the contract in the amount of $18 million for
the provision of a 10 megawatt ALTI-ESS advanced battery system in El
Salvador. This extension permits INE to continue to seek regulatory
approval.
-- The Board of Directors and our shareholders have approved our
domestication from Canada to the U.S. as a Delaware company. We expect
this process to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.
-- We have decided to consolidate our operations including closing our
Reno, NV Corporate Headquarters, combining its corporate functions
with our Anderson, IN facility for greater efficiency and cost
reductions.
-- We initiated technical demonstration programs with several
multi-billion-dollar companies for evaluation of our technology. These
actions have demonstrated to our customers the superiority of our
technology for a variety of applications; we anticipate that these
initial steps will generate revenues in 2012 and beyond in the power
grid, transportation and industrial market segments.

Year End 2011 Conference Call
Altair will hold a conference call to
discuss its 2011 results on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Eastern Standard Time (EST). Shareholders and members of the
investment community are invited to participate in the conference
call. The dial-in number for both U.S. and international callers is
+1 678-224-7719. Please dial in to the conference five minutes before
the call is scheduled to begin. Ask the operator for the Altair
Nanotechnologies call.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available from 2:00
p.m. ET, March 28, 2012, until Midnight ET, April 4, 2012. It can be
accessed by dialing +1 855-859-2056 and entering conference number
66027340.

Additionally, the conference call and replay will be available
online, and can be accessed by visiting Altair's web site,

www.altairnano.com .

About Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
Headquartered in Reno, Nev. with
manufacturing in Anderson, Ind., Altair is a leading provider of
energy storage systems for clean, efficient power and energy
management. Altair's lithium-titanate based battery systems are among
the highest performing and most scalable, with applications that
include complete energy storage systems for use in providing
frequency regulation and renewables integration for the electric
grid, and battery modules and systems for transportation and
industrial applications. For more information please visit Altair at

www.altairnano.com .

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking
statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking
statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
Altair's actual results and performance in future periods to be
materially different from any future results or performance suggested
by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and
uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks that development
of any of the early-stage products of the Company will not be
completed for technical, business or other reasons; that any products
under development or in the early commercial stages will not perform
as expected in future testing or commercial applications; that
customers or prospective customers will not use or purchase products
as represented to us or otherwise expected for various reasons,
including a buyer's purchasing of a competing product, absence of
agreement over pricing or a buyer's absence of capital to purchase
products; that one or more of the joint development partners or
customers may proceed slowly with, or abandon, development or
commercialization efforts for any of various reasons, including
concerns with the feasibility of the product or the financial
viability of continuing with our products or their product; that
sales of commercialized Altair products may not reach expected levels
for one or more reasons, including the failure of end products to
perform as expected or the introduction of a superior product; that
costs associated with the proposed products may exceed revenues; and
that, due to unexpected expenses not accompanied by offsetting
revenue, the Company's use of cash in its operations may exceed
budgeted levels. In general, Altair is, and expects to be in the
immediate future, dependent upon funds generated from sales of
securities, testing agreements, and licensing agreements to fund its
testing, development and ongoing operations. These risks and
uncertainties include without limitation, that any expansion of
Altair's business into China may not proceed as expected as a result
of Altair's lack of experience in the Chinese market, communication
and cultural gaps between U.S.-based and China-based employees and
managers, and normal delays, sales cycles or building cycles
associated with selling, constructing or operating in a new market.
In addition, other risks are identified in the Company's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company
expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in
Company expectations or results or any change in events.

Tables Follow

ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars, except shares)

December 31, December 31,
2011 2010
------------ ------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 46,519 $ 4,695
Accounts receivable, net 333 1,318
Product inventories, net 7,220 6,825
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,240 2,269
------------ ------------
Total current assets 56,312 15,107

Property, plant and equipment, net 6,870 8,727

Patents, net 350 426
------------ ------------

Total Assets $ 63,532 $ 24,260
============ ============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Trade accounts payable $ 5,870 $ 2,873
Accrued salaries and benefits 1,132 743
Accrued warranty 354 211
Accrued liabilities 421 387
Deferred revenues 1,616 2,516
Warrant liability 654 -
Current portion of long-term debt 12 216
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 10,059 6,946

Long-term debt, less current portion - 16
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 10,059 6,962

Stockholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, unlimited shares
authorized; 69,452,487 and 27,015,680 shares
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011
and December 31, 2010 245,617 189,491
Additional paid in capital 12,279 12,297
Accumulated deficit (204,423) (184,490)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity 53,473 17,298

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 63,532 $ 24,260
============ ============

ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars, except shares and per
share amounts)

Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------
2011 2010 2009
----------- ----------- -----------
Revenues
Product sales $ 4,619 $ 3,543 $ 945
Less: Sales returns - - (184)
License fees 240 - 750
Commercial collaborations 80 364 1,410
Contracts and grants 287 3,923 1,450
----------- ----------- -----------
Total revenues 5,226 7,830 4,371
----------- ----------- -----------

Cost of goods sold
Product 5,149 2,663 954
Commercial collaborations 73 194 781
Contracts and grants 296 2,534 1,120
Warranty and inventory reserves 279 409 198
----------- ----------- -----------
Total cost of goods sold 5,797 5,800 3,053
----------- ----------- -----------

Gross (loss) profit (571) 2,030 1,318

Operating expenses
Research and development 6,960 8,212 9,389
Sales and marketing 3,603 4,051 2,894
General and administrative 7,669 7,553 7,798
Depreciation and amortization 1,324 1,896 2,035
Loss on disposal of assets 924 770 -
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses 20,480 22,482 22,116
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss from operations (21,051) (20,452) (20,798)
----------- ----------- -----------

Other income (expense)
Interest expense (156) (19) (107)
Interest income - 101 188
Realized (loss)/gain on investment - (2,045) 851
Realized gain on warrant
liabilities 1,274 - -
----------- ----------- -----------
Total other income (expense), net 1,118 (1,963) 932
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss from continuing operations (19,933) (22,415) (19,866)
Gain/(loss) from discontinued
operations - 124 (2,065)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss (19,933) (22,291) (21,931)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-
controlling interest - 5 619
----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss attributable to Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc. $ (19,933) $ (22,286) $ (21,312)
=========== =========== ===========

Net loss attributable to Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc. stockholders:
Loss from continuing operations $ (19,933) $ (22,415) $ (19,866)
Gain/(loss) from discontinued
operations - 129 (1,446)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss $ (19,933) $ (22,286) $ (21,312)
=========== =========== ===========

Earnings per share attributable to
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.
stockholders:
Basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations $ (0.43) $ (0.84) $ (0.79)
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss from discontinued operations $ - $ - $ (0.06)
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss per common share - Basic and
diluted $ (0.43) $ (0.84) $ (0.85)
=========== =========== ===========

Weighted average shares - basic and
diluted 46,889,741 26,550,288 25,044,432
=========== =========== ===========

For Additional Information:

Larry Clawson
Director, Financial Planning & Analysis
lclawson@altairnano.com
775.858.3728

SOURCE: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.

mailto:lclawson@altairnano.com

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

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ALTI

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.

