TowneBank Assets Top $1.3 Billion on Fifth Anniversary; Earnings Increase 24.91% Over Comparative 2003

April 16, 2004
Portsmouth, VA April 16, 2004

Quarterly Results:

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Hampton Roads based TowneBank (OTC Bulletin Board: TOWN) reported total assets of $1.310 billion at March 31, 2004, reflecting growth of $491.9 million or 60.17% over March 31, 2003. Total deposits grew 59.39% or $402.5 million over March 31, 2003, reaching $1.080 billion. Average noninterest bearing deposits were 26.77% of average total deposits for the 2004 first quarter reflecting solid growth in the Bank’s core funding.

G. Robert Aston, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TowneBank, stated, “Surpassing the $1.3 billion mark in total assets is a new milestone for TowneBank, and we are pleased with our progress for this quarter. We are also pleased to share this milestone with our new members and employees joining us from Harbor Bank. With the completion of our merger with Harbor Bank, we look forward to continuing the tradition of ‘Hometown’ service to our members throughout Hampton Roads.”

Net income for the first quarter of 2004 increased 24.91% to $1.805 million compared to $1.445 million in the first quarter of 2003. Net interest income and noninterest income increased 37.00% and 6.77%, respectively, while noninterest expense increased 21.84% as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2003. The growth in noninterest income reflects growth in the mortgage and insurance operations and significant growth in service fee income as well as earnings provided by the newly formed Towne Investment Group.

Net income per share on a basic basis increased to $0.17 for March 31, 2004, from $0.14 for 2003, while net income per share on a diluted basis was $0.16 for a 14.29% increase over the three months ended March 31, 2003.

Fifth Year Anniversary of Operations

TowneBank opened in April 1999 and celebrated its fifth full year of operation on April 8, 2004. “With the beginning of 2004 well on its way, we are excited not only by the financial prospects of the upcoming year but also by the realization of our achievements in building our franchise. The construction of the Pembroke Financial Center in the Town Center area of Virginia Beach is progressing quickly, and the renovation of our new Portsmouth headquarters at the corner of High Street and Crawford Parkway has begun. With hometown 16 banking offices, TowneBank is the largest independent bank headquartered in Hampton Roads. We have also declared and paid our second annual cash dividend of $0.10 per common share. We are grateful for the loyalty and support of all associated with this institution, and look forward to the opportunity to welcome others to our TowneBank family,” said Aston.

Annual Meeting Date

TowneBank also announced that its 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 11:30a.m. at the Chesapeake Conference Center, 900 Greenbrier Circle in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities laws. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or historical results. Interim results are not indicative of future results and amounts could vary.

-                            Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
                                            TOWNEBANK
                                          March 31, 2004
                            (Dollars in thousands, except share data)
-                                                                    Increase/ % Increase/
Three-Months Ended March 31,             2004             2003       (Decrease) (Decrease)

Results of Operations:

Net interest income                     7,813          $ 5,703        $ 2,110     $ 37.00%
Noninterest income                      4,180            3,915            265        6.77%
Noninterest expense                     8,691            7,133          1,558       21.84%
Provision for loan losses                 543              296            247       83.45%
Pretax Income                           2,759            2,189            570       26.04%
Provision for income tax expense          954              744            210       28.23%
Net income                              1,805            1,445            360       24.91%
Net income per common share - basic      0.17             0.14           0.03       21.43%
Net income per common share - diluted    0.16             0.14           0.02       14.38%

Period End Data:

Total assets                        1,309,574        $ 817,628      $ 491,946     $ 60.17%
Earning assets                      1,167,311          744,039        423,272       56.89%
Loans (net of unearned income)        936,675          528,694        407,981       77.17%
Allowance for loan losses              13,356            7,137          6,219       87.14%
Noninterest bearing deposits          308,857          181,230        127,627       70.42%
Interest bearing deposits             771,262          496,415        274,847       55.37%
    Total deposits                  1,080,119          677,645        402,474       59.39%
Advances from the FHLB                 41,030           37,700          3,330        8.83%
Convertible subordinated capital notes 28,493           22,498          5,995       26.65%
Shareholders' equity                  143,610           72,907         70,703       96.98%
Shares outstanding                 13,338,126       10,155,929      3,182,197       31.33%
Book value per share - tangible          6.95             7.03          (0.08)     (1.14%)
Book value per share                    10.77             7.18          3.59        50.00%

Daily Average Balances:

Total assets                          979,669        $ 761,751       $ 217,918    $ 28.61%
Earning assets                        905,540          705,754         199,786      28.31%
Loans (net of unearned income)        707,745          520,927         186,818      35.86%
Allowance for loan losses               9,579            7,089           2,490      35.12%
Noninterest bearing deposits          214,370          142,509          71,861      50.43%
Interest bearing deposits             586,280          479,828         106,452      22.19%
    Total deposits                    800,650          622,337         178,313      28.65%
Shareholders' equity                   89,470           72,108          17,362      24.08%
Shares outstanding - basic         10,606,848       10,098,881         507,967       5.03%

Key Ratios:

Return on average assets                 0.74%            0.77%          (0.03%)   (3.90%)
Return on average equity                 8.07%            8.13%          (0.06%)   (0.74%)
Net interest margin                      3.46%            3.28%           0.18%     5.49%
Average earning assets/total assets     92.43%           92.65%          (0.22%)   (0.24%)
Average loans/deposits                  88.40%           83.70%           4.70%     5.62%
Average noninterest deposits/ 
total deposits                          26.77%           22.90%           3.87%    16.90%
Allowance for loan losses/
period end loans                         1.43%            1.35%           0.08%     5.93%
Shareholders' equity to period 
end total assets                        10.97%            8.92%           2.05%    22.96%

Note: Per share data is restated for the February 2002, 2-for-1 stock split.

Contact:
G. Robert Aston, Jr. (757) 638-6781
R. Scott Morgan (757) 638-6783
Clyde E. McFarland, Jr. (757) 638-6801