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Friday, January 26, 2007 | Press Release
Source:
Farmers National Banc Corp.
Frank L. Paden, President
20 South Broad St.
P.O. Box 555
Canfield, OH 44406
Phone: 330-533-3341
Fax: 330-533-0451
Email: exec@fnbcanfield.com
FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.
Reports 2006 and Fourth Quarter Results
CANFIELD, Ohio (January 26, 2007) - Farmers National Banc Corp (OTCBB:
FMNB), holding company of the Farmers National Bank of Canfield, today
reported net earnings of $7.2 million, or $0.55 per diluted share for
the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $8.1 million, or $0.62
per diluted share in 2005. For the three months ended December 31, 2006,
Farmers National Banc Corp recorded net earnings of $1.6 million, or
$0.12 per share, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.14 per share for the
same quarter a year ago.
The company's total assets at year-end 2006 were $821.6 million, as
compared to $827.1 million in total assets recorded at December 31,
2005. Net loans at December 31, 2006 were $502.6 million, compared to
$506.1 million at this same time last year. On average balances, loans
increased approximately $12.4 million, or 2.5% year-over-year. The
increase in commercial loans helped offset the lack of any retail or
consumer loan growth during the past year. Total deposits at December
31, 2006 were $619.7 million, compared to $630.8 million recorded as of
December 31, 2005. This reduction in deposits primarily was the result
of management's conservative approach to pricing highly volatile
non-core deposits.
Net Interest Income --- Net interest income was $5.8 million for the
fourth quarter of 2006, which compares to $5.9 million in the preceding
quarter and $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. For the twelve
months ended December 31, 2006, net interest income was $23.9 million
compared to $27.2 million for the same twelve-month period in 2005. The
net interest margin, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, was 3.31% for
the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, compared to 3.67% for 2005.
Management was able to increase the yield on average earning assets by
30 basis points during the past twelve months, but that increase was
offset by a 76 basis point increase in the cost of liabilities. The net
interest margin continues to be impacted by the sustained flat or
inverted yield curve between short term and long term rates. The company
will continue to closely monitor the asset and liability re-pricing
strategy to support the margin.
Non-Interest Income --- Non-interest income, including gains on the sale
of securities, was $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, compared
to $1.3 million in the preceding quarter and $1.1 million in the fourth
quarter of 2005. For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2006,
non-interest income was $5.1 million, an increase of $748 thousand over
the $4.4 million reported in the same period in 2005. The comparison to
the prior year is impacted by gains on sale of securities amounting to
$550 thousand in 2006 and $290 thousand in 2005.
Operating Expenses --- Non-interest expenses totaled $4.9 million for
the fourth quarter of 2006, which compares to $5.1 million for the
fourth quarter of 2005 and $5.0 million for the third quarter of 2006.
For the year ended December 31, 2006, total operating expenses decreased
from $20.2 million in 2005 to $19.6 million in 2006. The company's
efficiency ratio for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 was
68.88%, as compared to 64.49% in the prior year.
Asset Quality --- At the end of the fourth quarter, the non-performing
loans/total loan ratio was .34%, compared to .39% at this same time in
2005. As of December 31, 2006, total non-performing loans were $1.7
million, compared to $2.0 million at this same time in 2005. On December
31, 2006, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses (ALLL) to
non-performing loans was 325%, compared to 291% in December 2005. For
the full year, the net charge off/average loan ratio was .09%, improving
from .19% reported at the end of 2005.
Consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and regulatory
guidelines, the company uses a systematic methodology to estimate its
allowance for loan losses. The methodology takes into consideration not
only charge-offs but also the quality of the company's loans and the
types and amounts of loans comprising the loan portfolio, while
considering adjustments and estimates based on various environmental
factors. As of December 31, 2006, the ALLL/total loan ratio was 1.10%
compared to 1.14% at the end of 2005.
Stockholder's Equity and Common Stock --- Total Stockholders' Equity was
$76.2 million at December 31, 2006 compared to $75.9 million at this
same time in 2005. Book value at year-end 2006 was $5.83 per share,
compared to $5.82 per share in December 2005. Cash dividends paid during
2006 amounted to $0.64 per share. On June 13, 2006, the board of
directors announced the 2006 Stock Repurchase Program, which authorized
the repurchase of up to 4.9% of its outstanding common stock or
approximately 650,000 shares. Since June, the Corporation repurchased
145,000 shares under this program.
Farmers National Banc Corp. is the bank holding company for the Farmers
National Bank of Canfield. Farmers operates sixteen banking offices
throughout Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties. The bank offers a
wide range of banking and investment services to companies and
individuals, and maintains a website at www.fnbcanfield.com.
This earnings announcement presents a brief analysis of the assets and
liability structure of the Corporation and a brief discussion of the
results of operations for each of the periods presented. Certain
statements in this announcement that relate to Farmers National Banc
Corp.'s plans, objectives, or future performance may be deemed to be
forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations. Actual strategies and results in future periods may differ
materially from those currently expected because of various risks and
uncertainties.
Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially are interest rates, changes in the mix of the company's
business, competitive pressures, general economic conditions and the
risk factors detailed in the company's other periodic reports and
registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Farmers National Bank is a wholly owned banking affiliate
of Farmers National Bank Corp. ©2000-2004 Farmers National Bank Corp. All
Rights Reserved.
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