HAZARD and FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (Nasdaq: KFFB), the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard and First Federal Savings Bank of Frankfort, Kentucky, announced net earnings of $333,000 or $0.04 diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to a net loss of $362,000 or $(0.05) diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2009, an increase of $695,000.  

The increase in net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $943,000 in the provision for loan loss from $968,000 for the prior year period to $25,000 for the period just ended.  Also contributing to the increase in net earnings was an increase in net interest income, which increased $236,000 or 15.4% from $1.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 to $1.8 million for the quarter just ended.  While interest income decreased $148,000 or 5.1% to $2.7 million for the recent quarter ended, interest expense decreased of $384,000 or 28.1% to $982,000 for the three month period ended September 30, 2010.  Noninterest expense increased $149,000 or 12.7% to $1.3 million for the recently ended quarterly period due primarily to increased employee compensation and benefits.

At September 30, 2010 assets had decreased $648,000 or 0.3% to $236.3 million compared to $236.9 million at June 30, 2010.  This decrease was attributed primarily to a decrease in investment securities, which decreased $616,000 or 6.3% to $9.2 million at September 30, 2010.  Total liabilities decreased $607,000 or 0.3% to $178.6 million at September 30, 2010, primarily as a result of a decrease in FHLB advances, which decreased $716,000 or 2.2% to $31.3 million at September 30, 2010.

At September 30, 2010, the Company reported its book value per share as $7.45.

This press release may contain statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 or the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases.  The Company intends 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, the impact of interest rates on financing, changes in general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory changes that adversely affect the business of the Company, changes in the securities markets and the Risk Factors described in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010.  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 Company or any other person that results expressed therein will be achieved.

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, which operates one banking office in Hazard, Kentucky and First Federal Savings Bank, which operates three banking offices in Frankfort, Kentucky.  Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol KFFB.  At September 30, 2010, the Company had approximately 7,746,000 shares outstanding of which approximately 61.0% was held by First Federal MHC.

SOURCE Kentucky First Federal Bancorp