EXHIBIT 99.1 Harrington West Announces September 2006 Quarter Earnings, Double-Digit Loan Growth, Margin Improvement, and Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of 12.5 Cents Per Share SOLVANG, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2006--Harrington West Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:HWFG), the holding company for Los Padres Bank, FSB (LPB) and its division, Harrington Bank, with $1.1 billion in assets, today announced that it earned net income of $2.1 million or 38 cents per share on a fully diluted basis in the September 2006 quarter compared to $2.1 million and 37 cents per share earned in the same period a year ago. For the first nine months of 2006, HWFG earned net income of $6.3 million, or $1.13 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $6.3 million or $1.12 per share in the same period in 2005. Net income in the September 2006 quarter was positively affected by a favorable tax audit ruling from the California Franchise Tax Board, confirming the apportionment of income to states in which HWFG operates, thus adding $255 thousand to net income in the quarter that had been reserved pending the outcome of the audit. HWFG expects its combined tax rate to normalize to approximately 37.5% in future quarters. Return on average equity was 12.81% in the September 2006 quarter and 13.27% for the first nine months of 2006. Based upon the earnings performance, HWFG's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents per share payable on November 10, 2006 to holders of record on November 3, 2006. The September 2006 quarter was highlighted by the following developments and results: 1. Net loan balances increased 14.1% or $92.1 million from September 30, 2005 to September 30, 2006, and by 3.8% or $27.1 million in the September 2006 quarter to $743.3 million. 2. In the September 2006 quarter, average non-interest bearing deposits were up 3.3% to $47.9 million, while the ending balance of these deposits was up 12.9% to $54.1 million. Overall deposits declined by $2.7 million to $708.5 million in the September 2006 quarter, due primarily to management's decision not to match certificate of deposit promotions of other financial institutions above its borrowing cost. 3. The net interest margin expanded 3 bps in the September 2006 quarter over the June 2006 quarter and by 5 bps over the comparable September 2005 quarter. 4. Credit quality of the loan portfolio remained favorable with $101 thousand of non-performing loans in the September 2006 quarter versus none and $20 thousand in the June 2006 and September 2005 quarters, respectively. 5. The investment securities portfolio, which consists of available for sale and held to maturity securities, declined $5.9 million to $320.7 million in the quarter and is now $70.5 million less than a year ago, as HWFG deploys its capital in loans rather than investments in the tight spread environment. 6. Book value per share was $12.08 at September 30, 2006, compared with $10.85 at September 30, 2005, rising 11.3% over the period. 7. The previously announced HWFG share repurchase program of 200,000 shares remains in effect. No shares have been repurchased under the program. Strategy and Financial Performance HWFG's core strategy is to organically grow loans, deposits, banking offices, and banking fee income on a controlled basis in the markets of the Central Coast of California, the Phoenix metro, and the Kansas City metro. Management has extensive knowledge of and banking experience in these markets, which have favorable demographic and growth characteristics. HWFG seeks to grow the core banking franchise of loans and deposits at high single to low double-digit levels on an annual basis through its expansion of deposit gathering offices, adding lenders and business developers, and emphasizing its diversified product menu and relationship banking approach. HWFG's management also has significant expertise in managing mortgage investments and interest rate risk and seeks to maintain banking risks at a low level. Controlling operating costs congruent with its expansion plans is also a key variable to HWFG's strategic plan. Together, these long term strategies are expected to improve earnings and build franchise and shareholder values. HWFG demonstrated favorable progress in growing its loan portfolio at a double-digit annualized increase of 15.1% in the September quarter. Loan demand remained robust across HWFG's diversified loan product offerings in multiple markets, with lower loan payoff activity in the higher rate environment. Asset quality, too, was generally favorable with $101 thousand of non-performing loans at September 30, 2006. HWFG added $200 thousand to its reserve for loan losses based on the portfolio mix and growth of loans in the quarter. HWFG completed the sale of its real estate owned on October 24, 2006 for the net book value of $1.1 million, with an expected loss of $9 thousand at closing. HWFG Net Loan Growth and Mix - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, December 31, September 30, 2006 2005 2005 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Loan Type % of % of % of Total Total Total Total Total Total - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Commercial Real Estate $260.5 34.7% $253.2 37.2% $260.7 39.5% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Multi-family Real Estate 78.7 10.5% 80.9 11.9% 76.0 11.5% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Construction (1) 106.9 14.2% 70.9 10.4% 55.5 8.4% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Single-family Real Estate 115.1 15.3% 115.9 17.0% 109.0 16.5% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Commercial and Industrial Loans 112.1 14.9% 96.5 14.2% 94.3 14.3% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Acquisition and Development 50.5 6.7% 36.1 5.3% 34.5 5.2% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumer Loans 25.7 3.4% 26.7 3.9% 28.1 4.3% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Loans (2) 2.2 0.3% 1.3 0.2% 1.3 0.2% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Gross Loans $751.70 100.0% $681.50 100.0% $659.40 100.0% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Allowance, Deferred Fees & Discounts/ Premiums (8.4) (8.6) (8.2) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Loans Receivable $743.30 $672.90 $651.20 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Includes loans collateralized by residential, commercial and land properties. (2) Includes loans collateralized by deposits and consumer line of credit loans. Although non-interest bearing deposits grew by $6.2 million, or 12.9% in the quarter, overall deposits declined as HWFG would not match the certificate of deposit rates offered by competition that exceeded its comparable cost of borrowing. As such, total deposits declined $2.7 million in the September quarter, but were $36.8 million or 5.5% over September 30, 2005. The net interest margin expanded for the third consecutive quarter to 2.88%, increasing 3 bps from the June quarter 2006. The mix change from HWFG's loan growth and the reduction of the investment portfolio are increasing HWFG's net interest margin, offset somewhat by the lag in the re-pricing of some floating rate loans (lagging PRIME and cost of funds) and the pressure on deposit cost from competition increasing deposit rates more than general market rates. As a result of the net interest margin expansion and loan growth offsetting the reduction in the investment portfolio, net interest income was $7.7 million in the September 2006 quarter versus $7.6 million in the September 2005 quarter, growing 1.9%. For the first nine months of 2006, net interest income was $23.2 million compared to $22.6 million in the comparable period in 2005, growing 2.6%, in line with the growth in average interest earning assets. Banking fee and other income was $931 thousand in the September 2006 quarter as compared to $1,194 thousand and $1,159 thousand in the June 2006 and September 2005 quarters, respectively. After adjusting for a one-time recovery of $295 thousand in the June 2006 quarter, banking fee and other income sources continued to grow in the September 2006 quarter, increasing $32 thousand over the prior quarter. The $295 thousand was the result of a recovery of back rents and leasehold improvements from a tenant in the Metcalf, KS banking office. However, banking fee income was lower by $228 thousand in the September 2006 over the comparable quarter in 2005 due to lower prepayment penalty fees. Prepayment penalty fees declined $207 thousand from the September 2005 to the September 2006 quarter due to higher market rates and fewer loan prepayments. Banking Fee and Other Income - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- September September September September Banking Fee 2006 2005 % 2006 2005 % Type Quarter Quarter Change YTD YTD Change - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage Brokerage Fee, Prepayment Penalties & Other Loan Fees $176 $409 -57.0% $551 $1,040 -47.0% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Deposit, Other Retail Banking Fees & Other Fee Income 356 334 6.6% 1,302 967 34.6% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Harrington Wealth Management Fees 214 183 16.9% 618 536 15.3% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOLI Income, net 185 233 -20.6% 567 448 26.6% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Banking Fee and Other Income $931 $1,159 -19.7% $3,038 $2,991 1.6% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment portfolio net gains were $150 thousand in the quarter and emanated totally from the tightening of spreads on HWFG's remaining total rate of return swap portfolio held in its trading portfolio. These swaps profit from a tightening of general spreads to comparable LIBOR rates and were entered into partially as a hedge against narrowing security and loan spreads on commercial real estate and residential loans. With the