US

: UTP NASD


$
0.60

-0.03
-4.57%

Volume: 198,364
March 30, 2012 3:59p

P/E RatioN/A
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$43.75 million
Rev. per Employee$52,788

Dennis Rodman’s on a binge, financial advisor says

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Dennis Rodman is in desperate need of a rebound.

An Orange County court commissioner Tuesday told the NBA Hall of Famer he faces a possible 20-day jail stint for contempt of court unless he comes up with $860,376 in child and spousal support he owes his ex-wife by May 29, though it’s likely he couldget community service time instead,or have the charges dismissed.

Either way, Rodman’s attorney and his financial advisor say, their client’s broke.

“In all honesty, Dennis, although a very sweet person, is an alcoholic,” said Peggy Williams, his financial advisor. “His sickness impacts his ability to get work.”

When his third wife, Michelle Rodman, sued him for divorce in 2004, Rodman sold his oceanfront party pad in Newport Beach. At the time, he listed his previous year’s income as $570,000. He said he had $3.4 million in property and $1.45 million in stocks and bonds.

But, he said, maintaining his hard-charging lifestyle was costing him more than $31,000 a month.

The couple has spent several years attempting to reconcile, but the marriage was dissolved a few weeks ago after his wife petitioned the court again.

“This case, especially his wife filling for divorce, has put him on a binge that I have never seen before,” Williams said. Rodman, she said, no longer has a job, savings or even a checking account.

ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc. Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend, Annual …

Monday, March 26th, 2012

PLANO, Texas, Jan. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc.

/quotes/zigman/119009/quotes/nls/vpfg VPFG
+0.52%



, the holding company for ViewPoint Bank, N.A., today announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share. The cash dividend is payable on February 23, 2012, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 9, 2012.

The Company also today announced that it will be holding its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. The record date for the meeting has been fixed as March 26, 2012. More information about the Annual Meeting will be sent to Company shareholders in April 2012.

ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for ViewPoint Bank, N.A. ViewPoint Bank, N.A. operates 25 community bank offices and nine loan production offices. For more information, please visit
www.viewpointbank.com or
www.viewpointfinancialgroup.com .

When used in filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in the Company’s press releases or other public or shareholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, changes in economic conditions, legislative changes, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, fluctuations in interest rates, the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding, fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions, demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market area, the industry-wide decline in mortgage production, competition, changes in management’s business strategies and other factors set forth under Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10-K, that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above could materially affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause the Company’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake – and specifically declines any obligation – to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

SOURCE ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc.

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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ViewPoint Financial Group


$
15.45

+0.08
+0.52%

Volume: 102,210
March 23, 2012 4:00p

First Financial Northwest, Inc. Reports Net Income of $927000 or $0.05 Per …

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

RENTON, Wash., Jan 27, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) –
First Financial Northwest, Inc. (the “Company”)

/quotes/zigman/108117/quotes/nls/ffnw FFNW
-0.41%



, the holding company for First Savings Bank Northwest (the “Bank”), today reported net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011 of $927,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to net income of $568,000, or $0.03 per diluted share for the comparable quarter in 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, net income was $4.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, an improvement of $58.3 million from the net loss of $54.1 million, or $3.11 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2010.

“I am pleased to announce that we have now had five consecutive quarters of profitability and with net income of $4.2 million in 2011 we have significantly improved our performance over last year’s results. Our staff has worked extremely hard and has continued to maintain their focus on reducing nonperforming assets which decreased nearly 50% from last year. Over the past few years we have increased our provisions for loan losses, especially in our construction/land development portfolio due to the increased charge-offs for these types of loans. With that portfolio now comprising just 3.5% of our total loan portfolio and the significant improvement of our loan portfolio performance, our provision for loan losses for the year has been reduced by approximately $48 million compared to 2010. We continue to maintain our strong capital levels which have been increased by our net income for the year. While I am confident we are moving in the right direction, we recognize that our business remains very dependent on the recovering, but still volatile economy. Although we are encouraged by the positive news of expansion in our local economy, our emphasis remains on improving asset quality and earnings, and maintaining strong capital levels,” stated Victor Karpiak, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Financial Northwest, Inc.

Highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 include:

— Nonperforming assets decreased $6.3 million, or 11.2% to $49.7 million
from September 30, 2011 and decreased $43.3 million, or 46.5% from
December 31, 2010;

— Nonperforming loans decreased $7.1 million, or 23.2% to $23.7 million
from September 30, 2011 and decreased $39.2 million, or 62.4% from
December 31, 2010;

— Net gain on sales of investments during the quarter totaled $485,000;

— Total delinquent loans at December 31, 2011 were $26.7 million, a
decrease of $6.3 million or 18.9% from September 30, 2011 and a decrease
of $39.7 million or 59.8% from December 31, 2010;

— Sales of other real estate owned (“OREO”) totaled $4.1 million during
the quarter generating a net gain on sales of $134,000;

— The Bank’s Tier 1 and total risk-based capital ratios at December 31,
2011 were 13.54% and 24.76%, respectively.

Based on management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, a provision of $600,000 was required for the fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of $700,000 from the third quarter of 2011. This decrease was primarily the result of a $998,000 decrease in charge-offs, nonperforming loans decreased $7.1 million, loan balances decreased $25.3 million and delinquent loans decreased $6.3 million from the third quarter of 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the provision for loan losses was $4.7 million, a decrease of $48.4 million, or 91.1% from the year ended December 31, 2010. The allowance for loan losses remained relatively unchanged at $16.6 million at December 31, 2011 compared to September 30, 2011. The allowance for loan losses represented 69.9% of nonperforming loans and 2.29% of total loans at December 31, 2011, compared to 54.0% and 2.23%, respectively, at September 30, 2011.

