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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Mark One)

[ X ] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999

or

[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition period from ___________________________ to __________________________

Commission file Number 000-26121

LCNB CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Issuer's telephone number, including area code (513) 932-1414

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Securities registered pursuant to 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

Common stock, No Par Value

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ( X ) No ( )

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (section 229.405) of this chapter is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

The issuer's common shares are not traded on any securities exchange and are not quoted by a national quotation service. Management is aware of a sale of the issuer's shares for $70.00 per share on January 3, 2000. Based upon such price, the aggregate market value of the issuer's shares held by nonaffiliates was $86,927,400.

As of February 22, 2000, 1,760,000 common shares were issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement included in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 18, 2000, dated March 18, 2000, are incorporated by reference into Part III.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1. Description of Business and Supplemental Data

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters disclosed herein may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including regulatory policy changes, interest rate fluctuations, loan demand, loan delinquencies and losses, and other risks. Actual strategies and results in future time periods may differ materially from those currently expected. Such forward-looking statements represent management's judgment as of the current date. LCNB Corp. disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES AND PENDING ACQUISTION

On May 18, 1999, Lebanon Citizens National Bank ("Lebanon Citizens") held a special shareholders meeting for the purpose of approving the reorganization of Lebanon Citizens into a one-bank holding company structure. The reorganization was approved and consummated immediately following the special meeting.

The reorganization was effected through the merger of Lebanon Citizens with and into LC Interim National Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the new bank holding company, LCNB Corp. Concurrent with the merger, LC Interim National Bank changed its name to "Lebanon Citizens National Bank" and is now operated as the wholly-owned bank subsidiary of LCNB Corp. The consideration for the merger was ten shares of LCNB Corp. common stock for each share of Lebanon Citizens National Bank common stock held by the shareholders. Following the merger, all shareholders of Lebanon Citizens maintained the same stock ownership percentage in the holding company as they had in Lebanon Citizens. Following the merger, Lebanon Citizens National Bank's business continued unchanged with the same management and employees.

As part of the reorganization of Lebanon Citizens into a bank holding company structure, it was necessary to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This registration statement also served the purpose of registering LCNB Corp. as a Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") reporting company. Lebanon Citizens at the end of calendar year 1998, had over 500 shareholders and by law was required to register as a 1934 Act company. By virtue of the reorganization, LCNB Corp. became the registering company and is now a public company obligated to comply with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the "Graham Act"), known commonly as the "Financial Services Modernization Act", was signed into law on November 12, 1999 and is effective March 11, 2000. This new act, among other changes, effectively allows the creation of a new financial services holding company that can offer a full range of financial products and engage in expanded approved activities such as insurance and securities services. Pursuant to the Gramm Act, LCNB Corp. intends to conduct new activities as a financial holding company, as that term is defined in the Gramm Act, through an operating subsidiary that will engage in selling insurance to the public. LCNB Corp. has applied to the Federal Reserve for approval to become a financial holding company pursuant to Interim Rule Section 225.82 promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to implement the provisions of the Gramm Act. Upon approval, LCNB Corp., as a financial holding company, will be permitted to engage, through a wholly owned subsidiary, in general insurance agency activities and to act as an agent for the sale of annuities.

LCNB Corp. has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc., the individual shareholders of Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. and Dakin Acquisition Corporation dated December 30, 1999 (the "Agreement"). In order to facilitate the acquisition of Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc., LCNB Corp. formed Dakin Acquisition Corporation in November 1999, under the laws of the state of Ohio, as a wholly owned subsidiary of LCNB Corp. Pursuant to the Agreement, Dakin Acquisition Corporation will merge with and into Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. and Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. being the surviving corporation (hereinafter the surviving company is referred to herein as "Dakin'). The Articles of Incorporation and Regulations of Dakin Acquisition Corporation will become the governing documents of Dakin. At the consummation of the merger, the individual shareholders of Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. will exchange all of the outstanding shares of Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. for shares of LCNB Corp. common stock. Following the merger, Dakin will be a wholly owned subsidiary of LCNB Corp. A condition precedent to the closing of the merger is the receipt of all regulatory approvals. Following the satisfaction of all conditions precedent provided in the Agreement, the merger shall be effective upon the later of the date the Certificate of Merger is filed with the Secretary of State of Ohio or such other date as the parties may agree upon.

Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of Ohio and has been an independent insurance agency in Lebanon, Ohio since 1876. Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc. is currently engaged in selling and servicing personal and commercial insurance products and annuity products and is regulated by the Ohio Department of Insurance. The surviving company in the merger, Dakin, will conduct the same business from the same offices at 20 East Mulberry, Lebanon, Ohio under the same licenses as Dakin Insurance Agency, Inc.

DESCRIPTION OF LCNB CORP'S BUSINESS

General Description

LCNB Corp. is a $439 million locally owned one bank holding company headquartered in Lebanon, Ohio. The predecessor of LCNB Corp., Lebanon Citizens National Bank, was formed as a national banking association in 1877. On May 18, 1999, Lebanon Citizens became the wholly owned subsidiary of LCNB Corp.

Lebanon Citizens has its main banking office located in Warren County, Ohio. Lebanon Citizens has 16 branch offices located in Warren, Butler, Clinton, Clermont, and Hamilton Counties, Ohio. Lebanon Citizens also operates a loan production office in Hamilton, Ohio. In addition, Lebanon Citizens operates twenty-one automated teller machines in its market area. Lebanon Citizens is a full service bank offering a wide range of commercial and personal banking services including commercial loans, real estate loans, construction loans, consumer loans, Small Business Administration loans, Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Other services offered include safe deposit boxes, night depository, U.S. savings bonds, travelers' checks, money orders, cashiers checks, bank-by-mail, automatic teller machine cash and transaction services, debit cards, wire transfers, electronic funds transfer, utility bill collections, notary public service, personal computer based cash management services, 24 hour telephone banking, PC Internet banking and other services tailored for both individuals and businesses.

Lebanon Citizens' residential mortgage lending activities consist primarily of loans for purchasing personal residences, home equity loans, local lender loans, or loans for commercial or consumer purposes secured by residential mortgages. Consumer lending activities consist of traditional forms of financing for automobile and personal loans plus indirect automobile loans.

Lebanon Citizens' range of deposit services include checking accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts, Christmas and vacation savings, money market accounts, Classic 50 accounts (a Senior Citizen program), individual retirement accounts, certificates of deposit, and overdraft protection. Deposits of Lebanon Citizens are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Trust and Investment Management Division of Lebanon Citizens performs complete trust administrative functions and offers agency and trust services and mutual funds investment products to individuals, partnerships, corporations, institutions and municipalities.

Lebanon Citizens is not dependent upon any one significant customer or specific industry. Business is not seasonal to any material degree.

The significant banking market for Lebanon, which encompasses portions of Warren, Butler, Clinton, Clermont and Hamilton Counties, includes approximately 65 other commercial banks, 60 thrift institutions and 67 credit unions. The address of the main office of Lebanon Citizens is 2 North Broadway, Lebanon, Ohio 45036; telephone (513) 932-1414.

Competition

Lebanon Citizens faces strong competition both in making loans and attracting deposits. The deregulation of the banking industry and the wide spread enactment of state laws that permit multi-bank holding companies as well as the availability of nationwide interstate banking has created a highly competitive environment for financial services providers. Lebanon Citizens competes with other national and state banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking companies and other financial intermediaries operating in its market and elsewhere, many of whom have substantially greater financial and managerial resources.

Lebanon Citizens competes with other banks and bank holding companies operating in it's market area which range in size from approximately $50 million to over $260 billion in assets. Other competition comes primarily from savings and loans, credit unions, and other financial intermediaries operating in Lebanon Citizens' market area. Lebanon Citizens seeks to minimize the competitive effect of larger financial institutions through a community banking approach that emphasizes direct customer access to Lebanon Citizens' president and other officers in an environment conducive to friendly, informed and courteous personal services. Management believes that Lebanon Citizens is well positioned to compete successfully in its respective primary market area. Competition among financial institutions is based upon interest rates offered on deposit accounts, interest rates charged on loans and other credit and service charges, the quality and scope of the services rendered, the convenience of the banking facilities and, in the case of loans to commercial borrowers, relative lending limits. Management believes that the commitment of Lebanon Citizens to personal service, innovation and involvement in their respective communities and primary market areas, as well as their commitment to quality community banking service, are factors that contribute to its competitive advantage.

Supervision and Regulation

LCNB Corp, as a bank holding company, is regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "Act"), and is subject to the supervision and examination of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"). The Act requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board for a bank holding company to acquire or hold more than a 5% voting interest in any bank and restricts interstate banking activities. On September 29, 1994, the Act was amended by the Interstate Banking and Branch Efficiency Act of 1994 which authorizes interstate bank acquisitions anywhere in the country, effective one year after the date of enactment and interstate branching by acquisition and consolidation, effective June 1, 1997, in those states that have not opted out by that date.

