First BancTrust Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter Results and Declares an Increase in Its Quarterly Cash Dividend

PARIS, Ill., March 1, 2013

Net Interest Income 
Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2012 decreased 8.06 percent, or $298,461, to $3.40 million compared with $3.70 million for the fourth quarter of the prior year. Although interest expense for the quarter was $193,992 less than the fourth quarter of 2011, interest income was $492,453 less than the same time period of the previous year. Year over year there was an $812,760 reduction in net interest income which represents a 5.54% decrease over this time period. Both interest income and interest expense continue to be affected by the low interest rate environment.

Noninterest Income, Expense 
In light of the current interest rate environment and outlook, during the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company elected to execute a partial repositioning of its balance sheet with the early retirement of a $5 million FHLB advance with an above market rate. The prepayment penalty assessed to retire the advance was $472,690 which was primarily offset by a one-time gain on securities sales of $463,469. After adjustments for the securities sales, fourth quarter 2012 noninterest income was $164,444 greater than the same period a year ago and $600,635 greater year over year. This historically high number is primarily from increases in net gains on loan sales and other service charges which resulted from elevated activity in the residential mortgage secondary market, as well as increases in earnings from the Company's title company subsidiary. The low rate environment continues to be conducive to elevated year over year levels of income from net gains on mortgage loan sales amounting to an increase of $108,979 quarter over quarter and $437,390 year to date. Increases in title company activities resulted in an increase in revenue of $138,185 year to date.

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2012, less the prepayment penalty incurred as the result of the balance sheet restructuring, increased $280,830 to $3.10 million from $2.82 million during the same quarter last year. The majority of the increase was in the form of increases in salaries and benefits as the Company is investing in staff to position itself for growth.

Assets, Loans, Deposits 
Total assets at December 31, 2012, were $389.56 million compared with $392.84 million at December 31, 2011, a decrease of $3.28 million or .83 percent. The decrease in assets was the result of cash being used for the TARP redemption that was completed in 2012. During the same period, loans net of allowance for loan losses, decreased by $528,134 to $286.22 million from the 2011 year end level of $286.75 million. Deposits increased by $10.24 million or 3.42 percent to $309.69 million compared with $299.45 million at year-end 2011.

Quarterly Dividend Increased 

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of two cents per common share, payable March 22, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2013.  This dividend represents an increase of one cent from the previous quarter's dividend of one cent per share.