Limestone Bancorp (LMST) 8-K Porter Bancorp, Inc. Reports $6.5 Million Improvement over Fourth Quarter 2012

Exhibit 99.1

Porter Bancorp, Inc. Reports $6.5 Million Improvement over Fourth Quarter 2012

First Quarter 2013 Net Loss of $524,000

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2013--Porter Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBIB), parent company of PBI Bank, with 18 full-service banking offices in Kentucky, today reported unaudited results for the first quarter of 2013.

The Company reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $524,000, or ($0.04) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013 compared with net income of $985,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012. The first quarter 2012 results included a $2.0 million gain on sale of securities that was not repeated in the first quarter of 2013.

The first quarter 2013 loss of $524,000 represents a $6.5 million improvement compared with the $7.0 million loss reported in the fourth quarter of 2012. The reduced loss benefited from a $6.6 million reduction in the provision for loan losses, higher non-interest income, and lower non-interest expense, including a $2.1 million reduction in other real estate owned expenses, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012.

The provision for loan losses decreased significantly in the first quarter of 2013 to $450,000 compared to $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. The decrease was primarily attributable to the reduction in the loan portfolio size, the slower pace of loans migrating downward in risk grade classification, and lower credit costs for declining collateral values for collateral dependent loans.

We have successfully reduced the size of our balance sheet over the past twelve months in accordance with our capital plan. Average assets were $1.15 billion in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $1.41 billion in the first quarter of 2012. This was accomplished primarily by reducing our commercial real estate and construction and development loans within our loan portfolio and through the redemption of higher cost certificates of deposit accounts. The reduction of our balance sheet was the primary driver for net interest income declining by $3.2 million to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $11.5 million in the first quarter of 2012. Additionally, our net interest margin declined to 3.07% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 3.45% in the first quarter of 2012 and 3.19% in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Financial performance continues to be negatively impacted by the Bank’s high level of non-performing loans and other real estate owned. Non-performing assets, which include loans past due 90 days and still accruing, loans on nonaccrual, and other real estate owned, increased to $165.1 million, or 14.58% of total assets, compared with $138.3 million, or 11.89% of total assets, at December 31, 2012.

Non-accrual loans increased to $120.9 million, or 14.62% of total loans, at March 31, 2013, compared with $94.6 million, or 10.52% of total loans, at December 31, 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to loans for two significant borrowing relationships, which together totaled $36.2 million, being placed on non-accrual. At December 31, 2012, these relationships were past due 30-59 days and 60-89 days, respectively. The increase in non-accrual loans was partially offset by net loan charge-offs in the first quarter of 2013 which totaled $17.3 million. These elevated charge-offs were primarily the result of relieving specific reserves for loans that were deemed to be collateral dependent, in accordance with regulatory guidance.

Total past due and non-accrual loans decreased approximately $21.2 million to $132.0 million at March 31, 2013 from $153.1 million at December 31, 2012.

	March 31, 2013		December 31, 2012		Increase/ (Decrease)
	(in thousands)
Past Due Loans:
30 – 59 Days	$	8,052	$	38,219	$	(30,167	)
60 – 89 Days		2,960		20,303		(17,343	)
90 Days and Over		—		86		(86	)
Nonaccrual Loans		120,943		94,517		26,426
Total Past Due and Nonaccrual Loans	$	131,955	$	153,125	$	(21,170	)

Foreclosed properties at March 31, 2013 increased to $44.2 million compared with $43.7 million at December 31, 2012, and $35.6 million at March 31, 2012. The Company acquired $3.7 million in other real estate owned and sold $2.9 million in other real estate owned during the first quarter of 2013. Fair value write-downs arising from new appraisals or lower marketing prices totaled $307,000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $480,000 in the first quarter of 2012 and $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

At March 31, 2013, PBI Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 5.95% compared to 5.37% at December 31, 2012 and its Total risk-based capital ratio was 10.29% at March 31, 2013 compared to 9.82% at December 31, 2012, which are below the minimums of 9.0% and 12.0% required by the Bank’s Consent Order. At March 31, 2013, Porter Bancorp’s leverage ratio was 4.91%, compared with 4.50% at December 31, 2012, and its Total risk-based capital ratio was 10.16% compared with 9.81% at December 31, 2012.

