WARRENTON, Va., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fauquier Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBSS) claimed the 132nd spot in the nation's Top 200 Community Banks and Thrifts, as ranked by U.S. Banker magazine in its June 2009 edition. More than 1,100 community banks and thrifts were evaluated nationwide by three-year average return on equity, placing Fauquier Bankshares in the top 12 percent.

Randy K. Ferrell, President and CEO of Fauquier Bankshares said, "Fauquier Bankshares' three-year average return on equity for 2006 through 2008 was 11.89 percent. We continue to avoid risky lending and control our expenses to keep the bank strong during these difficult economic times." Ferrell continued, "Fauquier Bankshares ranked ninth based on the three-year measure of the 13 Virginia banks placing in the top 200."

Financial analysts note that community banks and thrifts with strong returns on equity are capable of generating cash internally versus other, more risky methods. Fauquier Bankshares does not make subprime mortgage loans and did not request federal funds under the Capital Assistance Program (CAP) portion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Fauquier Bankshares, Inc., and its principal subsidiary, The Fauquier Bank, had combined assets of $526.8 million and total shareholders' equity of $40.8 million at March 31, 2009. The Fauquier Bank is an independent, locally-owned, community bank offering a full range of financial services, including internet banking, commercial, retail, insurance, wealth management, and financial planning available through our eight banking offices located in Fauquier and Prince William Counties in Virginia. Additional information is available at www.fauquierbank.com or by calling: (800) 638-3798.

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal securities laws. These statements address issues that involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management, and actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to, changes in: interest rates and the shape of the interest rate yield curve, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory policies, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan and/or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in our market area, our plans to expand our branch network and increase our market share, and accounting principles, policies and guidelines. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers should consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. We undertake no obligation to update these statements following the date of this news release.

SOURCE Fauquier Bankshares, Inc.