UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report   January 28, 2020

(Date of Earliest event reported)

FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California	000-30707	68-0450397
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer ID Number)

195 North First Street, P.O. Box 547, Dixon, California	95620
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(707) 678-3041

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  [ ]


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ] 

ITEM 2.02  RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On January 28, 2020, First Northern Community Bancorp issued a press release concerning financial results for the 4^th quarter of 2019, a copy of which is included as ITEM 9.01  (c) Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference in both ITEM 2.02 and ITEM 7.01.  The Company does not intend for this exhibit to be incorporated by reference into future filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

ITEM 7.01  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On January 28, 2020, First Northern Community Bancorp issued a press release concerning financial results for the 4^th quarter of 2019, a copy of which is included as ITEM 9.01 (c)  Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference in both ITEM 2.02 and ITEM 7.01 in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216.

ITEM 8.01  OTHER EVENTS

On January 23, 2020 the Board of Directors declared a 5% stock dividend, payable March 25, 2020 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2020.

ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)Exhibit

99.1Earnings Press Release, dated January 28, 2020

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  January 28, 2020	First Northern Community Bancorp (Registrant)
	/s/ Jeremiah Z. Smith
	By: Jeremiah Z. Smith
	Senior Executive Vice President/
	Chief Operating Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit	Document
99.1	Earnings Press Release, dated January 28, 2020

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2020

Contact:

Louise A. Walker

President & Chief Executive Officer

First Northern Community Bancorp

& First Northern Bank

P.O. Box 547

Dixon, California

(707) 678-3041

First Northern Community Bancorp Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Earnings

Annual Net Income of $14.7 Million Sets New Company Record

5% Stock Dividend Declared

Dixon, California - First Northern Community Bancorp (the “Company”, OTCQB: FNRN), holding company for First Northern Bank (“First Northern” or the “Bank”), today reported year ended 2019 net income totaling $14.7 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.6 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the year ended 2018, and net income totaling $3.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 compared to net income of $3.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Total assets at December 31, 2019 were $1.29 billion, an increase of $42.7 million, or 3.4%, compared to December 31, 2018.  Total deposits at December 31, 2019 were $1.14 billion, an increase of $14.0 million, or 1.3%, compared to December 31, 2018.  Total net loans (including loans held-for-sale) at December 31, 2019 were $773.0 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 1.0%, compared to December 31, 2018.  The Company continued to be “well capitalized” under regulatory definitions, exceeding the 10% total risk-based capital ratio threshold at December 31, 2019.

Commenting on the Company’s financial results, President & Chief Executive Officer Louise Walker stated, “We are pleased to report First Northern Community Bancorp set a new record with $14.7 million in annual net income, up 16.7% from the $12.6 million posted one year ago.  We attribute this healthy performance to higher mortgage loan production, increasingly stronger operational efficiencies, excellent credit metrics and the actions taken to position our balance sheet for the current interest rate environment.”

The Company also reported that at their regular meeting on January 23, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the payment of a 5% stock dividend payable March 25, 2020 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2020.  All income per share amounts have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to the stock dividend.  On February 1, 2020, the Company  will celebrate its 110-year anniversary.  First Northern Bank is one of only 14 banks in California that has surpassed the century mark.

First Northern Bank is an independent community bank that specializes in relationship banking.  The Bank, headquartered in Solano County since 1910, serves Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, and Contra Costa Counties, as well as the west slope of El Dorado County.  Experts are available in small-business, commercial, real estate and agribusiness lending, as well as mortgage loans. The Bank is an SBA Preferred Lender. Non-FDIC insured Investment and Brokerage Services are available at every branch location, including Dixon, Davis, West Sacramento, Fairfield, Vacaville, Winters, Woodland, Sacramento, Roseville, Auburn and Rancho Cordova. The Bank also has a commercial lending office in Walnut Creek and a mortgage loan office in Sonoma. Real estate mortgage and small-business loan officers are available by appointment in any of the Bank’s 11 branches. First Northern is rated as a Veribanc “Blue Ribbon” Bank for the earnings period ended September 30, 2019 (www.veribanc.com). The Bank can be found on the Web at thatsmybank.com, on Facebook and on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include certain “forward-looking statements” about First Northern Community Bancorp and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors. More detailed information about these risk factors is contained in the Company’s most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, each as it may be amended from time to time, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and any reports on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made. For further information regarding the Company, please read the Company’s reports filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

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