Flushing Financial Corporation Reports Record Second Quarter 2015 Net Income of $0.51 Per Diluted Common Share, a 70% Increase From the Trailing Quarter, and a Record Loan Pipeline

Second Quarter 2015

• GAAP diluted earnings per common share were a record $0.51, an increase of $0.21, or 70.0%, from the trailing quarter.
• GAAP return on average assets and GAAP return on average equity increased to 1.1% and 12.7%, respectively, from 1.0% and 10.3%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2014.
• Core diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP measure, were $0.36, an increase of $0.05, or 16.1%, from the trailing quarter.
• Core return on average assets and core return on average equity, both non-GAAP measures, decreased to 0.8% and 9.1%, respectively, from 1.0% and 10.5%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2014.
• Loan pipeline grew to a record $469.2 million at June 30, 2015.
• Credit quality continues to improve as non-accrual loans totaled $27.5 million at June 30, 2015, an improvement of $4.4 million, or 13.9%, from December 31, 2014, and were at their lowest level since September 30, 2008.
• The net interest margin was 3.03% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of 19 basis points from the comparable prior year period and a decrease of six basis points from the trailing quarter.
• Net charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2015 were $0.5 million, or 0.05% of average loans.
• The provision for loan losses was a benefit of $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to a benefit of $1.1 million and $3.2 million recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
• Completed the sale/leaseback of three branch buildings in Brooklyn, realizing a gain on sale of $12.7 million, of which $6.5 million was recognized in earnings during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $6.2 million will be deferred and recognized over the term of the branch leases.
• Opened our 18^th full-service branch at RXR Plaza in Uniondale, NY.

UNIONDALE, N.Y., July 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flushing Financial Corporation (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FFIC), the parent holding company for Flushing Bank (the “Bank”), today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.

John R. Buran, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We are pleased to report record earnings per diluted common share of $0.51 for the second quarter of 2015. The quarter’s earnings were driven by a gain on sale we recorded from the sale/leaseback of our Brooklyn branch buildings. While we realized a reduction in non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2015 from the first quarter of 2015, we also incurred one-time expenses this quarter. These one-time expenses included a write-down of foreclosed properties of $0.9 million and expenses incurred in moving to our new headquarters location of $0.4 million.

“During the current quarter loan originations and purchases totaled $196.9 million, with 87.1% of the originations being multi-family residential, commercial real estate and commercial business loans. We continued our focus on the origination of commercial real estate loans (higher rate) and commercial business loans (floating rate). The average rate on loans originated and purchased during the quarter was 3.69%, 3.70% and 3.71% for multi-family residential, commercial real estate, and commercial business loans, respectively. The strong loan originations and purchases this quarter combined with the benefit provided by last quarter’s record loan originations and purchases contributed to an increase in interest income by $0.7 million from the first quarter of 2015. After excluding prepayment penalty income and additional interest collected from non-accrual loans, the increase in interest income was $0.9 million. Loan applications in process increased to a record level totaling $469.2 million at the end of the current quarter, which were increases of $151.9 million and $173.3 million from March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

“We continued to experience improvements in credit quality, as non-performing assets decreased $5.0 million or 13.1% to $32.8 million at June 30, 2015 from $37.8 million at March 31, 2015 and were at their lowest level since September 2008. We also had an improvement in classified assets, as classified assets decreased $8.0 million or 14.9% to $45.7 million at June 30, 2015 from $53.7 million at March 31, 2015 and were at their lowest level since December 2008. The decreases in non-performing and classified assets and our ability to minimize charge-offs has allowed us to record a sixth consecutive benefit for loan losses of $0.5 million during the current quarter. We continued our practice of obtaining updated appraisals and recording charge-offs based on these current values as opposed to adding to the allowance for loan losses. This process has ensured that we have kept pace with changing values in the real estate market. The current average loan-to-value ratio for our non-performing loans collateralized by real estate was 47.0% at June 30, 2015.

