[LOGO] GFSB BANCORP, INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: - --------------------- -------------------------------- September 20, 2004 Jerry R. Spurlin, Chief Financial Officer (505) 726-6500 GFSB BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES EARNINGS Gallup, New Mexico - GFSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ SmallCap: GUPB), parent holding company of Gallup Federal Savings Bank, Gallup, New Mexico, today announced earnings for the year ended June 30, 2004, of $1,350,000 ($1.14 per diluted share). Earnings for the same period a year earlier were $1,690,000 ($1.46 per diluted share). For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, earnings were $198,000 ($0.17 per diluted share) compared to $473,000 ($0.41 per diluted share) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. The decrease in earnings for the full year is primarily the result of a $260,000 increase in non-interest expense and a $517,000 increase in the provision for loan losses, partially offset by an increase in net interest earnings of $65,000, an increase in non-interest earnings of $244,000 and a $128,000 decrease in income tax expense. The fourth quarter earnings decline reflected a $263,000 increase in the provision and $109,000 decrease in net interest income which offset a $73,000 increase in non-interest income and a $30,000 decrease in non-interest expense. The increase in non-interest income for the full year was primarily due to a $263,000 increase in service charge income and a $44,000 increase in miscellaneous income, partially offset by a $62,000 decrease in net gains from sales of loans. The increase in service charge income is primarily due to increased insufficient funds charges collected on NOW and checking accounts because of increased volume of insufficient funds checks. The increase in miscellaneous income is primarily due to gains on the sale of other real estate owned. The decrease in income tax expense is primarily due to a decrease in earnings before income taxes. For the quarter, non-interest income increased $73,000, primarily due to a $55,000 increase in service charge income and a $13,000 increase in net gains from sales of loans. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily attributable to bank growth and an $82,000 increase in professional fees, which is primarily due to $52,000 in fees paid to consultants for services related to the Company's recently announced plans to merge with First Federal Banc of the Southwest, Inc., and a $30,000 increase in legal fees, audit expense and accounting fees largely due to the Company's efforts to comply with requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. For the quarter, non-interest expense decreased $30,000, primarily due to a $34,000 decrease in advertising and a $5,000 decrease in occupancy expense, partially offset by a $10,000 increase in data processing. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.O. Box 820 o 221 West Aztec o Gallup, NM 87301 The increase in the provision for loan losses for the full year and fourth quarter was primarily the result of an increase in classified loans, an increase in charge-offs and growth in commercial and commercial real estate loans. At June 30, 2004, the Company's capital to asset ratio was 7.8%, with assets and stockholders' equity of $232.1 million and $18.1 million, respectively. This release may contain forward-looking statements. We caution that such statements may be subject to a number of uncertainties and actual results could differ materially and, therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. 2 GFSB BANCORP, INC. Selected Financial Information (Unaudited) (dollars in thousands, except per share data) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION At Period End ------------------------------ 06/30/04 06/30/03 ------------------------------ Cash and investments 39,625 37,208 Mortgage-backed securities 30,680 38,517 FHLB stock 4,409 4,333 Loans receivable, net 152,431 146,264 Loans held-for-sale 411 132 Premises and equipment 2,514 2,314 Prepaid and other assets 2,017 1,187 ============================== TOTAL ASSETS 232,087 229,955 Deposits 133,860 129,759 Advances from FHLB 73,652 76,642 Other Secured Borrowings 4,815 3,658 Repurchase agreements 157 585 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,471 1,567 Stockholders' equity 18,132 17,744 ============================== TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 232,087 229,955 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS ----------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Fiscal Year Ended ----------------------------------------- 06/30/04 6/30/03 06/30/04 06/30/03 Interest earnings 2,955 3,318 12,114 12,743 Interest expense 1,266 1,520 5,469 6,162 ----------------------------------------- NET INTEREST EARNINGS 1,689 1,798 6,645 6,581 Provision for loan losses 500 237 969 452 ----------------------------------------- NET INTEREST EARNINGS AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 1,189 1,561 5,676 6,129 Non-interest income 233 160 867 623 Non-interest expense 1,156 1,186 4,630 4,370 ----------------------------------------- EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 266 535 1,913 2,382 Provision for income taxes 68 62 563 692 ----------------------------------------- NET EARNINGS 198 473 1,350 1,690 Weighted average number of 1,132 1,118 1,127 1,115 shares outstanding- basic Earnings per common share-basic 0.17 0.42 1.20 1.52 Weighted average number of 1,194 1,166 1,183 1,160 shares outstanding- diluted Earnings per common share-diluted 0.17 0.41 1.14 1.46 3