WAUWATOSA, WI – 10/31/2012– Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF) reported net income of $8.4 million or $0.27 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2012 compared to a net loss of $206,000 or $0.01 per diluted share in the same quarter of 2011. Year-to-date, Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Waterstone) reported net income of $16.8 million or $0.54 per diluted share in 2012 compared to a net loss of $2.3 million or $0.08 per diluted share in the same period in 2011.

The Waterstone mortgage banking segment reported net income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 of $4.3 million compared to $1.0 million in the same quarter of 2011.  Year-to-date mortgage banking segment net income totaled $8.8 million in 2012 compared to $1.0 million in 2011.  The community banking segment net income was positively impacted for the three months ended September 30, 2012 by a $4.0 million decline in the provision for loan loss as compared to the comparable period in 2011.  Year-to-date community banking segment net income was similarly impacted by a $9.1 million decline in the provision for loan losses as compared to 2011.

The decline in the provision for loan losses in 2012 is the result of improved Waterstone asset quality.  Over the past eight quarters, Waterstone loans past due have declined by 31.1%; nonperforming loans have declined by 26.5%; nonperforming assets have declined by 21.9%; substandard loans have declined by 25.5%; and impaired loans have declined by 28.3%.

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as "may," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or "believes."  Such statements are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements.  These factors include (i) exposure to the deterioration in the commercial and residential real estate markets which could result in increased charge-offs and increases in the allowance for loan losses,  (ii) various other factors, including changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding outstanding loans and identification of additional problem loans, which could require an increase in  the allowance for loan losses, (iii) Waterstone's ability to maintain required levels of capital and other current and future regulatory requirements, (iv) the impact of recent and future legislative initiatives on the financial markets, and (v) those factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone's subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone's belief as of the date of this press release.