National Penn Bancshares, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPBC) reported net income available to common shareholders of $26.0 million for the third quarter 2012, an increase of 16% compared to $22.4 million for the second quarter of 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $0.17, compared to $0.15 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2012. Year-to-date net income available to common shareholders also increased 16% to $73.8 million from $63.7 million for the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share were $0.49, compared to $0.42 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Return on average assets was 1.23% for the third quarter and 1.17% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. National Penn’s capital remained strong at September 30, 2012, as the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 11.56%1 and the tier 1 common and total capital ratios were 15.07% and 18.70%, respectively. Strong earnings and capital levels provided the basis for a cash dividend increase to $0.10 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net interest income increased, and the net interest margin expanded to 3.50% from 3.48% in the prior quarter, benefitting from the previously announced restructuring of FHLB advances. Period-end total loans and leases increased by $46 million, while total average loans for the third quarter of 2012 were comparable to the second quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, net interest margin was 3.51%, as compared to 3.52% a year ago.

“I am very pleased with the strength of National Penn’s financial performance,” said Scott V. Fainor, president and CEO of National Penn. “We will continue to operate with a sense of urgency and accountability to provide consistent returns for our shareholders and utilize the strength of our balance sheet as a competitive advantage.”

Asset quality remained strong as the level of classified loans continued to improve in the third quarter and declined by $74.2 million, or 20%, year-to-date. Net charge-offs totaled $5.1 million for the third quarter of 2012, as compared to $6.8 million in the second quarter. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 0.39% of average loans for the quarter and 0.49% for year-to-date 2012. Based in part on these metrics, the provision for loan and lease losses for the third quarter was $2.0 million, equal to the provision for the second quarter of 2012. Year-to-date provision expense totaled $6.0 million, as compared to $13.0 million of provision expense for the prior year period. At September 30, 2012, the allowance for loan and lease losses to non-performing loans was 195% and represented 2.16% of total loans and leases.

The current interest rate environment enhanced non-interest income in the third quarter of 2012 due to an increase in customer interest rate swap and mortgage activity. Total operating expenses continued to be well controlled and resulted in an efficiency ratio of 56.3%1 for the quarter, compared to 58.4% in the prior quarter.

Scott V. Fainor stated “The increasingly positive trends in the difficult current economic environment are a result of the dedication of National Penn’s team. Our consistent performance and continued returns of capital through share repurchases and dividend increases evidence our commitment to enhancing long term shareholder value.”

About National Penn Bancshares, Inc.:

National Penn Bancshares, Inc., with approximately $8.4 billion in assets, is a bank holding company based in Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Boyertown, National Penn operates 120 branch offices comprising 119 branches in Pennsylvania and one branch in Maryland through National Penn Bank and its KNBT and Nittany Bank divisions.

National Penn’s financial services affiliates are National Penn Wealth Management, N.A., including its National Penn Investors Trust Company division; National Penn Capital Advisors, Inc.; Institutional Advisors LLC; National Penn Insurance Services Group, Inc., including its Higgins Insurance division; and Caruso Benefits Group, Inc.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NPBC”. Please visit our Web site at www.nationalpennbancshares.com to see our regularly posted material information.

1Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

This release, including the attached Financial Highlights and financial data tables, contains supplemental financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).National Penn’s management uses these non-GAAP measures in its analysis of National Penn’s performance. These measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures nor should they be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP. Management believes the presentation of the following non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude the impact of the specified items, provides useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the financial results of National Penn.

• Tangible common equity excludes goodwill and intangible assets and preferred equity. Banking and financial institution regulators also exclude goodwill and intangible assets from shareholders’ equity when assessing the capital adequacy of a financial institution. Tangible common equity provides a method to assess the Company’s tangible capital trends.
• Tangible book value expresses tangible common equity on a per share basis. Tangible book value provides a method to assess the level of tangible net assets on a per share basis.
• Adjusted net income and return on assets exclude the effects of certain gains and losses, adjusted for taxes when applicable. Adjusted net income and returns provide methods to assess earnings performance by excluding items that management believes are not comparable among the periods presented.
• Efficiency ratio expresses operating expenses as a percentage of fully-taxable equivalent net interest income plus non-interest income. Operating expenses exclude items from non-interest expense that management believes are not comparable among the periods presented. Non-interest income is also adjusted to exclude items that management believes are not comparable among the periods presented. Efficiency ratio is used as a method for management to assess its operating expense level and to compare to financial institutions of varying sizes.

Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures will help readers compare National Penn’s current results to those of prior periods as presented in the accompanying Financial Highlights and financial data tables.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This release contains forward-looking information about National Penn Bancshares, Inc. that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “project,” “could,” “plan,” “goal,” “potential,” “pro forma,” “seek,” “intend,” or “anticipate” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include discussions of strategy, financial projections, guidance and estimates (including their underlying assumptions), statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of announced transactions, and statements about the future performance, operations, products and services of National Penn and its subsidiaries. National Penn cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements.

National Penn’s business and operations are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Consequently, actual results and experience may materially differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: regulatory requirements or other actions mandated by National Penn’s regulators, recent and ongoing changes to the state and federal regulatory schemes under which National Penn and other financial services companies operate (including the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted or to be adopted to implement that Act), deterioration in the credit quality of loans, the effect of credit risk exposure, the geographic concentration of National Penn’s operations, declines in the value of National Penn’s assets and the effect of any resulting impairment charges, National Penn’s ability to raise capital and maintain capital levels, increases in operating costs (including those mandated by National Penn’s regulators), competition for personnel and from other financial institutions, variations in interest rates, interruptions or breaches of National Penn’s security systems, the development and maintenance of National Penn’s information technology, the ability of National Penn and its subsidiaries to pay dividends, and the nature and frequency of litigation and other similar proceedings to which National Penn may be a party. These risks and others are described in greater detail in National Penn’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as well as in National Penn’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by National Penn with the SEC after the date thereof. National Penn makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances occurring or existing after the date any forward-looking statement is made.