extreme tightening of credit spreads over the last 2 years, HWFG has reduced the notional amount of these swaps from over $160 million to $10 million at September 30, 2006. Management believes that spreads have tightened to an extent that the risk/return tradeoff is not favorable for holding many of these positions. Operating expenses were $5.5 million in the September 2006 quarter, virtually unchanged from the June 2006 quarter and compared to $5.4 million in the September 2005 quarter. Operating expenses have increased largely from the expansion of new banking offices in HWFG's markets and the increase in general corporate and health care benefits. In August, HWFG successfully opened its third Harrington Bank office in the Kansas City metro, representing its 16th office across all markets. HWFG plans to open three new offices in the Phoenix metro market over the next 18 to 24 months in Surprise, Arizona, the Deer Valley Airpark in Phoenix, Arizona, and in Gilbert, Arizona, bringing its Phoenix metro offices to five locations. The Company recently reached definitive contract terms to acquire a 55 thousand square foot parcel at Lindsay and Warner Roads in Gilbert, Arizona, for $1.0 million. It is also investigating opportunities in its California markets to fill-in its market presence. Closing Comments In commenting on the results and developments in September 2006 quarter, Craig J. Cerny, Chairman and CEO of HWFG, stated: "We are pleased to have continued to grow our loan portfolio at double digit rates, while asset quality remains favorable. Our net interest margin also expanded for the third straight quarter despite a very competitive marketplace for deposits and tight spreads on financial assets. We are also pleased with our core, non-costing deposit development in the quarter, although overall deposits did decline due to our not matching certificate of deposit rates of our competitors that are above our cost of borrowing. We remain focused on building out our market franchises and the related loans, core deposits, and fee income sources, utilizing our capital efficiently, and controlling operating expenses, in an effort to improve profitability and shareholder value." Harrington West Financial Group, Inc. is a $1.1 billion, diversified, financial institution holding company for Los Padres Bank and its division Harrington Bank. HWFG operates 16 full service banking offices on the central coast of California, Scottsdale, Arizona, and the Kansas City metro. The Company also owns Harrington Wealth Management Company, a trust and investment management company with $161 million in assets under management or custody. This Release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act. All of the statements contained in the Release, other than statements of historical fact, should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those concerning (i) the Company's strategies, objectives and plans for expansion of its operations, products and services, and growth of its portfolio of loans, investments and deposits, (ii) the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding actions that may be taken by regulatory authorities having oversight of the operation, (iii) the Company's beliefs as to the adequacy of its existing and anticipated allowances for loan and real estate losses, (iv) the Company's beliefs and expectations concerning future operating results and (v) other factors referenced in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Consolidated Financial Data -- Harrington West Financial Group, Inc. (unaudited) Quarter ended Year-to-date (In thousands, except Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, per share data) 2006 2005 2006 2005 - ---------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Interest income $18,978 $15,847 $54,846 $45,318 Interest expense 11,275 8,285 31,642 22,712 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net interest income 7,703 7,562 23,204 22,606 Provision for loan losses 200 - 490 350 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 7,503 7,562 22,714 22,256 Non-interest income: Income (loss) from trading assets 150 89 370 872 Other gain (loss) (26) (7) (28) (13) Banking fee & other income 931 1,159 3,038 2,991 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Non-interest income 1,055 1,241 3,380 3,850 Non-interest expense 5,543 5,379 16,487 15,727 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before income taxes 3,015 3,424 9,607 10,379 Provision for income taxes 913 1,326 3,332 4,095 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net income $2,102 $2,098 $6,275 $6,284 =========== =========== =========== =========== Quarter ended Year-to-date Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Per share: Net income - basic $0.39 $0.39 $1.15 $1.18 Net income - diluted $0.38 $0.37 $1.13 $1.12 Weighted average shares used in Basic EPS calculation 5,448,820 5,364,077 5,435,238 5,338,935 Weighted average shares used in Diluted EPS calculation 