Imperial Capital Bancorp, Inc. Reports Earnings for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Imperial Capital Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:IMP) today reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, primarily resulting from the operations of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Imperial Capital Bank (the Bank), of $697,000 or $0.13 per diluted share compared to $6.7 million or $1.19 per diluted share for the same period last year.  President and Chief Executive Officer George W. Haligowski stated: "Our first quarter results, while clearly disappointing, reflect a continuation of the challenging economic conditions that currently exist.  Our focus remains on strengthening our balance sheet and addressing any identifiable credit issues.  During the quarter, we increased our loan loss provision to $4.3 million compared to $750,000 during the same period last year and increased the ratio of our allowance for loan loss to total loans to 1.55% as compared to 1.51% at the end of December."

Net interest income before provision for loan losses decreased 16.3% to $20.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to $24.0 million for the same period last year.  The decrease was primarily due to the decline in the yield earned on our loan portfolio, as higher yielding loans have paid-off and were replaced by loan production that was originated at lower spreads over our cost of funds due to competitive pricing pressures.  This decline was partially offset by a decrease in our average cost of funds, as deposits have repriced to current market interest rates.  Haligowski commented: "As a result of the Federal Reserve's recent rate reductions, deposits are beginning to reprice to current interest rates, which should ultimately provide some relief to our net interest margins and spreads."

The provision for loan losses was $4.3 million and $750,000, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.  The provision for loan losses recorded during the quarter was primarily due to the increase in our non-performing loans.  Non-performing loans as of March 31, 2008 were $91.5 million, compared to $38.0 million at December 31, 2007.  The increase in non-performing loans was primarily related to four construction and land development lending relationships that in the aggregate represented approximately $54.4 million of the total of $64.2 million of loans transferred to non-performing status during the quarter.  With the housing and secondary mortgage markets continuing to deteriorate and showing no signs of stabilizing in the near future, we continue to aggressively monitor our real estate loan portfolio, including our commercial and residential construction loan portfolio.  Our construction and land loan portfolio at March 31, 2008 totaled $425.4 million, of which $277.4 million were residential and condominium conversion construction loans and land development loans, representing 8.9% of our total loan portfolio.  At March 31, 2008, we had $40.3 million of non-performing lending relationships within our residential and condominium conversion construction loan portfolio, consisting of three projects located in California (Huntington Beach, Corona and Indio) and one project located in Portland, Oregon.  In addition, we had a $17.7 million non-performing residential land development loan located in Cathedral City, California.

General and administrative expenses were $13.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to $12.4 million for the same period last year. The Company's efficiency ratio (defined as general and administrative expenses as percentage of net revenue) was 66.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as compared to 50.3% for the same period last year.  The increase in our efficiency ratio was primarily caused by the $1.1 million increase in general and administrative expenses, as well as the $3.9 million decrease in net interest income, which, as discussed above, was primarily caused by the decrease in our net interest spread.

Loan originations were $88.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to $339.4 million for the same period last year.  During the current quarter, the Bank originated $43.8 million of commercial real estate loans, $19.0 million of small balance multi-family real estate loans, and $25.7 million of entertainment finance loans.  Loan originations for the same period last year consisted of $237.2 million of commercial real estate loans, $74.0 million of small balance multi-family real estate loans, and $28.2 million of entertainment finance loans.  In addition, the Bank's wholesale loan operations acquired $17.7 million of commercial and multi-family real estate loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2007.  The Bank did not have any wholesale loan purchases during the current quarter.  Haligowski commented that: "The decline in loan production is consistent with our expectations, as we continue to focus on our current loan portfolio.  Market conditions remained challenging during the quarter and liquidity has yet to return to a more normalized level.  I expect that our loan production will not improve until the economy and credit markets begin to stabilize."