The Act limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks, performing certain servicing activities for subsidiaries and engaging in such other activities as the Federal Reserve Board may determine to be closely related to banking and a proper incident thereto. The Act does not place territorial restrictions on the banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies. LCNB Corp's banking subsidiary is subject to limitations with respect to intercompany loans and investments.

A substantial portion of LCNB Corp.'s cash revenues is derived from dividends paid by Lebanon Citizens. These dividends are subject to various legal and regulatory restrictions.

LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens are subject to an extensive array of banking laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of the customers and depositors of LCNB Corp.'s subsidiaries rather than holders of LCNB Corp.'s securities. These laws and regulations govern such areas as permissible activities, loans and investments, rates of interest that can be charged on loans and reserves. LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens also are subject to general U.S. federal laws and regulations and to the laws and regulations of the State of Ohio. Set forth below are brief descriptions of selected laws and regulations applicable to LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens.

Lebanon Citizens is subject to the provisions of the National Bank Act. Lebanon Citizens is subject to primary supervision, regulation and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Lebanon Citizens is also subject to the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and under Regulations of the Federal Reserve Board pursuant thereto, a bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit.

LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens are also subject to the state banking laws of Ohio. Ohio adopted nationwide reciprocal interstate banking effective October, 1988. However, banking laws of other states may restrict branching of banks to other counties within the state and acquisitions or mergers involving banks and bank holding companies located in other states.

Federal regulators adopted risk-based capital guidelines and leverage standards for banks and bank holding companies.

The Financial Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) provides that a holding company and its controlled insured depository institutions are liable for any loss incurred by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in connection with the default of any FDIC assisted transaction involving an affiliated insured bank or savings association.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) covers an expanse of banking regulatory issues. FDICIA deals with the recapitalization of the Bank Insurance Fund, with deposit insurance reform including requiring the FDIC to establish a risk-based premium assessment system with a number of other regulatory and supervisory matters. Lebanon Citizens will be required to make payments for the servicing of obligations of the Financing Corporation ("FICO") issued in connection with the resolution of savings and loan associations, so long as such obligations remain outstanding. Noncompliance to laws and regulations by bank holding companies and banks can lead to monetary penalties and/or an increased level of supervision or a combination of these two items. Management is not aware of any current instances of noncompliance to laws and regulations and does not anticipate any problems maintaining compliance on a prospective basis. Recent regulatory inspections and examinations of the LCNB Corp and Lebanon Citizens have not disclosed any significant instances of noncompliance. The minor instances of noncompliance detected during these inspections and examinations were promptly corrected by Management and no action was taken by the regulators against the LCNB Corp. or Lebanon Citizens.

The earnings and growth of LCNB Corp are affected not only by general economic conditions, but also by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board. Its policies influence the amount of bank loans and deposits and the interest rates charged and paid thereon and thus have an effect on earnings. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of such policies on the future business and earnings of LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens cannot be predicted.

Employees

As of December 31, 1999, LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens employed 183 full-time equivalent employees. LCNB Corp. is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement. Management considers its relationship with its employees to be very good. Employee benefits programs are considered by Management to be competitive with benefits programs provided by other financial institutions and major employers within Lebanon Citizens' market area.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND EXPORT SALES

LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens do not have any offices located in foreign countries and they have no foreign assets, liabilities or related income and expense for the years presented.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

The following tables present additional statistical information about LCNB Corp. and its operations and financial condition and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes and the discussion included in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis and Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential

The following table presents, for the years indicated, the distribution of average assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity, as well as the total dollar amounts of interest income from average interest earning assets and the resultant yields, and the dollar amounts of interest expense and average interest-bearing liabilities and the resultant rates paid.

Year ended December 31, (Dollars in thousands)

The following table presents the changes in interest income and expense for each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liability and the amount of change attributable to volume and rate changes for the years indicated. Changes not solely attributable to rate or volume have been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of absolute dollar amounts of the changes in each.

(Amounts in thousands)
For the years ended December 31,

(1) The change in interest income from non-taxable investment securities is computed based on interest income determined on a taxable equivalent yield basis. Interest income has been divided by a factor comprised of the complement of the incremental tax rate of 34%.

