Rome Bancorp Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings Per Share and Declaration of...

Rome Bancorp Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings Per Share and Declaration of
Quarterly Dividend

ROME, N.Y., July 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Rome Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company")
(Nasdaq:ROME), the holding company of The Rome Savings Bank (the "Bank"),
announced today the Company's results of operations for the three and six month
periods ended June 30, 2008.

Net income for the Company for the three-month period ended June 30, 2008
increased to $780,000, or $0.11 per diluted share, from $747,000, or $0.09 per
diluted share for the same period in 2007. This is a record high second quarter
earnings per share figure for the Company since its inception in 1999. The
increase in net income over the second quarter of 2007 was primarily
attributable to an increase in non-interest income of $22,000 and a decrease in
non-interest expense of $83,000, which were partially offset by a decrease in
net interest income of $72,000. Contributing to the increase in second quarter
earnings per share was a decrease in average outstanding diluted shares to
6,999,752 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 from 7,905,247 for the second
quarter of 2007. This reduction is attributable to treasury stock purchases over
the past year.

The $72,000 decrease in net interest income reflects a $12,000 decrease in
interest income and a $60,000 increase in interest expense. Interest income
earned on the loan portfolio decreased by $16,000, or 0.4%, due in part to the
effect of 2008 prime rate decreases on variable rate loans. This was partially
offset by growth in the average loan portfolio of $17.1 million, or 6.3%, over
the comparable quarter of 2007. Income on investments increased by $11,000, or
14.5%, from the same period last year due to the purchase of additional
securities during the first half of 2008. Earnings on interest bearing deposits
decreased by $7,000 compared to the second quarter of 2007, due to a decline in
rates paid on these deposits.

The increase in interest expense results from increase in the average balance of
the Company's interest bearing liabilities to $222.4 million during the quarter
ended June 30, 2008 from $194.8 million for the same period in 2007. This
balance increase was partially offset by a decrease in the Company's average
cost of funds from 2.35% for the three months ended June 30, 2007 to 2.17% for
the same period of 2008, reflecting declines in prevailing market interest
rates. The average balance of borrowings increased to $45.3 million for the
second quarter of 2008 from $23.7 million for the same period of 2007. These
funds were utilized to repurchase treasury shares, fund loan originations and
purchase investment securities. Average outstanding interest bearing deposit
balances increased to $177.1 million in the current quarter from $171.1 million
in the same quarter of 2007 due to market downturns in alternative investment
markets.

The Company recorded no provision for loan losses in the three and six month
periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, as a result of minimal charge-off activity
and the continued stable asset quality of the overall loan portfolio in both
periods. During both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company
recorded net recoveries on loans. The loan loss allowance as a percentage of
total loans was 0.66% at June 30, 2008 compared to 0.68% at December 31, 2007.
The allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans was 107.8% at
June 30, 2008, compared to 190.4% at the previous year end. While the Company
has experienced an increase in non-performing loans this year, these loans are
deemed to be adequately collateralized, requiring no increase in loan loss
reserves.

Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2008 increased to $577,000 from
$555,000 for the same period in 2007. In the second quarter of 2007, the Company
recorded $11,000 of gains on securities sales, while no securities were sold to
date in 2008. The majority of the 2008 increase in non-interest income is
related to income earned on deposit products.

Non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2008 decreased to $2.6 million
from $2.7 million for the same period in 2007 due to cost containment in several
areas. Income tax expense remained at $424,000 for both the second quarters of
2008 and 2007. The 2008 effective tax rate decreased slightly due to an increase
in positive permanent tax benefits.

Net income for the Company for the six month period ended June 30, 2008 was $1.5
million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.20 per
diluted share for the same period of 2007. The increase in earnings per share
results from a decrease in diluted average shares from 8,015,890 for the first
half of 2007 to 7,131,390 for the same period of 2008, due to ongoing treasury
stock purchases. The decrease in net income was primarily the result of a
$134,000 decrease in net interest income before loan loss provision and an
increase in non-interest expense of $141,000, partially offset by an increase in
non-interest income of $11,000 and a decrease in income tax expense of $160,000.
Net interest income and non-interest income for the first halves of 2008 and
2007 were similarly impacted by the factors discussed in the second quarter
analysis, above. Non-interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008
increased to $5.3 million from $5.2 million for the first half of 2007. The
majority of this resulted from a first quarter 2008 curtailment charge recorded
on the partial settlement of the Company's previously frozen defined benefit
pension plan. In addition to the 2008 increase in positive permanent tax
benefits, during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 the Company revised its
estimate of tax exposure related to an ongoing state tax audit, resulting in a
reduction of income tax expense of $31,000.

