BLOOMINGTON, IN – Monroe Bancorp announced net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 of $4,001,000, or $0.65 per common share. This is a 13.2% increase over net income of the same period in 1999 for the local, independently owned company.

"We continue implementing strategies that will propel us into the final quarter of 2000 and into the New Year in the best financial position possible," said Mark D. Bradford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monroe Bank, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary. "In this second half of 2000, we have devoted a significant amount of time to a meticulous study of our day-to-day procedures in order to identify, and put into practice, ways to enhance customer service, streamline operations and increase income."

Meanwhile, the Company is not losing sight of the fact that it is a community bank, said Bradford. Recently, the Bank closed all but four of its banking centers for an afternoon so that more than half of its 190 employees could volunteer at various not-for-profit, health and human service agencies. This 4th Annual "Day of Caring," part of a national "Week of Caring," gave the Bank employees a chance to work together outside of the Bank, and to make a positive impact on the community.

"In one afternoon, we allowed our employees together to contribute more than 400 hours worth of work to eighteen different area organizations," said Bradford.

Girls, Inc., Public Health Nursing, Highland Park Elementary School, Monroe County United Ministries, Santa’s Helpers in Bedford and Freetown Elementary School were among the organizations where teams of Monroe Bank employees pulled weeds, picked up trash, cleaned, made repairs and even addressed envelopes, among other tasks.

"Supporting and enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve is one of our strategic directives," said Bradford. "We rely on this community, and our success is directly tied to its success."

The Company's total assets as of September 30, 2000 were $434,125,000 a 9.2% increase over the September 30, 1999 amount. Concerted efforts to increase loans resulted in a 12.2% increase over the September 30, 1999 amount. In addition, deposits grew by 7.0% to $338,399,000 over the same period.

Established in Bloomington in 1892, Monroe Bank offers a full range of financial, trust and investment services through fifteen banking centers located in Monroe, Lawrence and Jackson counties. The Bank serves more than 19,000 retail and commercial customers.