Investment Portfolio

The following table presents the carrying values of securities for the years indicated:

Contractual maturities of debt securities at December 31, 1999, were as follows. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities when borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations.

(1) Yields on tax-exempt obligations are computed on a tax equivalent basis based upon a 34% statutory Federal income tax rate.

Excluding those holdings of the securities portfolio in the U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government Agencies and Corporations, there were no investments in securities of any one issuer which exceeded 10% of the consolidated shareholders' equity of LCNB Corp. at December 31, 1999.

Loan Portfolio

The following table summarizes the distribution of the loan portfolio for the years indicated:

The following tables summarize the commercial and agricultural loan maturities and sensitivities to interest rate changes at December 31, 1999:

Risk Elements

The accrual of interest on impaired loans is discontinued when there is a clear indication that the borrower's cash flow may not be sufficient to meet payments as they become due. Subsequent cash receipts on nonaccrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal, and interest income is recorded once principal recovery is reasonably assured. The current year's accrued interest on loans placed on non-accrual status is charged against earnings. Previous years' accrued interest is charged against the allowance for loan losses.

A summary of accruing loans past due 90 days or more at December 31, follows:

There were no nonaccrual loans at December 31, for each of the years ended 1995 through 1999. Interest income that would have been recorded in each of the years 1995 through 1999 if loans on nonaccrual status at various times during the respective years had been current and in accordance with their original terms, was not material. For each of the years ended December 31, 1995 through 1999, the recorded investments in loans for which impairment has been recognized in accordance with SFAS Statement No.114 was not material. LCNB Corp. is not committed to lend additional funds to debtors whose loans have been modified to provide a reduction or deferral of principal or interest because of a deterioration in the financial position of the borrower.

Summary of Loan Experience

The table summarizing the activity relating to the allowance for loan losses is included in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis.

The following table presents the allocation of the allowance for loan loss.

This allocation is made for analytical purposes. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any category of the portfolio. The allowance allocated to the commercial and consumer categories has increased over the five year period due to the increase in outstandings in these loan categories which, by nature, have greater risk elements.

The following table presents the categories of loans as a percent of total loans.

The statistical information regarding average amounts and average rates paid for the deposit categories is included in the "Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity" table included at the beginning of the "Statistical Information" section.

The following table presents the contractual maturity of time deposits of $100,000 or more:

Return of Equity and Assets

The statistical information regarding the return on assets, return on equity, dividend payout ratio and equity to assets ratio is presented in Item 6, Selected Financial Data.

Item 2. Properties

Lebanon Citizens conducts its business from the following offices:

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There are no material legal proceedings, or to the knowledge of management, threatened against LCNB Corp. or Lebanon Citizens National Bank.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

The LCNB Corp. had approximately 580 holders of its common stock as of December 31, 1999. The number of shareholders includes banks and brokers who act as nominees, each of whom may represent more than one shareholder. There is currently no established public trading market for LCNB Corp. common stock. Trade prices for shares of LCNB Corp. stock (and Lebanon Citizens' stock preceding the formation of the holding company), reported through registered securities dealers, are set forth below. Trades have occurred during the period without the knowledge of LCNB Corp. The trades of which LCNB Corp. is aware from the market makers in the stock are those outlined. The prices given are interdealer without retail markups, markdown or commissions.

All the amounts have been restated to reflect the ten-for-one stock exchange in the formation of the holding company on May 18, 1999.

Cash dividends per share declared in 1999 were $.25 in each of March, June and September and $.80 in December. Cash dividends per share declared in 1998 were $.20 in each of March, June and September and $.80 in December. Cash dividends per share have been restated for the ten-for-one stock exchange in the formation of the holding company on May 18, 1999.

It is expected that LCNB Corp. will continue to pay dividends on a similar schedule, to the extent permitted by the business and other factors beyond management's control.

LCNB Corp. may, in its sole discretion, issue unaudited quarterly or other interim reports to its shareholders as it deems appropriate. These reports, while they are required to be filed with the SEC by the LCNB Corp., may not be delivered to shareholders.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following represents selected consolidated financial data of LCNB Corp. for the years ended December 31, 1995 through 1999 and are derived from LCNB Corp's consolidated financial statements and Lebanon Citizens' unaudited financial statements and call reports. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K and Management's Discussion and Analysis and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk included in Items 7 and 7A, respectively, of this Form 10-K, and are qualified in their entirety thereby and by other detailed information elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

(1) All per share data have been adjusted to reflect the ten-for-one stock exchange in 1999.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

The following is management's discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of LCNB Corp. It is intended to amplify certain financial information regarding LCNB Corp. and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes, included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K; and the Statistical Information in Item 1 of this Form 10-K and the Selected Financial Data in Item 6 of this Form 10-K.