“During the current quarter we completed the previously announced move of our headquarters to RXR Plaza. The new office space allows us to bring a majority of our non-branch staff into one location providing efficiencies and synergies which were not available when the staff was spread throughout many different locations. As part of the move we also opened a new full-service branch at the same location, which is our third branch in Nassau County and our first branch to open using the Universal Banker Model, which leverages technology to deliver a superior customer experience. We are looking at a long-term initiative of converting all of our branches to the Universal Banker Model, moving away from the traditional bank model of the past, where large expensive branches were the norm. As part of this initiative we plan to open a second full-service Universal Banker Model branch later this year in Manhattan. As with many initiatives, the move of the headquarters and the transformation of our branch network come with costs. As such, to offset these costs and to better use our resources, during the current quarter we sold and leased back three of our Brooklyn branch buildings, realizing a gain on sale of $12.7 million, of which $6.5 million was recognized in earnings during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and $6.2 million will be deferred and recognized over the term of the branch leases.

“The second quarter included a decrease of $1.0 million in net gains/losses from the sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”), as the three months ended June 30, 2015 included net losses totaling $0.8 million compared to $0.2 million in net gains recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The loss on sale in the current quarter was primarily due to a write-down of $0.8 million on one OREO to reduce the carrying value of the property to its anticipated net selling price. The quarter also included $0.4 million in expense related to the move to our new headquarters and $0.4 million in expense from increases in salaries and benefits expense. These increases in non-interest expense compared to non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015, were more than offset by the $3.4 million reduction we previously announced in our earnings release for the first quarter of 2015, as all of the anticipated reductions were realized.

“Our net interest margin for the second quarter of 2015 was 3.03%, a decrease of six basis points from the first quarter of 2015. However, net interest income increased $0.6 million to $38.1 million, compared to the first quarter of 2015, due to the growth in interest earning assets. Excluding prepayment penalty income and additional interest collected from non-accrual loans, the net interest margin decreased four basis points to 2.90% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 2.94% for the three months ended March 31, 2015.”

At June 30, 2015, the Bank continues to be well-capitalized under regulatory requirements, with Tier 1, Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-based, Tier 1 Risk-based and Total Risk-based capital ratios of 9.13%, 13.07%, 13.07% and 13.70%, respectively. The Company is also subject to the same regulatory requirements. At June 30, 2015, the Company’s capital ratios for Tier 1, Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-based, Tier 1 Risk-based and Total Risk-based capital ratios were 9.06%, 12.20%, 12.97% and 13.59%, respectively.

Core earnings, a non-GAAP measure, which exclude the effects of net gains from sale of buildings, net gains and losses from fair value adjustments and net gains from the sale of securities, were $10.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 10.8%, from $11.9 million in the comparable prior year period. Core diluted earnings per common share were $0.36 for the three months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $0.04, or 10.0%, from the comparable prior year period.

Core earnings were $19.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 12.7%, from $22.6 million in the comparable prior year period. Core diluted earnings per common share were $0.67 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of $0.08, or 10.7%, from the comparable prior year period.

For a reconciliation of core earnings and core diluted earnings per common share to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) net income and GAAP diluted earnings per common share, please refer to the tables in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings and Core Earnings.”

Earnings Summary – Three Months Ended June 30, 2015

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $14.8 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 26.9%, compared to $11.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Diluted earnings per common share were $0.51 for the three months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $0.12, or 30.8%, from $0.39 for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Return on average equity increased to 12.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 10.3% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average assets increased to 1.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 1.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, net interest income was $38.1 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 3.6%, from $36.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in net interest income was primarily attributable to an increase of $454.9 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $5,033.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from $4,578.8 million for the comparable prior year period, partially offset by a 17 basis point decrease in the net interest spread to 2.93% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.10% for the comparable prior year period. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 34 basis points to 3.99% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.33% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 17 basis points to 1.06% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 1.23% for the comparable prior year period. The net interest margin declined 19 basis points to 3.03% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.22% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The three months ended June 30, 2015 included $0.1 million in additional interest collected from non-accrual loans compared to $0.4 million recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2014. Excluding this additional interest collected from non-accrual loans, the net interest margin decreased 16 basis points to 3.02% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.18% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Further excluding prepayment penalty income of $1.5 million and $1.3 million recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, the net interest margin decreased 17 basis points to 2.90% for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 3.07% for the three months ended June 30, 2014.

