Exhibit 99.1

CARDINAL ANNOUNCES IMPROVED 2010 ANNUAL EARNINGS;

ASSET QUALITY REMAINS STRONG, LOANS GROW 9%

Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFNL) (the “Company”) today announced earnings of $18.4 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2010.  This is a 78.62% increase over earnings of $10.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the previous year.  For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, net income was $4.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, versus $3.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2009.

Selected Highlights

·                  Asset quality continues to be strong.  Nonperforming loans remained low at 0.36% of total assets, and annualized net loan charge offs were 0.37% of loans outstanding.  Nonaccrual loans decreased to $7.5 million from $9.3 million at the previous quarter ended September 30, 2010, and the Company currently has $49,000 of loans receivable past due 90 days or more.

·                  The Company’s tax equivalent net interest margin increased to 3.68% for the current year, up from 2.94% in the previous year. For the fourth quarter, net interest margin was 3.77% compared to 3.82% for the previous quarter ended September 30, 2010.

·                  Total assets at period-end were $2.07 billion versus $1.98 billion one year earlier, an increase of 4.85%.

·                  Loans held for investment grew to $1.41 billion, an increase of $115.9 million, or 8.96%, compared to the prior year end.

·                  Total deposits grew to $1.40 billion, an increase of 8.23% compared to December 31, 2009.

·                  All capital ratios substantially exceed the requirements of banking regulators to be considered well-capitalized.  Tangible common equity capital (TCE) as a percentage of total assets was 10.07%.

Income Statement Review

For the fourth quarter of 2010, net income was $4.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. Compared to the year ago quarter, this was an increase of 18.18%.  Net interest income increased 24.20% to $18.5 million from $14.9 million.  For this same period, the tax equivalent net interest margin improved to 3.77% from 3.32%. The growth in net interest income and the margin is the result of the Bank’s success in growing its balance sheet and maintaining average earning asset yields while significantly lowering deposit rates.  Compared to the year ago quarter, average earning assets grew $163.0 million while the average yield on earning assets decreased slightly by 0.06% and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 0.55%. The average balance of the Company’s loan portfolio increased $91.9 million while the yield increased 0.05%. The average balance of non-interest bearing deposits increased $79.6 million, or 51.22%, and interest-bearing deposits increased $78.9 million, or 6.96%, while the costs decreased 0.65%.

Noninterest income was $5.5 million for the fourth quarter compared to $5.6 million for the year ago quarter. For the comparable years ended December 31, noninterest income increased to $27.4 million from $23.3 million, or 17.31%.  The increase in income year over year is primarily attributable to revenues from mortgage banking activities, which improved by $3.0 million.

Noninterest expense increased to $16.9 million for the fourth quarter from $13.7 million for the year ago quarter.  During the fourth quarter, the Company performed a review of the goodwill and other intangible assets recorded in its Wealth management and Trust Services business segment and determined that goodwill was impaired, which resulted in a noncash impairment charge of $2.6 million. Also included in the fourth quarter is an impairment of other real estate owned of $1.4 million.  In the fourth quarter of last year, there was a settlement expense of $877,000 related to mortgage loan repurchases.  Core operating expenses for the fourth quarter, which are absent these charges, were $13.0 million compared to $12.8 million for the year ago quarter, an increase of 1%.

For the comparable years ended December 31, noninterest expense increased to $59.5 million from $52.4 million. In addition to the items mentioned above, the Company recorded a $686,000 reduction in accruals for potential mortgage repurchases.  Expenses for 2010 also included $801,000 of expenses related to the accelerated vesting of certain retirement benefits and one-time data processing and telecom expenses of $943,000 primarily due to the Company’s core system conversion.  Expenses in 2009 included $2.6 million of mortgage loan repurchases and settlements with mortgage correspondents.  Absent the preceding items mentioned, core noninterest expenses for 2010 were $54.0 million for 2010 versus $49.9 million for 2009, an 8.38% increase, which is primarily attributable to higher mortgage banking commissions and

other incentive compensation. Overall, the efficiency ratio improved to 61.67% for 2010 compared to 70.95% for 2009.

