Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the 2nd Quarter of 2009

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beacon Federal Bancorp,
Inc. ("the Company") (Nasdaq:BFED) announced today net income for the quarter
ended June 30, 2009 of $694,000, compared to net income of $833,000 for the
quarter ended June 30, 2008. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the
quarters ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were $0.11 and $0.12, respectively.
Highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 were as follows:

* Net interest income rose by 12.0%, to $6.9 million, compared to
$6.2 million for the same period a year ago.

* Net interest margin increased 12 basis points to 2.77% from 2.65%
for the same period a year ago.

* Provision for loan losses increased by $370,000, when compared to
the same period a year ago.

* FDIC insurance expense increased to $847,000 for the quarter,
compared to $94,000 for the same quarter in 2008.

* The Company recognized a $538,000 other-than-temporary impairment
(OTTI) charge for the second quarter of 2009 related to other-than
temporary credit losses on certain securities. During the quarter
ended June 30, 2008, the Company recognized an OTTI loss on
securities of $273,000.

* The Company repurchased $4.3 million of its common stock during the
quarter ended June 30, 2009. Tangible book value per share
increased to $14.31 at June 30, 2009 from $13.32 at December 31,
2008.

* On June 23, 2009, a cash dividend was paid of $.05 per common share,
up $.01 per common share from last quarter.
Net interest income increased to $6.9 million for the three months ended June
30, 2009, compared to $6.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, due
primarily to a lower cost of funds. The cost of funds decreased 82 basis points,
while the yield on interest-earning assets declined by only 52 basis points.

Non-interest income increased by 26.0%, or $279,000, to $1.4 million for the
three months ended June 30, 2009. Non-interest income increased due to higher
gains on sales of loans and changes in fair value on loan commitments, partially
offset by lower earnings on the Company's BOLI investment.

Provision for loan losses increased to $1.9 million for the quarter ended June
30, 2009 from $1.5 million for the comparable 2008 period. The increase in the
provision for loan losses resulted from an increase in nonperforming commercial
real estate and commercial business loans and an increase in classified assets,
as well as overall growth of the loan portfolio. Annualized net charge-offs to
average loans outstanding were .10% and .49% for the quarters ended June 30,
2009 and 2008, respectively.

Non-interest expense increased 25.4% to $5.3 million for the quarter ended June
30, 2009 from $4.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. The increase was
due primarily to a $753,000 (or 801.1%) increase in FDIC premium expense and a
$265,000 (or 97.1%) increase in other-than-temporary impairment credit losses on
securities. Each financial institution was subject to a special assessment by
the FDIC during the second quarter of 2009.

Income tax expense decreased due to a lower level of pre-tax income and lower
effective tax rate. The effective tax rate was 36.7% for the three months ended
June 30, 2009, compared to 45.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The
higher effective tax rate in the June 2008 quarter resulted from the
nondeductible OTTI losses on securities.

Total assets increased to $1.05 billion at June 30, 2009 from $1.02 billion at
December 31, 2008. The increase was the result of a $6.7 million increase in
cash and cash equivalents, a $31.4 million increase in net loans, a $1.8 million
increase in loans held for sale and an $8.9 million increase in premises and
equipment, partially offset by a $23.3 million decrease in trading account
assets. The increase in premises and equipment was due primarily to the
recognition of a capital lease for the Company's new home office facility of
$7.8 million. The increase in assets was funded by a $32.0 million increase in
deposits, partially offset by a $10.0 million decrease in borrowings. Equity
decreased $5.0 million, or 4.9%, to $97.1 million at June 30, 2009 from $102.1
million at December 31, 2008. The decline in equity was due primarily to the
repurchase of common stock.

Ross J. Prossner, President and CEO, said, "The FDIC's 5 basis point special
assessment charge of $500,000 and higher regular assessments, along with an
increased provision for loan losses, more than offset the improvement in our
interest rate spread."

He added, "The FDIC may impose additional special assessments, if warranted,
which could significantly reduce our future net earnings."

