Exhibit 99

Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. Reports Net Income for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

Contact: Richard J. Gavegnano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(978) 977-2211

Boston, Massachusetts (July 26, 2011): Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Meridian”) (NASDAQ: EBSB), the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank (the “Bank”), which also operates under the name Mt. Washington Bank, a Division of East Boston Savings Bank (“Mt. Washington”), announced net income of $4.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to $3.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net income was $7.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share compared to $6.1 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The Company’s return on average assets increased to 0.87% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 0.75% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company’s return on average assets increased to 0.78% from 0.72% for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The Company’s return on average equity was 7.56% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 6.24% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company’s return on average equity increased to 6.73% from 5.94% for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Richard J. Gavegnano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased to report continued strength in our financial results for the second quarter of 2011, with net income of $4.2 million, earnings per share of $0.19, a return on assets of 0.87% and a return on equity of 7.56%. Through the halfway point of 2011, we have made great progress in our efforts to increase market share. Following the opening of an East Boston Savings Bank branch in the City of Revere and a Mt. Washington branch in Boston’s West Roxbury area in January, another new Mt. Washington branch was opened in Boston’s South End in late May. As announced earlier this month, the Bank established a new commercial and industrial lending division comprised of a veteran team of bankers. This new division will enhance our presence in all of our market areas and add strength to our business platform. The Bank also plans to open new East Boston Savings Bank branches in Cambridge and Danvers in the coming months.”

Net interest income before provision for loan losses decreased $1.2 million, or 8.0%, to $14.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from $15.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The net interest rate spread and net interest margin were 3.02% and 3.20%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 3.67% and 3.85%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net interest income before provision for loan losses decreased $1.6 million, or 5.2%, to $28.5 million from $30.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The net interest rate spread and net interest margin were 3.12% and 3.30%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 3.71% and 3.88%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The decreases in net interest income were due primarily to deposit growth that was in excess of loan growth along with declines in yields on loans and securities for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010.

The average balance of the Company’s loan portfolio, which is principally comprised of real estate loans, increased by $21.9 million, or 1.9%, to $1.193 billion, which was partially offset by the decline in the yield on loans of 33 basis points to 5.43% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The Company’s cost of interest-bearing deposits declined by seven basis points to 1.32%, which was partially offset by the increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $158.3 million, or 12.8%, to $1.399 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The Company’s yield on interest-earning assets declined by 75 basis points to 4.42% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 5.17% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined ten basis points to 1.40% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 1.50% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

The Company’s provision for loan losses was $486,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to $794,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the provision for loan losses was $828,000 compared to $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. These changes were based primarily on management’s assessment of loan portfolio growth and composition changes, an ongoing evaluation of credit quality and current economic conditions. In addition, the reductions in the provision for loan losses were primarily due to lower provision expense related to specific reserves recorded for impaired loans for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010. The allowance for loan losses was $10.9 million or 0.89% of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2011, compared to $10.2 million or 0.86% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2010.

Non-performing loans increased to $51.5 million, or 4.23% of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2011, from $43.1 million, or 3.64% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2010. Non-performing assets increased to $56.6 million, or 2.94% of total assets, at June 30, 2011, from $47.2 million, or 2.57% of total assets, at December 31, 2010. Non-performing assets at June 30, 2011 were comprised of $22.2 million of construction loans, $9.5 million of commercial real estate loans, $12.9 million of one-to four-family mortgage loans, $3.9 million of multi-family mortgage loans, $2.6 million of home equity loans, $524,000 of commercial business loans and foreclosed real estate of $5.1 million. Non-performing assets at June 30, 2011 included $16.9 million acquired in the Mt. Washington Co-operative Bank merger, comprised of $13.7 million of non-performing loans and $3.2 million of foreclosed real estate.

Non-interest income increased $3.2 million, or 145.4%, to $5.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from $2.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to increases of $2.9 million in gain on sales of securities and $227,000 in equity income from the Company’s Hampshire First Bank affiliate. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, non-interest income increased $4.4 million, or 92.4%, to $9.1 million from $4.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to increases of $3.8 million in gain on sales of securities and $642,000 in equity income from Hampshire First Bank.

