EX-99 2 exhibit.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED APRIL 29, 2004 Exhibit 99 - Press Release dated April 29

GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS AND DECLARES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

JASPER, INDIANA April 29, 2004—German American Bancorp has reported Net Income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $1,952,000 or $0.18 per share, representing a $.04 per share increase from the $1,534,000 or $.14 per share in the fourth quarter of 2003. The fourth quarter's earnings were adversely impacted by the effect of a $594,000, or $0.05 per share, after-tax prepayment fee on borrowings.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2003, the first quarter of 2004 reflects an $88,000 improvement of the Company's net interest income (resulting in the highest level of quarterly net interest income since the first quarter of 2003 and the highest level of net interest margin since the second quarter of 2002) and a $92,000 reduction in operating expenses (excluding the aforementioned prepayment fee related to the extinguishment of borrowings). Other factors negatively affecting the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter were an $86,000 increase in the provision for loan losses and a $315,000 decline in non-interest income, attributable in part to an increase in mortgage servicing rights impairment charges during the first quarter.

A comparison of reported Net Income to the first quarter of 2003 reflects a $.03 per share decrease from the $2,438,000, or $0.21 per share, earned during the same quarter last year. Last year's results contained the benefit of a provision for loan loss reversal, due to loan loss recoveries during the first quarter of 2003. The resulting difference in provision for loan losses between the two periods was $438,000 while the level of net interest income was $307,000 lower in the current year.

Positively impacting the prior year earnings comparison was a continuation of the Company's double digit growth in non-interest income as it grew by $422,000 or 17% for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003. This improvement in non-interest income was offset by a $434,000 increase in non-interest expense primarily attributable to increases in Salaries and Benefits, Professional Fees and Other Operating Expenses.

The increase in Salaries and Benefits was partially due to an increase in employees resulting from the acquisition of property and casualty insurance agencies completed late in the third quarter of 2003, as well as increased sales-related incentive pay associated with the increased revenue in the insurance and financial advisory services segments. The increase in Professional Fees Expense was largely attributable to expenses to ensure the Company's compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act while the increase in Other Operating Expense was due to an increased level of intangible amortization resulting from the previously mentioned property and casualty insurance agency acquisitions.

In commenting on the Company's first quarter results, Mark A. Schroeder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "We continue to be very pleased that our efforts to enhance and grow our sources of non-interest-related revenue (such as insurance, trust administration, securities brokerage, and financial planning) are working as demonstrated by the continuation of double-digit growth within these areas during the first quarter of the current year as compared to the same quarter last year. This level of strong growth of non-interest dependent fees and services is particularly important during this period of compressed net interest income and net interest margin related to the current historically low interest rate environment. We're also very encouraged that our levels of net interest income and net interest margin seem to have stabilized and begun to show signs of improvement during the first quarter even though we believe we will likely continue to face a less than optimal level of net interest income and net interest margin as long as short-term interest rates remain at their current historically low levels. Until the economic recovery is sufficiently in place to allow for a return of market interest rates to a more normal level, we will continue to work diligently to position German American to be poised to take advantage of the opportunities that will come with a stronger economic climate."

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has declared the regular first quarter cash dividend of $0.14 per share. The dividend will be paid on or before May 20, 2004 to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2004.

German American Bancorp is a financial services holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. The Company's Common Stock is traded on NASDAQ's National Market System under the symbol GABC. The Company operates five affiliated community banks with 27 retail banking offices in the eight contiguous Southwestern Indiana counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Perry, Pike, Spencer and a Business Lending Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Company also operates German American Financial Advisors & Trust Company, a trust, brokerage and financial planning subsidiary operating from the banking offices of the bank subsidiaries and The Doty Agency, Inc., a full-line property and casualty insurance subsidiary with five independent insurance offices throughout its market area. The Company's lines of business include retail and commercial banking, mortgage banking, comprehensive wealth management, full service brokerage and trust administration, title insurance, and a full range of personal and corporate insurance products.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company's statements in this press release regarding its expectations relative to its net interest income and net interest margin and it future financial performance may be deemed to constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. The Company's future net interest income and net interest margin and financial performance may vary materially from the Company's present expectations as stated or implied by such forward-looking statements, due to such factors as the unknown future direction of interest rates and the timing and magnitude of any changes in interest rates; the effects of changes in competitive conditions; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of business initiatives and business strategies; changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies; changes in financial and capital markets; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally, resulting in, among other things, credit quality deterioration; capital management activities; acquisitions of other businesses by the Company; actions of the Federal Reserve Board; and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof.

GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP
(unaudited,dollars in thousands except per share data)

Consolidated Balance Sheets



March 31,
2004
2003
ASSETS            
     Cash and Due from Banks   $ 23,939   $ 29,088  
     Short-term Investments    11,075    27,661  
     Investment Securities    221,937    233,697  
 
     Loans Held for Sale    651    9,418  
 
     Loans, Net of Unearned Income    608,497    598,706  
     Allowance for Loan Losses    (8,436 )  (8,428 )


        Net Loans     600,061    590,278  
 
     Premises and Equipment    21,502    22,419  
     Other Assets    38,924    25,706  


     TOTAL ASSETS   $ 918,089   $ 938,267  


 
LIABILITIES  
     Non-interest-bearing Demand Deposits   $ 114,692   $ 100,685  
     Interest-bearing Demand, Savings, and  
         Money Market Accounts    271,982    244,332  
     Time Deposits Less Than $100,000    277,363    301,545  
     Time Deposits $100,000 or more and  
         Brokered Deposits    60,209    57,369  


        Total Deposits    724,246    703,931  
 
     Borrowings    98,425    138,339  
     Other Liabilities    11,242    12,494  


    TOTAL LIABILITIES    833,913    854,764  


 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  
     Common Stock and Surplus    78,694    69,280  
     Retained Earnings    4,846    12,706  
     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income    636    1,517  


TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY    84,176    83,503  


 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 918,089   $ 938,267  


 
BOOK VALUE PER SHARE   $ 7.69   $ 7.64 (1) 
 
END OF PERIOD SHARES OUTSTANDING    10,940,803    10,416,025 (2) 

Consolidated Statements of Income



Three Months Ended
March 31,
2004
December 31,
2003
March 31,
2003
INTEREST INCOME                
   Interest and Fees on Loans   $ 9,705   $ 9,951   $ 10,888  
   Interest on Short-term  
    Investments    28    66    56  
   Interest on Investment  
    Securities    2,043    2,092    2,505  



  TOTAL INTEREST INCOME    11,776    12,109    13,449  



 
INTEREST EXPENSE  
   Interest on Deposits    3,133    3,246    3,764  
   Interest on Borrowings    1,165    1,473    1,900  



  TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE    4,298    4,719    5,664  



 
   Net Interest Income    7,478    7,390    7,785  
   Provision for Loan Losses    402    316    (36 )



   Net Interest Income after  
     Provision for Loan Losses    7,076    7,074    7,821  



 
NON-INTEREST INCOME  
   Other Operating Income    2,768    3,113    1,973  
   Net Gain on Sales of Loans  
    and Related Assets    182    154    537  
   Net Gain on Sales of  
    Securities    5    3    23  



 
  TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME    2,955    3,270    2,533  



NON-INTEREST EXPENSE  
   Salaries and Benefits    4,615    4,718    4,422  
   Net Loss on Extinguishment of  
    Borrowings    ---    984    ---  
   Other Operating Expenses    3,142    3,131    2,901  



  TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE    7,757    8,833    7,323  



 
   Income before Income Taxes    2,274    1,511    3,031  
   Income Tax Expense    322    (23 )  593  



 
NET INCOME   $ 1,952   $ 1,534   $ 2,438  



 
EARNINGS PER SHARE   $ 0.18   $ 0.14   $ 0.21 (1) 
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE   $ 0.18   $ 0.14   $ 0.20 (1) 
 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:  
   Basic    10,936,799    10,953,785    11,869,714 (1) 
   Diluted    10,976,988    11,002,990    11,915,315 (1) 

(1) Restated for December 2003 stock dividend.
(2) End of period shares outstanding were not restated for the effect of stock dividends.