The following table presents a breakdown of our troubled debt restructured loans ("TDRs"):

Three
Month One Year
December September December Increase / Increase /
31, 30, 31,
2011 2011 2010 (Decrease) (Decrease)
---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
(In thousands)
One-to-four family
residential $ 56,762 $ 58,214 $ 52,754 $ (1,452) $ 4,008
Multifamily 2,504 2,512 2,515 (8) (11)
Commercial real estate 11,785 11,940 13,841 (155) (2,056)
Construction/land
development 183 472 5,494 (289) (5,311)

Consumer 70 70 70 -- --
---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------

Total TDRs $ 71,304 $ 73,208 $ 74,674 $ (1,904) $ (3,370)
========== ========= ========= ========== ==========

At December 31, 2011, TDRs were $71.3 million, of which 79.6% were one-to-four family residential loans. Performing TDRs totaled $66.2 million or 92.9% of total TDRs at December 31, 2011. Included in performing TDRs were $33.5 million of "A" notes related to "A/B" note workout strategies, where the "A" note amount was the current loan balance charged down to an acceptable loan to value ratio and positive debt service coverage at the time of the restructure while the "B" notes were charged-off at the time of the restructure. Our priority is to negotiate a repayment solution that is acceptable to the Bank while providing the borrower time to resolve their financial issues.

Nonperforming assets continued to decrease to $49.7 million at December 31, 2011 from $93.0 million at December 31, 2010. The following table presents a breakdown of our nonperforming assets:

Three
Month
December September December Increase / One Year
31, 30, 31, Increase /
2011 2011 2010 (Decrease) (Decrease)
---------- --------- --------- ---------- -----------
(In thousands)
One-to-four family residential $ 9,808 $ 12,859 $ 22,688 $ (3,051) $ (12,880)
Multifamily 949 638 -- 311 949
Commercial real estate 3,736 5,400 7,306 (1,664) (3,570)
Construction/land development 9,199 11,891 32,885 (2,692) (23,686)

Consumer -- 44 57 (44) (57)
---------- --------- --------- ---------- -----------
Total nonperforming loans 23,692 30,832 62,936 (7,140) (39,244)

OREO 26,044 25,201 30,102 843 (4,058)
---------- --------- --------- ---------- -----------

Total nonperforming assets $ 49,736 $ 56,033 $ 93,038 $ (6,297) $ (43,302)
========== ========= ========= ========== ===========
Nonperforming assets as a
percentage of total assets 4.7% 4.9% 7.8%
========== ========= =========

The following table presents a breakdown of our OREO by county and type of property at December 31, 2011:

All Total
King Pierce Kitsap other OREO
---------- --------- -------- -------- ---------
(In thousands)
One-to-four family residential $ 2,971 $ 4,752 $ 215 $ 322 $ 8,260
Commercial real estate 2,758 5,387 1,202 450 9,797

Construction/land development 1,688 4,886 202 1,211 7,987
---------- --------- -------- -------- ---------

Total OREO $ 7,417 $ 15,025 $ 1,619 $ 1,983 $ 26,044
========== ========= ======== ======== =========

OREO increased $843,000 or 3.2% to $26.0 million at December 31, 2011 from $25.2 million at September 30, 2011 as transfers of loans into OREO exceeded sales during the quarter. We sold $4.1 million of OREO during the fourth quarter of 2011 generating a net gain of $134,000. We evaluate our OREO inventory quarterly. As a result of the evaluation, we expensed $492,000 related to the decline in the market value of OREO properties during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to $515,000 for the third quarter of 2011. Additional expenses related to OREO were $597,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to $540,000 for the third quarter of 2011. We continue to actively market our OREO properties in an effort to minimize the amount of holding costs incurred.

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased $257,000 to $7.6 million compared to the third quarter of 2011 and $836,000 compared to the same period in 2010.

Interest income decreased $2.8 million to $11.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 from the same quarter in 2010, primarily due to the decrease in our average loan portfolio of $173.8 million, or 19.5% and a $70.5 million increase in relatively low yielding interest-bearing deposits. The decline in our loan portfolio was the result of weaker loan demand, paydowns due to normal borrower activity, short sales, charge-offs and transfers of nonperforming loans to OREO. Interest income declined $804,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared to the preceding quarter due to a $27.4 million decline in our average loan portfolio. Interest income for the year was $51.1 million, a decrease of $9.5 million or 15.7% from 2010. The decrease is a result of similar events described above that affected interest income during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Interest expense decreased $2.0 million to $4.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the same period a year ago. The decline in our total interest expense was principally the result of a $1.1 million decrease caused by a 53 basis point decline in our cost of funds during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 1.80% as compared to 2.33% during the fourth quarter of 2010. The decrease in our cost of funds was due to new and renewing certificates of deposit pricing at lower interest rates. In addition, there was an $838,000 decrease in interest expense related to the decline in our interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter compared to the same period in 2010. Interest expense decreased $547,000 during the fourth quarter as compared to the third quarter of 2011. For 2011, interest expense was $18.5 million, a decrease of $9.1 million or 32.9% as compared to 2010 as a result of a lower interest rate environment for renewing certificates of deposit.

Noninterest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 decreased $340,000 to $555,000 from the same quarter in 2010. We recorded $485,000 in net gains on sales of investments during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to $843,000 during the same quarter in 2010. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we sold $4.4 million of long-term, fixed-rate, mortgage-backed securities and purchased $10.0 million of variable rate investments. These transactions were executed to continue improving the Bank's interest rate risk profile. Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2011 remained relatively unchanged from the third quarter of 2011. For the year ending December 31, 2011, noninterest income was $2.5 million compared to $1.0 million for 2010 as a result of an increase in gains on sales of investments.

Noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 decreased $35,000 from the same quarter in 2010. Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased $138,000 to $6.7 million from $6.5 million as compared to the third quarter of 2011. The increase for the quarter was a result of a $118,000 prepayment penalty on a $10.0 million Federal Home Loan Bank advance executed to utilize our excess cash and to reduce future interest expense. Noninterest expense for the year decreased $4.9 million to $26.2 million as compared to 2010 primarily related to a net decrease in OREO related expenses.

Progress on Regulatory Order

We continue to work with the regulators to satisfy the requirements contained in the Stipulation and Consent Order with the FDIC and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions entered into on September 24, 2010.