He continued, "Lower deposit costs continue to result in an improved interest
rate spread. Our interest rate spread increased by 30 basis points to 2.44% for
the three months ended June 30, 2009 from 2.14% for the three months ended June
30, 2008. Our net interest margin increased to 2.77% for the quarter from 2.65%
for the same period a year ago. Average non-interest-bearing deposits increased
to $32.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 from $28.1 million for the
comparable period last year."

He further noted, "We provided additional allowance for loan losses as weak
economic conditions continue to persist in our commercial and residential real
estate lending markets. Our allowance for loan losses now represents 1.76 % of
our portfolio, compared to 1.36% at December 31, 2008."

He concluded stating, "One of Beacon Federal's proudest achievements came to
fruition this July with the opening of our new 45,000 square foot corporate
headquarters on Manlius Center Road, East Syracuse, NY. The site houses Beacon
Federal's administrative and management teams and features a full-service branch
with drive-through service, including ATM service lanes and a 24-hour ATM in the
lobby. The new branch is Beacon's eighth.

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc., through its subsidiary, Beacon Federal ("the
Bank"), offers banking and related financial services to both individual and
commercial customers. The Bank is headquartered in East Syracuse, New York, with
seven other full-service branches in East Syracuse, Marcy and Rome, New York,
Smartt and Smyrna, Tennessee, Tyler, Texas and Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The
Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol
"BFED."

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is
defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or the
Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations, and releases. The
Bank and Company intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the
safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations regarding important risk factors including, but not limited
to, real estate values and the impact of interest rates on financing.
Accordingly, actual results may differ from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be
regarded as a representation by the Bank or Company or any other person that
results expressed therein will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to
update them in light of new information of future events.

BEACON FEDERAL BANCORP, INC.
Financial Highlights

At At
June 30, December 31,
2009 2008
---------- ----------
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except
per share data)
Selected Financial Condition Data:
Total assets $1,046,171 $1,021,343
Cash and cash equivalents 25,034 18,297
Trading account assets -- 23,337
Securities available for sale, at fair value 144,966 139,803
Securities held to maturity 18,411 23,315
Loans, net 802,108 770,695
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock,
at cost 12,452 13,080
Deposits 658,510 626,467
FHLB advances 208,641 218,641
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase 70,000 70,000
Stockholders' equity 97,055 102,085
Other Data:
Stockholders' equity per outstanding common
share $ 14.31 $ 13.32

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------ ------------------
2009 2008 2009 2008
-------- -------- -------- --------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Selected Operating Data:

Interest income $ 13,653 $ 13,933 $ 27,465 $ 27,569
Interest expense 6,710 7,735 13,794 15,796
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income 6,943 6,198 13,671 11,773
Provision for loan losses 1,900 1,530 4,470 2,430
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses 5,043 4,668 9,201 9,343
Non-interest income 1,353 1,074 2,577 2,244
Non-interest expense 5,300 4,225 10,015 8,460
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes 1,096 1,517 1,763 3,127
Income tax expense 402 684 633 1,330
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income $ 694 $ 833 $ 1,130 $ 1,797
======== ======== ======== ========
Basic and diluted earnings
per share $ 0.11 $ 0.12 $ 0.17 $ 0.26
======== ======== ======== ========

Financial Ratios:
Return on average assets
(annualized) 0.27% 0.35% 0.22% 0.38%
Return on average equity
(annualized) 2.91% 2.94% 2.30% 3.18%
Average interest rate
spread (annualized) 2.44% 2.14% 2.42% 2.02%
Net interest margin
(annualized) 2.77% 2.65% 2.75% 2.56%
Non-performing loans to
total loans 1.67% 0.52% 1.67% 0.52%
Non-performing assets to
total assets 1.31% 0.42% 1.31% 0.42%
Annualized net charge-offs
to average loans outstanding 0.10% 0.49% 0.19% 0.30%
Allowance for loan losses
to non-performing loans
at end of period 104.98% 210.09% 104.98% 210.09%
Allowance for loan losses
to total loans
at end of period 1.76% 1.08% 1.76% 1.08%
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CONTACT: Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc.
Randy J. Wiley, Treasurer
(315) 433-0111 x 1550
6611 Manlius Center Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057