The 34 basis point decline in the yield of interest-earning assets was primarily due to a 45 basis point reduction in the yield of the loan portfolio to 4.43% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.88% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, combined with a 22 basis point decline in the yield on total securities to 2.46% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 2.68% for the comparable prior year period. The yield of interest-earning assets was positively impacted by an increase of $496.0 million in the average balance of total loans, net to $3,981.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from $3,485.9 million for the comparable prior year period and a decrease of $60.7 million in the average balance of the lower yielding total securities portfolio to $992.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from $1,052.7 million for the comparable prior year period. The 45 basis point decrease in the yield of the loan portfolio was primarily due to the decline in the rates earned on new loan originations, existing loans modifying to lower rates, and higher yielding loans prepaying. Excluding prepayment penalty income, the yield on total loans, net, decreased 44 basis points to 4.28% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.72% for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The 22 basis point decrease in the yield of the securities portfolio was primarily due to the purchase of new securities at lower yields than the existing portfolio.

The 17 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily attributable to decreases of 48 basis points and 28 basis points in the cost of certificates of deposit and borrowed funds, respectively. The decrease in the cost of certificates of deposit and borrowed funds was primarily due to maturing issuances being replaced at lower rates. These decreases were partially offset by increases of 14 basis points and 25 basis points in the cost of money market accounts and savings accounts, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from the comparable prior year period. The cost of money market accounts increased primarily due to our shifting Government NOW deposits to a money market product which does not require us to provide collateral, which will allow us to invest these funds in higher yielding assets. The cost of savings accounts increased as we increased the rate we pay on some of our savings products to attract additional deposits. Additionally, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was negatively affected by increases of $187.4 million and $66.9 million in the average balance of higher costing certificates of deposit and borrowed funds, respectively, during the three months ended June 30, 2015, which was partially offset by an increase of $141.8 million in the average balance of lower costing core deposits during the three months ended June 30, 2015 to $2,075.5 million from $1,933.7 million for the comparable prior year period.

The net interest margin for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was 3.03%, a decrease of six basis points from 3.09% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased nine basis points during the three months ended June 30, 2015 to 3.99%, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased three basis points to 1.06% from the three months ended March 31, 2015. The yield on total loans decreased 10 basis points to 4.43% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.53% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The three months ended June 30, 2015 included $0.1 million in additional interest collected from non-accrual loans compared to $0.6 million recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Excluding this additional interest collected from non-accrual loans, the net interest margin decreased two basis points to 3.02% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.04% for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Further excluding prepayment penalty income of $1.5 million and $1.2 million recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, respectively, the net interest margin decreased four basis points to 2.90% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 2.94% for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

The benefit for loan losses for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $0.5 million, a decrease of $0.6 million from a benefit of $1.1 million during the comparable prior year period. The benefit recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2015 was primarily due to the continued improvement in credit conditions and an improvement in the impact of the qualitative factors used in the calculation of the allowance for loan losses. During the three months ended June 30, 2015, non-accrual loans decreased $2.2 million to $27.5 million from $29.6 million at March 31, 2015 and net charge-offs continued to be minimal at $0.5 million, or five basis points of average loans, for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The current average loan-to-value ratio for our non-performing loans collateralized by real estate was 47.0% at June 30, 2015. When we have obtained properties through foreclosure, we have been able to quickly sell the properties at amounts that approximate book value. The Bank continues to maintain conservative underwriting standards. We anticipate that we will continue to see low loss content in our loan portfolio. As a result of the quarterly analysis of the allowance for loans losses, a reduction in the allowance was warranted, and as such, the Company recorded a benefit of $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Non-interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $9.9 million, an increase of $8.0 million from $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in non-interest income was primarily due to increases of $6.5 million in net gains on sale of buildings, as we sold and leased back our Brooklyn branch buildings, and $1.2 million in net gains from fair value adjustments, as the current period included net gains from fair value adjustments of $0.8 million compared to net losses from fair value adjustments of $0.4 million recorded in the comparable prior year period.

Non-interest expense was $24.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $3.6 million, or 17.6%, from $20.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to increases of $1.2 million in salaries and benefits, primarily due to increases in staffing in the lending, technology, risk/compliance and retail departments, as well as an increase in restricted stock expense, $0.7 million in other operating expense primarily due to $0.4 million in expenses related to the move of our corporate headquarters and $0.3 million in expenses related to the growth of the Bank. The current period also included an increase of $0.7 million in occupancy and equipment primarily due to increases in rent expense of $0.4 million for our new corporate headquarters and new branch at the same location and $0.3 million from additional space in Manhattan for Business Bankers and a new branch location, which we expect to open in the third quarter of 2015. Additionally, net gains/losses on sales of real estate owned decreased $0.9 million to a net loss of $0.8 million in the current period compared to a net gain of $0.1 million in the prior period. The loss on sale for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was primarily due to a write-down of $0.8 million on one OREO to reduce the carrying value of the property to its anticipated net selling price. The efficiency ratio increased to 57.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from 52.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to the increased expenses discussed above.