Comparative Financial Information

Effective May 18, 1999, Lebanon Citizens was reorganized into a one-bank holding company structure. Prior to that date, the financial information presented represents the assets, liabilities and operations of Lebanon Citizens. Comparative earnings per share information is presented on pro forma basis.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters disclosed herein may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including regulatory policy changes, interest rate fluctuations, loan demand, loan delinquencies and losses, and other risks. Actual strategies and results in future time periods may differ materially from those currently expected. Such forward-looking statements represent management's judgment as of the current date. LCNB Corp. disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

Net Income

LCNB Corp. earned $5.548 million in 1999 compared to $5.447 in 1998. Earnings per share were $3.15, up 1.9% or $.06 per share from 1998. Performance ratios for 1999 included a return on average assets of 1.28% and a return of average equity of 12.98% compared to ratios of 1.30% and 13.47%, respectively, for 1998.

Net income for 1998 increased $412,000, or by 8.2% in 1998 from 1997 and earnings per share increased $.23 per share.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased $891 thousand, or 5.7%, from 1998 to 1999. The net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis (FTE) increased from 4.10% in 1998 to 4.24% in 1999. This 14 basis point increase was due in part to a 32 basis point decline in the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by 17 basis point decline in the yield on average interest-earning assets. The decline in the cost of average interest-bearing funds resulted from the replacement of higher cost time deposits with lower cost savings deposits. The decline in the yield on average interest-earning assets is due to lower yields attributable to commercial loans and mortgage loans. An increase in average interest-earning assets of $13.1 million to $402.2 million in 1999 also contributed to the increase in net interest income. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in average commercial and residential real estate loans and securities.

Net interest income increased $2.1 million, or 15.5% in 1998 from 1997 due to a 22 basis point increase in the FTE net interest margin and a $22.2 million increase in average interest-earning assets. The net interest margin improvement was due to a 36 basis point decrease in the average cost of funds resulting from an initiative to price time deposits and IRA accounts less aggressively in 1998 than 1997. The increase in average interest-earning assets was due in part to the purchase of three Key Bank branches in September 1997.

Provisions and Allowance for Loan Losses

The total provision for loan losses is determined based upon Management's evaluation as to the amount needed to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level considered appropriate in relation to the risk of losses inherent in the portfolio. In addition to historic charge-off percentages, factors taken into consideration to determine the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses include the nature, volume and consistency of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers ability to pay. The following table presents the total loan provision and the other changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years 1995 through 1999 (in thousands).

The allowance for loan losses of $2.0 million is .70% of total loans at December 31, 1999, compared to $2.0 million or .75% of total loans at December 31, 1998 and $2.2 million or .81% at December 31, 1997. The $63 thousand increase in consumer loans charged off, net of recoveries, in 1999 over 1998 is attributable, in part, to the adoption of a new uniform charge-off policy in 1999 for consumer, credit card and home mortgage loans as mandated by the Federal Financial Institution's Examination Council for all banks and thrifts. It includes a requirement to charge off open-end credit at 180 days delinquency and closed-end credit at 120 days delinquency. Management believes that no significant difference will occur prospectively in net charge-offs as a result of this policy change. The $419 thousand of charge-offs in 1998 includes one commercial loan of $227 thousand. This loan, which had a $455 thousand balance at December 31, 1997, was charged down and paid off completely in 1998. Management believes the loan represented a unique credit risk based on the nature of the borrower's operations, the inventory that partially collateralized the loan, and the significance of the loan balance outstanding. The loan portfolio at December 31, 1999 does not include a commercial loan with a comparable level of credit risk.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income decreased $36 thousand, or 1.0% to $3.419 million in 1999 from $3.455 million in 1998. The decline was partially due to $234 thousand in security gains in 1998 compared to $20 thousand in 1999. Excluding the security gains from the comparison, non-interest income increased $178 thousand, or 5.5%. This increase was attributable to a $78 thousand, or 7.2% increase in trust income and a $130 thousand, or 6.4% increase in service charges and fees.

The trust fee income increased in 1999 due to an increase in estate fee income as well as an increase in the market value of assets under management.