5,585,527 5,649,134 5,563,214 5,626,599 Cash dividends $0.13 $0.13 $0.13 $0.11 Book value at period- end $12.08 $10.85 $12.08 $10.85 Tangible Book Value at period end $10.89 $9.61 $10.89 $9.61 Ending shares 5,449,593 5,364,498 5,449,593 5,364,498 Financial ratios Return on average assets 0.73% 0.75% 0.74% 0.76% Return on average equity 12.81% 14.86% 13.27% 15.45% Average equity to average assets (leverage ratio) 5.73% 5.03% 5.55% 4.93% Net interest margin 2.88% 2.83% 2.86% 2.83% Efficiency ratio 64.20% 61.68% 62.83% 61.44% Period averages Total assets $1,135,802 $1,113,282 $1,138,069 $1,103,378 Securities and trading assets $329,143 $399,818 $358,064 $411,519 Total loans, net of allowance $730,840 $641,446 $704,447 $628,943 Total earning assets $1,085,258 $1,067,568 $1,089,296 $1,066,040 Total deposits $704,644 $662,787 $691,109 $584,573 Total equity $65,102 $56,002 $63,211 $54,384 Quarter Ended ------------------------------------ Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Mar. 31, (In thousands, except per share data) 2006 2006 2006 - --------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Interest income $18,978 $18,207 $17,664 Interest expense 11,275 10,510 9,858 ------------------------------------ Net interest income 7,703 7,697 7,806 Provision for loan losses 200 150 140 ------------------------------------ Net interest income after provision for loan losses 7,503 7,547 7,666 Non-interest income: Gain/loss on sale of AFS - (147) (466) Income (loss) from trading assets 150 113 721 Other gain (loss) (26) 2 (4) Banking fee & other income 931 1,194 915 ------------------------------------ Non-interest income 1,055 1,162 1,166 Non-interest expense 5,543 5,560 5,392 ------------------------------------ Income before income taxes 3,015 3,149 3,440 Provision for income taxes 913 1,076 1,342 ------------------------------------ Net income $2,102 $2,073 $2,098 ==================================== Per share: Net income - basic $0.39 $0.38 $0.39 Net income - diluted $0.38 $0.37 $0.38 Weighted average shares used in Basic EPS calculation 5,448,820 5,446,100 5,410,370 Weighted average shares used in Diluted EPS calculation 5,585,527 5,588,019 5,564,236 Cash dividends per share $0.13 $0.13 $0.13 Book value at period-end $12.08 $11.87 $11.51 Tangible Book value at period-end $10.89 $10.67 $10.29 Ending shares 5,449,593 5,447,643 5,418,843 Financial ratios Return on average assets 0.73% 0.73% 0.74% Return on average equity 12.81% 13.04% 14.02% Average equity to average assets (leverage ratio) 5.73% 5.64% 5.29% Net interest margin 2.88% 2.85% 2.83% Efficiency ratio 64.20% 62.54% 61.83% Period averages Total assets $1,135,802 $1,131,525 $1,147,547 Securities and trading assets $329,143 $357,127 $388,578 Total loans, net of allowance $730,840 $697,804 $684,183 Total earning assets $1,085,258 $1,082,200 $1,100,599 Total deposits $704,644 $694,226 $674,124 Total equity $65,102 $63,781 $60,700 Quarter Ended ------------------------- (In thousands, except per share data) Dec. 31, Sep. 30, 2005 2005 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest income $16,738 $15,847 Interest expense 9,186 8,285 ------------------------- Net interest income 7,552 7,562 Provision for loan losses 85 - ------------------------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 7,467 7,562 Non-interest income: Gain/loss on sale of AFS 150 275 Income (loss) from trading assets (86) (186) Other gain (loss) (2) (7) Banking fee & other income 957 1,159 ------------------------- Non-interest income 1,019 1,241 Non-interest expense 5,349 5,379 ------------------------- Income before income taxes 3,137 3,424 Provision for income taxes 1,085 1,326 ------------------------- Net income $2,052 $2,098 ========================= Per share: Net income - basic $0.38 $0.39 Net income - diluted $0.36 $0.37 Weighted average shares used in Basic EPS calculation 5,373,936 5,364,077 Weighted average shares used in Diluted EPS calculation 5,642,716 5,649,134 Cash dividends per share $0.13 $0.12 Book value at period-end $11.06 $10.85 Tangible Book value at period-end $9.82 $9.61 Ending shares 5,384,843 5,364,498 Financial ratios Return on average assets 0.72% 0.75% Return on average equity 13.76% 14.68% Average equity to average assets (leverage ratio) 5.23% 5.03% Net interest margin 2.81% 2.83% Efficiency ratio 62.86% 61.68% Period averages Total assets $1,132,138 $1,113,282 Securities and trading assets $400,823 $399,818 Total loans, net of allowance $659,093 $641,446 Total earning assets $1,086,463 $1,067,568 Total deposits $672,020 $662,787 Total equity $59,181 $56,002 Quarter Ended ------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands, Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sep. 30, except per 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 share data) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance sheet at period-end Cash and due from banks $16,181 $16,508 $18,540 $19,312 $18,314 Investments and fed funds sold 321,512 327,329 