First Financial Northwest, Inc. is the parent company of First Savings Bank Northwest, a Washington chartered stock savings bank headquartered in Renton, Washington, serving the Puget Sound Region through its full-service banking office. We are a part of the ABA NASDAQ Community Bank Index. For additional information about us, please visit our website at
www.fsbnw.com and click on the "Investor Relations" section.

Forward-looking statements:

Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which we operate, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding our mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to: the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our reserves; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates, and the relative differences between short and long term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; results of examinations of us by the Federal Reserve Board and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute additional enforcement actions against the Company or the Bank, to take additional corrective action and refrain from unsafe and unsound practices, which may also require us to increase our reserve for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; our compliance with regulatory enforcement actions; the requirements and restrictions that have been imposed upon the Company under the memoranda of understanding with the Federal Reserve (as the successor to the Office of Thrift Supervision) and the Consent Order the Bank entered into with the FDIC and the Washington DFI and the possibility that the Company and the Bank will be unable to fully comply with these enforcement actions which could result in the imposition of additional requirements or restrictions; our ability to attract and retain deposits; further increases in premiums for deposit insurance; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; difficulties in reducing risk associated with the loans on our balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our work force and potential associated charges; computer systems on which we depend could fail or experience a security breach; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to implement our branch expansion strategy; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we have acquired or may in the future acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in regulatory policies and principles, including the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of war or any terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations; pricing, products and services; and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this Press Release and in the other public statements we make may turn out to be wrong because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We undertake no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

December 31,
--------------------------

Assets 2011 2010
------------ ------------
Cash on hand and in banks $ 4,620 $ 7,466
Interest-bearing deposits 160,141 90,961
Investments available for sale 129,002 164,603
Loans receivable, net of allowance
of $16,559 and $22,534 703,288 856,456
Premises and equipment, net 18,922 19,829
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at
cost 7,413 7,413
Accrued interest receivable 3,856 4,686
Federal income tax receivable 1,060 5,916
Other real estate owned 26,044 30,102

Prepaid expenses and other assets 5,044 6,226
------------ ------------

Total assets $ 1,059,390 $ 1,193,658
============ ============
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity
Interest-bearing deposits $ 782,652 $ 911,526
Noninterest-bearing deposits 6,013 8,700
Advances from the Federal Home
Loan Bank 83,066 93,066
Advance payments from borrowers
for taxes and insurance 2,093 2,256
Accrued interest payable 184 214

Other liabilities 4,062 3,418
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 878,070 1,019,180
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value;
authorized 10,000,000 shares, no
shares issued or outstanding -- --
Common stock, $0.01 par value;
authorized 90,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding
18,805,168 shares at December
31, 2011 and 2010 188 188
Additional paid-in capital 188,816 187,371
Retained earnings (accumulated
deficit), substantially
restricted 3,937 (305)
Accumulated other comprehensive
income, net of tax 511 484
Unearned Employee Stock Ownership
Plan shares (12,132) (13,260)
------------ ------------

Total stockholders' equity 181,320 174,478
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $ 1,059,390 $ 1,193,658
============ ============

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

Quarter Ended
-------------------------------

Three One
December September December Month Year
31, 30, 31, % %
2011 2011 2010 Change Change
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Interest income
Loans, including fees $ 10,892 $ 11,397 $ 13,267 (4.4)% (17.9)%
Investments available for
sale 647 926 1,118 (30.1) (42.1)

Interest-bearing deposits 107 127 62 (15.7) 72.6
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------

Total interest income $ 11,646 $ 12,450 $ 14,447 (6.5)% (19.4)%
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Interest expense
Deposits 3,501 3,981 4,914 (12.1) (28.8)
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances 522 589 1,074 (11.4) (51.4)
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------

Total interest expense $ 4,023 $ 4,570 $ 5,988 (12.0)% (32.8)%
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Net interest income 7,623 7,880 8,459 (3.3) (9.9)

Provision for loan losses 600 1,300 2,100 (53.8) (71.4)
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses $ 7,023 $ 6,580 $ 6,359 6.7% 10.4%
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Noninterest income
Net gain on sale of
investments 485 479 843 1.3 (42.5)

Other 70 77 52 (9.1) 34.6
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------

Total noninterest income $ 555 $ 556 $ 895 (0.2)% (38.0)%
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee
benefits 3,212 3,544 3,008 (9.4) 6.8
Occupancy and equipment 388 370 397 4.9 (2.3)
Professional fees 535 449 538 19.2 (0.6)
Data processing 188 181 189 3.9 (0.5)
Loss (gain) on sale of OREO
property, net (134) (293) (403) (54.3) (66.7)
OREO market value adjustments 492 515 440 (4.5) 11.8
OREO related expenses, net 597 540 1,047 10.6 (43.0)
FDIC/OTS assessments 537 578 832 (7.1) (35.5)
Insurance and bond premiums 247 248 148 (0.4) 66.9
Marketing 51 43 64 18.6 (20.3)
Other general and
administrative 538 338 426 59.2 26.3
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------

Total noninterest expense $ 6,651 $ 6,513 $ 6,686 2.1% (0.5)%
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------
Income before provision
for federal income taxes 927 623 568 48.8 63.2
Provision for federal income
taxes -- -- -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- ------- -------

Net income $ 927 $ 623 $ 568 48.8% 63.2%
========= ========= ========= ======= =======

Basic earnings per share $ 0.05 $ 0.04 $ 0.03 25.0% 66.7%
========= ========= ========= ======= =======

Diluted earnings per share $ 0.05 $ 0.04 $ 0.03 25.0% 66.7%
========= ========= ========= ======= =======

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

Years Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------

2011 2010 2009
--------- ----------- -----------
Interest income
Loans, including fees $ 46,608 $ 55,783 $ 58,332
Investments available for sale 4,040 4,485 6,599
Federal funds sold and
interest-bearing deposits
with banks 404 276 102
--------- ----------- -----------

Total interest income $ 51,052 $ 60,544 $ 65,033
--------- ----------- -----------
Interest expense
Deposits 16,215 23,370 28,806
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances 2,270 4,189 5,107
--------- ----------- -----------

Total interest expense $ 18,485 $ 27,559 $ 33,913
--------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income 32,567 32,985 31,120

