Solera National Bancorp Year-to-Date Earnings Increase 121%

Solera National Bancorp Year-to-Date Earnings Increase 121%

Gross Loans Up 11% Year-over-Year

LAKEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Solera National Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQB: SLRK), the holding company for Solera National Bank, reported today net income more than doubled to $168,000, or $0.07 per share, in the first nine months of 2012, compared to $76,000, or $0.03 per share in the like period a year ago. Improving loan demand, increased noninterest income and continued improvements in asset quality, contributed to profitability in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2012. In the third quarter of 2012, Solera earned $74,000, or $0.03 per share, compared to $133,000, or $0.05 per share in the preceding quarter, and $159,000, or $0.06 per share in the third quarter a year ago.

"Our third quarter results marks our eighth profitable quarter out of the last ten quarters. And, although our third quarter results were impacted by a legal settlement and associated legal expenses, our profits are a positive result in this slow-growing economy," said Douglas Crichfield, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Asset quality continues to improve, with only one nonperforming loan and two foreclosed commercial businesses in nonperforming assets. With solid asset quality and recoveries on previously charged-off loans of approximately $25,000 in the quarter, we were able to maintain strong reserves without a provision for loan losses in the third quarter." At the end of September 2012, the allowance for loan and lease losses was $1.0 million, or 1.68% of total loans.

Financial Highlights (at or for the period ended September 30, 2012)

• Net income increased 121% to $168,000 for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $76,000 for the first nine months of 2011.

• Solera earned $0.03 per share in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $0.05 in the preceding quarter and $0.06 in the like quarter a year ago.

• Gross loans increased 5% to $61.7 million from the preceding quarter and grew 11% compared to the third quarter of 2011.

• Total assets grew 10% to $154.7 million from $140.7 million reported in the like quarter a year ago.

• Total deposits grew 11% from a year ago to $125.5 million, with a 6% increase in noninterest-bearing demand deposits.

• Solera's capital ratios continue to significantly exceed regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized financial institution with total risk-based capital at 19.1%.

• Tangible book value, excluding unrealized gains on securities, improved to $7.34 per share up 2% from $7.19 per share a year earlier.

• Solera's tangible common equity ratio, excluding unrealized gains on securities, was 12.1% at September 30, 2012.

• In July 2012, Solera National Bank was recognized as the Diversity Corporation of the Year by ColoradoBiz magazine, for their service to the diverse business community in Denver.

"Job gains in Metro Denver continue to help fuel the local economy. Metro Denver employers added 3,900 jobs during July and August. From strengthening commercial and residential real estate markets to increasing consumer confidence, it's clear that the Metro Denver economy continues to emerge from the recession," according to data compiled by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation in its Monthly Economic Summary for October 2012. Commenting on residential real estate the publication continued, "The total number of August sales was 17.9% higher than the August 2011 sales total, and the total number of homes placed under contract in August was a striking 20.5% higher than the comparable 2011 figure."

The Bank is taking advantage of these market conditions and the rebound in Metro Denver residential real estate. "We are in the process of recruiting residential mortgage loan professionals to expand our loan portfolio to include the full spectrum of residential loans," added Crichfield. "Offering residential mortgages to our customers will complement our relationship-focused approach to banking and is in line with our strategic plan to grow our franchise."

Balance Sheet and Credit Quality

Solera National Bancorp's total assets were $154.7 million at September 30, 2012, up slightly compared to $154.6 million at the end of the preceding quarter, and 10% higher than the $140.7 million reported a year ago.

"Loan demand continues to pick up as reflected in the 5% increase in gross loans from the preceding quarter and 11% from a year ago," said Crichfield. "We generated approximately $5.8 million in new loan originations during the quarter, primarily in commercial and industrial, and residential real estate loans. After $2.7 million of payoffs during the quarter, primarily in commercial real estate, net loans generated were $3.1 million. We are actively marketing our SBA program and expect demand to develop as we go forward. We believe we have a competitive edge in this market as we continue to focus on serving the Hispanic community and reaching out to credit-worthy customers."

Gross loans were $61.7 million at the end of the third quarter 2012, compared to $58.5 million at June 30, 2012, and $55.7 million at the end of the third quarter a year ago. The loan portfolio remains well-diversified with owner-occupied commercial real estate loans representing 30% of the portfolio, investor-owned commercial real estate loans at 29%, commercial and industrial loans representing 17%, residential real estate loans 21% and construction and consumer loans totaling 3% of the loan portfolio. Commercial real estate concentrations are substantially below regulatory guidance.

The investment securities portfolio totaled $84.9 million at September 30, 2012, up 4% from $81.9 million at September 30, 2011. At September 30, 2012, the investment portfolio was comprised primarily of U.S. Government-sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities.

Deposits totaled $125.5 million at September 30, 2012, compared to $125.2 million at June 30, 2012 and $112.6 million at September 30, 2011. Excluding certificates of deposits, core deposits accounted for 54% of total deposits at the end of September 2012. According to data recently released by the FDIC, Solera now ranks fourth in deposit market share among the fifteen banks operating within a three mile radius of our main office.

Key credit metrics further improved during the third quarter of 2012. At September 30, 2012, Solera's non-performing assets, consisting primarily of other real estate owned, were 1.16% of total assets, compared to 1.35% at June 30, 2012 and 1.34% a year ago. Non-performing loans were down sharply from a year ago with non-performing loans to total loans at 0.02% at September 30, 2012, compared to 1.77% of total loans a year earlier.

Stockholders' equity was $20.0 million and tangible book value, excluding unrealized gains on securities, was $7.34 a share at September 30, 2012. Solera's tangible common equity, excluding unrealized gains on securities, was 12.1% of tangible assets at the end of the third quarter of 2012.

Review of Operations

Total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) increased 11% to $1.4 million in the third quarter, compared to $1.3 million in the preceding quarter. Revenue in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $1.4 million.

Net interest income increased 3% to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2012. Net interest income after the provision for loan and lease losses remained the same for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 at $3.1 million.

Largely due to the $289,000 gain on the sale of securities, third quarter noninterest income was $329,000, compared to $230,000 for the second quarter of 2012, and $327,000 in the third quarter a year ago. "We are able to generate gains on the sale of securities periodically; consequently, we continue to maintain a relatively large securities portfolio, which we actively manage for liquidity and interest rate risk purposes," said Robert J. Fenton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Solera's securities portfolio is comprised of high-quality bonds with relatively short maturities. In the first nine months of 2012, noninterest income was $697,000, up 19% compared to $588,000 in the first nine months a year earlier, due primarily to increased cash surrender value on bank-owned life insurance acquired during the first quarter of 2012, and higher gains from the sale of loans and securities.

"As a result of further improvements in asset quality, we found it unnecessary to record a provision for loan and lease losses thus far in 2012," added Fenton. "By comparison, we recorded a $10,000 provision in the third quarter a year ago and $130,000 for the first nine months of 2011."

"Our net interest margin (NIM) remains under pressure from this continued low interest rate environment," Fenton said. In the third quarter of 2012, Solera's NIM was 2.83%, down slightly from 2.85% in the second quarter of 2012 and down 16 basis points from 2.99% in the third quarter a year ago. Year-to-date, NIM was 2.82% compared to 3.15% in the first nine months of 2011. The yield on investments fell 96 basis points to 2.42% while the yield on loans decreased 8 basis points to 5.71%.

For the third quarter of 2012, noninterest expense was $1.3 million, compared to $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2012 and $1.2 million for the third quarter a year ago. For the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, noninterest expense was $3.6 million for each period. "Noninterest expense increased in the third quarter mainly due to a legal settlement and associated legal fees totaling approximately $0.05 per share," commented Crichfield. "We felt we could successfully defend against the claims at trial, but on the advice of our attorney we decided to settle to avoid the high cost of litigation. Aside from this anomaly, we continue to keep a tight control over expenses."

About Solera National Bancorp, Inc.

Solera National Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 to organize and serve as the holding company for Solera National Bank which opened for business on September 10, 2007. Solera National Bank is a traditional, community, commercial bank with a specialized focus serving the Hispanic market. It prides itself in delivering personalized customer service — welcoming, inclusive and respectful — combined with leading-edge banking capabilities. The Bank is also actively involved in the community in which it serves. For more information, visit http://www.solerabank.com.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts and that relate to future plans or projected results of Solera National Bancorp, Inc. ("Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Solera National Bank ("Bank"), are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied.These risks and uncertainties can include the risks associated with the ability to grow the Bank and the services it provides, the ability to successfully integrate new business lines and expand into new markets, competition in the marketplace, general economic conditions and many other risks described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.The most significant of these uncertainties are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q all of which any reader of this release is encouraged to study (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) the following: the Company has a limited operating history upon which to base an estimate of its future financial performance; general economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, causing an adverse impact on our financial performance; and the Company is subject to extensive regulatory oversight, which could restrain its growth and profitability.We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.Readers of this release are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.