Management reports core operating expense, a non-GAAP measure, to provide information about the Company’s noninterest expenses excluding certain charges or impairments that are considered unusual or infrequent in nature.  A table reconciling the noninterest expense to core operating expense is included with this press release.

Review of Balance Sheet and Credit Quality

At December 31, 2010, total assets of the Company were $2.07 billion, an increase of 4.85% from total assets of $1.98 billion at December 31, 2009. Loans held for investment grew 8.96% to $1.41 billion at December 31, 2010, from $1.29 billion at December 31, 2009.  During this period, the Bank’s investment portfolio decreased $37.5 million, or 9.80%, while loans held for sale increased $26.6 million, or 14.81%.

The Bank’s asset growth was primarily funded by an 8.23% increase in deposits, which grew $106.7 million and totaled $1.40 billion at December 31, 2010 versus $1.30 billion a year earlier.  Demand deposit account balances increased by 38.28% year over year, reflecting the Bank’s continued focus on generating lower funding costs.

Although the quality of the Bank’s loan portfolio has remained strong, the provision for loan losses was consistent at $1.9 million for the fourth quarter versus $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of last year.  The total allowance for loan losses increased to 1.72% of loans outstanding from a comparable ratio of 1.44% at December 31, 2009, reflecting continuing concerns regarding the local and national economy.  The Company’s nonperforming loans stood at 0.36% of total assets at December 31, 2010 compared to 0.44% at September 30, 2010 and 0.04% at December 31, 2009.  Net loan charge-offs totaled $111,000 for the fourth quarter, compared to $2.1 million for last quarter.  There were $49,000 loans past due 90 days or more at December 31, 2010, while early stage loan delinquencies at 30-89 days past due were $2.1 million compared to $1.9 million at December 31, 2009.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

Bernard H. Clineburg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said:

“We are pleased to announce another solid year for Cardinal as we continue to improve upon our key financial metrics.  Year over year, our Company enjoyed significant growth in earnings.  Cardinal’s net interest margin increased, commercial lending activity and deposit growth outpaced the market and mortgage lending volume was strong.  As our Company’s total assets surpassed the $2 billion mark at year end, we maintained our stringent underwriting standards as reflected by our credit quality which remains among the best in the banking industry.

“While we continued to concentrate on profitability and controlled growth, operating as a safe and sound financial institution remains our priority.  We are committed to our shareholders and

focused on building a strong and highly valued company. Management is dedicated to maximizing the potential of Cardinal’s strong franchise for the benefit of our employees, customers and shareholders.”

CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements contain information related to matters such as the Company’s intent, belief or expectation with regard to such matters as financial and operational performance, credit quality and branch expansion. Such statements are necessarily based on management’s assumptions and estimates and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties concerning the Company’s operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and beyond the control of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results of the Company to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Cardinal Financial Corporation: Cardinal Financial Corporation, a financial holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia with assets of $2.07 billion at December 31, 2010, serves the Washington Metropolitan region through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardinal Bank, with 26 conveniently located banking offices. Cardinal also operates several other subsidiaries: George Mason Mortgage, LLC, and Cardinal First Mortgage, LLC, residential mortgage lending companies based in Fairfax, with six offices throughout the Washington Metropolitan region; Cardinal Trust and Investment Services, a trust division; Cardinal Wealth Services, Inc., a full-service brokerage company; and Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc., an asset management company. The Company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ (CFNL). For additional information please visit our Web site at www.cardinalbank.com or call (703) 584-3400.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Summary Statements of Condition

December 31, 2010 and  December 31, 2009

(Dollars in thousands)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Summary Income Statements

For the Three Months and Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Selected Financial Information

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data and ratios)

(1) Tangible book value is calculated as total shareholders’ equity, adjusted for changes in other comprehensive income, less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by common shares outstanding.

(2) Net interest margin is calculated as net interest income divided by total average earning assets and reported on a tax equivalent basis at a rate of 30%.

(3) Efficiency ratio is calculated as total non-interest expense divided by the total of net interest income and non-interest income.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Average Statements of Condition and Yields on Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

For the Three Months and Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)