Provision for loan losses 4,700 53,100 51,300
--------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income (loss)
after provision for loan
losses $ 27,867 $ (20,115) $ (20,180)
--------- ----------- -----------
Noninterest income
Net gain on sale of
investments 2,226 843 1,954
Other-than-temporary
impairment loss on
investments -- -- (152)

Other 307 198 230
--------- ----------- -----------

Total noninterest income $ 2,533 $ 1,041 $ 2,032
--------- ----------- -----------
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 13,259 12,347 11,730
Occupancy and equipment 1,555 1,657 2,306
Professional fees 1,966 2,148 1,412
Data processing 761 723 634
Loss (gain) on sale of OREO
property, net (1,561) (185) --
OREO market value adjustments 1,924 5,624 --
OREO related expenses, net 2,973 3,419 255
FDIC/OTS assessments 2,437 2,837 2,281
Insurance and bond premiums 990 597 71
Goodwill impairment -- -- 14,206
Marketing 205 233 257
Other general and
administrative 1,649 1,663 1,915
--------- ----------- -----------

Total noninterest expense $ 26,158 $ 31,063 $ 35,067
--------- ----------- -----------
Income (loss) before
provision (benefit) for
federal income taxes 4,242 (50,137) (53,215)
Provision (benefit) for federal
income taxes -- 3,999 (12,507)
--------- ----------- -----------

Net income (loss) $ 4,242 $ (54,136) $ (40,708)
========= =========== ===========
Basic earnings (loss) per
share $ 0.24 $ (3.11) $ (2.18)
========= =========== ===========
Diluted earnings (loss)
per share $ 0.24 $ (3.11) $ (2.18)
========= =========== ===========

The following table presents a breakdown of our loan portfolio
(unaudited):

December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010
------------------- ----------------------

Amount Percent Amount Percent
---------- ------- ------------- -------
(Dollars in thousands)
One-to-four
family
residential: (1)
Permanent $ 335,412 46.4% $ 393,334 44.1%

Construction -- -- 5,356 0.6
---------- ------- ------------- -------
335,412 46.4 398,690 44.7
Multifamily:
Permanent 110,148 15.2 140,762 15.8

Construction 3,526 0.5 4,114 0.5
---------- ------- ------------- -------
113,674 15.7 144,876 16.3
Commercial real
estate:
Permanent 218,032 30.2 237,708 26.6
Construction 12,500 1.7 28,362 3.2

Land 1,811 0.2 6,643 0.7
---------- ------- ------------- -------
232,343 32.1 272,713 30.5
Construction/land
development:
One-to-four
family
residential 6,194 0.9 26,848 3
Multifamily 855 0.1 1,283 0.1
Commercial 1,104 0.2 1,108 0.1

Land development 16,990 2.3 27,262 3.1
---------- ------- ------------- -------
25,143 3.5 56,501 6.3

Business 3,909 0.6 479 0.1

Consumer 12,499 1.7 19,127 2.1
---------- ------- ------------- -------

Total loans 722,980 100.0% 100.0%
======= 892,386 =======
Less:
Loans in process 1,372 10,975
Deferred loan
fees, net 1,761 2,421

ALLL 16,559 22,534
---------- -------------
Loans receivable,
net $ 703,288 $ 856,456
========== =============

-----------------
(1) Includes $147.4 million and $173.4 million of non-owner
occupied loans at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010,
respectively.

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Key Financial Ratios
(Unaudited)

At or For the Quarter Ended
------------------------------------------------------

December September March 31, December
31, 30, June 30, 31,
2011 2011 2011 2011 2010
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
Performance Ratios:
Return on assets 0.34% 0.22% 0.43% 0.48% 0.19%
Return on equity 2.05 1.37 2.80 3.25 1.28
Equity-to-assets ratio 17.12 15.70 15.57 14.91 14.62
Interest rate spread 2.72 2.67 2.84 2.88 2.70
Net interest margin 2.96 2.91 3.07 3.09 2.95
Average interest-earning
assets to average
interest-bearing liabilities 115.03 113.98 112.93 111.55 111.77
Efficiency ratio 81.33 77.20 69.17 71.42 71.48
Noninterest expense as a
percent of
average total assets 2.44 2.27 2.19 2.21 2.19
Book value per common share $ 9.64 $ 9.52 $ 9.53 $ 9.39 $ 9.28

Capital Ratios (1):
Tier 1 leverage 13.54% 12.76% 12.47% 12.13% 11.73%
Tier 1 risk-based 23.49 22.60 21.55 20.03 18.38
Total risk-based 24.76 23.87 22.81 21.30 19.65

Asset Quality Ratios (2):
Nonaccrual and 90 days or more
past due loans as a percent
of total loans 3.28% 4.13% 4.92% 6.24% 7.14%
Nonperforming assets as a
percent of total assets 4.69 4.91 5.55 6.96 7.79
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of total loans 2.29 2.23 2.20 2.47 2.56
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of nonperforming
loans 69.89 53.95 44.79 39.64 35.80
Net charge-offs to average
loans receivable, net 0.09 0.22 0.62 0.42 0.90

Allowance for Loan Losses:
Allowance for loan losses,
beginning of the quarter $ 16,634 $ 16,989 $ 20,250 $ 22,534 $ 28,400
Provision 600 1,300 1,600 1,200 2,100
Charge-offs (688) (1,686) (4,976) (3,675) (8,970)

Recoveries 13 31 115 191 1,004
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Allowance for loan losses, end
of the quarter $ 16,559 $ 16,634 $ 16,989 $ 20,250 $ 22,534
========== ========= ========= ========= =========

Nonperforming Assets (2):
Nonperforming loans (3)
Nonaccrual loans $ 18,613 $ 23,644 $ 31,831 $ 39,737 $ 46,637
Nonaccrual troubled debt
restructured loans 5,079 7,188 6,097 11,349 16,299
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total nonperforming loans $ 23,692 $ 30,832 $ 37,928 $ 51,086 $ 62,936

OREO 26,044 25,201 25,979 31,266 30,102
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total nonperforming assets $ 49,736 $ 56,033 $ 63,907 $ 82,352 $ 93,038
========== ========= ========= ========= =========

Performing troubled debt
restructured loans $ 66,225 $ 66,020 $ 65,968 $ 65,805 $ 58,375
========== ========= ========= ========= =========

------------------------------
(1) Capital ratios are for First Savings Bank Northwest only.
(2) Loans are reported net of undisbursed funds.
(3) There were no loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest.