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $9.5 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 25.3%, from $7.6 million for the comparable prior year period. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $5.1 million in income before income taxes.

Earnings Summary – Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $23.6 million, an increase of $1.6 million, or 7.2%, compared to $22.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Diluted earnings per common share were $0.80 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $0.07, or 9.6%, from $0.73 for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Return on average equity increased to 10.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, from 9.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Return on average assets was 0.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

For the six months ended June 30, 2015, net interest income was $75.7 million, an increase of $2.4 million, or 3.2%, from $73.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in net interest income was primarily attributable to an increase of $415.6 million in the average balance of interest-earning assets to $4,948.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from $4,532.6 million for the comparable prior year period, partially offset by a 17 basis point decrease in the net interest spread to 2.95% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.12% for the comparable prior year period. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 33 basis points to 4.03% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.36% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 16 basis points to 1.08% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 1.24% for the comparable prior year period. The net interest margin declined 18 basis points to 3.06% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.24% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Each of the six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 included $0.7 million in additional interest collected from non-accrual loans. Excluding this additional interest collected from non-accrual loans, the net interest margin decreased 17 basis points to 3.03% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 3.20% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Further excluding prepayment penalty income of $2.7 million and $2.6 million recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, the net interest margin decreased 17 basis points to 2.92% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 3.09% for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

The 33 basis point decline in the yield of interest-earning assets was primarily due to a 44 basis point reduction in the yield of the loan portfolio to 4.48% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.92% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, combined with a 24 basis point decline in the yield on total securities to 2.46% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 2.70% for the comparable prior year period. The yield of interest-earning assets was positively impacted by an increase of $476.3 million in the average balance of total loans, net to $3,915.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from $3,438.9 million for the comparable prior year period and a decrease of $65.1 million in the average balance of the lower yielding total securities portfolio to $981.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 from $1,046.4 million for the comparable prior year period. The 44 basis point decrease in the yield of the loan portfolio was primarily due to the decline in the rates earned on new loan originations, existing loans modifying to lower rates, and higher yielding loans prepaying. Excluding prepayment penalty income, the yield on total loans, net, decreased 43 basis points to 4.34% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 4.77% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The 24 basis point decrease in the yield of the securities portfolio was primarily due to the purchase of new securities at lower yields than the existing portfolio.

The 16 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was primarily attributable to decreases of 45 basis points and 27 basis points in the cost of certificates of deposit and borrowed funds, respectively. The decrease in the cost of certificates of deposit and borrowed funds was primarily due to maturing issuances being replaced at lower rates. These decreases were partially offset by increases of 12 basis points and 23 basis points in the cost of money market accounts and savings accounts, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from the comparable prior year period. The cost of money market accounts increased primarily due to our shifting Government NOW deposits to a money market product which does not require us to provide collateral, which will allow us to invest these funds in higher yielding assets. The cost of savings accounts increased as we increased the rate we pay on some of our savings products to attract additional deposits. Additionally, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was negatively affected by increases of $187.7 million and $52.5 million in the average balance of higher costing certificates of deposit and borrowed funds, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2015, which was partially offset by an increase of $115.6 million in the average balance of lower costing core deposits during the six months ended June 30, 2015 to $2,049.0 million from $1,933.4 million for the comparable prior year period.

