Middlefield Banc Corp. Ranked One of the Most Profitable Community Banks in the Country

MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio, May 5, 2014

American Banker Magazine reviewed 851 well-capitalized, publicly traded banks and thrifts with assets less than $2 billion and ranked them by three-year average return on equity (ROE).  Middlefield Banc Corp. earned its ranking as the 63^rd most profitable community bank in the country with a three-year average ROE of 11.79%.  The median ROE for the top 200 banks and thrifts was 10.44%, while the median for all 851 companies evaluated was 5.70%.

"We are excited to be ranked not only as one of the top community banks in Ohio, but especially as one of the most profitable in the nation.  This reflects our commitment to serving our Columbus and Northeastern Ohio communities and providing a proper return to our shareholders," stated Thomas G. Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Middlefield Banc Corp.  "Timely and responsive decision making by our bankers serving markets based on first hand local knowledge will continue to serve Middlefield Banc Corp. well as we fulfill customers' banking needs."

To read more, please reference:  http://www.americanbanker.com/magazine/124_04/rising-tide-our-ranking-of-the-top-200-community-banks-1066820-1.html

American Banker Magazine provides more than 37,000 C-suite and executive-level bankers with analysis and commentary on the industry players, financial and economic market trends, regulations, business strategies, and innovations reshaping the banking and financial services landscape.  American Banker Magazine, the banking industry's leading business management magazine, tackles all issues relevant to banks and their competitive standing in the financial services marketplace. 

Middlefield Banc Corp. (MBCN), headquartered in Middlefield, Ohio, is a bank holding company with total assets of $670.0 million.  The company is the parent of The Middlefield Banking Company, which operates 10 full service banking centers and a LPL Financial^® brokerage office serving Chardon, Cortland, Dublin, Garrettsville, Mantua, Middlefield, Newbury, Orwell, and Westerville.  Additional information is available at www.middlefieldbank.com.

This press release of Middlefield Banc Corp. and the reports Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission often contain "forward-looking statements" relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry and, specifically, the financial operations, markets and products of Middlefield Banc Corp.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.  There are a number of important factors that could cause Middlefield Banc Corp.'s future results to differ materially from historical performance or projected performance.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) a significant increase in competitive pressures among financial institutions; (2) changes in the interest rate environment that may reduce interest margins; (3) changes in prepayment speeds, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (4) less favorable than expected general economic conditions; (5) legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect businesses in which Middlefield Banc Corp. is engaged; (6) technological issues which may adversely affect Middlefield Banc Corp.'s financial operations or customers; (7) changes in the securities markets; or (8) risk factors mentioned in the reports and registration statements Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Middlefield Banc Corp. undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.