Treasure State Bank Reports Fourth Quarter 2011 Operating Results

MISSOULA, MT--(Marketwire - Jan 30, 2012) - Treasure State Bank ("the Bank") (OTCBB: TRSU), a Montana chartered community bank, today announced:

• The Bank had a net operating profit of $34,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, as compared to a $3.1MM net loss for the same quarter last year and a $119,000 operating profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. The Bank had earnings, before provision for loan loss and real estate owned write-downs, of $276,000 ($1.1MM annualized) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011, as compared with $45,000 ($180,000 annualized) for the fourth quarter of 2010, and $318,000 ($1.3MM annualized) for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.
  
  
• The Bank had an operating profit of $365,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to a $4.5MM net loss for 2010. The Bank had earnings before provision for loan loss and real estate owned write-downs of $833,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with $569,000 for 2010. The Bank set aside $249,000 in additional provision for loan loss and had real estate owned write-downs of $219,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with $4.7MM in additional provision for loan loss and real estate owned write-downs of $366,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010.
  
  
• Earnings, before non-cash expenses of depreciation and amortization, loan loss provisions, real estate owned write-downs and stock option expense were $1,039,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with $783,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010.
  
  
• The return on average assets for 2011 was 0.47%, and the return on average equity was 6.46%.
  
  
• Tier 1 leverage capital was 7.52% as of December 31, 2011, as compared with 6.12% as of December 31, 2010, an increase of 22.9%. Risk-based capital was 11.06% as of December 31, 2011 as compared with 9.62% as of December 31, 2010, an increase of 22.8%.
  
  
• Book value per share was $3.62 as of December 31, 2011, based on 1,559,045 shares outstanding.
  
  
• Total assets decreased $3.7MM, or 4.6%, to $77.0MM at December 31, 2011, as compared with $80.7MM at December 31, 2010, due to continued progress in the planned reduction of the Bank's total assets.
  
  
• Cost of funds at December 31, 2011 was 1.52%. This is a 13.6% decline from the cost of funds of 1.76% at December 31, 2010.
  
  
• The net interest margin (interest income less interest expense divided by average assets) increased to 3.43% for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with 3.22% for the year ended December 31, 2010.
  
  
• Loan loss reserves to total loans were 4.00% at December 31, 2011, as compared with 4.54% as of December 31, 2010.
  
  
• Total liquidity as of December 31, 2011 was 24.6%, and available liquidity was 21.3%.
  
  
• Non-performing assets decreased to $8.6MM as of December 31, 2011, down from $9.3MM as of December 31, 2010.
  
  
• Five year anniversary.

President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Salisbury stated, "I am pleased to report that we are celebrating our fifth anniversary by reporting our fourth consecutive quarter of profitability resulting in a year to date profit of $365,000, as compared with a net operating loss of $4.5MM for the same period last year, or an improvement of approximately $4.9MM. The Bank believes that the large loan loss provision of $5.1MM reflected in the 2010 financial results has put the Bank in a position to manage the Bank's non-performing assets. The Bank now has an allowance for loan losses to gross loans of 4.0% ($2.0MM) to act as a cushion to absorb potential losses on existing troubled loans. The Bank continues to work diligently to address non-performing assets. During the year 2011, the Bank sold $2.3MM of non-performing assets. The Bank has $3.8MM of repossessed property as of December 31, 2011, as compared to $5.0MM as of December 31, 2010. Total non-performing assets, which include repossessed assets, decreased $700,000 during the year to $8.6MM as of December 31, 2011, down from $9.3MM as of December 31, 2010.

"In addition to the $365,000 in earnings for 2011, and in an effort to continue to build the capital ratios, assets have decreased $3.7MM to $77.0MM as of December 31, 2011, down from $80.7MM as of December 31, 2010. Gross loans have decreased $6.2MM to $50.6MM as of December 31, 2011, down from $56.8MM as of December 31, 2010. $1.4MM of loans were transferred to real estate owned in 2011. The Bank continues to lend to qualified borrowers and is actively seeking qualified borrowers. During the year 2011, the Bank originated $5.7MM in new loans.

"The Bank has worked diligently to reduce its cost of funds to 1.52% at December 31, 2011, from 1.76% at December 31, 2010 and from a high of 3.46% at September 30, 2009. The ability to further reduce the Bank's cost of funds is now limited, but reducing the cost of funds to acceptable levels has positioned the Bank to have a net interest margin that allows the Bank to be profitable in spite of the large dollar amount of non-performing assets.

"Nearly twenty five cents of every dollar is held in domestic liquid assets to cushion the Bank from a rising interest rate environment. The Bank has positioned itself to be asset sensitive. Therefore, if interest rates were to increase, the effect on the Bank's net interest income should not be material.

"The Western Montana economy continues to present challenges to the Bank in its efforts to dispose of repossessed property and certain portions of its loan portfolio. We will continue to work diligently to improve the asset quality of the Bank, generate profits to enhance stockholders' equity and retain adequate liquidity in these uncertain economic times."

For more information regarding this release, or the Bank in general, you may contact James A. Salisbury, President and CEO, at 406-543-8700.

About Treasure State Bank
Treasure State Bank, a Montana chartered community bank, is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. The Bank was founded in January 2007. Treasure State Bank currently trades on the OTCBB under the ticker symbol "TRSU". Treasure State Bank serves businesses, professionals, non-profit organizations and individuals through customized banking services and products. For more information, please visit www.treasurestatebank.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This communication contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Treasure State Bank and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully, and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The Bank undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.