Total assets decreased $7.5 million to $3.5 billion at March 31, 2008, compared to $3.6 billion at December 31, 2007.  The change in total assets was primarily due to a $55.2 million decrease in our loan portfolio, partially offset by a $49.5 million increase in investment securities held-to-maturity. During the quarter, we purchased approximately $57.6 million of triple-A rated corporate sponsored collateral mortgage obligations, which we classified as held-to-maturity.  In addition, we increased our FHLB advances by $114.5 million during the quarter, as we replaced higher interest bearing deposits with these advances.  The decline in deposits of $115.3 million during the quarter primarily related to callable brokered deposits, as well as other time deposits that matured during the period.

Non-performing assets were $110.0 million and $57.4 million, representing 3.10% and 1.62% of total assets as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The increase in non-performing assets during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 consisted of the addition of $64.2 million of non-performing loans, partially offset by paydowns received of $1.9 million, charge-offs of $3.9 million and loan upgrades of $347,000 from non-performing to performing status.  As of March 31, 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007, the net increase in non-performing loans primarily consisted of $32.7 million residential and condominium construction real estate loans, representing two lending relationships, a $17.7 million residential land development loan, and a $4.0 million mixed-use construction loan.  The allowance for loan loss coverage ratio (defined as the allowance for loan losses divided by non-accrual loans) was 52.7% at March 31, 2008 as compared to 125.9% at December 31, 2007.  In addition, our other real estate and other assets owned decreased by $1.0 million during the current quarter to $18.4 million as compared to $19.4 million at December 31, 2007.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of our total loans was 1.55% and 1.51% at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  We believe that these reserves levels were adequate to support known and inherent losses in our loan portfolio and for specific reserves as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The allowance for loan losses is impacted by inherent risk in the loan portfolio, including the level of our non-performing loans and other loans of concern, as well as specific reserves and charge-off activity.  Other loans of concern increased from $27.4 million at December 31, 2007 to $115.7 million at March 31, 2008.  The increase was primarily caused by the addition of $44.8 million of single-family and condominium construction and land development loans, $15.7 million of commercial and retail construction projects, and $28.0 million of commercial and multi-family real estate loans.  Other loans of concern consist of performing loans which have known information that has caused management to be concerned about the borrower's ability to comply with present loan repayment terms.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we had net charge-offs of $3.8 million as compared to net recoveries of $380,000 during the same period last year.

At March 31, 2008, shareholders' equity totaled $226.5 million or 6.4% of total assets.  The Company's book value per share of common stock was $44.38 as of March 31, 2008, an increase of 0.4% and 2.7%, respectively, from $44.22 per share as of December 31, 2007 and from $43.22 per share as of March 31, 2007.

The Bank had Tier 1 leverage, Tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios at March 31, 2008 of 8.34%, 9.68% and 10.94%, respectively, which represents $116.9 million, $111.0 million and $28.3 million, respectively, of capital in excess of the amount required to be "well capitalized" for regulatory purposes.  In addition, the Company, the Bank's holding company, had Tier 1 leverage, Tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios at March 31, 2008 of 8.44%, 9.81% and 11.38%, respectively, which represents $121.3 million, $115.5 million and $41.8 million, respectively, of capital in excess of the amount required to be "well capitalized".

Haligowski concluded:  "Despite the challenges presented by the current economic environment, we've been able to remain profitable during this period and have continued to consistently grow our book value per share.  We expect the economy and the credit market to remain stressed in the near term, and as a result, our Board made the decision this quarter to temporarily suspend our regular quarterly dividend in order to preserve capital and maintain our liquidity until economic conditions normalize."

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in economic conditions in our market areas, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, the impact of competitive loan products, loan demand risks, the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, increased costs from pursuing the national expansion of our lending platform and operational challenges inherent in implementing this expansion strategy, fluctuations in interest rates, and changes in the relative differences between short- and long-term interest rates, levels of non-performing assets and other loans of concern, and operating results, the economic impact of any terrorist actions and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.  These risks could cause our actual results for 2008 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of, us, and could negatively affect the Company's operating and stock price performance.