We are continuing our efforts to strengthen our capital levels and comply with the Consent Order. Management and the Board of Directors are evaluating appropriate strategies for increasing the Company’s capital in order to meet the capital requirements of our Consent Order. These include, among other things, a possible public offering or private placement of common stock to new and existing shareholders. As previously announced, Sandler O’Neill & Partners, LP is acting as our financial advisor and assisting our Board in this evaluation. Asset quality remediation, capital restoration, and lowering the risk profile of the Company continue to be major objectives during 2013 as well as delivering quality financial products and services to our customers throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

PBIB-G

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to Porter Bancorp’s plans, objectives, expectations or future performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “possible,” “seek,” “plan,” “strive” or similar words, or negatives of these words, identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. Porter Bancorp’s actual results in future periods may differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K and subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of the release and Porter Bancorp does not assume any responsibility to update these statements.

Additional Information

Unaudited supplemental financial information for the first quarter ending March 31, 2013 follows.

PORTER BANCORP, INC. Unaudited Financial Information (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three			Three			Three
	Months			Months			Months
	Ended			Ended			Ended
	3/31/13			12/31/12			3/31/12
Income Statement Data
Interest income	$	11,258		$	13,175		$	15,755
Interest expense		2,960			3,601			4,301
Net interest income		8,298			9,574			11,454
Provision for loan losses		450			7,000			3,750
Net interest income after provision		7,848			2,574			7,704
Service charges on deposit accounts		493			566			554
Income from fiduciary activities		517			374			251
Bank card interchange fees		172			174			174
Other real estate owned income		112			178			37
Gains on sales of loans originated for sale		58			78			45
Gains (losses) on sales of securities, net		—			(294	)		2,019
Other		295			330			365
Non-interest income		1,647			1,406			3,445
Salaries & employee benefits		4,139			4,090			4,312
Occupancy and equipment		931			816			886
Other real estate owned expense		791			2,883			1,257
FDIC insurance		639			571			873
Franchise tax		537			494			592
Loan collection expense		1,035			704			360
Professional fees		406			286			356
Communications expense		175			187			180
Postage and delivery		113			115			122
Insurance expense		151			77			97
Other		647			610			612
Non-interest expense		9,564			10,833			9,647
Income (loss) before income taxes		(69	)		(6,853	)		1,502
Income tax expense		—			—			—
Net income (loss)		(69	)		(6,853	)		1,502
Less:
Dividends on preferred stock		438			438			437
Accretion on preferred stock		45			45			45
Earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities		(28	)		(343	)		35
Net income (loss) available to common	$	(524	)	$	(6,993	)	$	985
Weighted average shares – Basic		11,847,907			11,762,330			11,735,451
Weighted average shares – Diluted		11,847,907			11,762,330			11,735,451
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.59	)	$	0.08
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.59	)	$	0.08
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.00		$	0.00		$	0.00

