Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

CARDINAL ANNOUNCES IMPROVED QUARTERLY EARNINGS;

ASSET QUALITY REMAINS STRONG, LOANS GROW 8%

Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFNL) (the “Company”) today announced earnings of $5.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  This is a 37.39% increase over earnings of $3.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2010.

Selected Highlights

·                  Asset quality continues to be strong.  Nonperforming loans remained low at 0.45% of total assets, and annualized net loan charge offs were 0.32% of loans outstanding.  Real estate owned remained at $1.3 million, equal to the previous quarter ended December 31, 2010.  The Company currently has no loans receivable past due 90 days or more.

·                  The Company’s tax equivalent net interest margin increased to 3.67% for the current quarter, up from 3.40% in the same quarter of 2010.

·                  Total assets at period-end were $2.060 billion versus $1.949 billion one year earlier, an increase of 5.68%.

·                  Loans held for investment grew to $1.413 billion, an increase of $106 million, or 8.07%, compared to the March 31, 2010.

·                  Total deposits grew to $1.387 billion, an increase of 4.58% compared to March 31, 2010.

·                  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 10.41%.

Income Statement Review

For the first quarter of 2011, net income was $5.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. Compared to the year ago quarter, this was an increase of 37.39%.  For these comparable periods, the net interest income increased 15.68% to $17.7 million from $15.3 million, and the tax equivalent net interest margin improved to 3.67% from 3.40%. 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 $132 million.  The average balance of the Company’s loan portfolio increased $98 million, or 7.55%, while the yield decreased 0.04%. For these same periods, the average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 0.46% while the average yield on earning assets decreased by only 0.16%.  The average balance of non-interest bearing deposits increased $69 million, or 42.30%, and interest-bearing deposits increased $45 million, or 3.92%, while the costs decreased 0.46%.    The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2011 declined 0.10% compared to the previous quarter ended December 31, 2010; much of the decrease is related to the mortgage banking warehouse line and its seasonal fluctuations.

During the first quarter of 2011, the Company employed two strategies to decrease its overall cost of funding.  Approximately $95 million of FHLB Advances with near term maturities were extended by an average of 2.9 years with a 3.22% cost of funds, reducing the average cost by 0.99%.  Additionally, $15 million of FHLB Advances with an average cost of 2.81% were prepaid with a penalty of $450,000.

Non-interest income was $5.0 million for the current quarter compared to $5.8 million for the year ago quarter.  During the first quarter of 2011 and following the renegotiation of our service contract with a trust customer, we repositioned our wealth management operation for future growth and less risk, ultimately affording greater scalability.   Investment fee income decreased $461,000 when comparing first quarter of 2011 to first quarter 2010.   Going forward, we expect this change to provide better profitability as expenses will be reduced as well.    Gains from mortgage banking activities increased $269,000 and management fee income, derived from mortgage banking activities, decreased $278,000 when comparing first quarter 2011 to 2010.  During the first quarter 2011, one of the managed companies transitioned to a branch office of George Mason Mortgage causing the movement between the related fee income line items.  Also, during the quarter, the Company had gains on sales of investment securities of $451,000 compared to $264,000 in the year ago quarter.

Non-interest expense increased to $13.7 million for the current quarter from $13.1 million for the year ago quarter.  Most of the increase was due to personnel expenses, which were $6.7 million versus $6.1 million for the comparable periods.  The Company has continued to strategically add business development officers in all business lines, in particular mortgage banking.  Reserves for mortgage loans repurchases were $463,000 lower than the year ago quarter. Included in other operating expenses is an increase of marketing, advertising and business development expenses of $345,000.   Overall, the efficiency ratio improved to 60.42% for Q1 2011 compared to 62.21% for Q1 2010.

Review of Balance Sheet and Credit Quality

At March 31, 2011, total assets of the Company were $2.060 billion, an increase of 5.68% from total assets of $1.949 billion at March 31, 2010. Loans held for investment grew 8.07% to $1.413 billion at March 31, 2011, from $1.308 billion at March 31, 2010.  During this period, the Bank’s investment portfolio decreased $4 million, while loans held for sale increased $25 million.

The Bank’s asset growth was primarily funded by a 4.58% increase in deposits, which grew $61 million and totaled $1.387 billion at March 31, 2011 versus $1.326 billion a year earlier.  Demand deposit account balances increased by 39.30% year over year, reflecting the Bank’s continued focus on generating lower funding costs.

For the current quarter the provision for loan losses was $1.1 million. This compares to $2.4 million for the first quarter of last year.  The total allowance for loan losses increased to 1.71% of loans outstanding from a comparable ratio of 1.47% at March 31, 2010, and decreased from 1.72% at the previous quarter ended December 31, 2010.  The Company’s nonperforming loans stood at 0.45% of total assets at March 31, 2011, which compares to 0.36% at December 31, 2010 and 0.24% at March 31, 2010.  Net loan charge-offs totaled $1.1 million for the current quarter, compared to $111,000 for last quarter.  There were no loans past due 90 days or more at March 31, 2011, while early stage loan delinquencies at 30-89 days past due were $2.3 million.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

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

“We are pleased to announce another solid quarter for Cardinal with strong growth in earnings and continued improvement in our key financial metrics.   Historically, both commercial and residential mortgage lending activity is slow during the first quarter of each year, and 2011 has been no exception.  Still, we reported a slight increase in our loan portfolio since year end, and our mortgage banking subsidiaries posted expected seasonal results.

Our first quarter results demonstrate our success in enhancing our core franchise. We are committed to our shareholders and are focused on building a strong and highly valued company.”

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, 2010 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 $2.06 billion at March 31, 2011, 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 eight 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

March 31, 2011,  December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010

(Dollars in thousands)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Summary Income Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

(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)

(unaudited)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

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

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

(1)          The average yields for loans receivable and investment securities available-for-sale are reported on a fully taxable-equivalent basis at a rate of 35% for 2011 and 34.5% for 2010.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Segment Reporting at and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011:

At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010: