First Bank Added to the Russell 3000® Index; Concludes At-the-Market Offering of Common Stock

HAMILTON, N.J., July 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Bank (NASDAQ:FRBA) announced today that it has been added to the Russell 3000 Index as part of the 2018 reconstitution. First Bank’s addition to the Russell 3000, a broad-market and capitalization-weighted stock index was effective on June 25, 2018. First Bank also announced that it concluded its previously announced at-the-market offering of common stock.  During the offering, First Bank sold 74,206 shares at a price per share of $13.90, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $1.0 million (before deducting commissions and offering expenses).

First Bank is a New Jersey state-chartered bank with 17 full-service branches in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, and had $1.6 billion in assets as of May 31, 2018.

“First Bank’s inclusion as a component of the Russell 3000 will increase our exposure to professional investors, as well as elevating awareness of the progress we’re making to significantly grow our franchise and build sustainable shareholder value,” said Patrick L. Ryan, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our June 30, 2018 market cap of $259.1 million has nearly doubled since the end of 2016 and is approaching five times the value we had at the end of 2013. First Bank’s 2017 net revenue of $41.8 million was up by more than 200% from 2013 and net income increased by more than 300% for the same period. We’re committed to continue performing at a high level, and we believe that we have the markets, the strategy, the management and the governance necessary to produce excellent results.”  

FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell US Indexes primarily through the use of objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes, and is reevaluated annually. Russell US Indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors as the basis for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. An estimated $9 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell US Indexes.

About First Bank

First Bank is a New Jersey state-chartered bank with 17 full-service branches in Cinnaminson, Cranbury, Denville, Delanco, Ewing, Flemington, Hamilton, Lawrence, Pennington, Randolph, Somerset and Williamstown, New Jersey, and Trevose, Doylestown, Warminster, Bensalem and Levittown, Pennsylvania. With $1.6 billion in assets as of May 31, 2018, First Bank offers a traditional range of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses throughout the New York City to Philadelphia corridor. First Bank's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market exchange under the symbol “FRBA”.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, either express or implied, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include information regarding First Bank’s future financial performance, business and growth strategy, projected plans and objectives, and related transactions, integration of the acquired businesses, ability to recognize anticipated operational efficiencies, and other projections based on macroeconomic and industry trends, which are inherently unreliable due to the multiple factors that impact economic trends, and any such variations may be material.  Such forward-looking statements are based on various facts and derived utilizing important assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about First Bank, any of which may change over time and some of which may be beyond First Bank’s control. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. Further, certain factors that could affect our future results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: whether First Bank can: successfully implement its growth strategy, including identifying acquisition targets and consummating suitable acquisitions; continue to sustain its internal growth rate; provide competitive products and services that appeal to its customers and target markets; difficult market conditions and unfavorable economic trends in the United States generally, and particularly in the market areas in which First Bank operates and in which its loans are concentrated, including the effects of declines in housing markets; an increase in unemployment levels and slowdowns in economic growth; First Bank's level of nonperforming assets and the costs associated with resolving any problem loans including litigation and other costs; changes in market interest rates may increase funding costs and reduce earning asset yields thus reducing margin; the impact of changes in interest rates and the credit quality and strength of underlying collateral and the effect of such changes on the market value of First Bank's investment securities portfolio; the extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination governing almost every aspect of First Bank's operations including changes in regulations affecting financial institutions, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and the rules and regulations being issued in accordance with this statute and potential expenses associated with complying with such regulations; First Bank's ability to comply with applicable capital and liquidity requirements, including First Bank’s ability to generate liquidity internally or raise capital on favorable terms, including continued access to the debt and equity capital markets; possible changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations and other activities of governments, agencies, and similar organizations. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in First Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors set forth in First Bank’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if First Bank’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what First Bank anticipates. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and First Bank does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this communication are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that First Bank or persons acting on First Bank’s behalf may issue.

CONTACT:  Patrick L. Ryan, President and CEO

(609) 643-0168,