ALPENA, Mich., Oct. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FFNM) (the "Company") reported consolidated net earnings of $235,000, or $0.08 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared to consolidated net earnings of $72,000, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Consolidated net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $658,000, or $0.23 per basic and diluted share, compared to $593,000, or $0.21 per basic and diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Listed below are a few key points relative to the Company's results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011:

    --  Modest but continued quarter over quarter improvement in the Company's
        net interest margin (from 3.93% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010
        to 3.98% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011).
    --  Improvement in year-to-date net interest margin from 3.75% for the nine
        months ended September 30, 2010 to 4.05% for the same period in 2011.
    --  Provision for Loan Losses of ($67,000) and ($19,000), for the three and
        nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to
        provisions of $353,000 and $959,000 for the three and nine months ended
        September 30, 2010, respectively.
    --  First Federal of Northern Michigan remains "well-capitalized" for
        regulatory capital purposes.
    --  Strong relative stock performance year-to-date versus Nasdaq Bank Index
        (+54.27%)

Michael W. Mahler, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are pleased to report another quarter of positive earnings. Six of our last seven quarters have been profitable, which demonstrates that our focused efforts over the last three years have begun to produce sustainable earnings. While we continue to focus on improving our asset quality metrics, we have begun to shift our focus toward loan production and growing our balance sheet to leverage our strong capital position. We believe that commercial loan opportunities may begin to emerge in several of the markets we serve. Demand for credit among our commercial borrowers has been muted during this business cycle. As the Michigan economy improves, we expect to see lending opportunities created from the pent up demand and deferred capital expenditures. In addition, we are taking advantage of our strong reputation as a mortgage lender to capitalize on the declining mortgage interest rate environment and have focused our resources on refinancing loans that are not currently held on our balance sheet. We have seen market share growth in several markets served."

Mahler also commented, "On the asset quality front, we have seen commercial non-performing loans decline to two loans totaling $400,000. We are very pleased with the improvement in this portfolio. Overall, non-performing loans have decreased $3.2 million since the start of the year. Additionally, the Bank accepted purchase agreements near the end of the quarter on the two largest pieces of commercial bank-owned property. Both transactions are expected to close during the fourth quarter. The sales of these properties will further reduce the Texas ratio which stands at 33.06% at September 30, 2011. In addition, we have also seen improvement in several other key areas related to asset quality, including delinquency trends, the number of classified loans and the level of non accrual loan balances."

Selected Financial Ratios




                          For the Three Months   For the Nine Months
                           Ended September 30     Ended September 30
                          -------------------- -------------------
                             2011        2010     2011        2010
                             ----        ----     ----        ----

    Performance Ratios:
    Net interest margin      3.98%       3.93%    4.05%       3.75%
    Average interest rate
     spread                  3.85%       3.77%    3.90%       3.57%
    Return on average
     assets*                 0.43%       0.13%    0.38%       0.35%
    Return on average
     equity*                 4.01%       1.25%    3.77%       3.40%

    * Annualized




                                                 As of
                                                 -----
                            September 30,   December 31,    September 30,
                                 2011            2010            2010
                           --------------  -------------   --------------
    Asset Quality Ratios:
    Non-performing assets
     to total assets                 3.55%           4.37%           4.36%
    Non-performing loans
     to total loans                  2.38%           4.13%           3.79%
    Allowance for loan
     losses to non-
     performing loans               48.54%          42.85%          48.74%
    Allowance for loan
     losses to total loans           1.16%           1.77%           1.85%

    "Texas Ratio" (Bank)            33.06%          39.66%          40.64%

    Total non-performing
     loans ($000 omitted)          $3,408          $6,606          $6,250
    Total non-performing
     assets ($000 omitted)         $7,868          $9,424          $9,841

Financial Condition

Total assets of the Company at September 30, 2011 were $221.8 million, an increase of $6.1 million, or 2.8%, from assets of $215.7 million at December 31, 2010. Net loans receivable decreased $15.8 million to $141.3 million at September 30, 2011, due to the continued effect of adjustable-rate or balloon mortgage loans that have paid off or been refinanced and sold into the secondary market, a large purchased mortgage loan which paid off during the nine-month period, consumer loan balances that have declined due to normal pay-downs, pay-off of one out-of-state commercial loan participation of approximately $1.3 million and four in-state commercial loan participations totaling almost $3.0 million, and in general, limited originations of loans to be held in the Company's portfolio. Investment securities increased $14.8 million from December 31, 2010 to September 30, 2011 due primarily to the purchase of mortgage-backed and municipal securities as excess liquidity rose and as we received funds from loan pay-offs.

Deposits decreased $2.7 million to $152.8 million at September 30, 2011 from $155.5 million at December 31, 2010. During this period, lower-costing accounts such as savings and checking accounts increased by approximately $3.8 million. Our liquid, or non-traditional, certificate of deposit accounts also increased by $1.2 million during this time period. This was partially offset by decreases of $4.7 million in our traditional certificate of deposit accounts and $3.0 million in our money market accounts as we lowered rates on these products in step with the market. FHLB advances increased $4.0 million to $33.0 million from December 31, 2010 as deposits decreased.

The ratio of total nonperforming assets to total assets was 3.55% at September 30, 2011 compared to 4.37% at December 31, 2010 and 4.36% at September 30, 2010. Non-performing assets decreased by $1.6 million from December 31, 2010 to September 30, 2011. The Company continues to closely monitor non-performing assets and has taken a variety of steps to reduce the level thereof, such as:


    --  Timely pursuit of foreclosure and/or repossession options coupled with
        quick and aggressive marketing efforts of repossessed assets;
    --  Restructuring loans, where feasible, to assist borrowers in working
        through this financially challenging time;
    --  Allowing borrowers to structure short-sales of properties, where
        appropriate and feasible; and
    --  Working with borrowers to find a means of reducing outstanding debt
        (such as through sales of collateral).

Stockholders' equity was $24.6 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $23.2 million at December 31, 2010. The increase was due primarily to net earnings for the nine-month period of $658,000 and an increase of $623,000 in the unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment securities, net of tax. First Federal of Northern Michigan's regulatory capital remains at levels in excess of regulatory requirements, as shown in the table below.



                                           Regulatory       Minimum to be
                                                                   Well
                           Actual                     Minimum               Capitalized
                           ------              -------           -----------
                       Amount Ratio     Amount   Ratio     Amount Ratio
                       ------ -----     ------   -----     ------ -----
                                      Dollars in Thousands
     Tier
     1
     (Core)
     capital
     (
     to
             adjusted
             assets)  $22,143  10.07%   $8,799    4.00%   $10,999   5.00%

     Total
     risk-
     based
     capital
     (
     to
     risk-
             weighted
             assets)  $23,579  17.10%  $11,034    8.00%   $13,792  10.00%
     Tier
     1
     risk-
     based
     capital
     (
     to
             risk
             weighted
             assets)  $22,143  16.05%   $5,517    4.00%    $8,275   6.00%
     Tangible
     Capital
     (
     to
             tangible
             assets)  $22,143  10.07%   $3,300    1.50%    $4,400   2.00%

Results of Operations

Interest income decreased to $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $2.9 million for the year earlier period. Interest income decreased to $7.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in interest income for the three month period was due to two main factors: a period over period decrease of $6.5 million in the average balance of our interest-earning assets and a decrease of 45 basis points in the yield on interest-earning assets due in large part to lower market interest rates period over period.

Interest expense decreased to $564,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $851,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased to $1.8 million from $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in interest expense for the three-month period was due in part to a $9.3 million decrease in the average balance of our interest-bearing liabilities and a decrease in our overall cost of funds of 47 basis points period over period. Most notably, our certificates of deposit decreased $6.1 million from the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 to the same period in 2011 and the cost of our certificates of deposit decreased 49 basis points period over period.

In addition, the average balance of our FHLB advances decreased $5.3 million from the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 to the same period in 2011 and the cost of our FHLB advances decreased 81 basis points period over period.

The Company's net interest margin increased to 3.98% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011 from 3.93% for the same period in 2010. During this time period, the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 45 basis points to 5.08% from 5.53%. The average cost of funds decreased 53 basis points to 1.23% from 1.76%, due to reductions of 49 basis points on our certificates of deposit, 43 basis points on our Money market and NOW accounts, and 81 basis points on our FHLB advances quarter over quarter. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, the Company's net interest margin increased to 4.05% from 3.75% for the same period in 2010. During this time period, the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 25 basis points to 5.21% from 5.46%, while the cost of funds decreased 69 basis points to 1.92% from 2.61%.

