Exhibit 99

15985 East High Street
P. O. Box 35
Middlefield, Ohio 44062
Phone: 440/632-1666 FAX: 440/632-1700
www.middlefieldbank.com

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: James R. Heslop, 2nd
Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
(440) 632-1666 Ext. 3219
jheslop@middlefieldbank.com

Middlefield Banc Corp. Earnings Increase and Continued Asset Growth for First Quarter

MIDDLEFIELD, OHIO, April 26, 2010 ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Middlefield Banc Corp. (Pink Sheets: MBCN), parent of The Middlefield Banking Company and Emerald Bank, today announced the following results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

• Total assets increased $35.4 million, or 6.3%, from December 31, 2009

• Net interest income in a year-to-year comparison grew $0.8 million or 26.2%

• Total deposits stood at $522.3 million, an increase of 7.2% from year-end 2009

• Net loans grew $5.7 million during the quarter, ending up 1.6%

• Diluted earnings per common share for the quarter were $0.41, up 5.1% from the first quarter of 2009.

The company reported that earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, were $645,000 compared to earnings of $603,000 for the same period in the prior year. Earnings per diluted share for the 2010 quarter were $0.41, while those reported for the 2009 period were $0.39.

During the 2010 first quarter, net interest income increased $842,000 from the first quarter of 2009. This was offset by a $285,000 higher provision for loan losses, and an increase in other total non-interest expense of $562,000. Non-interest income during the first quarter of 2010 was $15,000 below that reported in the same period of 2009.

Annualized returns on average equity (“ROE”) and average assets (“ROA”) for the 2010 quarter were 7.06% and 0.45%, respectively, compared with 7.00% and 0.52% for the first quarter of 2009.

“We are pleased to report positive earnings for the first quarter of 2010,” stated Thomas G. Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer, “Historically low interest rates have permitted the opportunity to improve our net interest margin. We have also maintained our focus on managing our non-interest expenses. The dollar increase in this area is attributable to the continued growth of the company.”

“The first quarter of the new year has also witnessed continued strong growth in our deposit base. However, loan demand within our markets has remained soft. While we continue to seek strong quality credits, we have deployed our additional funding into our securities portfolio. We have also reduced the level of borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank.”

“In a broad sense, we are cautiously optimistic that a transition to better economic times will begin in 2010. As we work through that interim period, our focus remains keen on delivering excellence in customer service, increasing value to our shareholders, and operating our company in accordance with safe and sound banking practices,” Caldwell concluded.

Asset Quality

The provision for loan losses for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 increased 185% to $439,000 compared to the $154,000 for the comparable period of 2009. “To a great extent, the success of our company is dependent upon sustainable economic activity within the markets we serve. Many within our market area have been negatively impacted by weaknesses within the various economic segments. Our asset quality numbers reflect these factors, including continued high unemployment, increased levels of under-employment, and lower real estate values,” said Donald L. Stacy, Chief Financial Officer of Middlefield Banc Corp. “As we have reported earlier, credit issues are tied to owner occupied residential properties in our northeastern Ohio markets, while our central Ohio market is reporting delinquencies tied to non-owner occupied residential properties.”

Stacy continued, “We believe that it is prudent, in light of these on-going economic issues and heightened regulatory scrutiny, to operate with higher levels of general loan loss reserves. During 2010, we will continue to provide a higher than historic level of provision to address credit quality issues.”

The following table summarizes asset quality and reserve coverage ratios as of the end of the last four quarters.

				Asset Quality History
				(dollars in thousands)
	3/31/2010			12/31/2009			3/31/2009			12/31/2008
Nonperforming loans	$	18,143		$	16,285		$	13,370		$	8,481
Real estate owned		2,175			2,164			1,331			1,106
Nonperforming assets	$	20,318		$	18,449		$	14,701		$	9,587
Allowance for loan losses	$	5,279		$	4,937		$	3,621		$	3,557
Ratios:
Nonperforming loans to total loans		5.04	%		4.61	%		4.16	%		2.64	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets		3.42	%		3.30	%		3.14	%		2.11	%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		1.47	%		1.40	%		1.13	%		1.11	%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans		29.10	%		30.31	%		27.08	%		41.94	%

The increased loan loss provision, which has significantly outpaced loan charge-offs, has strengthened the allowance for loan losses. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans increased to 1.47% of total loans at March 31, 2010, compared to the 1.40% reported at December 31, 2009, and 1.11% at December 31, 2008.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $4.06 million, an increase of 26.2% from the $3.21 million reported for the comparable quarter of 2009. The net interest margin was 3.29%, representing an increase from the 2009 first quarter of 3.21%. While interest income was negatively impacted by an increase in the total of non-performing loans, the company benefited from an historically low interest rate environment. Total interest expense of $2.87 million was 7.8% below the level experienced during the first quarter of 2009, which was $3.11 million.

