Media Contacts:
Kay Birdsong Candler
404.351.6616
kcandler@ebank.com
ATLANTA, GA, March 26, 2002 – ebank.com,
Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: EBDC.OB), a unitary thrift holding
company for its federal savings bank, ebank (http://www.ebank.com),
announced today its year end results for 2001, reporting
a consolidated net loss of $994,390 or $.94 diluted loss
per share compared to a consolidated net loss of $6,820,097
or $4.50 diluted loss per share for the same period in 2000.
“2001 was a very challenging year for the banking industry
in general and for our Company specifically,” says James
L. Box, chief executive officer of ebank.com, Inc. “We
went through a downturn in the economy and experienced an unprecedented
decline in the prime rate, which had a negative impact on ebank’s
net interest margin. While the net interest margin suffered
from the drop in the prime rate, we managed to increase net
interest income by 8.8 percent from the prior year. Although
we did not achieve profitability in 2001, we have made significant
strides in positioning the company to achieve profitability
in the future. Non-interest expense was reduced by $4.8 million
or 53.5 percent from $9.0 million in 2000 to $4.2 million in
2001. Other income increased by $34.8 thousand or 34.8 percent
as compared to the same period last year. The bank’s
asset quality held up very well with loan losses of less than
one percent of average loans. We successfully met the challenges
in 2001 and are pleased with our overall performance for the
year.”
As of Dec. 31, 2001, ebank.com, Inc. reported total assets
of $96.3 million, an increase of 24.6 percent over the same
period in 2000. Loans, the largest component of assets, grew
$6.0 million or 8.7 percent ending the year at $75.7 million.
Deposits grew $10.5 million or 15.3 percent ending the year
at $79.1 million.
On January 2, 2002, ebank.com, Inc. closed on the acquisition
of Peachtree Capital Corporation (PCC), an Atlanta-based financial
planning and securities brokerage firm. The addition of PCC
creates a more diversified financial services company, enabling
the Company to offer a broader range of financial services
including banking, brokerage services, financial planning,
and insurance.
About ebank.com, Inc.
Based in Atlanta, GA, ebank.com, Inc.,
a unitary thrift holding company, serves the financial needs
of both retail and small business customers nationwide through
its Atlanta-based banking center, the Internet, and its subsidiary,
Peachtree Capital Corporation, an Atlanta-based financial
planning and securities brokerage firm. The company’s
subsidiary thrift, ebank, provides a broad array of financial
products and services to its small business and retail customers,
including checking accounts, money markets, CDs, ATM cards,
home loans, commercial loans, credit cards and bill payment
services. For more information, visit http://www.ebank.com.
Certain statements in this news release
contain “forward-looking
statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and are thus prospective, such as statements
relating to ebank.com, Inc.’s future business strategies.
These statements are based on many assumptions and estimates,
many of which are beyond ebank.com, Inc.’s control. The
words “may,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” and “estimate,” as
well as similar expressions, identify such forward-looking
statements. These statements appear in a number of places in
this release and include all statements that are not statements
of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or expectations
of ebank.com, Inc. and its management. These forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of risks and uncertainties associated
with ebank.com, Inc.'s business, including without limitation
ebank.com, Inc.’s limited operating history; whether
ebank.com, Inc. can successfully implement its new business
strategies or will need additional capital; and whether ebank.com,
Inc. can manage its projected growth. These and other risks
and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the filings
made by ebank.com, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information, visit http://www.ebank.com. |
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