The increase in service charges and fees from 1998 to 1999 was primarily due to a $61 thousand increase in ATM fees attributable to five new ATM machines added in late 1998 and early 1999. Additionally, Lebanon Citizens increased foreign ATM service fees and surcharge fees in mid-1998 and in 1999 and continued to experience an increase in the cardholder base resulting from the Key Bank branch acquisitions in September 1997. Also contributing to the increase in service charges was a $59 thousand increase in check card fee income resulting from continued growth in usage and the base of cardholders. Credit card fee and interchange income increased $72 thousand as a result of an increase in the cardholder base and a change in the processing vendor. These increases in service charges and fees were partially offset by a $72 thousand decrease in credit card merchant processing fees as Lebanon Citizens has opted to exit this business due to declining margins.

Other operating income decreased by $30 thousand as a result of a gain recorded in 1998 on the sale of property in connection with the consolidation of branches in Waynesville, which did not recur in 1999.

Non-interest income increased $481 thousand, or 16.2%, to $3.455 million in 1998. Contributing to the increase was a $334 thousand increase in service charges, in part, due to Lebanon Citizens initiating a new policy to charge ATM fees to users who were not customers of Lebanon Citizens. Also fees increased from customer relationships throughout 1998 that were acquired in the September 1997 acquisition of three branch offices of Key Bank. Additionally, security gains of $234 thousand contributed to the increase in non-interest income in 1998 as no securities were sold in 1997.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased $848 thousand, or 7.8%, in 1999 from 1998. This increase was primarily due to a $584 thousand, or 10.9%, increase in labor costs including pension and other employee benefits. Labor costs increased as a result of salary and related pension costs increases. Equipment and occupancy expenses increased $95 thousand, or 7.1%, primarily as a result of increased depreciation related to equipment purchases in late 1998 and branch improvements. Other non-interest expense increased $167 thousand, or 6.5%. The increase was due in part to an $88 thousand increase in computer maintenance charges due in part to newly purchased imaging equipment becoming operational in 1999. Correspondent bank fees increased $67 thousand in 1999 as Lebanon Citizens has opted to pay for its item processing charges in fees rather than through maintenance of higher non-interest bearing deposits with its upstream correspondent institutions. Other expenses increased as a result of the public filings required by the newly formed LCNB Corp. as well as acquisition efforts in the Dakin Insurance Company transaction. These increases were partially offset by declines in merchant credit card related processing and interchange expenses due to Lebanon Citizen's exiting of the merchant credit card business in mid-1999. Lebanon Citizens outsourced these services in 1999 and now functions as a referral conduit for merchant credit card business.

Non-interest expense increased $2.007 million, or 22.5%, from 1997 to 1998. This increase was primarily due to a $739 thousand, or 16.0%, increase in labor costs including pension and other benefits resulting from a full year of operating the four new branches built and acquired in late 1997. Additionally, amortization of intangibles associated with the acquisition of these three branches located in Oxford, Okeana, and Waynesville increased from $177 thousand in 1997 to $611 thousand in 1998. The intangibles are being amortized on a straight line basis over ten years. Lebanon Citizens periodically reviews the acquired intangibles for impairment.

Income Taxes

LCNB Corp.'s effective tax of 29.4% in 1999 is 104 basis points lower in 1999 than the rate in 1998 due to an increase in tax-exempt interest income as a percent of income before income taxes. The effective tax rate in 1998 of 30.8% increased 60 basis points from 1997.

Assets

Total assets increased $6.8 million, or 1.6% from December 31, 1998 to December 31, 1999. This increase was primarily due to a $20.6 million, or 7.8%, increase in loans, partially offset by a $18.1 million, or 14.7% decrease in securities available for sale.

The loan increase from December 31, 1998 to December 31, 1999 resulted primarily from a $5.7 million increase in commercial and industrial loans, an $8.1 million increase in residential real estate loans and a $4.2 million increase in consumer loans. The growth in commercial loans resulted from competitively priced products and focused officer calling efforts in the Oxford market as well as the Warren County offices. The increase in residential real estate loans is primarily due to Management's decision in 1999 to originate fixed rate loans for portfolio purposes, rather than for sale, due to existing attractive market rates and shifting interest rate trends in 1999. Lebanon Citizens originated $2.4 million in loans for immediate sale to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). This compares to $11.6 million in loans originated and sold to Freddie Mac in 1998 and $280 thousand in 1997. Consumer loans increased primarily through concentrated efforts to originate indirect auto and other loans through dealers.

Securities decreased as a result of a shifting of assets from the securities portfolio to the higher yielding loan portfolio. $12.8 million of securities were sold in 1999 resulting in a $20 thousand realized gain. Proceeds were primarily used to fund the continued loan growth.

Premises and equipment increased $126 thousand, net of $688 thousand in depreciation expense, from December 31, 1999 to December 31, 1998. Expenditures for 1999 included approximately $350 thousand for costs associated with a new branch site in Goshen, Ohio, $81 thousand related to a new ATM purchase and installation and various branch renovations expenditures.

Lebanon Citizens owns its branches with the exception of four. The Otterbein, Oxford, and South Lebanon branches, as well as the loan production office in Hamilton which opened in December 1999, are leased under multi-year operating leases. The current Otterbein lease expires in July 2005, the Oxford lease expires in May 2000, the South Lebanon lease expires in July 2001 and the Hamilton lease expires in 2004. The Otterbein, South Lebanon and Hamilton leases include renewal options. The Bank is currently building a new branch in Oxford which is expected to open in May 2000. The Goshen branch currently under construction is due to open April 2000.

Total assets increased $11.1 million, or 2.6%, from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 1998. The most significant changes were a $22.5 million, or 22.2%, increase in investment securities from $101.2 million to $123.7 million, a $3.2 million, or 1.3%, decrease in total loans from $270.5 million to $267.1 million, and a 56.6% decrease in combined federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions from $21.4 million to $9.3 million.

Securities increased from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 1998 as a result of shifting assets from lower-yielding overnight fed funds to higher-yielding securities and investment of incremental deposit proceeds. Residential real estate loans and consumer loans decreased $11.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively, while commercial loans increased $9.6 million from December 31, 1997 to December 31, 1998. The decrease in residential real estate loans is due to the implementation of a strategy to limit the volume of fixed rate loans added to the portfolio in 1998 as part of Lebanon Citizens' ongoing management of interest rate risk. During 1998, an increasing number of borrowers opted to lock in low rates available through fixed rate products. To meet customer demand, the Bank continued to originate fixed rate real estate loans, however, most were immediately sold in the secondary market to Freddie Mac. Commercial loans increased as result of several significant new credit relationships.

In 1998, Lebanon Citizens sold real estate in Waynesville associated with the consolidation of its branch operations in that community. The $33 thousand gain realized on the sale in 1998 is included in Other Operating Income in the Statements of Income. Expenditures for premises and equipment in 1998 included approximately $600 thousand in renovations to branch offices and $383 thousand for equipment purchases and data processing systems upgrades.

Deposits

Total deposits of $391.6 million at December 31, 1999 increased $4.6 million, or 1.2%, from December 31, 1998. Demand and NOW deposits remained relatively constant from December 31, 1998 to December 31, 1999 and Money fund and savings deposits increased $4.2 million. Other time deposits declined by $8.0 million as Lebanon Citizens continued to allow its higher cost retail deposit products to run-off. Certificates greater than $100 thousand increased by $8.1 million due to an increase in demand for time deposits by public institutions having investable funds.

Deposits increased $9.6 million, or 2.6%, to $387.0 million at December 31, 1998, from $377.4 million at the close of 1997. Of this increase, noninterest-bearing demand deposits were $8.4 million or 20.3% greater than at year end 1997 and interest bearing deposits were up $1.2 million or .4%, net of a decrease in time deposits of $19.9 million. Lebanon Citizens' strategy was to competitively price deposit products in the markets served with an emphasis on growing its lower-priced core deposits products.

Liquidity

Liquidity is the ability to have funds available at all times to meet the commitments of Lebanon Citizens. Asset liquidity is provided by cash and assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash and deposits in banks, federal funds sold and securities available for sale. Liquidity is also provided by access to core funding sources, primarily core depositors in the bank's trade area. Lebanon Citizens does not solicit brokered deposits as a funding source. The liquidity of Lebanon Citizens is enhanced by the fact that 85% of total deposits at December 31, 1999 were "core" deposits. Core deposits, for this purpose, are defined as total deposits less public funds and certificates of deposit greater than $100,000.

At December 31, 1999, Lebanon Citizens' liquid assets amounted to $134.4 million or 31% of total gross assets, down from $143.7 million or 33% at December 31, 1998. Secondary sources of liquidity include Lebanon Citizens' ability to sell loan participations and purchase federal funds. Management closely monitors the level of liquid assets available to meet ongoing funding needs. It is Management's intent to maintain adequate liquidity so that sufficient funds are readily available at a reasonable cost. Loans to deposits increased to 73% at December 31, 1999, from 69% at December 31, 1998. Lebanon Citizen's experienced no liquidity or operational problems as a result of the current liquidity levels.

Capital Resources

As of December 31, 1999, Lebanon Citizens had no material commitments for capital expenditures. Commitments to extend credit at December 31, 1999, amounted to $52.2 million and standby letters of credit totaled $5.8 million and are more fully described in Note 9 to Lebanon Citizens' Financial Statements. Since many of the commitments to lend may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Scheduled repayments of existing loans and maturities of investment securities are expected to provide the necessary funds.

LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens are required by banking regulators to meet certain minimum levels of capital adequacy. These are expressed in the form of certain ratios. Capital is separated into Tier I capital (essentially shareholders' equity less goodwill and other intangibles) and Tier II capital (essentially the allowance for loan losses limited to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets). The first two ratios, which are based on the degree of credit risk in Lebanon Citizens' assets, provide for weighting assets based on assigned risk factors and include off-balance sheet items such as loan commitments and stand-by letters of credit. The ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets must be at least 4.0% and the ratio of Total capital (Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets must be at least 8.0%.The capital leverage ratio supplements the risk-based capital guidelines. Banks are required to maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets of 3.0%. A summary of the regulatory capital of LCNB Corp. and Lebanon Citizens at December 31 follows ($000's):

The FDIC, the insurer of deposits in financial institutions, has adopted a risk-based insurance premium system based in part on an institution's capital adequacy. Under this system, a depository institution is required to pay successively higher premiums depending on its capital levels and its supervisory rating by its primary regulator. It is management's intention to maintain sufficient capital to permit Lebanon Citizens to maintain a "well capitalized" designation (the FDIC's highest rating).

Year 2000 Compliance

LCNB Corp. experienced no difficulties resulting from Y2K in the date transition at year-end 1999. Lebanon Citizens' testing and preparation for Y2K included future dates beyond December 31, 1999. Management anticipates no difficulties from future date changes.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk for Lebanon Citizens is primarily interest rate risk. Lebanon Citizens attempts to mitigate this risk through asset/liability management strategies designed to decrease the vulnerability of its earnings to material and prolonged changes in interest rates. Lebanon Citizens does not use derivatives such as interest rate swaps, caps or floors to hedge this risk. Lebanon Citizens has not entered into any market risk instruments for trading purposes. Lebanon Citizens' Asset and Liability Management Committee ("ALCO") primarily uses Interest Rate Sensitivity Gap Analysis, also known as repricing mismatch analysis, for measuring and managing interest rate risk.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Gap Analysis

A traditional gap analysis, provides a point-in-time measurement of the relationship between the amounts of interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities in a given time period. An asset or liability is interest rate sensitive within a specific time period if it will mature or reprice within that time period. If liabilities mature or reprice more quickly or to a greater extent than assets, net interest income would tend to decrease during periods of rising interest rates but increase during periods of falling interest rates. Conversely, if liabilities mature or reprice more slowly or to a lesser extent than assets, net interest income would tend to increase during periods of rising interest rates but decrease during periods of falling interest rates. ALCO strives to maintain a range for the relationship of rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities for gap analysis purposes of from 75 to 125 percent for the one-year and two- to four-year periods.

Table 1 reflects Lebanon Citizens' gap analysis at December 31, 1999. The amounts reported in the table are the principal cash flows of rate sensitive assets and liabilities by expected maturity or repricing timeframe. Also presented is the related weighted average interest rate. Fixed rate real estate mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities are allocated to the various maturity / repricing periods based on contractual maturities adjusted for expected prepayments under the current market interest rate environment. Deposit liabilities without contractual maturities such as NOW and savings accounts are allocated to the various repricing periods based on an analysis of forecasted account run-off that takes into consideration the relatively stable nature of these core deposits. The gap analysis indicates that Lebanon Citizens' earnings are sensitive to the repricing of liabilities in the first year, sensitive to repricing of assets in the second through the fourth year, and liability sensitive thereafter. The aggregate ratio of rate sensitive assets to rate sensitive liabilities is 66.26% for the first year and 179.11% for years two through four. With the current relatively low market interest rate environment, management believes the ratios for the one year and four year time frames do not expose Lebanon Citizens' net interest income to significant risk.