Non-Interest Income and Operating Expenses

Non-interest income decreased $15,000 for the three-month period of 2010 from the comparable 2009 period. A decrease in service charges on deposit accounts and lower earnings on bank-owned life insurance were partially offset by a gain on the sale of investment securities and a slight increase in other fee income.

Non-interest expense of $3.56 million for the first quarter of 2010 was 18.8%, or $562,000 higher than the first quarter of 2009. Increases in salaries and employee benefits of $140,000 are primarily attributable to staff additions in accounting and special assets, as well as an increase in health insurance costs. Equipment expense was $75,000 higher in the 2010 quarter than for the 2009 period. The company’s two affiliate banks are moving to a new core data processing provider in late April and have incurred additional expense related to that migration. Increases in the FDIC deposit insurance assessment and occupancy expense are directly related to the growth of the company. Other expenses were $289,000 higher in the 2010 period than in the same quarter of 2009. Losses on other real estate and costs associated with maintaining owned properties, as well as legal fees in pursuing collection activities accounted for $239,000 of the increase.

Balance Sheet Growth

The company’s total assets as of March 31, 2010 stood at $594.0 million, an increase of 6.3% over the $558.7 million in total assets reported at December 31, 2009. Net loans at March 31, 2010, were $354.4 million, up $5.7 million, or 1.6%, over the $348.7 million reported at December 31, 2009. Total deposits at the end of the first quarter 2010 were $522.3 million, or 7.2% greater than the deposit level of $487.1 million at December 31, 2009.

The investment portfolio, which is entirely classified as available for sale, stood at $164.9 million at March 31, 2010. This figure represented growth within that portfolio of $28.1 million from the prior year-end. Stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2010, was $37.7 million. Book value per share as of March 31, 2010, was $24.05.

Dividends

During the first quarter of both 2010 and 2009, Middlefield paid cash dividends of $0.26 per share.

Middlefield Banc Corp. headquartered in Middlefield, Ohio is a multi-bank holding company with total assets of $594.0 million. The company’s lead bank, The Middlefield Banking Company, operates full service banking centers and a UVEST Financial Services^® brokerage office serving Chardon, Cortland, Garrettsville, Mantua, Middlefield, Newbury, and Orwell. The company also serves the central Ohio market through its Emerald Bank subsidiary, with offices in Dublin and Westerville, Ohio. Additional information is available at www.middlefieldbank.com and www.emeraldbank.com

This press release of Middlefield Banc Corp. and the reports Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission often contain “forward-looking statements” relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry and, specifically, the financial operations, markets and products of Middlefield Banc Corp. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause Middlefield Banc Corp.’s future results to differ materially from historical performance or projected performance. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) a significant increase in competitive pressures among financial institutions; (2) changes in the interest rate environment that may reduce interest margins; (3) changes in prepayment speeds, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (4) less favorable than expected general economic conditions; (5) legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect businesses in which Middlefield Banc Corp. is engaged; (6) technological issues which may adversely affect Middlefield Banc Corp.’s financial operations or customers; (7) changes in the securities markets; or (8) risk factors mentioned in the reports and registration statements Middlefield Banc Corp. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Middlefield Banc Corp. undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Middlefield Banc Corp.