Total assets increased to $327.9 million at June 30, 2008 from $318.1 million at
December 31, 2007, principally due to increases in the loan portfolio. Over the
same period, deposits increased to $209.6 million from $203.0 at year end 2007.

Charles M. Sprock, Chairman, CEO and President said, "We are pleased to see that
the results of our operations and strategic stock repurchases have resulted in
record second quarter earnings per share for our stockholders. Our balance sheet
remains strong and well capitalized, positioning us to continue to offer
superior services to our customers and healthy returns to our investors."

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly
cash dividend on its common stock of 8.5 cents ($0.085) per share for
stockholders of record at the close of business on August 8, 2008. The dividend
is payable on August 22, 2008.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this press release that are not historical or current
fact, are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or
projected. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The
Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements,
or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Rome Bancorp, Inc.
Selected Financial Data
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

As of
------------------
June 30, Dec. 31,
2008 2007
-------- --------
Selected Financial Condition Data:
Total assets $327,853 $318,131
Loans, net 288,667 281,042
Securities 7,069 6,165
Cash and cash equivalents 8,510 8,018
Total deposits 209,561 203,032
Borrowings 48,201 40,333
Total shareholders' equity 64,432 69,037
Allowance for loan losses 1,918 1,910
Non-performing loans 1,779 1,003
Non-performing assets 1,953 1,100

For the three For the six
months ended months ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------ -----------------
2008 2007 2008 2007
-------- -------- -------- --------

Selected Operating Data:
Interest income $ 4,408 $ 4,420 $ 8,917 $ 8,764
Interest expense 1,203 1,143 2,474 2,188
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income 3,205 3,277 6,443 6,576
Provision for loan losses -- -- -- --
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses 3,205 3,277 6,443 6,576
Non-interest income:
Service charges and other
income 577 544 1,092 1,071
Net gain on securities -- 11 -- 11
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total non-interest income 577 555 1,092 1,082
Non-interest expense 2,578 2,661 5,325 5,184
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes 1,204 1,171 2,210 2,474
Income tax expense 424 424 730 890
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income $ 780 $ 747 $ 1,480 $ 1,584
======== ======== ======== ========

Rome Bancorp, Inc.
Selected Financial Data
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

For the three For the six
months ended months ended
June 30, June 30,
---------------------------------
2008 2007 2008 2007
------ ------ ------ ------
Selected Financial Ratios and Other
Data:

Performance Ratios:
Basic earnings per share $0.11 $0.10 $0.21 $0.20
Diluted earnings per share $0.11 $0.09 $0.21 $0.20
Return on average assets 0.98% 0.99% 0.93% 1.06%
Return on average equity 4.82% 3.96% 4.47% 4.18%
Net interest rate spread(1) 3.90% 4.12% 3.90% 4.17%
Net interest margin(1) 4.42% 4.81% 4.46% 4.88%
Non-interest expense to average
assets 3.22% 3.52% 3.34% 3.46%
Efficiency ratio(1) 68.03% 69.41% 70.52% 67.55%
Average interest-earning assets to
average interest-bearing
liabilities 131.60% 141.20% 132.72% 142.41%

As of
-----------------
June 30, Dec. 31,
2008 2007
-------- --------
Equity Ratios:
Equity to assets 19.65% 21.70%
Book value per share $8.79 $8.86

Asset Quality Ratios:
Nonperforming loans as percent of loans 0.61% 0.35%
Nonperforming assets as percent of total assets 0.60% 0.35%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans 0.66% 0.68%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of
non-performing loans 107.8% 190.4%

Notes:
1. Includes tax equivalent adjustment for the Company's tax-exempt
municipal securities.
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CONTACT: Rome Bancorp, Inc.
David Nolan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(315) 336-7300