Non-interest expense increased $744,000, or 6.3%, to $12.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from $11.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to increases of $612,000 in salaries and employee benefits and $160,000 in occupancy and equipment expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, non-interest expense increased $2.0 million, or 8.7%, to $25.1 million from $23.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to increases of $1.5 million in salaries and employee benefits and $593,000 in occupancy and equipment expenses. The increases in salaries and employee benefits and occupancy and equipment expenses were associated with two new branches opened in January 2011, another new branch opened in May 2011 and costs associated with the expansion of residential and commercial lending capacity. The Company’s efficiency ratio was 75.22% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to 67.06% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the efficiency ratio was 74.29% compared to 66.39% for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Mr. Gavegnano noted, “The increases in our non-interest expenses and the efficiency ratio for the first half of 2011 reflect the costs of additional staffing, facilities and other overhead expenses associated with our efforts to increase our market share, grow future earnings potential and enhance stockholder value.”

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $2.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, reflecting an effective tax rate of 36.4%, compared to $1.7 million, or 34.8%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the provision for income taxes was $4.3 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 36.7%, compared to $3.4 million, or 35.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increases in the income tax provision were primarily due to the increases in pre-tax income.

Total assets increased $88.1 million, or 4.8%, to $1.924 billion at June 30, 2011 from $1.836 billion at December 31, 2010. Cash and cash equivalents increased $71.3 million, or 45.8%, to $226.8 million at June 30, 2011 from $155.5 million at December 31, 2010. Securities available for sale decreased $8.8 million, or 2.4%, to $351.8 million at June 30, 2011 from $360.6 million at December 31, 2010. Net loans increased $33.5 million, or 2.9%, to $1.207 billion at June 30, 2011 from $1.174 billion at December 31, 2010.

Total deposits increased $81.6 million, or 5.6%, to $1.537 billion at June 30, 2011 from $1.455 billion at December 31, 2010, including net growth of $72.1 million in core deposits. The net deposit growth also reflects $26.8 million of new deposits in the three branches opened during the first half of 2011. Total borrowings decreased $10.2 million, or 6.8%, to $138.5 million at June 30, 2011 from $148.7 million at December 31, 2010, reflecting $20.7 million of reductions in Federal Home Loan Bank advances partially offset by a $10.5 million increase in short-term borrowings.

Total stockholders’ equity increased $3.8 million, or 1.8%, to $219.5 million at June 30, 2011, from $215.6 million at December 31, 2010. The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was due primarily to $7.4 million in net income, partially offset by a $3.4 million increase in treasury stock resulting from the Company’s repurchase of 249,182 shares. Stockholders’ equity to assets was 11.41% at June 30, 2011, compared to 11.74% at December 31, 2010. Book value per share increased to $9.87 at June 30, 2011 from $9.59 at December 31, 2010. Tangible book value per share increased to $9.25 at June 30, 2011 from $8.98 at December 31, 2010. Market price per share increased $1.90, or 16.1%, to $13.69 at June 30, 2011 from $11.79 at December 31, 2010. At June 30, 2011, the Company and the Bank continued to exceed all regulatory capital requirements.

As of June 30, 2011, the Company had repurchased 438,009 shares of its stock at an average price of $12.45 per share, or 92.7% of the 472,428 shares authorized for repurchase under the Company’s third stock repurchase program announced on April 9, 2010.

Mr. Gavegnano added, “We have repurchased a total of 1,369,509 shares since late 2008, with only 34,419 remaining shares authorized for repurchase under our current repurchase program. We will continue to consider additional stock repurchases along with various other opportunities to enhance shareholder value.”

Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank. East Boston Savings Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered stock savings bank founded in 1848, operates 22 full service locations in the greater Boston metropolitan area including eight full service locations in its Mt. Washington Bank Division. We offer a variety of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses located in our primary market, which consists of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts. For additional information, visit www.ebsb.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “will,” “expects,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “developments,” “strategic,” “launching,” “opportunities,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, and competition and the risk factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks materialize or should underlying beliefs or assumptions prove incorrect, Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.

MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

		June 30,				December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2011				2010
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	226,712			$	155,430
Federal funds sold			63				63
Total cash and cash equivalents			226,775				155,493
Certificates of deposit — affiliate bank			2,500				—
Securities available for sale, at fair value			351,829				360,602
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost			12,538				12,538
Loans held for sale			3,336				13,013
Loans			1,217,920				1,183,717
Less allowance for loan losses			(10,861	)			(10,155	)
Loans, net			1,207,059				1,173,562
Bank-owned life insurance			34,444				33,829
Foreclosed real estate, net			5,111				4,080
Investment in affiliate bank			12,315				11,497
Premises and equipment, net			35,538				34,425
Accrued interest receivable			7,174				7,543
Prepaid deposit insurance			1,843				3,026
Deferred tax asset, net			5,914				5,441
Goodwill			13,687				13,687
Other assets			3,833				7,094
Total assets		$	1,923,896			$	1,835,830
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Non interest-bearing		$	122,832			$	111,423
Interest-bearing			1,413,954				1,343,792
Total deposits			1,536,786				1,455,215
Short-term borrowings — affiliate bank			12,464				1,949
Short-term borrowings — other			10,047				10,037
Long-term debt			116,021				136,697
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			29,126				16,321
Total liabilities			1,704,444				1,620,219
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 23,000,000 shares issued			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			97,333				97,005
Retained earnings			129,939				122,563
Accumulated other comprehensive income			7,068				8,038
Treasury stock, at cost, 441,400 and 192,218 shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			(5,481	)			(2,121	)
Unearned compensation — ESOP, 683,100 and 703,800 shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			(6,831	)			(7,038	)
Unearned compensation — restricted shares, 318,085 and 326,905 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			(2,576	)			(2,836	)
Total stockholders’ equity			219,452				215,611
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,923,896			$	1,835,830

MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)		2011				2010				2011				2010
Interest and dividend income:
Interest and fees on loans		$	16,164			$	16,829			$	32,610			$	33,039
Interest on debt securities			2,896				3,389				6,001				6,830
Dividends on equity securities			282				228				535				433
Interest on certificates of deposit			9				17				17				34
Interest on other interest-earning assets			117				36				202				48
Total interest and dividend income			19,468				20,499				39,365				40,384
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits			4,616				4,310				9,189				8,509
Interest on short-term borrowings			13				15				23				44
Interest on long-term debt			778				895				1,657				1,781
Total interest expense			5,407				5,220				10,869				10,334
Net interest income			14,061				15,279				28,496				30,050
Provision for loan losses			486				794				828				2,168
Net interest income, after provision for loan losses			13,575				14,485				27,668				27,882
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees			1,499				1,490				2,795				2,904
Loan fees			232				140				463				298
Gain on sales of loans, net			169				199				605				764
Gain on sales of securities, net			2,922				—				3,789				—
Income from bank-owned life insurance			298				287				615				579
Equity income on investment in affiliate bank			333				106				818				176
Total non-interest income			5,453				2,222				9,085				4,721
Non-interest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits			7,058				6,446				14,159				12,613
Occupancy and equipment			1,869				1,709				4,085				3,492
Data processing			651				749				1,460				1,503
Marketing and advertising			540				580				1,081				1,046
Professional services			821				755				1,465				1,475
Foreclosed real estate			63				122				100				276
Deposit insurance			633				577				1,258				1,092
Other general and administrative			846				799				1,497				1,589
Total non-interest expenses			12,481				11,737				25,105				23,086
Income before income taxes			6,547				4,970				11,648				9,517
Provision for income taxes			2,382				1,728				4,272				3,415
Net income		$	4,165			$	3,242			$	7,376			$	6,102
Income per share:
Basic		$	0.19			$	0.15			$	0.34			$	0.28
Diluted		$	0.19			$	0.15			$	0.33			$	0.28
Weighted average shares:
Basic			21,852,665				22,124,539				21,917,330				22,128,822
Diluted			21,994,371				22,140,597				22,044,635				22,136,851

MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Net Interest Income Analysis
(Unaudited)

		For the Three Months Ended June 30,
		2011												2010
		Average								Yield/				Average								Yield/
(Dollars in thousands)		Balance				Interest				Cost (4)				Balance				Interest				Cost (4)
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Loans (1)		$	1,193,195			$	16,164				5.43	%		$	1,171,274			$	16,829				5.76	%
Securities and certificates of deposits			394,273				3,187				3.24				351,891				3,634				4.14
Other interest-earning assets			177,701				117				0.26				67,882				36				0.21
Total interest-earning assets			1,765,169				19,468				4.42				1,591,047				20,499				5.17
Noninterest-earning assets			140,093												134,686
Total assets		$	1,905,262											$	1,725,733
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
NOW deposits		$	129,434				141				0.44			$	114,469				136				0.48
Money market deposits			363,043				872				0.96				307,323				888				1.16
Regular and other deposits			200,490				277				0.55				186,255				256				0.55
Certificates of deposit			706,260				3,326				1.89				632,873				3,030				1.92
Total interest-bearing deposits			1,399,227				4,616				1.32				1,240,920				4,310				1.39
Borrowings			148,454				791				2.14				156,160				910				2.34
Total interest-bearing liabilities			1,547,681				5,407				1.40				1,397,080				5,220				1.50
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits			119,346												104,493
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities			17,772												16,497
Total liabilities			1,684,799												1,518,070
Total stockholders’ equity			220,463												207,663
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,905,262											$	1,725,733
Net interest-earning assets		$	217,488											$	193,967
Net interest income						$	14,061											$	15,279
Interest rate spread (2)											3.02	%											3.67	%
Net interest margin (3)											3.20	%											3.85	%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities							114.05	%											113.88	%
Supplemental Information:
Total deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits		$	1,518,573			$	4,616				1.22	%		$	1,345,413			$	4,310				1.28	%
Total deposits and borrowings, including non interest-bearing demand deposits		$	1,667,027			$	5,407				1.30	%		$	1,501,573			$	5,220				1.39	%