Consolidated Selected Financial Highlights

March 31, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009

	(unaudited)						(unaudited)
Balance Sheet (period end)	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2010			2009			2009
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	13,039		$	12,909		$	12,569
Federal funds sold		28,492			28,123			5,780
Interest-bearing deposits in other institutions		123			121			119
Cash and cash equivalents		41,654			41,153			18,468
Investment securities available for sale		164,852			136,711			102,324
Loans		359,651			353,597			326,688
Less allowance for loan losses		5,279			4,937			3,620
Net loans		354,372			348,660			323,068
Premises and equipment		8,408			8,394			8,333
Goodwill		4,559			4,559			4,559
Bank-owned life insurance		7,773			7,706			7,509
Accrued interest and other assets		12,399			11,475			9,113
Total Assets	$	594,017		$	558,658		$	473,374
LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	44,082		$	44,387		$	43,271
Interest-bearing demand		41,959			38,111			29,753
Money market		64,808			56,451			31,059
Savings		120,544			107,358			77,706
Time		250,885			240,799			222,297
Total deposits		522,278			487,106			404,086
Short-term borrowings		6,772			6,800			1,533
Other borrowings		25,374			25,865			30,890
Accrued interest and other liabilities		1,847			2,180			2,007
Total Liabilities		556,271			521,951			438,516
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock		28,035			27,919			27,428
Retained earnings		15,197			14,960			14,990
Accumulated other comprehensive gain/(loss)		1,248			562			(826	)
Treasury stock		(6,734	)		(6,734	)		(6,734	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity		37,746			36,707			34,858
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	594,017		$	558,658		$	473,374

MIDDLEFIELD BANC CORP.

Consolidated Selected Financial Highlights

March 31, 2010 and 2009

	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended
Income Statement	March 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2010		2009
INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans	$	5,097	$	4,998
Interest-bearing deposits in other institutions		4		7
Federal funds sold		11		4
Investment securities:
Taxable interest		1,203		853
Tax-exempt interest		592		446
Dividends on FHLB stock		17		16
Total interest income		6,924		6,324
INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits		2,485		2,716
Short term borrowings		58		6
Other borrowings		190		257
Trust preferred securities		136		132
Total interest expense		2,869		3,111
NET INTEREST INCOME		4,055		3,213
Provision for loan losses		439		154
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES		3,616		3,059
NONINTEREST INCOME
Service charges on deposit accounts		415		439
Investment securities gains, net		9		—
Earnings on bank-owned life insurance		67		69
Other income		118		116
Total noninterest income		609		624
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits		1,511		1,371
Occupancy expense		276		255
Equipment expense		198		123
Data processing costs		243		249
Ohio state franchise tax		136		123
Federal deposit insurance expense		202		172
Other expense		992		703
Total noninterest expense		3,558		2,996
Income before income taxes		667		687
Income taxes		22		84
NET INCOME	$	645	$	603

	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
	For the Three Months Ended
Income Statement	March 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2010			2009
Per common share data
Net income per common share — basic	$	0.41		$	0.39
Net income per common share — diluted	$	0.41		$	0.39
Dividends declared	$	0.26		$	0.26
Book value per share(period end)	$	24.05		$	23.82
Tangible book value per share (period end)	$	21.15		$	20.86
Dividend payout ratio		63.26	%		66.17	%
Average shares outstanding — basic		1,565,454			1,536,930
Average shares outstanding — diluted		1,567,441			1,538,534
Period ending shares outstanding		1,569,486			1,541,247
Selected ratios
Return on average assets		0.45	%		0.52	%
Return on average equity		7.06	%		7.00	%
Yield on earning assets		5.45	%		6.11	%
Cost of interest bearing liabilities		2.36	%		3.25	%
Net interest spread		3.09	%		2.86	%
Net interest margin		3.29	%		3.21	%
Efficiency (1)		71.60	%		73.59	%
Equity to assets at period end		6.35	%		6.57	%

(1) The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing non-interest expense less amortization of intangibles by the sum of net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis plus non-interest income.

Asset quality data	March 31,			March 31,
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	2010			2009
Non-accrual loans	$	18,140		$	13,370
90 day past due and accruing		3			1,331
Non-performing loans		18,143			14,701
Other real estate owned		2,175			2,164
Non-performing assets	$	20,318		$	16,865
Allowance for loan losses	$	5,279		$	4,937
Allowance for loan losses/total loans		1.47	%		1.40	%
Net charge-offs:
Quarter-to-date	$	97		$	90
Year-to-date		97			90
Net charge-offs to average loans
Quarter-to-date		0.03	%		0.03	%
Year-to-date		0.03	%		0.03	%
Non-performing loans/total loans		5.04	%		4.16	%
Allowance for loan losses/non-performing loans		29.10	%		33.58	%