PORTER BANCORP, INC. Unaudited Financial Information (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three			Three			Three
	Months			Months			Months
	Ended			Ended			Ended
	3/31/13			12/31/12			3/31/12
Average Balance Sheet Data
Assets	$	1,151,816		$	1,264,867		$	1,412,606
Loans		872,505			928,974			1,119,181
Earning assets		1,111,469			1,201,711			1,350,878
Deposits		1,053,884			1,162,015			1,279,287
Long-term debt and advances		37,169			37,710			39,551
Interest bearing liabilities		983,481			1,085,424			1,207,855
Stockholders’ equity		47,749			53,229			84,659
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets		(0.02	)%		(2.16	)%		0.43
Return on average equity		(0.59	)		(51.22	)		7.14
Yield on average earning assets (tax equivalent)		4.15			4.38			4.73
Cost of interest bearing liabilities		1.22			1.32			1.43
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)		3.07			3.19			3.45
Efficiency ratio		96.17			96.09			74.90
Loan Charge-off Data
Loans charged-off	$	(17,962	)	$	(5,008	)	$	(2,582	)
Recoveries		671			669			206
Net charge-offs	$	(17,291	)	$	(4,339	)	$	(2,376	)
Non-Accrual Loan Activity
Non-accrual loans at beginning of period	$	94,517		$	88,632		$	92,020
Net principal pay-downs		(4,105	)		(3,576	)		(5,240	)
Charge-offs		(17,472	)		(3,856	)		(2,312	)
Loans foreclosed and transferred to OREO		(3,648	)		(1,998	)		(3,829	)
Loans placed on non-accrual during the period		51,651			15,315			16,591
Non-accrual loans at end of period	$	120,943		$	94,517		$	97,230
Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDRs):
Accruing	$	55,171		$	77,344		$	85,327
Non-accrual		52,592			40,464			46,171
Total	$	107,763		$	117,808		$	131,498
Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) Activity (Net of Allowance)
OREO at beginning of period	$	43,671		$	48,837		$	41,449
Real estate acquired		3,680			1,997			4,216
Valuation adjustment write-downs		(307	)		(2,064	)		(480	)
Proceeds from sales of properties		(2,655	)		(4,908	)		(9,210	)
Loss on sales, net		(197	)		(191	)		(402	)
Capital improvements		—			—			1
OREO at end of period	$	44,192		$	43,671		$	35,574

PORTER BANCORP, INC. Unaudited Financial Information (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	As of			As of			As of
	3/31/13			12/31/12			3/31/12
Assets
Loans	$	827,076		$	899,092		$	1,098,712
Loan loss reserve		(39,839	)		(56,680	)		(53,953	)
Net loans		787,237			842,412			1,044,759
Mortgage loans held for sale		—			507			250
Securities available for sale		183,247			178,476			174,918
Federal funds sold & interest bearing deposits		62,505			41,161			62,560
Cash and due from financial institutions		8,683			8,411			10,047
Premises and equipment		20,667			20,805			21,296
Other real estate owned		44,192			43,671			35,574
Deferred tax assets		—			—			—
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		26,338			27,188			40,219
Total Assets	$	1,132,869		$	1,162,631		$	1,389,623
Liabilities and Equity
Certificates of deposit	$	739,934		$	760,573		$	951,503
Interest checking		83,522			87,234			85,608
Money market		62,111			63,715			63,701
Savings		41,952			39,227			38,631
Total interest bearing deposits		927,519			950,749			1,139,443
Demand deposits		108,841			114,310			114,304
Total deposits		1,036,360			1,065,059			1,253,747
Federal funds purchased & repurchase agreements		2,853			2,634			1,926
FHLB advances		5,324			5,604			6,789
Junior subordinated debentures		31,525			31,975			32,425
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		10,069			10,169			11,945
Total liabilities		1,086,131			1,115,441			1,306,832
Stockholders’ equity		46,738			47,190			82,791
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	1,132,869		$	1,162,631		$	1,389,623
Ending shares outstanding		12,139,975			12,002,421			11,822,102
Book value per common share	$	0.70		$	0.74		$	3.76
Tangible book value per common share		0.55			0.58			3.57
Asset Quality Data
Loan 90 days or more past due still on accrual	$	—		$	86		$	733
Non-accrual loans		120,943			94,517			97,230
Total non-performing loans		120,943			94,603			97,963
Real estate acquired through foreclosures		44,192			43,671			35,574
Other repossessed assets		—			—			11
Total non-performing assets	$	165,135		$	138,274		$	133,548
Non-performing loans to total loans		14.62	%		10.52	%		8.92	%
Non-performing assets to total assets		14.58			11.89			9.61
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans		32.94			59.91			55.07
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		4.82			6.30			4.91
Risk-based Capital Ratios
Tier I leverage ratio		4.91	%		4.50	%		7.30	%
Tier I risk-based capital ratio		6.77			6.46			9.68
Total risk-based capital ratio		10.16			9.81			11.68
FTE employees		264			278			298

CONTACT:
Porter Bancorp, Inc.
John T. Taylor, President, 502-499-4800