The benefit for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $1.3 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 43.5%, from a benefit of $2.2 million during the comparable prior year period. The benefit recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2015 was primarily due to the continued improvement in credit conditions and an improvement in the impact of the qualitative factors used in the calculation of the allowance for loan losses. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, non-accrual loans decreased $4.4 million to $27.5 million from $31.9 million at December 31, 2014 and net charge-offs continued to be minimal at $0.8 million, or four basis points of average loans, for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The current average loan-to-value ratio for our non-performing loans collateralized by real estate was 47.0% at June 30, 2015. When we have obtained properties through foreclosure, we have been able to quickly sell the properties at amounts that approximate book value. The Bank continues to maintain conservative underwriting standards. We anticipate that we will continue to see low loss content in our loan portfolio. As a result of the quarterly analysis of the allowance for loans losses, a reduction in the allowance was warranted, and as such, the Company recorded a benefit of $1.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Non-interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $11.9 million, an increase of $8.2 million from $3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in non-interest income was primarily due to increases of $6.5 million in net gains on sale of buildings, as we sold and leased back our Brooklyn branch buildings, and $1.2 million in net gains from fair value adjustments, as the current period included net gains from fair value adjustments of $0.2 million compared to net losses from fair value adjustments of $1.0 million recorded in the comparable prior year period.

Non-interest expense was $50.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $7.5 million, or 17.5%, from $42.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to increases of $3.3 million in salaries and benefits, primarily due to increases in staffing in the lending, technology, risk/compliance and retail departments, as well as an increase in restricted stock expense, $1.2 million in other operating expense primarily due to $0.3 million in ATM fraud losses recorded in the first quarter of 2015, $0.4 million in expenses related to the move of our corporate headquarters and $0.5 million in expenses related to the growth of the Bank. The current period also included an increase of $1.4 million in occupancy and equipment primarily due to $0.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 for temporary staff for additional security to guard against further ATM fraud losses, increases in rent expense of $0.9 million for our new corporate headquarters and new branch at the same location and $0.3 million from additional space in Manhattan for Business Bankers and a new branch location, which we expect to open in the third quarter of 2015. Additionally, net gains on sales of real estate owned decreased $0.7 million to a net loss of $0.6 million in the current period compared to a net gain of $0.1 million in the prior period. During the current period the Bank also experienced increases of $0.4 million, $0.2 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million in professional services, FDIC insurance expense, data processing expense and depreciation and amortization, respectively, due to the growth of the Bank. The efficiency ratio increased to 61.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 54.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2014, primarily due to the increased expenses discussed above.

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $15.1 million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 3.7%, from $14.5 million for the comparable prior year period. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $2.1 million in income before income taxes, partially offset by a decrease in the effective tax rate to 39.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 from 39.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the prior year being affected by changes in New York State tax code passed on June 30, 2014, which resulted in a reduction in the Company’s deferred tax assets and a corresponding increase in tax expense during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

Balance Sheet Summary - At June 30, 2015

Total assets at June 30, 2015 were $5,360.0 million, an increase of $283.0 million, or 5.6%, from $5,077.0 million at December 31, 2014. Total loans, net increased $222.8 million, or 5.9%, during the six months ended June 30, 2015 to $4,008.1 million from $3,785.3 million at December 31, 2014. Loan originations and purchases were $503.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of $114.2 million from $389.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, we continued to focus on the origination of multi-family residential, commercial real estate and commercial business loans with a full relationship. Loan applications in process have remained strong, totaling $469.2 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $295.9 million at December 31, 2014.

The following table shows loan originations and purchases for the periods indicated. The table includes loan purchases of $14.8 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Loan purchases were $126.1 million and $44.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The average rate on mortgage loan originations and purchases was 3.74% and 3.25% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The average rate on non-mortgage loan originations and purchases was 3.87% and 3.25% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The average rate on total loan originations and purchases was 3.79% and 3.25% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Bank continues to maintain conservative underwriting standards that include, among other things, a loan-to-value ratio of 75% or less and a debt coverage ratio of at least 125%. Multi-family residential, commercial real estate and one-to-four family mixed-use property mortgage loans originated during the second quarter of 2015 had an average loan-to-value ratio of 44.9% and an average debt coverage ratio of 221%.

The Bank experienced improvements in its non-accrual loans during the three months ended June 30, 2015, and charge-offs remained low during the same period. The Bank reviews its delinquencies on a loan by loan basis working with borrowers to help them meet their obligations and return them back to current status. The Bank takes a proactive approach to managing delinquent loans, including conducting site examinations and encouraging borrowers to meet with a Bank representative. The Bank at times will develop short-term payment plans that enable certain borrowers to bring their loans current and has employees experienced in loan workouts to manage the delinquent loans.