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Key Financial Ratios
(Unaudited)

For the Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
Performance Ratios:
Return (loss) on assets 0.37% (4.18)% (3.14)% 0.39% (0.37)%
Return (loss) on equity 2.36 (26.59) (15.18) 1.50 (2.59)
Equity-to-assets ratio 17.12 14.62 17.37 23.31 27.11
Interest rate spread 2.78 2.40 1.86 1.84 1.75
Net interest margin 3.01 2.70 2.49 2.81 2.30
Average interest-earning
assets to average
interest-bearing liabilities 113.33 113.35 123.31 131.20 113.48
Efficiency ratio 74.52 91.29 105.78 44.75 106.82
Noninterest expense as a
percent of average total
assets 2.28 2.40 2.71 1.22 2.42
Book value per common share $ 9.64 $ 9.28 $ 12.14 $ 13.62 $ 13.53

Capital Ratios (1):
Tier 1 leverage 13.54% 11.73% 12.46% 15.61% 16.62%
Tier 1 risk-based 23.49 18.38 19.20 23.04 24.84
Total risk-based 24.76 19.65 20.49 24.30 25.91

Asset Quality Ratios (2):
Nonaccrual and 90 days or more
past due loans as a percent
of total loans 3.28% 7.14% 11.23% 5.56% 2.81%
Nonperforming assets as a
percent of total assets 4.69 7.79 10.08 4.71 2.19
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of total loans 2.29 2.56 3.07 1.61 0.89
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of nonperforming
loans 69.89 35.80 27.37 28.96 31.83
Net charge-offs to average
loans receivable, net 1.39 6.55 3.38 0.04 --

Allowance for Loan Losses:
Allowance for loan losses,
beginning of the year $ 22,534 $ 33,039 $ 16,982 $ 7,971 $ 1,971
Provision 4,700 53,100 51,300 9,443 6,000
Charge-offs (11,025) (65,476) (35,302) (432) --

Recoveries 350 1,871 59 -- --
---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
Allowance for loan losses, end
of the year $ 16,559 $ 22,534 $ 33,039 $ 16,982 $ 7,971
========== ========= ========== ========= =========

Nonperforming Assets (2):
Nonperforming loans
90 days or more past due and
still accruing $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 2,104 $ --
Nonaccrual loans 18,613 46,637 94,682 35,720 25,042
Nonaccrual troubled debt
restructured loans 5,079 16,299 26,021 20,818 --
---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
Total nonperforming loans $ 23,692 $ 62,936 $ 120,703 $ 58,642 $ 25,042

OREO 26,044 30,102 11,835 -- --
---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------

Total nonperforming assets $ 49,736 $ 93,038 $ 132,538 $ 58,642 $ 25,042
========== ========= ========== ========= =========

Performing troubled debt
restructured loans $ 66,225 $ 58,375 $ 35,458 $ 2,226 $ --
========== ========= ========== ========= =========

------------------------------
(1) Capital ratios are for First Savings Bank
Northwest only.
(2) Loans are reported net of undisbursed
funds.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire,
www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: First Financial Northwest

CONTACT: Victor Karpiak, President and Chief Executive Officer
Kari Stenslie, Chief Financial Officer
(425) 255-4400

(C) Copyright 2010 GlobeNewswire, Inc. All rights reserved.

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March 9, 2012 4:59p

Davos Leaders Urge Europe to Fix Crisis Risking World Economy

Saturday, March 10th, 2012

Davos Leaders Urge Europe to Fix Crisis Hurting Growth
January 30, 2012, 12:49 PM EST

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More From Businessweek

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By Simon Kennedy and Jana Randow

(See DAVOS for more on the World Economic Forum annual meeting.)

Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) — Global finance chiefs warned no economy is safe from Europe’s debt crisis, adding urgency to their calls for its governments to deliver a swift resolution.

Policy makers from Hong Kong to Canada used the last full day of the World Economic Forum to push euro-region counterparts to boost their bailout cashpile to protect Italy and Spain. They also pressed Greece and its creditors to strike a credible agreement to cut the nation’s debt.

Failure to deliver home-grown solutions would cost Europe any chance of further outside support and undermine the International Monetary Fund’s push for more crisis-fighting resources of its own, officials said. The concern tempered optimism from earlier in the week when delegates expressed hope that Europe had succeeded in calming markets after two years of turmoil.

“I’ve never been as scared as I am about the world,” Donald Tsang, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said yesterday in Davos, Switzerland. “Nobody’s immune. You need decisive action. You need to inspire confidence.”

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney estimated the European crisis will subtract 1 percentage point from global growth by the end of 2012 “and that’s in a world where this crisis is contained.” Europe’s pain could be transmitted via trade or financial channels with banks already hoarding cash or investing only in domestic markets, he said.

‘Train Wreck’

Yale University Professor Robert Shiller echoed the concern by estimating the euro-area will contract this year by more than the 0.5 percent predicted by the IMF. Nouriel Roubini, co- founder of Roubini Global Economics LLC, said Greece may be forced to quit the single currency within 12 months.

“The euro zone is a slow-motion train wreck,” Roubini said.

The concern leaves the euro-area’s leaders under pressure to raise the size of their rescue funds from the limit of 500 billion euros set to take effect in July when a permanent fund comes online aside the temporary European Financial Stability Facility.

While they plan to reassess that amount in March, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne indicated they may need to do so sooner by demanding steps in “the next few weeks.” EU leaders next meet in two days time in Brussels to draw up a fiscal compact to strengthen governance of the euro area.

Not Dealt With

Osborne also sided with the consensus by urging a fast accord on slashing Greece’s debts, three months since creditors agreed to implement a 50 percent cut in the face value of more than 200 billion euros of debt. Negotiations continue in Athens this week.

“The fact we’re still at the beginning of 2012 talking about Greece is a sign this problem hasn’t been dealt with,” Osborne said.

Carney said a “credible” agreement is required even if that means increasing the participation of the private sector and perhaps the public sector. Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said Greece should be prevented from defaulting because “once that door is open” others could follow.

Policy makers from Japan and the U.K. said while they and others might add to the IMF’s coffers, a prerequisite was Europe putting up more money of its own. Absent “firm action, I don’t think developing countries like China are willing to pay more money,” Japanese Economy Minister Motohisa Furukawa said.

Little Bag

Seeking to insulate the world from Europe’s woes, Lagarde wants to boost her institution’s lending capacity by $500 billion. She made her pitch by saying the world had “never been so interconnected” and that the IMF was always repaid with interest.