Imperial Capital Bancorp, Inc. is a publicly traded diversified bank holding company specializing in commercial real estate lending on a national basis and is headquartered in San Diego, California. The Company conducts its operations through Imperial Capital Bank and Imperial Capital Real Estate Investment Trust.  Imperial Capital Bank has nine retail branch locations and 22 loan origination offices serving the Western United States, the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic States, the Ohio Valley, the Metro New York area and New England.

For additional information, contact Timothy M. Doyle, Executive Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, at [phone].

             IMPERIAL CAPITAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                March 31,
                                                  2008          December 31,
                                               (unaudited)           2007
                                       (in thousands, except share amounts)
              Assets

  Cash and cash equivalents                       $7,678            $8,944
  Investment securities
   available-for-sale, at fair value             118,348           117,924
  Investment securities
   held-to-maturity, at amortized cost           208,527           159,023
  Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank                 54,208            53,497
  Loans, net (net of allowance for loan
   losses of $48,271 and $47,783 as of
   March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
   respectively)                               3,069,400         3,125,072
  Interest receivable                             20,715            20,841
  Other real estate and other assets
   owned, net                                     18,438            19,396
  Other assets                                    46,413            46,522

          Total assets                        $3,543,727        $3,551,219


     Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

  Liabilities:
    Deposit accounts                          $2,066,546        $2,181,858
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances and
     other borrowings                          1,135,783         1,021,235
    Accounts payable and other
     liabilities                                  28,288            33,959
    Junior subordinated debentures                86,600            86,600

          Total liabilities                    3,317,217         3,323,652

  Commitments and contingencies

  Shareholders' equity:
    Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares
     authorized, none issued                           -                 -
    Contributed capital - common stock,
     $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares
     authorized, 9,145,256 and
     9,142,256 issued as of March 31,
     2008 and December 31, 2007,
     respectively                                 85,188            85,009
    Retained earnings                            255,776           255,947
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income, net                                     316               267
                                                 341,280           341,223
    Less treasury stock, at cost -
     4,041,824 and 3,995,634 shares
     as of March 31, 2008 and
     December 31, 2007, respectively            (114,770)         (113,656)
        Total shareholders' equity               226,510           227,567

          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity               $3,543,727        $3,551,219



               IMPERIAL CAPITAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                 (UNAUDITED)

                                                  For the Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                    2008              2007
                                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
   Interest income:
     Loans receivable, including fees             $54,835           $58,763
     Cash, cash equivalents and
      investment securities                         4,249             4,569
        Total interest income                      59,084            63,332

   Interest expense:
     Deposit accounts                              25,083            26,588
     Federal Home Loan Bank advances and
      other borrowings                             11,918            10,677
     Junior subordinated debentures                 2,005             2,078
        Total interest expense                     39,006            39,343

           Net interest income before
            provision for loan losses              20,078            23,989
   Provision for loan losses                        4,250               750
           Net interest income after
            provision for loan losses              15,828            23,239

   Non-interest income:
     Late and collection fees                         219               303
     Other                                             49               413
        Total non-interest income                     268               716

   Non-interest expense:
     Compensation and benefits                      6,864             6,182
     Occupancy and equipment                        1,942             1,943
     Other                                          4,684             4,296
        Total general and administrative           13,490            12,421

     Real estate and other assets owned
      expense, net                                    428               163
     Provision for losses on real estate
      and other assets owned                          627                 -
     Loss on sale of real estate and
      other assets owned, net                         400                 -
        Total real estate and other
         assets owned expense, net                  1,455               163

           Total non-interest expense              14,945            12,584

   Income before provision for income
    taxes                                           1,151            11,371
   Provision for income taxes                         454             4,634

     NET INCOME                                      $697            $6,737

     BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE                       $0.13             $1.22

     DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                     $0.13             $1.19


DATASOURCE: Imperial Capital Bancorp, Inc.



CONTACT:  Timothy M. Doyle, Executive Managing Director and Chief

Financial Officer of Imperial Capital Bancorp, Inc., [phone]



Web site:  http://www.icbancorp.com/ 

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