(Source: PRNewswire)

WHITTIER, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Friendly Hills Bank (OTC Bulletin Board: FHLB) reported results for the first quarter of 2009, its tenth full quarter of operations, since opening on September 18, 2006. As of March 31, 2009, the bank reported total assets of $66.6 million, a 35% increase from $49.2 million as of March 31, 2008, and a 5% increase from $63.5 million as of December 31, 2008.
The bank's overall deposit base has grown over 52% in the twelve months ended March 31, 2009, from $34.5 million as of March 31, 2008, to $52.5 million as of March 31, 2009. Non-interest bearing deposits continue to form a substantial part of the deposit base (37%), growing from $14.4 million to $19.2 million as of March 31, 2009. During the same time period interest bearing deposits grew from $20.1 million to $33.3 million on March 31, 2009. The bank has no deposits which were sourced through brokers or originated on the basis of above-market rate programs.
The bank's loan portfolio, net of an allowance for loan losses, grew 57% from $22.8 million as of March 31, 2008, to $35.7 million as of March 31, 2009. The portfolio remains diversified with $9.5 million or 26% in Commercial & Industrial Loans to local businesses and $15.1 million or 41% in Commercial Real Estate Loans. Owner Occupied properties represent the largest component of the Commercial Real Estate Portfolio (24%) with $8.6 million outstanding. The bank has an additional $15.1 million in unfunded loan commitments with no delinquent loans, non-performing loans or residential 'sub-prime' mortgage loans.
The bank's primary source of income is net interest income which increased by 13% from $533,811 in the three months ended March 31, 2008, to $600,719 in the three months ended March 31, 2009. For the most recent quarter ending March 31, 2009, the bank reported a net loss of $419,216, or ($0.26) per diluted share of common stock. This figure includes a loan loss provision of $174,281 for the three months ended March 31, 2009, which was 203% higher than the $57,470 provision for the same period one year earlier. The bank reported a net loss of $251,819, or ($0.16) per diluted share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The increase in reserves reflects the growth in the loan portfolio and an increased provision reflective of management's cautionary position towards potential risks associated with current economic conditions. The net loss numbers also reflect the impact of accounting rules that require companies to include stock compensation as an expense.