National Bankshares, Inc. Posts Record Earnings for 2012

BLACKSBURG, VA, FEBRUARY 14, 2013:  National Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ Capital Market: NKSH) today announced that it had record net income approaching $17.75 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, an increase over the nearly $17.64 million earned in 2011. The 2012 return on average assets and return on average equity was 1.64% and 12.01%, respectively. Basic earnings per share were $2.56 in 2012 compared to $2.54 for 2011.  National Bankshares, Inc. ended 2012 with total assets of over $1.10 billion, up by 3.49% over the roughly $1.07 billion in total assets reported at December 31, 2011.

Commenting on the Company’s financial results, National Bankshares Chairman, President & CEO James G. Rakes said, “We are pleased with our strong operating results for 2012 and, in 2013, we will continue to focus on banking fundamentals and serving our existing and new customers, as well as our community. We are mindful of controlling costs, but will move forward with our efforts to invest in technology and innovations to enhance our customers’ banking experience.”

Mr. Rakes continued, “Even with the additional regulatory burdens and economic challenges in our market area, we were able to provide our stockholders dividends of $1.10 per share in 2012 compared to $1.00 in 2011. This per share dividend payment amount resulted in a dividend payout ratio of 43.04% in 2012 compared to 39.34% in 2011.”

National Bankshares, Inc., headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is the parent company of National Bank of Blacksburg, which does business as National Bank, and of National Bankshares Financial Services, Inc.  National Bank is a community bank operating from 25 offices throughout Southwest Virginia.  National Bankshares Financial Services, Inc. is an investment and insurance subsidiary in the same trade area.  The Company’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “NKSH.”  Additional information is available at www.nationalbankshares.com.

Certain statements in this press release may be “forward-looking statements.”  Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results that are not statements of historical fact and that involve significant risks and uncertainties.  Although the Company believes that its expectations with regard to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual Company results will not differ materially from any future results implied by the forward-looking statements.  Actual results may be materially different from past or anticipated results because of many factors, some of which may include changes in economic conditions, the interest rate environment, legislative and regulatory requirements, new products, competition, changes in the stock and bond markets and technology.  The Company does not update any forward-looking statements that it may make.