BOWIE, Md., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WSB Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSB), the parent company of Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B., (the "Bank") today announced results of operations for both its fourth quarter and the twelve month period ending December 31, 2008. WSB Holdings became the holding company of the Bank as of January 3, 2008. WSB reports financial results on a calendar year basis (unlike the Bank's previous fiscal year). Accordingly, results of operations and other financial data for periods prior to January 1, 2008 are for the Bank.

WSB reports net income of $327,000 or $0.04 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2008, a 30% increase in net earnings compared to net income of $252,000 or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the comparable period of the prior year. WSB reports net income of $236,000, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the year ending December 31, 2008, representing an 88% decrease in net earnings of $2.0 million or $0.27 per basic share and $0.25 per diluted share for the prior year.

WSB also announced a four-cent per share cash dividend to be paid February 16, 2009 to stockholders of record as of February 06, 2009.

The decrease in net income for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 is primarily the result of the Bank allocating an additional $2,230,000 to its Allowance for Loan Losses during the year. The decrease in net income also reflects a 9% decrease in net interest income which offsets the 6% increase in non-interest income, compared to the same twelve month period last year. The decrease in net-interest income is primarily the result of a decrease in the yield on earning assets and an increase in the average volume of interest bearing liabilities. The increase in non-interest income is primarily the result of an increase in the gain on sale of investments, partially offset by decreases in gain on sale of loans and loan related fees.

As previously reported the Bank continues to see the effects of the deteriorating economy with a continued increase in previously reported delinquent and nonperforming loans. "While this level of nonperforming assets impairs our ability to generate income similar to previous periods, the Bank is well in excess of regulatory standards of 'well capitalized' and we remain confident in our ability to manage through this difficult economic environment," said Phillip C. Bowman, Chief Executive Officer.

About The Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B.

The Washington Savings Bank, F.S.B., now celebrating its 27th year, is a $446 million full service community bank serving the business and consumer needs of the Washington, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Southern Maryland communities.

Headquartered in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, WSB serves the banking needs of growing businesses with commercial lending facilities, commercial real estate financing, residential mortgages, and residential construction financing for both developers and individual home owners. The Bank offers a full range of deposit services and products for both consumers and businesses, through internet banking and its branches located in Anne Arundel, Prince George, and Charles counties. Remote deposit capture services for our commercial customers now allow us a commercially viable means to serve the depository needs of businesses beyond our branch network. The Bank continues to offer temporarily FDIC insurance coverage of $250,000 per depositor through December 31, 2009.

For more information, visit http://www.twsb.com or call 301-352-3120.

                          FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                               (Unaudited)

                                     Three Months Ended December 31,
                                     -------------------------------
                                  2008               2007        % Change
                                  ----               ----        --------
    Interest Income         $6,430,000         $6,848,000          (6)%
    Interest Expense        $3,772,000         $3,913,000          (4)%
    Net Interest Income     $2,658,000         $2,935,000          (9)%
    Non-Interest Income       $840,000           $884,000          (5)%
    Non-Interest Expenses   $3,225,000         $3,287,000          (2)%
    Provision for Loan
     Losses                   $130,000           $200,000         (35)%
    Net Income                $327,000           $252,000          30%
    Basic Income Per
     Share                       $0.04              $0.03          33%
    Diluted Income Per
     Share                       $0.04              $0.03          33%
    Dividends
     Declared Per Share          $0.04              $0.04           0%
    Average Shares
     Outstanding             7,563,523          7,591,689          (0)%
    Average Diluted
     Shares Outstanding      7,748,246          8,025,447          (3)%

                                     Twelve Months Ended December 31,
                                     --------------------------------
                                  2008               2007        % Change
                                  ----               ----        --------
    Interest Income        $27,064,000        $27,729,000          (2)%
    Interest Expense       $15,538,000        $15,076,000           3%
    Net Interest Income    $11,526,000        $12,653,000          (9)%
    Non-Interest Income     $3,163,000         $2,996,000           6%
    Non-Interest Expenses  $12,636,000        $12,488,000           1%
    Provision for Loan
     Losses                 $2,230,000           $200,000        1015%
    Net Income                $236,000         $2,048,000         (88)%
    Basic Income Per Share       $0.03              $0.27         (89)%
    Diluted Income Per Share     $0.03              $0.25         (88)%
    Dividends Declared Per
     Share                       $0.18              $0.08         125%
    Average Shares
     Outstanding             7,585,155          7,571,720           0%
    Average Diluted Shares
     Outstanding             7,910,908          8,086,352          (2)%


                                          As of December 31,
                                          ------------------
                                  2008               2007      % Change
                                  ----               ----      --------
    Total Assets          $454,542,000       $453,376,000           0%
    Non-Accrual Loans      $18,327,000        $11,554,000          59%
    Accruing Loans More
     than 4 Months Past
     Due                            $0                 $0           0%
    Non-Performing Loans   $18,327,000        $11,554,000          59%
    Non-Performing Assets  $23,773,000        $12,587,000          89%
    Total Loans
     Held-For-Investment  $241,941,000       $227,579,000           6%
    Deposits and
     Borrowings           $398,255,000       $387,373,000           3%
    Total Stockholders'
     Equity                $53,690,000        $63,911,000         (16)%
    Book Value Per Share         $6.86              $7.79         (12)%
    Return on Average
     Assets                       0.05%              0.47%        (89)%
    Return on Average
     Equity                       0.39%              3.26%        (88)%


                                                          Excess over Levels
                                       To be considered    to be Considered
    As of                              Well Capitalized    Well Capitalized
    December     Washington Savings      Under Prompt        Under Prompt
    31, 2008:        Bank, F.S.B.      Corrective Action   Corrective Action

                  Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio    Amount     Ratio
    Tier 1
     capital
     (to risk
     weighted
     assets)    $52,250,265  17.91%  $17,510,108   6.00%  $34,740,157 11.91%

    Total
     capital
     (to risk
     weighted
     assets)     55,130,994  18.89%   29,183,514  10.00%   25,947,480  8.89%

    Core
     capital
     (leverage)
     (to
     tangible
     assets)     52,250,265  11.37%   22,969,041   5.00%   29,281,224  6.37%

Forward-Looking Statements: The statement in this release regarding the Company's ability to manage through the current economic environment is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of and pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statement is based on current expectations and assessments of potential developments affecting market conditions, interest rates and other economic conditions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement made in this release. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, further deterioration in the housing market or in general economic conditions in our market areas, the impact of new governmental regulations, and unexpected changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand and real estate values, as well as other risks and uncertainties, as described by the Bank in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2007 and in such other reports filed with the Office of Thrift Supervision, which are available on the Bank's website at www.twsb.com. WSB will not update forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after a forward-looking statement was made.

SOURCE WSB Holdings, Inc.