The Bank restructures certain problem loans by either: reducing the interest rate until the next reset date, extending the amortization period thereby lowering the monthly payments, deferring a portion of the interest payment, or changing the loan to interest only payments for a limited time period. At times, certain problem loans have been restructured by combining more than one of these options. These restructurings have not included a reduction of principal balance. The Bank believes that restructuring these loans in this manner will allow certain borrowers to become and remain current on their loans. These restructured loans are classified as troubled debt restructured (“TDR”). Loans which have been current for six consecutive months at the time they are restructured as TDR remain on accrual status. Loans which were delinquent at the time they are restructured as a TDR are placed on non-accrual status until they have made timely payments for six consecutive months. Loans that are restructured as TDR but are not performing in accordance with the restructured terms are excluded from the TDR table below, as they are placed on non-accrual status and reported as non-performing loans.

The following table shows loans classified as TDR that are performing according to their restructured terms at the periods indicated:

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, one multi-family TDR loan of $0.4 million was transferred to non-performing status, which resulted in this loan being included in non-performing loans.

Interest income on loans is recognized on the accrual basis. The accrual of income on loans is discontinued when certain factors, such as contractual delinquency of 90 days or more, indicate reasonable doubt as to the timely collectability of such income. Additionally, uncollected interest previously recognized on non-accrual loans is reversed from interest income at the time the loan is placed on non-accrual status. Loans in default 90 days or more, as to their maturity date but not their payments, continue to accrue interest as long as the borrower continues to remit monthly payments.

The following table shows non-performing assets, including loans held for sale, at the periods indicated:

Included in loans over 90 days past due and still accruing were eight loans totaling $1.1 million, nine loans totaling $2.9 million and 10 loans totaling $2.3 million at June 30, 2015, March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These loans are all past their respective maturity dates and are still remitting payments. The Bank is actively working with these borrowers to extend the maturity of or repay these loans.

Included in non-performing loans were two loans totaling $0.5 million at June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015 which were restructured as TDR and not performing in accordance with their restructured terms, compared to two loans totaling $2.4 million at December 31, 2014.

The Bank’s non-performing assets totaled $32.8 million at June 30, 2015, a decrease of $5.0 million from $37.8 million at March 31, 2015, and a decrease of $7.7 million from $40.5 million at December 31, 2014.

Total non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.61% at June 30, 2015, compared to 0.72% at March 31, 2015 and 0.80% at December 31, 2014. The ratio of allowance for loan losses to total non-performing loans was 80.8% at June 30, 2015, compared to 74.1% at March 31, 2015 and 73.4% at December 31, 2014.

During the three months ended June 30, 2015, 14 loans totaling $2.5 million were added to non-accrual loans, seven loans totaling $0.6 million were returned to performing status, seven loans totaling $1.4 million were paid in full, five loans totaling $1.5 million were sold, and one loan totaling $0.2 million was transferred to other real estate owned.

Performing loans delinquent 60 to 89 days were $1.6 million at June 30, 2015, an increase of $1.4 million from $0.3 million at March 31, 2015, but a decrease of $6.2 million from $7.9 million at December 31, 2014. Performing loans delinquent 30 to 59 days were $16.8 million at June 30, 2015, a decrease of $7.2 million from $24.1 million at March 31, 2015 and a decrease of $8.3 million from $25.1 million at December 31, 2014.

The following table shows net loan charge-offs (recoveries) for the periods indicated:

The Bank considers a loan impaired when, based upon current information, we believe it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, both principal and interest, according to the original contractual terms of the loan. All non-accrual loans are considered impaired. Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The property value of impaired mortgage loans is internally reviewed on a quarterly basis using multiple valuation approaches in evaluating the underlying collateral. These include obtaining a third party appraisal, or for internally reviewed loans an income approach or a sales approach. When obtained, third party appraisals are used. The income approach is used for income producing properties, and uses current revenues less operating expenses to determine the net cash flow of the property. Once the net cash flow is determined, the value of the property is calculated using an appropriate capitalization rate for the property. The sales approach uses comparable sales prices in the market. In the absence of a third party appraisal, greater reliance is placed on the income approach to value the collateral. The loan balance of impaired mortgage loans is then compared to the property’s updated fair value. We consider fair value to be 85% of the market value of the real estate securing the loan. The loan balance which exceeds fair value is generally charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Bank sold seven non-performing loans for proceeds totaling $2.5 million, realizing a gain on sale of $47,000 and net recoveries at the time of sale totaling $0.1 million. Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Bank sold five performing loans at carrying value for total proceeds of $2.5 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, mortgage-backed securities increased $24.7 million, or 3.5%, to $729.7 million from $704.9 million at December 31, 2014. The increase in mortgage-backed securities during the six months ended June 30, 2015 was primarily due to purchases of $79.2 million in mortgage-backed securities at an average yield of 2.64%, which was partially offset by principal repayments of $52.8 million and a decrease of $0.3 million in the fair value of mortgage-backed securities.