“I’m here with my little bag to collect a little bit of money,” she said.

Last-minute worries took the shine off the sentiment of earlier in the week when delegates sounded upbeat about Europe’s outlook after financial markets stabilized. Market lending rates eased again this week and Italian and Spanish bonds rose as borrowing costs fell at debt auctions. At the same time, Portuguese credit-default swaps hit a record and Fitch Ratings on Jan. 27 downgraded Spain, Italy and three other euro countries.

Buys Time

World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the respite was likely temporary and linked it to the ECB last month lending euro-area banks a record 489 billion euros for three years to ward off a funding squeeze.

“I’m really glad the ECB took these actions, but let’s not be complacent,” Zoellick said. “This buys time, you still have to act.”

–Editors: Andrew J. Barden, John Fraher

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in Davos at skennedy4@bloomberg.net Jana Randow in Davos at jrandow@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: John Fraher at jfraher@bloomberg.net

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READER DISCUSSION

In Michigan, Obama Calls for Overhaul of Financial Aid

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — President Obama called on Congress to approve a financial-aid overhaul that for the first time would tie federal financing to colleges and universities to the success of these institutions in improving affordability and value for students.

Wrapping up a three-day post State of the Union tour that has forecast Mr. Obama’s narrative for his re-election battle with Republicans, Mr. Obama said it was the governments obligation to narrow the gap between rich and poor. He proposed a $1 billion grant competition to reward states that take action to keep college costs down, and a separate $55 million competition for colleges to increase their value and efficiency.

“I am only standing here because scholarships and student loans gave me a shot at a decent education,” Mr. Obama told the crowd at the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan, where students braved early-morning snow to stand in line to see the president.

“Your president and your first lady were in your shoes just a few years ago,” Mr. Obama said. “We didn’t come from wealthy families. The only reason we were able to achieve what we achieved was because of education.”

Mr. Obama’s proposal would also require colleges and universities to offer students a comparison that shows postgraduate and employment records for their institutions.

As is typically the case when the president speaks on a college campus, the event was high energy, complete with a marching band playing fight songs to warm the crowd up beforehand. And Mr. Obama, who is clearly already in campaign mode, was revved up. He further lit up the crowd with the obligatory “Go Blue” cheer.

“Easy applause line,” he acknowledged.

“We want this to be a big bold generous country where everybody gets a shot,” Mr. Obama told the crowd in the Al Glick Field House. “If there’s anywhere that can teach us about how to bring back manufacturing, it’s the great state of Michigan.”

One night after a Republican debate that saw Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney beating each other up on everything from immigration to personal finances, the president, without mentioning either man, still sought to draw a comparison between his vision for the country and the Republican vision, which he painted as more of a fend-for-yourself one.

ESB Financial Corporation Announces Record Earnings for 2011

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa., Jan 27, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
ESB Financial Corporation

/quotes/zigman/67481/quotes/nls/esbf ESBF
-0.35%



, the parent company of ESB
Bank, today announced earnings of $1.02 per diluted share on net income
of $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, which represents
a 4.1% increase in net income per diluted share as compared to earnings
of $0.98 per diluted share on net income of $14.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2010. The Company’s return on average assets and
return on average equity were 0.76% and 8.40%, respectively, for the
year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 0.73% and 8.26%, respectively,
for the year ended December 31, 2010.

For the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company announced
earnings of $0.21 per diluted share on net income of $3.0 million, which
represents an 8.7% decrease in net income per diluted share as compared
to earnings of $0.23 per diluted share on net income of $3.4 million for
the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The Company’s annualized return on
average assets and return on average equity were 0.61% and 6.65%,
respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to 0.71%
and 7.86%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Commenting on the quarter and year end results, Charlotte A. Zuschlag,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “The Board
of Directors, senior management and I are pleased with the record
earnings for the year ended December 31, 2011, making 2011 the third
consecutive year that the Company has reported record earnings.” Ms.
Zuschlag continued, “The past several years have presented a challenging
time for the banking industry. Our philosophy has been to manage the
interest rate margin without compromising asset quality or future
earnings potential while continuing to offer quality products to our
customers. We accomplished this philosophy by challenging our employees
to actively pursue new customers through commercial, public and personal
checking account relationships. The results continue to be outstanding.
The overall deposit growth for the year ended December 31, 2011 was
$143.8 million or 14.2% when compared to December 31, 2010. Included in
the $143.8 million is growth of approximately $111.0 million in low cost
core deposits.” Ms. Zuschlag continued by stating “these results as well
as the prior year growth of approximately $51.2 million in core deposits
has fueled the improvement to our cost of funds which decreased 39 basis
points to 2.00% when compared to 2.39% for the year ended December 31,
2010 and has contributed towards our ability to maintain our net
interest margin which increased slightly in 2011 to 2.67% when compared
to 2.62% at December 31, 2010. This steadfast policy in managing and
growing our interest rate margin has minimized the effect of impairment
related charges on securities and joint ventures on our income in 2011.”
Ms. Zuschlag concluded by stating, “Management will continue to strive
to pursue investment and growth opportunities that will provide a sound
investment return to our shareholders, such as the recent construction
of our 25th office in Cranberry Township, Butler County,
which opened in the fourth quarter of 2011.”

Consolidated net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased
$679,000 or 4.8% to $14.9 million from $14.2 million as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2010. This increase was a result of an increase
in net interest income of $1.1 million as well as decreases in provision
for loan losses and income taxes of $274,000 and $173,000, respectively,
partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income of $161,000 and
increases in noninterest expense and noncontrolling interest of $249,000
and $478,000, respectively.

Consolidated net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011
decreased $417,000 to $3.0 million from $3.4 million, as compared to the
quarter ended December 31, 2010. This net decrease was the result of a
decrease in noninterest income of $1.6 million and increases in
provision for loan losses and noncontrolling interest of $30,000 and
$14,000, respectively, partially offset by an increase in net interest
income of $553,000 and decreases in noninterest expense and provision
for income taxes of $83,000 and $624,000, respectively.

The decrease in noninterest income for the quarter ended December 31,
2011 was primarily the result of impairment charges on real estate joint
ventures, investment securities and derivatives of approximately $1.3
million, $364,000 and $148,000, respectively, as well as decreases in
fees and service charges and net gain on sale of loans of $62,000 and
$25,000. During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s real
estate joint ventures had net income of $116,000 after incurring write
downs of $750,000 related to land acquisition and development costs as
well as unit construction costs.