367,127 388,407 391,671 Loans, before allowance for loan losses 749,144 721,790 689,668 678,551 656,822 Allowance for loan losses (5,845) (5,614) (5,800) (5,661) (5,576) Goodwill and core deposit intangibles 6,494 6,557 6,620 6,683 6,686 Other assets 58,715 58,983 57,898 52,895 53,730 ------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $1,146,201 $1,125,553 $1,134,053 $1,140,187 $1,121,647 ======================================================= Interest bearing deposits $654,342 $663,168 $645,390 $619,213 $622,961 Non-interest bearing deposits 54,117 47,954 51,373 49,932 48,741 Other borrowings 364,662 343,856 369,908 403,787 377,939 Other liabilities 7,225 5,898 5,024 7,681 13,783 Shareholders' equity 65,855 64,677 62,358 59,574 58,223 ------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,146,201 $1,125,553 $1,134,053 $1,140,187 $1,121,647 ======================================================= Asset quality and capital - at period-end Non-accrual loans $- $- $- $- $20 Loans past due 90 days or more 101 - 466 - - Other real estate owned 1,071 1,021 1,050 - - ------------------------------------------------------- Total non performing assets $1,172 $1,021 $1,516 $- $20 ======================================================= Allowance for losses to loans 0.78% 0.78% 0.84% 0.83% 0.85% Non-accrual loans to total loans 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Non-performing assets total assets 0.10% 0.09% 0.13% 0.00% 0.00% Three months ended (In thousands) September 30, 2006 ---------------------------- Balance Income Rate (6) ---------------------------- Interest earning assets: Loans receivable (1) $730,840 $14,317 7.82% FHLB stock 14,806 205 5.49% Securities and trading account assets (2) 329,143 4,384 5.33% Cash and cash equivalents (3) 10,469 72 2.73% ----------- -------- Total interest earning assets 1,085,258 18,978 6.98% -------- Non-interest-earning assets 50,544 ----------- Total assets $1,135,802 =========== Interest bearing liabilities: Deposits: NOW and money market accounts $89,650 $506 2.24% Passbook accounts and certificates of deposit 567,142 6,360 4.45% Total deposits 656,792 6,866 4.15% FHLB advances (4) 274,185 3,425 4.96% Reverse repurchase agreements 59,439 447 2.94% Other borrowings (5) 25,774 537 8.15% ----------- -------- Total interest-bearing liabilities 1,016,190 11,275 4.38% -------- Non-interest-bearing deposits 47,852 Non-interest-bearing liabilities 6,658 ----------- Total liabilities 1,070,700 Stockholders' equity 65,102 ----------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,135,802 =========== Net interest-earning assets (liabilities) $69,068 =========== Net interest income/interest rate spread $7,703 2.60% ======== ======= Net interest margin 2.88% ======= Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities 106.80% Three months ended (In thousands) September 30, 2005 ---------------------------- Balance Income Rate (6) ---------------------------- Interest earning assets: Loans receivable (1) $641,446 $11,122 6.94% FHLB stock 16,502 180 4.36% Securities and trading account assets (2) 399,818 4,500 4.50% Cash and cash equivalents (3) 9,802 45 1.84% ----------- -------- Total interest earning assets 1,067,568 15,847 5.94% -------- Non-interest-earning assets 45,714 ----------- Total assets $1,113,282 =========== Interest bearing liabilities: Deposits: NOW and money market accounts $123,596 $543 1.76% Passbook accounts and certificates of deposit 491,668 3,687 3.00% Total deposits 615,264 4,230 2.75% FHLB advances (4) 301,848 3,197 4.24% Reverse repurchase agreements 60,023 451 3.01% Other borrowings (5) 25,774 407 6.32% ----------- -------- Total interest-bearing liabilities 1,002,909 8,285 3.30% -------- Non-interest-bearing deposits 47,523 Non-interest-bearing liabilities 6,848 ----------- Total liabilities 1,057,280 Stockholders' equity 56,002 ----------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,113,282 =========== Net interest-earning assets (liabilities) $64,659 =========== Net interest income/interest rate spread $7,562 2.64% ======== ======= Net interest margin 2.83% ======= Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities 106.45% 1) Balance includes non-accrual loans. Income includes fees earned on loans originated and accretion of deferred loan fees. 2) Consists of securities classified as available for sale, held to maturity and trading account assets. 3) Consists of cash and due from banks and Federal funds sold. 4) Interest on FHLB advances is net of hedging costs. Hedging costs include interest income and expense and ineffectiveness adjustments for cash flow hedges. The Company uses pay-fixed, receive floating LIBOR swaps to hedge the short term repricing characteristics of the floating FHLB advances. 5) Consists of other debt and a note payable under a revolving line of credit. 6) Annualized. CONTACT: Harrington West Financial Group, Inc. Craig J. Cerny 480-596-6555 For share transfer information: Lisa F. Watkins 805-688-6644