Greene County Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GCBC), the holding company for The Bank of Greene County and its subsidiary Greene County Commercial Bank, today reported net income for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2012, which is the second quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Net income for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2012 totaled $3.4 million, or $0.82 per basic and $0.81 per diluted share, and $1.7 million, or $0.40 per basic and $0.39 per diluted share, respectively, as compared to $3.0 million, or $0.72 per basic and diluted share, and $1.5 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2011, respectively, an increase of $429,000, or 14.3%, and $174,000, or 11.6% for these same periods in the prior year.

Donald E. Gibson, President and CEO stated; “In light of the historically low interest environment and the net interest margin compression our industry has been experiencing we are proud to report another solid quarter.

A large part of our strategy to offset margin compression has been to focus on growing quality loans. Over the last two years we have introduced several new residential and commercial loan products and have increased the size of our lending team by over 50%. We believe this emphasis along with personal service has played a large role in growing our net loans by over $20.0 million over the last six months and will serve us well in the future.”

Selected highlights for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2012 are as follows:

• Net interest income increased $340,000 to $10.8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2012 compared to $10.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2011 and increased $147,000 to $5.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared to $5.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. The increase in average balances of loans and securities, along with a decrease in rates paid on deposit accounts, primarily led to an increase in net interest income when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
• Net interest rate spread decreased 21 basis points to 3.58% for the six months ended December 31, 2012 from 3.79% for the six months ended December 31, 2011, and decreased 29 basis points to 3.47% for the three months ended December 31, 2012 from 3.76% for the three months ended December 31, 2011. Net interest margin decreased 25 basis points to 3.67% for the six months ended December 31, 2012 from 3.92% for the six months ended December 31, 2011, and decreased 33 basis points to 3.55% for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 as compared to 3.88% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. Despite increased net interest income from increased volume of loans and securities and a lower cost of funds, declines in the yields on interest-earning assets resulted in our net interest spread and net interest margin decreasing when comparing the three and six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Although the Company has benefited from re-pricing its interest-bearing liabilities in the continuing historically low interest rate environment, the average interest rates earned on our loans and investments have similarly continued to re-price into lower yields.
• The provision for loan losses amounted to $985,000 and $896,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, an increase of $89,000 or 9.9%. The provision for loan losses amounted to $541,000 and $422,000 for the quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The allowance for loan losses totaled $6.8 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $6.2 million at June 30, 2012 and $5.6 million at December 31, 2011. The level of allowance for loan losses to total loans receivable increased to 1.91% at December 31, 2012 compared to 1.86% at June 30, 2012, and 1.77% at December 31, 2011.
• Net charge-offs amounted to $398,000 and $348,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, an increase of $50,000.
• Nonperforming loans amounted to $7.1 million and $7.0 million at December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively, an increase of $58,000 or 0.8%. Nonperforming loans remain high compared to historical levels as a result of adverse changes in the economy and local unemployment, which have been compounded by the extended length of time required to complete foreclosures in New York State. At December 31, 2012, nonperforming assets were 1.16% of total assets and nonperforming loans were 2.04% of net loans.
• Noninterest income increased $153,000 and $88,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Noninterest income amounted to $2.6 million and $1.3 million for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2012, respectively. These increases were primarily the result of higher service charges on deposit accounts due to growth in the number of deposit accounts, as well as an increase in fees earned through investment services.
• Noninterest expense decreased $7,000 and $22,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These decreases were primarily due to a decrease in legal and professional fees, equipment and furniture expense, occupancy expense, and other expenses. The decrease in legal and professional fees of $68,000 and $43,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were the result of lower costs for legal services related to loans in process of foreclosure and consulting services related to the implementation of strategic objectives. The decrease in equipment and furniture expense was the result of lower depreciation as assets previously capitalized have become fully depreciated. The decrease in other expenses was the result of the recognition of a loss on foreclosed assets of $27,700 and $131,500 for the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in salaries and employee benefits, service and data processing fees, and advertising and promotion. The increase in salaries and employee benefits of $129,000 and $63,000 when comparing the six months and three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, was primarily the result of an increase in the number of employees. Included in the increases in service and data processing fees of $39,000 and $13,000 when comparing the six months and three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were increased costs associated with the increase in the number of accounts with a debit card.
• Total assets of the Company were $624.5 million at December 31, 2012 as compared to $590.7 million at June 30, 2012, an increase of $33.8 million, or 5.7%.
• Securities available for sale and held to maturity amounted to $245.4 million, or 39.3% of assets, at December 31, 2012 as compared to $233.9 million, or 39.6% of assets, at June 30, 2012, an increase of $11.5 million or 4.9%.
• Net loans grew by $20.7 million or 6.3% to $347.5 million at December 31, 2012 as compared to $326.8 million at June 30, 2012. The loan growth experienced during the six months primarily consisted of $5.5 million in nonresidential real estate loans, $11.5 million in residential mortgage loans, $2.3 million in construction loans, $111,000 in multi-family mortgage loans and $2.0 million in non-mortgage loans, and was partially offset by a $587,000 increase in the allowance for loan loss. The continued low interest rate environment and strong customer satisfaction from personal service continued to enhance loan growth.
• Total deposits increased to $545.7 million at December 31, 2012 from $511.9 million at June 30, 2012, an increase of $33.8 million, or 6.6%. This increase was partially the result of an increase of $13.5 million in balances at the Greene County Commercial Bank due primarily to the annual collection of taxes by several local school districts.
• Borrowings decreased $700,000 from $21.0 million at June 30, 2012 to $20.3 million at December 31, 2012. During the quarter and six months ended December 31, 2012, the Company prepaid $1.0 million in long term borrowings and recognized a prepayment penalty of $43,000.
• Total shareholders’ equity increased $1.9 million to $54.6 million at December 31, 2012, or 8.7% of total assets, from $52.7 million at June 30, 2012 primarily resulting from $3.4 million in net income for the six-month period less the payment of $1.5 million in dividends during the period.

Headquartered in Catskill, New York, the Company provides full-service community-based banking in its twelve branch offices located in Greene, Columbia and Albany Counties. Customers are offered 24-hour services through ATM network systems, an automated telephone banking system and Internet Banking through its web site at http://www.tbogc.com.

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, competition, technological developments, retention and recruitment of qualified personnel, and market acceptance of the Company’s pricing, products and services.