Gouverneur Bancorp Announces 2010 Fiscal Year Second Quarter and Six Months Results

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVB) (the "Company") and its subsidiary, Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association (the "Bank"), which operate on a fiscal year ending on September 30, today announced results for the second quarter and six month period ended March 31, 2010.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company reported net income of $414,000, or $0.18 per diluted share, representing an increase of $66,000, or 19.0% over last year's net income of $348,000, or $0.15 per diluted share.  The annualized return on average assets and average equity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 were 1.13% and 7.44%, respectively, compared to 1.03% and 6.61%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2009.    

For the six months ended March 31, 2010, the Company reported net income of $806,000, or $0.36 per diluted share, representing an increase of  $107,000, or 15.3% from last year's net income of $699,000, or $0.31 per diluted share.   The annualized return on average assets and average equity for the six months ended March 31, 2010 were 1.12% and 7.36%, respectively, compared to 1.02% and 6.64%, respectively, during the six months ended March 31, 2009.  

Since September 30, 2009, total assets rose $2.5 million, or 1.7%, from $143.7 million to $146.2 million at March 31, 2010, while net loans increased $0.2 million, or 0.2%, from $114.1 million to $114.3 million over the same period.

Deposits decreased $2.3 million, or 2.5%, from $91.4 million at September 30, 2009 to $89.1 million at March 31, 2010.  Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York increased $4.2 million, or 15.6%, from $27.0 million at September 30, 2009 to $31.2 million at March 31, 2010.

Shareholders' equity was $22.3 million at March 31, 2010, an increase of 1.8% over the September 30, 2009 balance of $21.9 million.  The book value of Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. was $9.86 per common share based on 2,257,898 shares outstanding at March 31, 2010.  On March 31, 2010 the Company paid a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.17 per share to public shareholders of record on March 15, 2010.  Cambray Mutual Holding Company, the Company's parent mutual holding company and majority shareholder, waived its right to receive that dividend.

Interest rate spread, the difference between the average rate earned on interest-bearing assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, is strong as decreases in interest costs have exceeded decreases in interest income.  For the six months ended March 31, 2010 after a $70,000 provision for loan losses, net interest income increased by $431,000 as interest income increased $95,000 and interest expense decreased $406,000.  

Commenting on the period's results, Mr. Charles C. Van Vleet, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Results for the three months ending March 31, 2010 show that the interest expense declined to $521,000, from $720,000 in the same period in 2009.  Currently it is believed that the lower rates will continue until later this year."

Mr. Van Vleet adds, "In December 2009, the Bank pre-paid a three-year FDIC premium of $368,000.  Six months into the fiscal year, the company remains well capitalized as we enter a period of rate and regulatory challenges."

The Company, which is headquartered in Gouverneur, New York, is the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association.  Founded in 1892, the Bank is a federally chartered savings and loan association offering a variety of banking products and services to individuals and businesses in its primary market area in southern St. Lawrence and northern Lewis and Jefferson Counties in New York State.

Statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made using information currently available to management. Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include among others, the impact of changes in market interest rates and general economic conditions, changes in government regulations, changes in accounting principles and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios. Therefore, actual future results may differ significantly from results discussed in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

SOURCE Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc.

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