Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 15, 2009 -- Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq:GFED), the holding company (the "Company") for Guaranty Bank, today announces the following results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results



 * Total assets increased $51.7 million, or 8%, from December 31,
   2008
 * Total investments and interest bearing deposits increased $72.4
   million, or 110%, from December 31, 2008
 * Total deposits increased $58.7 million, or 13%, from December
   31, 2008
 * Equity to assets increased to 7.21% as compared to 5.52% at
   December 31, 2008
 * Diluted earnings per common share was $.11 for the quarter

The Company announces that earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $574,000 compared to earnings of $299,000 for the same period in the prior year. After preferred dividends, diluted earnings per common share was $.11, resulting in no change from the earnings of $.11 per diluted common share during the same quarterly period in the prior year. However, this is a 115% increase from the diluted loss per common share of $(.73) for the second quarter of 2009.

There were several key issues that contributed to the third quarter performance as compared to the prior year quarter:



 * The decline in the Company's net interest margin (over the prior
   year quarter) continues to impact earnings due to several
   factors.  First, the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts
   beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007 and continuing
   throughout 2008 dramatically impacted the Company's yield on
   loans which are tied to the prime rate.  Second, the Company has
   experienced an increase in non-performing assets since the third
   quarter of the prior year end that has increased the amount of
   assets that are non-income generating.  Third, the Company
   executed a very successful deposit generating campaign to
   significantly increase liquidity during this turbulent economic
   and regulatory environment. This success in deposit growth has
   increased the Bank's cost of funds in the near term.
 * The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $670,000
   during the quarter (compared to $1.7 million for the prior year
   quarter) to compensate for increased reserves deemed necessary
   on a few specific credits.  The allowance for loan losses as of
   September 30, 2009 was 2.45% of gross loans outstanding
   (excluding mortgage loans held for sale).
 * The Company recognized $314,000 in gains on sales of fixed rate
   loans during the quarter (compared to $208,000 for the prior
   year quarter).  It also recognized $342,000 in gains on sales of
   securities from its investment portfolio (compared to $0 for the
   prior year quarter).
 * Non-interest expenses have increased during the quarter as
   compared to the prior year quarter.  The most impacting reason
   is the significant increase in the Federal Deposit Insurance
   Corporation insurance premiums on all insured institutions.  For
   the quarter, these assessment premiums increased $248,000, or
   300%, over the prior year quarter.  Salaries and employee
   benefits and certain occupancy expenses have also shown slight
   increases due to new branches beginning operation in mid 2008.

"We are pleased to show positive earnings for the quarter and we are cautiously optimistic looking forward," said Shaun A. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Throughout the credit crisis and recession we have successfully maintained a 'well-capitalized' equity position, dramatically improved our core liquidity, and diversified our asset base. We remain focused on the successful resolution of our problem assets and continue to see month over month improvement to our net interest margin."

About Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.

Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:GFED) has a subsidiary corporation offering full banking services. The principal subsidiary, Guaranty Bank, is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, and has nine full-service branches in Greene and Christian Counties and Loan Production Offices in Wright, Webster and Howell Counties. In addition, Guaranty Bank is a member of the TransFund ATM network which provides its customers surcharge free access to over 100 area ATMs and over 1,600 ATMs nationwide. For more information visit the Guaranty Bank website: www.gbankmo.com.

The discussion set forth above may contain forward-looking comments. Such comments are based upon the information currently available to management of the Company and management's perception thereof as of the date of this release. When used in this release, words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "expects," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results of the Company's operations could materially differ from those forward-looking comments. The differences could be caused by a number of factors or combination of factors including, but not limited to: changes in demand for banking services; changes in portfolio composition; changes in management strategy; increased competition from both bank and non-bank companies; changes in the general level of interest rates; the effect of regulatory or government legislative changes; technology changes; fluctuation in inflation; and other factors set forth in reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.


 Financial Highlights:

                                  Quarter ended      Nine Months ended

 Operating Data:               30-Sep-09 30-Sep-08 30-Sep-09 30-Sep-08
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
                                   (Dollar amounts are in thousands,
                                         except per share data)

 Total interest income          $  8,534  $  9,268  $ 25,361  $ 27,424
 Total interest expense            5,086     4,747    15,598    14,760
 Provision for loan losses           670     1,675     4,950     8,179
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Net interest income after
    provision for loan losses      2,778     2,846     4,813     4,485
 Noninterest income                1,330       849     3,662     2,551
 Noninterest expense               3,392     3,168    11,172     9,482
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Income (loss) before
  income tax                         716       527    (2,697)   (2,446)
 Provision (credit) for
  income tax                         142       228    (1,047)     (866)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Net income (loss)              $    574  $    299  $ (1,650) $ (1,580)
 Preferred stock dividends
  and discount accretion             281        --       750        --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net income (loss) available
  to common shareholders        $    293  $    299  $ (2,400) $ (1,580)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Net income (loss) per common
  share-basic                   $   0.11  $   0.11  $  (0.92) $  (0.61)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========
 Net income (loss) per common
  share-diluted                 $   0.11  $   0.11  $  (0.92) $  (0.61)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Annualized return on average
  assets                             .31%      .18%    (.30%)    (.33%)
 Annualized return on average
  equity                            4.39%     3.25%   (4.22%)   (5.08%)
 Net interest margin                1.92%     2.80%    1.81%     2.81%

                                           As of      As of
 Financial Condition Data:               30-Sep-09 31-Dec-08
                                          --------  --------

 Cash and cash equivalents                $ 19,075  $ 15,097
 Investments and interest
  bearing deposits                         138,509    66,062
 Loans, net of allowance for
  loan losses
  9/30/2009 - $13,220;
  12/31/2008 - $16,728                     527,805   558,327
 Other assets                               42,007    36,184
                                          --------  --------
   Total assets                           $727,396  $675,670
                                          ========  ========

 Deposits                                 $505,737  $447,079
 FHLB advances                             111,050   132,436
 Subordinated debentures                    15,465    15,465
 Securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase                  39,750    39,750
 Other liabilities                           2,972     3,627
                                          --------  --------
   Total liabilities                       674,974   638,357
 Stockholders' equity                       52,422    37,313
                                          --------  --------
   Total liabilities and
    stockholders' equity                  $727,396  $675,670
                                          ========  ========

 Equity to assets ratio                       7.21%     5.52%
                                          ========  ========
 Book value per common share              $  13.93  $  14.28
                                          ========  ========
 Non performing assets                    $ 41,580  $ 26,349
                                          ========  ========
CONTACT:  Guaranty Bank
          Shaun A. Burke, President & CEO
          417-520-4333
          www.gbankmo.com
          1341 W. Battlefield
          Springfield, MO 65807