Exhibit 99.1 Press Release SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP (NASDAQ-SOMH) Somerset Hills Bancorp Reports Earnings; Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.05 Per Share Company Release - 10/ 24 /2008 Bernardsville, N.J., October 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) - Somerset Hills Bancorp (Nasdaq: SOMH) reported net income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008. For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, net income was $425,000 or $0.08 per diluted share compared to $0.09 per diluted share during the third quarter 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net income was $1,236,000, or $0.23 per diluted share compared to $0.29 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The company's net interest income increased in both the quarterly and nine month periods, to $2.7 million in the current quarter and $8.1 million for the first nine months of 2008. These increases were offset by declines in non-interest income of $86 thousand in the three month period, year over year and $371 thousand in the nine month period, year over year and increases in the provision for loan losses of $105 thousand and $320 thousand in the three and nine month periods of 2008 over the prior year, respectively. In addition, interest expenses declined by $1.0 million and $2.4 million in the three and nine month periods of 2008 over the prior year, respectively. The decline in non-interest income reflects the continued decline in gains on sale of mortgage loans. These declines are related to the continued weak housing market, and the disruption in the secondary market for residential mortgage loans. Our net interest margin increased in both the three and nine month periods of 2008 over the comparable period of 2007, as our interest bearing liabilities repriced faster than our interest earning assets in a declining rate market. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 our net interest margin was 4.28% and 4.21%, respectively, compared to 3.94% and 3.92% for the comparable period of 2007. At September 30, 2008, loans increased $6.0 million or 2.9% to $209.8 million from $203.8 million when compared to September 30, 2007. At September 30, 2008 deposits decreased $20.9 million, or 8.1% to $237.1 million from $258.0 million when compared to September 30, 2007. As we mentioned in last quarter's press release, the decrease in deposits is primarily related to the payout of funds held in accounts at the bank pending consummation of certain customer transactions that closed subsequent to last year and the run off of certain deposits originated at promotional rates in connection with the opening of the Bank's Long Valley and Madison branches. At September 30, 2008, total assets were $286.5 million compared to $296.6 million at September 30, 2007. Stewart E. McClure, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer said "All of us now face unprecedented economic conditions which have been challenging for all consumers, businesses and, certainly, financial institutions. We continue to be grateful that we face these times as an extremely well capitalized institution that continues to be profitable and has a great existing franchise in a relatively strong geographic area. Our focus remains on controlling non-interest expenses which showed a 3.2% decrease from the same quarter last year; and credit quality, which is reflected in a decrease of total non-performing loans and oreo since last quarter. Given the current conditions, loan demand remains soft, although we have recently seen a slight improvement as more businesses and individuals seem to be looking to community banks for support. Similarly, competition for deposits has remained fierce. We have chosen to be aggressive in our pursuit of new deposit customers as we see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to attract customers that had previously been entrenched at other institutions. This competition will certainly have a short term negative impact on net interest margins and profitability, but we feel confident in the long term value of growing our customer base." Somerset Hills Bancorp also declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share payable November 28, 2008 to shareholders of record as of November 14, 2008. Somerset Hills Bancorp is a bank holding company for Somerset Hills Bank, a full service commercial bank with offices in Bernardsville, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Morristown, and Summit, New Jersey. Somerset Hills Bank focuses its lending activities on small to medium sized businesses, high net worth individuals, professional practices, and consumer and retail customers. The Bank operates a licensed mortgage company subsidiary, Sullivan Financial Services, Inc. and also operates Somerset Hills Wealth Management Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary licensed to provide financial services, including financial planning, insurance (life, health, property and casualty), mutual funds and annuities for individuals and commercial accounts, and Somerset Hills Title Group, LLC, which, with its partner, Property Title Group, provides title services in connection with the closing of real estate transactions. The common stock of the company is traded on NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SOMH. You can visit our website at www.somersethillsbank.com. Somerset Hills Bancorp Selected Consolidated Financial data (Unaudited) ($ in thousands except per share data) Nine Months Ended September 30 2008 2007 -------- -------- Income Statement Data: Interest income $ 11,337 $ 13,515 Interest expense 3,259 5,634 -------- -------- Net interest income 8,078 7,881 Provision for loan losses 365 45 -------- -------- Net interest income after prov. for loan losses 7,713 7,836 Non-interest income 1,467 1,838 Non-interest expense 7,445 7,448 -------- -------- Income before income taxes 1,735 2,226 Income tax expense 499 666 -------- -------- Net income $ 1,236 $ 1,560 ======== ======== Balance Sheet Data: Total assets $286,522 $296,573 Loans, net 206,930 201,421 Loans held for sale 4,624 5,916 Allowance for loan losses 3,059 2,215 Investment securities held to maturity 12,056 13,422 Investment securities held for sale 22,044 34,034 Deposits 237,124 258,042 Borrowings 11,000 0 Shareholders' equity 36,814 37,210 Performance Ratios: Return on average assets 0.59% 0.71% Return on average equity 4.47% 5.53% Net interest margin 4.21% 3.92% Efficiency ratio 78.0% 76.6% Per Share Data: Earnings per share- Basic $ 0.24 $ 0.30 Earnings per share- Diluted $ 0.23 $ 0.29 Book value per share $ 7.13 $ 7.28 Tangible book value $ 7.13 $ 7.04 Somerset Hills Bancorp Selected Consolidated Financial data (con't) (Unaudited) Sept. 30, June 30, March 30, Dec. 31, Sept. 30, 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 Asset Quality: Nonaccrual loans 1,963 2,100 2,759 3,036 217 OREO property 297 260 0 0 0 Net Charge-offs (recoveries) 506 375 144 0 0 Allowance for loan losses to total loans 1.46% 1.45% 1.53% 1.54% 1.09% Nonperforming loans to total loans 0.94% 1.00% 1.35% 1.46% 0.11% SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP Balance Sheets (in thousands, except for share data) Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Sept. 30, 2008 2007 2007 ----------------------------------- (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) ASSETS Cash and due from banks $ 17,129 $ 12,069 $ 8,982 Federal funds sold 6,000 5,800 14,200 ----------------------------------- Total cash and cash equivalents 23,129 17,869 23,182 Loans held for sale, net 4,624 3,063 5,916 Investment securities held to maturity (Approximate market value of $11,150 in September 2008, $13,531 in December 2007 and $13,344 in September 2007 12,056 13,646 13,422 Investments available for sale 22,044 27,954 34,034 Loans receivable 209,849 208,376 203,778 Less allowance for loan losses (3,059) (3,201) (2,215) Deferred fees 140 82 (142) ----------------------------------- Net loans receivable 206,930 205,257 201,421 Premises and equipment, net 6,095 6,343 6,474 Goodwill, net -- -- 1,191 Bank owned life insurance 8,371 8,111 8,023 Accrued interest receivable 1,203 1,435 1,557 Deferred tax asset 751 723 857 Other real estate owned 297 -- -- Other assets 1,022 1,069 496 ----------------------------------- Total assets $ 286,522 $ 285,470 $ 296,573 =================================== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES Deposits: Non-interest bearing deposits-demand $ 51,137 $ 53,783 $ 46,928 Interest bearing deposits Now, M/M and savings 138,752 159,462 173,506 Certificates of deposit, under $100,000 28,232 19,170 21,530 Certificates of deposit, $100,000 and over 19,003 12,258 16,078 ----------------------------------- Total deposits 237,124 244,673 258,042 ----------------------------------- Federal Home Loan Bank advances 11,000 3,000 -- Accrued interest payable 415 523 749 Taxes payable 177 -- 32 Other liabilities 992 653 540 ----------------------------------- Total liabilities 249,708 248,849 259,363 ----------------------------------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock- 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued -- -- -- *Common stock- authorized 9,000,000 shares of no par value; issued and outstanding, 5,161,412 shares at September 30, 2008, 5,176,586 at December 31, 2007 and 5,116,795 at September 30, 2007 37,214 37,513 37,011 Accumulated (deficit) retained earnings (397) (896) 477 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (3) 4 (278) ----------------------------------- Total stockholders' equity 36,814 36,621 37,210 ----------------------------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 286,522 $ 285,470 $ 296,573 =================================== *Restated to reflect 5% Stock Dividend SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP Statements of Income (Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data) Three Three Nine Nine months months months months ended ended ended ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 2008 2007 2008 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) Interest Income: Loans, including fees $ 3,256 $ 3,816 $ 9,861 $ 10,978 Investment securities 434 628 1,363 1,955 Federal funds sold 11 196 98 543 Interest bearing deposits with other banks 4 10 15 39 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total interest income 3,705 4,650 11,337 13,515 Interest Expense: Deposits 855 1,924 2,967 5,632 Federal funds purchased 12 -- 12 -- Federal Home Loan Bank advances 98 -- 280 2 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total interest expense 965 1,924 3,259 5,634 Net interest income 2,740 2,726 8,078 7,881 Provision for loan losses 150 45 365 45 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 2,590 2,681 7,713 7,836 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Non-Interest Income: Service fees on deposit accounts 83 85 225 255 Gains on sales of mortgage loans, net 249 330 794 1,168 Other income 148 151 448 415 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Non-Interest Income 480 566 1,467 1,838 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Non-Interest Expense Salaries and employee benefits 1,303 1,354 3,918 3,948 Occupancy expense 493 496 1,451 1,418 Advertising & business promotion 78 81 222 308 Stationery and supplies 41 68 138 204 Data processing 137 127 418 388 Other operating expense 417 421 1,298 1,182 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Non-Interest Expense 2,469 2,547 7,445 7,448 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before provision for taxes 601 700 1,735 2,226 Provision for Income Taxes 176 196 499 666 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 425 $ 504 $ 1,236 $ 1,560 ========== ========== ========== ========== *Per share data Net income basic $ 0.08 $ 0.10 $ 0.24 $ 0.30 ========== ========== ========== ========== Net income diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.09 $ 0.23 $ 0.29 ========== ========== ========== ========== *Restated to reflect 5% Stock Dividend Contact: Somerset Hills Bancorp Gerard Riker 908-221-0100 griker@somersethillsbank.com