CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, Potomac Bancshares Inc. (OTC-QB: PTBS) earned $608 thousand or 18 cents per share compared to $554 thousand or 16 cents a share for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, an improvement of 10%. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, the company earned $2.16 million or 64 cents per share compared to earnings of $2.33 million or 69 cents per share for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of 7.3%. There are several reasons for the decline in earnings. First, there was an increase in the loan loss provision of $1.1 million in 2014 compared to 2013. The majority of this provision was set aside for a loan that was put on non-accrual status during the third quarter of 2014. The remainder of the provision was allocated to the reserve based on the growth in loans experienced in 2014 compared to 2013 of $25.1 million or 11%. The second reason for the decline, which was anticipated, was due to the incremental expenses incurred with the expansion into the Hagerstown, Maryland market. As outlined in previous communications, we have exceeded projections at both the Hagerstown and Middleburg, Virginia locations in 2014 and expect the two offices to positively contribute to the bottom line in 2015. To fund the aforementioned loan growth in 2014, we were able to grow deposits $18.2 million or 7% during 2014.

Based on the bank's performance during the fourth quarter of 2014, the Board of Directors of Potomac Bancshares Inc. at its January 2015 meeting declared a dividend of 5.25 cents per share to all shareholders of record on January 26, 2015. This dividend will be payable on February 2, 2015 and represents a 24% increase in the 4.25 cents per share dividend paid on November 3, 2014.

Also in the fourth quarter of 2014, Anthony P. Zelenka was elected to the Board of Directors of both Bank of Charles Town and Potomac Bancshares Inc. Zelenka is President and Chief Operating Officer of University Healthcare's Berkeley Medical Center and is also President of the Berkeley County Development Authority. President and CEO of Potomac Bancshares Inc. and Bank of Charles Town Robert F. Baronner said of Zelenka, "Tony has a proven track record of improving and expanding Berkeley Medical Center. His insight into an evolving healthcare industry will be invaluable to the bank and we feel he will be a very valuable addition to the Board."

Bank of Charles Town, a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares Inc., is a locally owned community bank with seven offices serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Washington County, Maryland and Middleburg, Virginia. For more information, visit us online at www.mybct.com or speak to one of our staff by calling (304) 725-8431.



                                                                                                                                                                                     FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

                                                                                                                                                                                   POTOMAC BANCSHARES, INC.




                                                                                                                                                                     Three Months Ended                                               Twelve Months Ended


    (Unaudited - dollars in thousands, except per share data)                                                                                                                        December 31, 2014                                                 December 31, 2013                                     December 31, 2014   December 31, 2013
                                                                                                                                                                                     -----------------                                                 -----------------                                     -----------------   -----------------

    Earnings Performance

         Interest Income                                                                                                                                                                        $3,083                                                             $2,894                                                $12,072              $11,487

         Interest Expense                                                                                                                                                                          370                                                                301                                                  1,275                1,240
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ---                                                                ---                                                  -----                -----

         Net Interest Income                                                                                                                                                                     2,713                                                              2,593                                                 10,797               10,247

         Provision For (Recovery of) Loan Losses                                                                                                                                                    61                                                              (300)                                                   814                (300)

         Non-Interest Income                                                                                                                                                                     1,148                                                              1,190                                                  4,503                4,567

         Non-Interest Expense                                                                                                                                                                    2,870                                                              3,293                                                 11,268               11,698
                                                                                                                                                                                                 -----                                                              -----                                                 ------               ------

              Income  Before Income Tax Expense                                                                                                                                                    930                                                                790                                                  3,218                3,416

         Income Tax Expense                                                                                                                                                                        322                                                                236                                                  1,059                1,088
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ---                                                                ---                                                  -----                -----

              Net Income                                                                                                                                                                          $608                                                               $554                                                 $2,159               $2,328


         Annualized Return  On Average Equity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7.06%               8.30%

         Annualized Return  On Average Assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            0.70%               0.79%


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             December 31, 2014   December 31, 2013
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             -----------------   -----------------


    Balance Sheet Highlights

         Total Assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 $320,919             $296,694

         Investment Securities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          33,892               32,554

         Loans, Net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    253,360              228,264

         Deposits And Cash Management Accounts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         279,196              260,955

         Shareholders' Equity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          $30,050              $29,765


                                                                                                                                                                     Three Months Ended                                               Twelve Months Ended


                                                                                                                                                                                     December 31, 2014                                                 December 31, 2013                                     December 31, 2014   December 31, 2013
                                                                                                                                                                                     -----------------                                                 -----------------                                     -----------------   -----------------


    Shareholders' Value (per share)

         Earnings  Per Share, Basic                                                                                                                                                              $0.18                                                              $0.16                                                  $0.64                $0.69

         Earnings  Per Share, Diluted                                                                                                                                                             0.18                                                               0.16                                                   0.64                 0.69

         Cash Dividends Declared (per share)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              0.17                 0.12

         Book Value At Period End (per share)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            $8.86                $8.78


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             December 31, 2014   December 31, 2013
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             -----------------   -----------------


    Safety and Soundness

         Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Leverage Ratio)*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         10.07%              10.11%

         Non-Performing Assets As A Percentage Of

              Total Assets Including OREO                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2.00%               2.02%

         Allowance For Loan Losses As A Percentage Of

              Period End Loans                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1.04%               1.35%

         Ratio Of Net Charge-Offs Annualized During The Period To

              Average Loans Outstanding During The Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                0.52%               0.10%


    * When computing capital ratios, the net of unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities available for sale and the unfunded liability for pension and other post-retirement benefits, all computed net of tax, are added back to these shareholders' equity figures. Capital ratios are preliminary.

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SOURCE Potomac Bancshares, Inc.