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, other securities, including securities held-to-maturity, increased $46.7 million, or 17.4%, to $315.0 million from $268.4 million at December 31, 2014. The increase in other securities during the six months ended June 30, 2015 was primarily due to purchases of $83.9 million at an average yield of 2.93%, which was partially offset by sales, maturities and a decrease in the fair value of other securities totaling $25.0 million, $9.0 million, and $1.6 million, respectively. Other securities primarily consist of securities issued by mutual or bond funds that invest in government and government agency securities, municipal bonds, collateralized loan obligations and corporate bonds.

Total liabilities were $4,897.8 million at June 30, 2015, an increase of $277.1 million, or 6.0%, from $4,620.8 million at December 31, 2014. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, due to depositors increased $181.5 million, or 5.2%, to $3,654.4 million, due to increases of $111.8 million in core deposits and $69.7 million in certificates of deposit. The increase in core deposits was due to increases of $108.9 million, $2.8 million and $1.7 million in money market, savings, and demand accounts, respectively, partially offset by a decrease of $1.6 million in NOW accounts. Borrowed funds increased $58.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in borrowed funds was primarily due to the addition of $73.0 million in long-term borrowing at an average cost of 1.29% and a net increase in short-term borrowings totaling $35.0 million at an average cost of 0.34%, partially offset by the maturity of $50.0 million in long-term borrowings at an average cost of 0.64%.

Total stockholders’ equity increased $5.9 million, or 1.3%, to $462.1 million at June 30, 2015 from $456.2 million at December 31, 2014. Stockholders’ equity increased primarily due to net income of $23.6 million, and an increase in additional paid in capital of $1.9 million due to the issuance of 132,242 shares distributed to the profit sharing plan and defined contribution retirement plan during the six months ended June 30, 2015. These increases were partially offset by the purchase of 635,199 treasury shares totaling $12.4 million, the declaration and payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock of $0.32 per common share totaling $9.4 million and a decrease in comprehensive income of $0.8 million primarily due to a decrease in the fair value of the securities portfolio. Book value per common share was $15.98 at June 30, 2015 compared to $15.52 at December 31, 2014. Tangible book value per common share, a non-GAAP measure, was $15.43 at June 30, 2015 compared to $14.98 at December 31, 2014.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2015, the Company repurchased 492,884 shares of the Company’s common stock at an average cost of $19.50 per share. At June 30, 2015, 1,000,000 shares may still be repurchased under the currently authorized stock repurchase program. Stock will be purchased under the current stock repurchase program from time to time, in the open market or through private transactions, subject to market conditions. There is no expiration or maximum dollar amount under this authorization.

Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings and Core Earnings

Although core earnings are not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, the Company believes that its core earnings are an important indication of performance through ongoing operations. The Company believes that core earnings are useful to management and investors in evaluating its ongoing operating performance, and in comparing its performance with other companies in the banking industry, particularly those that do not carry financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Core earnings should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP earnings. During the periods presented, the Company calculated core earnings by subtracting, net of tax, the net gain on the sale of buildings and the net gain on the sale of securities, and by adding back or subtracting, net of tax, the net gain or loss recorded from fair value adjustments.

About Flushing Financial Corporation

Flushing Financial Corporation is the holding company for Flushing Bank, a New York State-chartered commercial bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank serves consumers, businesses, and public entities by offering a full complement of deposit, loan, and cash management services through its 18 banking offices located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Nassau County. The Bank also operates an online banking division, iGObanking.com®, which offers competitively priced deposit products to consumers nationwide.

Additional information on Flushing Financial Corporation may be obtained by visiting the Company’s website at http://www.flushingbank.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this Press Release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “forecasts”, “potential” or “continue” or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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CONTACT: David Fry
         Senior Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
         Flushing Financial Corporation
         (718) 961-5400