The Company’s consolidated total assets increased $50.9 million, or
2.7%, to $1.96 billion at December 31, 2011, from $1.91 billion at
December 31, 2010. Securities increased $52.4 million, or 4.9%, to $1.1
billion and net loans receivable increased $8.0 million, or 1.3%, to
$648.9 million. Total liabilities increased $39.2 million, or 2.2%, to
$1.8 billion at December 31, 2011. Deposits increased $143.8 million, or
14.2%, to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2011 while borrowed funds
decreased $108.5 million, or 15.2%, to $607.0 million.

Total stockholders’ equity was $179.1 million or 9.11% of total assets,
and book value per share was $12.34 at December 31, 2011 compared to
$167.4 million or 8.74% of total assets, and book value per share of
$11.63 at December 31, 2010.

The Company also announced that its annual meeting of stockholders will
be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at the Connoquenessing
Country Club in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.

ESB Financial Corporation is the parent holding company of ESB Bank, and
offers a wide variety of financial products and services through 25
offices in the contiguous counties of Allegheny, Lawrence, Beaver and
Butler in Pennsylvania. The common stock of the Company is traded on The
NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “ESBF”. We make available on our
web site, which is located at
http://www.esbbank.com ,
our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and
current reports on Form 8-K, on the date which we electronically file
these reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are
encouraged to access these reports and the other information about our
business and operations on our web site.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements with
respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business
of the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to various
factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these
estimates. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in
general economic conditions, interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand,
competition, legislation or regulation and accounting principles,
policies or guidelines, as well as other economic, competitive,
governmental, regulatory and accounting and technological factors
affecting the Company’s operations.

ESB FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
————————————————————————————————————–
Financial Highlights
Unaudited
(Dollars in Thousands – Except Per Share Amounts)
OPERATIONS DATA:
——————————————————————–
Year Ended Three Months
December 31, Ended December 31,
2011 2010 2011 2010
———- ———- ————— —————
Interest income $ 79,227 $ 84,864 $ 19,256 $ 20,207
Interest expense 35,140 41,897 8,300 9,804
—— —— ——— ———
Net interest income 44,087 42,967 10,956 10,403
Provision for loan losses 1,130 1,404 330 300
—— —— ——— ———
Net interest income after provision for
loan losses 42,957 41,563 10,626 10,103
Noninterest income 4,306 4,467 (59) 1,574
Noninterest expense 28,062 27,813 7,154 7,237
—— —— ——— ———
Income before provision for income taxes 19,201 18,217 3,413 4,440
Provision for income taxes 3,380 3,553 314 938
—— —— ——— ———
Net income 15,821 14,664 3,099 3,502
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 911 433 98 84
—— —— ——— ———
Net income attributable to ESB Financial Corporation $ 14,910 $ 14,231 $ 3,001 $ 3,418
== ====== == ====== ==== ========= ==== =========
Net Income per share:
Basic $ 1.03 $ 0.99 $ 0.21 $ 0.24
Diluted $ 1.02 $ 0.98 $ 0.21 $ 0.23
Net Interest Margin 2.67% 2.62% 2.64% 2.59%
Annualized return on average assets 0.76% 0.73% 0.61% 0.71%
Annualized return on average equity 8.40% 8.26% 6.65% 7.86%
FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA:
——————————————————————–
12/31/11 12/31/10
————— —————
Total assets $ 1,964,791 $ 1,913,867
Cash and cash equivalents 38,848 35,707
Total investment securities 1,130,116 1,077,672
Loans receivable, net 648,921 640,887
Customer deposits 1,156,410 1,012,645
Borrowed funds (includes subordinated debt) 606,960 715,456
Stockholders’ equity 179,075 167,353
Book value per share $ 12.34 $ 11.63
Average equity to average assets 9.08% 8.87%
Allowance for loan losses to loans receivable 0.98% 1.00%
Non-performing assets to total assets 0.88% 0.75%
Non-performing loans to total loans 2.00% 2.00%

SOURCE: ESB Financial Corporation

ESB Financial
Charles P. Evanoski, 724-758-5584
Group Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

Copyright Business Wire 2012

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Add ESBF to portfolio

ESBF

ESB Financial Corp.


$
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-0.05
-0.35%

Volume: 13,707
Feb. 8, 2012 4:00p

Philly School District’s financial assurances leave city controller Butkovitz …

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

The School District of Philadelphias new chief recovery officer responded Friday to the city controllers request for information about bridging a funding gap of at least $61 million by June 30.

But City Controller Alan Butkovitz said he was not sure whether the district fully had addressed his concerns about the school systems financial viability.

He said an initial review of the responses contained in the three-page letter from Recovery Officer Thomas E. Knudsen has done little to satisfy our concern, but there are ongoing written communications going back and forth to clarify our respective positions.

On Wednesday, Butkovitz said he might have to include a warning in the districts annual financial report that could hamper the districts ability to borrow money and sell bonds.

Taxpayers owed $132.9 billion from GM, others

Monday, February 6th, 2012

A government watchdog says US taxpayers are still owed $132.9 billion that companies havent repaid from the financial bailout — General Motors and financial firms — and some of that will never be recovered.

The bailout, launched at the height of the financial crisis in September 2008, will continue to exist for years, says a report from Christy Romero, the acting special inspector general for the $700 billion bailout, according to wire reports in the Detroit Free Press.

Some bailout programs, such as the effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing mortgage payments, will last as late as 2017, costing the government an additional $51 billion or so.

The gyrating stock market has slowed the Treasury Departments efforts to sell off its stakes in 458 bailed-out companies, the report says:

They include insurer American International Group, GM and Ally Financial, the former GMAC, GMs credit arm.

If Treasury plans to sell its stock in the three companies at or above the price where taxpayers would break even on their investment — $28.73 a share for AIG, $53.98 for GM — it may take a long time for the market to rebound to that level, the report says. AIGs shares closed Wednesday at $25.31, while GM ended at $24.92. Ally isnt publicly traded.

It will also be challenging for the government to get out of the 458 companies as the market remains volatile and banks struggle keep afloat in the tough economy, it says.

Congress authorized $700 billion for the bailout of financial companies and automakers, and $413.4 billion was paid out. So far the government has recovered about $318 billion. The bailout is called the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.