EXHIBIT 99.1

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia Inc. Reports Earnings for the First Quarter of 2012 of $1.8 Million Up From Restated Net Income of $1.3 Million in the First Quarter of 2011 and Declares a Dividend

MCLEAN, Va., May 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southern National Bancorp of Virginia Inc. (Nasdaq:SONA), the holding company for Sonabank, announced today that net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $1.8 million compared to $1.3 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. (Please note that the financial statements for the first quarter of 2011 have been restated to correct errors in the previously reported amounts related to the purchase accounting for the acquisition of Greater Atlantic Bank in December 2009.)

The Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.015 per share payable May 25, 2012 to shareholders of record on May 14, 2012.

Net interest income before the provision for loan losses was $7.6 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $6.5 million for the first quarter of 2011. Approximately $805 thousand of the increase resulted from the recovery of discount recognized in purchase accounting for two impaired loans acquired in the Greater Atlantic Bank acquisition following the receipt of payment from the borrowers. The total accretion of the discount on the Greater Atlantic Bank loan portfolio, including the aforementioned $805 thousand, amounted to $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $985 thousand in the first quarter of 2011. The net interest margin was 5.59% in the quarter ended March 31, 2012, up from 5.05% in the first quarter of 2011. This was the result of an increase in average loan balances of $29.5 million over the first quarter of 2011, as well as the additional discount accretion. The yield on earning assets increased to 6.64% during the first quarter of 2012 from 6.29% for the same period in 2011, while the cost of funds decreased from 1.44% during the quarter ended March 31, 2011 to 1.22% during the first quarter of 2012. The decrease in the cost of funds was primarily related to time deposits and borrowings.

Net interest income after provision for loan losses was $6.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2011. The provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2012 was $1.5 million up from $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2011. Net charge offs during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 were $843 thousand compared to $1.2 million during the first quarter of 2011. The 2012 charge-offs were primarily related to various commercial and industrial loans.

Noninterest income was $872 thousand during the first quarter of 2012, compared to $308 thousand during the same quarter of 2011. The increase was attributable to a gain on sale of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans which was partially offset by small losses on the sale of other real estate owned ("OREO") properties. Additionally, we recognized impairment for two OREO properties. Income from bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI") also improved slightly as we purchased additional insurance during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Noninterest expense was $4.3 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2011. The increase in noninterest expenses was primarily because other professional services expense, relating primarily to audit services for the 2009 and 2010 restatements, increased from $391 thousand in the first quarter of 2011 to $804 thousand in the first quarter of 2012.

The efficiency ratio was 53.62% during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared to 52.06% during the first quarter of 2011.

Loan Portfolio

The composition of our loan portfolio consisted of the following at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

Net loans receivable decreased from $491.8 million at the end of 2011 to $491.2 million at March 31, 2012. Within that total, covered loans declined by $1.6 million while the non-covered loan portfolio increased by $1.0 million. We sold $5.7 million of SBA loans during the first quarter of 2012.

Loan Loss Provision/Asset Quality

Non-covered OREO as of March 31, 2012 was $12.3 million compared to $13.6 million as of the end of the previous year. During the first quarter of 2012 we had no foreclosures and OREO sales of $1.1 million. Non-covered OREO was comprised of the Culpeper lots, a horse facility, an estate in Charlottesville, a construction/land project, a commercial property in southwest Virginia and three residential properties.

Non-covered nonaccrual loans were $2.4 million (excluding $2.4 million of loans fully covered by SBA guarantees) at March 31, 2012 compared to $2.1 million (excluding $2.5 million of loans fully covered by SBA guarantees) at the end of last year. The ratio of non-covered non-performing assets to total non-covered assets decreased from 2.98% (excluding the SBA guaranteed loans) at the end of 2011 to 2.77% (excluding the SBA guaranteed loans) at March 31, 2012. The portions of these SBA loans that were unguaranteed were charged off.

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia's allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-covered total loans at March 31, 2012 was 1.68%, compared to 1.54% at the end of 2011. Management believes the allowance is adequate at this time but monitors trends in past due and non-performing loans to determine whether the allowance should be increased.

Securities Portfolio

Investment securities, available for sale and held to maturity, were $46.8 million at March 31, 2012 and $45.0 million at December 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2012 we owned pooled trust preferred securities as follows:

Each of these securities has been evaluated for potential impairment under ASC 325. In performing a detailed cash flow analysis of each security, Sonabank works with independent third parties to identify the most reflective estimate of the cash flow estimated to be collected. If this estimate results in a present value of expected cash flows that is less than the amortized cost basis of a security (that is, credit loss exists), an OTTI is considered to have occurred. If there is no credit loss, any impairment is considered temporary.

The analyses resulted in OTTI charges related to credit on the trust preferred securities in the amount of $2 thousand during the first quarter of 2012, compared to OTTI charges related to credit on the trust preferred securities totaling $32 thousand for three months ended March 31, 2011.

We also own a residential collateralized mortgage obligation which has been evaluated for potential impairment. We recorded no OTTI charges on this security during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Deposits

Total deposits were $452.7 million at March 31, 2012 compared to $461.1 million at December 31, 2011. Certificates of deposit decreased $11.9 million during the quarter. This was partially offset by an increase in money market accounts of $2.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $33.7 million at March 31, 2012 and $32.6 million at December 31, 2011. 

Stockholders' Equity

Total stockholders' equity increased from $99.1 million as of December 31, 2011 to $100.8 million at March 31, 2012 as a result of the retention of earnings. Our Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratios were 19.51% and 18.80% for Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. and Sonabank, respectively, as of March 31, 2012.

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. is a bank holding company with assets of $610.8 million at March 31, 2012. Sonabank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium sized businesses. Sonabank has 14 branches in Virginia, located in Fairfax County (Reston, McLean and Fairfax), in Charlottesville, Warrenton (2), Middleburg, Leesburg (2), South Riding, Front Royal, New Market, Richmond and Clifton Forge, and one branch in Rockville, Maryland.

On April 27, 2012, Sonabank entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to assume all of the deposits and certain assets of HarVest Bank of Maryland ("HarVest") a state chartered non-Fed member commercial bank. HarVest operates four branches – North Rockville, Frederick, Germantown and Bethesda. With this acquisition Sonabank will now operate 19 retail banking offices, with 14 in Virginia and five in Maryland.

Sonabank will initially be acquiring the assets and liabilities of HarVest at a $27.3 million discount and no premium on deposits. In this transaction, Sonabank will be receiving $145 million in deposits, $95 million in loans and $6.2 million in other real estate owned (OREO) from HarVest. There will be no loss share agreement between the FDIC and Sonabank. In addition, Sonabank will be purchasing cash and marketable securities of HarVest. Sonabank will account for the HarVest transaction under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). Under ASC 805, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed will be recorded at their estimated fair values as of the April 27, 2012 acquisition date.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to future events or the future performance of Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results. These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the respective management of Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. and Sonabank and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond their respective control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results discussed or implied in these forward-looking statements because of numerous possible uncertainties. Words like "may," "plan," "contemplate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "continue," "expect," "project," "predict," "estimate," "could," "should," "would," "will," and similar expressions, should be considered as identifying forward-looking statements, although other phrasing may be used. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and may not be realized due to a variety of factors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in the reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) filed by Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. You should consider such factors and not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. No obligation is undertaken by Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the issuance of this press release.

CONTACT: R. Roderick Porter, President
         Phone: 202-464-1130 ext. 2406
         Fax: 202-464-1134
         Southern National Bancorp, NASDAQ Symbol SONA
         Website: www.sonabank.com