 

(1)		Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances.
(2)		Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)		Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4)		Annualized.

MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Net Interest Income Analysis
(Unaudited)

		For the Six Months Ended June 30,
		2011												2010
		Average								Yield/				Average								Yield/
(Dollars in thousands)		Balance				Interest				Cost (4)				Balance				Interest				Cost (4)
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Loans (1)		$	1,193,679			$	32,610				5.51	%		$	1,161,329			$	33,039				5.74	%
Securities and certificates of deposits			383,668				6,553				3.44				346,640				7,297				4.25
Other interest-earning assets			166,067				202				0.25				53,551				48				0.18
Total interest-earning assets			1,743,414				39,365				4.55				1,561,520				40,384				5.22
Noninterest-earning assets			138,059												136,662
Total assets		$	1,881,473											$	1,698,182
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
NOW deposits		$	129,233				290				0.45			$	111,137				265				0.48
Money market deposits			349,978				1,739				1.00				304,069				1,781				1.18
Regular and other deposits			196,104				537				0.55				182,616				502				0.55
Certificates of deposit			702,714				6,623				1.90				622,354				5,961				1.93
Total interest-bearing deposits			1,378,029				9,189				1.34				1,220,176				8,509				1.41
Borrowings			152,281				1,680				2.22				156,040				1,825				2.36
Total interest-bearing liabilities			1,530,310				10,869				1.43				1,376,216				10,334				1.51
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits			116,294												99,701
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities			15,579												16,664
Total liabilities			1,662,183												1,492,581
Total stockholders’ equity			219,290												205,601
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,881,473											$	1,698,182
Net interest-earning assets		$	213,104											$	185,304
Net interest income						$	28,496											$	30,050
Interest rate spread (2)											3.12	%											3.71	%
Net interest margin (3)											3.30	%											3.88	%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities							113.93	%											113.46	%
Supplemental Information:
Total deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits		$	1,494,323			$	9,189				1.24	%		$	1,319,877			$	8,509				1.30	%
Total deposits and borrowings, including non interest-bearing demand deposits		$	1,646,604			$	10,869				1.33	%		$	1,475,917			$	10,334				1.41	%

 

(1)		Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances.
(2)		Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)		Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4)		Annualized.

MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)

		At or For the Three Months Ended								At or For the Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Key Performance Ratios
Return on average assets (1)			0.87	%			0.75	%			0.78	%			0.72	%
Return on average equity (1)			7.56				6.24				6.73				5.94
Stockholders’ equity to total assets			11.41				11.95				11.41				11.95
Interest rate spread (1) (2)			3.02				3.67				3.12				3.71
Net interest margin (1) (3)			3.20				3.85				3.30				3.88
Non-interest expense to average assets (1)			2.62				2.72				2.67				2.72
Efficiency ratio (4)			75.22				67.06				74.29				66.39

		June 30,				December 31,				June 30,
		2011				2010				2010
Asset Quality Ratios
Allowance for loan losses/total loans			0.89	%			0.86	%			0.95	%
Allowance for loan losses/non-performing loans			21.08				23.54				34.86
Non-performing loans/total loans			4.23				3.64				2.73
Non-performing loans/total assets			2.68				2.35				1.87
Non-performing assets/total assets			2.94				2.57				2.11
Share Related
Book value per share		$	9.87			$	9.59			$	9.17
Tangible book value per share		$	9.25			$	8.98			$	8.68
Market value per share		$	13.69			$	11.79			$	10.90
Shares outstanding			22,240,515				22,480,877				22,505,594

 

(1)		Annualized.
(2)		Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)		Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4)		The efficiency ratio represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income excluding gains or losses on securities.