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011 was income of $67,000, as compared to expense of $353,000 for the prior year period. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, the provision for loan losses was income of $19,000 as compared to expense of $959,000 for the same period ended September 30, 2010. Our provision for loan losses is based on an eight-quarter rolling average of actual net charge-offs adjusted for various environmental factors for each pool of loans in our portfolio. Total net charge-offs for the quarter-ended September 30, 2011 were $470,000 as compared to $1.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, which rolled-off our required reserve calculation based on our methodology of using the most recent eight-quarter rolling average for each loan pool. That decrease in charge-offs quarter over quarter resulted in lower loss factors which were applied to our various pools of loans (other than our mortgage pool) to establish an adequate reserve. The reserve factor applied to our pool of mortgage loans increased as a result of increased charge-offs in this pool for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. Additionally, loan balances have declined substantially from December 31, 2010 and asset quality metrics have improved. The net of these factors enabled us to reverse provision expense recorded in prior periods. The provision was based on management's review of the components of the overall loan portfolio, the status of non-performing loans and various subjective factors.

Non-interest income decreased to $469,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $717,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Non-interest income decreased to $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The nine-month results in 2010 reflected a $497,000 gain on sale of investments as a result of a restructuring of the investment portfolio in an effort to reduce credit risk as well as a $200,000 settlement on a lawsuit. Although mortgage banking activities, consisting mostly of homeowner refinances, picked-up in the third quarter of 2011, we experienced a decrease in mortgage banking activities income as compared to both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011. During the quarter ended September 30, 2011 we began holding certain 15-year residential mortgages in our portfolio, rather than sell them into the secondary market, in an effort to increase interest income in the coming periods.

Non-interest expenses were $2.3 million for both the three-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. Non-interest expense decreased to $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. For both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 we have reduced compensation & benefit, FDIC premium, advertising and occupancy expenses while other expenses have increased due mostly to expenses associated with problem loans and bank-owned properties.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release and other releases and reports issued by the Company, including reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, may contain "forward-looking statements." The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company is including this statement for purposes of taking advantage of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.



    First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. and
     Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Balance Sheet
    --------------------------

                                                                               September 30,   December 31,
                                                                                    2011           2010
                                                                              --------------  -------------
                                                                                (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
    Cash and cash equivalents:
    Cash on hand and due from banks                                               $8,049,998     $1,889,999
    Overnight deposits with FHLB                                                      49,255         72,658
                                                                                      ------         ------
    Total cash and cash equivalents                                                8,099,253      1,962,657
    Securities AFS                                                                50,088,379     35,301,238
    Securities HTM                                                                 2,485,000      2,520,000
    Loans held for sale                                                              616,748              -
    Loans receivable, net of
     allowance for loan losses of
     $1,654,364 and
      $2,831,332 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively    141,296,254    157,143,918
    Foreclosed real estate and other
     repossessed assets                                                            4,459,351      2,818,343
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at
     cost                                                                          3,266,100      3,775,400
    Premises and equipment                                                         5,931,999      6,026,793
    Accrued interest receivable                                                    1,170,671      1,230,938
    Intangible assets                                                                407,968        627,306
    Prepaid FDIC premiums                                                            802,780        967,143
    Deferred tax asset                                                               330,386        659,194
    Other assets                                                                   2,840,209      2,700,034
                                                                                   ---------      ---------
    Total assets                                                                $221,795,098   $215,732,964
                                                                                ============   ============


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
     EQUITY
    Liabilities:
    Deposits                                                                    $152,814,940   $155,465,896
    Advances from borrowers for taxes
     and insurance                                                                   221,753        130,030
    Federal Home Loan Bank Advances                                               33,000,000     29,000,000
    REPO Sweep Accounts                                                            9,417,231      6,172,362
    Accrued expenses and other
     liabilities                                                                   1,756,116      1,728,735
                                                                                   ---------      ---------

    Total liabilities                                                            197,210,040    192,497,023
                                                                                 -----------    -----------

    Stockholders' equity:
    Common stock ($0.01 par value
     20,000,000 shares authorized
      3,191,799 shares issued)                                                        31,918         31,918
    Additional paid-in capital                                                    23,852,021     23,822,152
    Retained earnings                                                              2,896,221      2,238,064
    Treasury stock at cost (307,750
     shares)                                                                      (2,963,918)    (2,963,918)
    Unearned compensation                                                               (556)       (38,382)
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income                                                                          769,372        146,107
                                                                                     -------        -------
    Total stockholders' equity                                                    24,585,058     23,235,941
                                                                                  ----------     ----------

    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                                                       $221,795,098   $215,732,964
                                                                                ============   ============




    First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc.
     and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statement of Income
                                             For the Three
                                                 Months                 For the Nine Months
                                          Ended September 30,           Ended September 30,
                                          -------------------           -------------------
                                             2011            2010            2011            2010
                                              ---             ---             ---             ---
                                              (Unaudited)                   (Unaudited)
    Interest
     income:
    Interest
     and fees
     on loans                          $2,196,300      $2,590,033      $6,786,817      $7,683,432
    Interest
     and
     dividends
     on
     investments
       Taxable                            151,190         107,003         380,407         346,409
       Tax-
        exempt                             39,735          40,738         120,074         152,005
    Interest
     on
     mortgage-
     backed
     securities                           200,442      168,757      583,510      490,603
                                          -------         -------         -------         -------
    Total
     interest
     income                             2,587,667       2,906,531       7,870,808       8,672,449
                                        ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------

    Interest
     expense:
    Interest
     on
     deposits                             381,124         560,106       1,226,252       1,799,663
    Interest
     on
     borrowings                           183,030         291,228         523,785         908,467
                                          -------         -------         -------         -------
    Total
     interest
     expense                              564,154         851,334       1,750,037       2,708,130
                                          -------         -------       ---------       ---------

    Net
     interest
     income                             2,023,513       2,055,197       6,120,771       5,964,319
    Provision
     for loan
     losses                               (67,079)        352,711         (18,959)        958,639
                                          -------         -------                         -------
    Net
     interest
     income
     after
     provision
     for loan
     losses                             2,090,592    1,702,486    6,139,730    5,005,680
                                        ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------

    Non-
     interest
     income:
    Service
     charges
     and other
     fees                                 197,267         206,024         542,986         609,538
    Mortgage
     banking
     activities                           218,671         447,319         637,116       1,010,634
    Gain on
     sale of
     investments                                -               -               -         496,817
    Net gain
     (loss) on
     sale of
     premises
     and
     equipment,                              (802)           -         (544)       9,423
    Net gain
     (loss) on
     sale real
     estate
     owned
       and other
        repossessed
        assets                             (7,680)         (1,147)        (54,368)         43,298
    Other                                  61,846          65,267         186,447         391,603
                                           ------          ------         -------         -------
    Total non-
     interest
     income                               469,302         717,463       1,311,637       2,561,312
                                          -------         -------       ---------       ---------

    Non-
     interest
     expense:
     Compensation
     and
     employee
     benefits                           1,128,911       1,203,326       3,457,099       3,568,567
    FDIC
     Insurance
     Premiums                              54,061          88,820         176,448         277,368
    Advertising                            30,924          42,320          87,763          98,312
    Occupancy                             264,703         277,658         802,398         878,471
     Amortization
     of
     intangible
     assets                                73,113          73,113         219,338         219,338
    Service
     bureau
     charges                               69,383          71,230         224,881         236,926
     Professional
     services                             108,471          79,008         329,619         331,210
    Other                                 595,593         512,725       1,495,664       1,363,511
                                          -------         -------       ---------       ---------
    Total non-
     interest
     expense                            2,325,161       2,348,200       6,793,210       6,973,703
                                        ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------

    Income
     before
     income
     tax
     benefit                              234,733       71,750      658,157      593,289
    Income tax
     benefit                                    -               -               -               -
                                              ---             ---             ---             ---

    Net Income                           $234,733         $71,750        $658,157        $593,289
                                         ========         =======        ========        ========

    Per share
     data:                                                                                     $-
    Net income
     per share
       Basic                                $0.08           $0.02           $0.23           $0.21
       Diluted                              $0.08           $0.02           $0.23           $0.21
    Weighted
     average
     number of
     shares
     outstanding
       Basic and
        diluted                         2,884,049       2,884,249       2,884,049       2,884,049
    Dividends
     per
     common
     share                                     $-              $-              $-              $-

SOURCE First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc.