Edgar Filing: SANDY SPRING BANCORP INC

Prepared and Filed by St Ives Financial

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: O-19065

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
(State of incorporation)

52-1532952
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland
(Address of principal office)

20832
(Zip Code)

301-774-6400
(Telephone Number)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

YES NO

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 18, 2006 is 14,812,306 shares.

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

INDEX

		Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

	Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005	1

	Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Month and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005	2

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005	3

	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005	4

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	5

ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	15

ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	27

ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	27

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	27

ITEM 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	27

ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS	28

SIGNATURES		29

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	September 30, 2006			December 31, 2005

ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	42,558		$	47,294
Federal funds sold		25,129			6,149

Cash and cash equivalents		67,687			53,443
Interest-bearing deposits with banks		317			751
Residential mortgage loans held for sale (at fair value)		21,111			10,439
Investments available-for-sale (at fair value)		261,645			256,571
Investments held-to-maturity — fair value of $278,415 (2006) and $302,967 (2005)		272,143			295,648
Other equity securities		17,350			15,213
Total loans and leases		1,815,490			1,684,379
Less: allowance for loan and lease losses		(19,433	)		(16,886	)

Net loans and leases		1,796,057			1,667,493
Premises and equipment, net		45,831			45,385
Accrued interest receivable		15,399			13,144
Goodwill		12,606			12,042
Other intangible assets		11,431			12,218
Other assets		76,881			77,269

Total assets	$	2,598,458		$	2,459,616

LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	416,712		$	439,277
Interest-bearing deposits		1,531,138			1,363,933

Total deposits		1,947,850			1,803,210
Short-term borrowings		356,563			380,220
Other long-term borrowings		1,896			2,158
Subordinated debentures		35,000			35,000
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		23,456			21,145

Total liabilities		2,364,765			2,241,733
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock — par value $1.00; shares authorized 50,000,000; shares issued and outstanding 14,811,974 (2006) and 14,793,987 (2005)		14,812			14,794
Additional paid in capital		27,349			26,599
Retained earnings		191,884			177,084
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(352	)		(594	)

Total stockholders’ equity		233,693			217,883

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,598,458		$	2,459,616

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)	2006		2005		2006		2005

Interest Income:
Interest and fees on loans and leases	$	32,686	$	24,423	$	92,831	$	67,875
Interest on loans held for sale		222		422		514		812
Interest on deposits with banks		4		32		18		58
Interest and dividends on securities:
Taxable		4,090		2,925		10,490		9,210
Exempt from federal income taxes		2,839		3,275		8,783		10,284
Interest on federal funds sold		177		314		432		571

TOTAL INTEREST INCOME		40,018		31,391		113,068		88,810
Interest Expense:
Interest on deposits		10,378		5,700		26,846		14,743
Interest on short-term borrowings		4,943		2,413		13,342		6,530
Interest on long-term borrowings		575		752		1,729		2,284

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE		15,896		8,865		41,917		23,557

NET INTEREST INCOME		24,122		22,526		71,151		65,253
Provision for loan and lease losses		550		600		2,545		1,600

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES		23,572		21,926		68,606		63,653
Noninterest Income:
Securities gains		0		1,761		1		2,601
Service charges on deposit accounts		1,904		2,050		5,702		5,705
Gains on sales of mortgage loans		718		1,205		2,049		2,825
Fees on sales of investment products		783		473		2,264		1,558
Trust and investment management fees		2,164		1,116		6,476		2,932
Insurance agency commissions		1,406		1,114		5,132		4,149
Income from bank owned life insurance		591		570		1,711		1,684
Visa check fees		603		556		1,750		1,597
Other income		1,421		1,267		3,746		3,954

TOTAL NONINTEREST INCOME		9,590		10,112		28,831		27,005
Noninterest Expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits		12,622		11,373		37,823		34,116
Occupancy expense of premises		2,175		2,099		6,340		5,987
Equipment expenses		1,384		1,415		4,112		4,031
Marketing		1,160		253		1,973		947
Outside data services		872		718		2,486		2,159
Amortization of intangible assets		743		501		2,227		1,502
Other expenses		2,738		2,385		7,917		7,592

TOTAL NONINTEREST EXPENSES		21,694		18,744		62,878		56,334

Income Before Income Taxes		11,468		13,294		34,559		34,324
Income Tax Expense		3,346		3,827		10,002		9,204

NET INCOME	$	8,122	$	9,467	$	24,557	$	25,120

Basic Net Income Per Share	$	0.55	$	0.65	$	1.66	$	1.72
Diluted Net Income Per Share		0.55		0.64		1.65		1.70
Dividends Declared Per Share		0.22		0.21		0.66		0.62

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2006			2005

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	24,557		$	25,120
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		6,488			5,025
Provision for loan and lease losses		2,545			1,600
Stock compensation expense		461			0
Deferred income taxes (benefits)		1,360			(1,402	)
Origination of loans held for sale		(210,617	)		(251,021	)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale		202,062			244,231
Gains on sales of loans held for sale		(2,117	)		(2,825	)
Gains on sales of premises and equipment		0			(21	)
Securities gains		(1	)		(2,601	)
Net (increase) in accrued interest receivable		(2,255	)		(11	)
Net (increase) decrease in other assets		(3,919	)		2,693
Net increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,054			6,486
Other – net		443			803

Net cash provided by operating activities		21,061			28,077
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net (increase) decrease in interest-bearing deposits with banks		434			(192	)
Proceeds from sale (purchases) of other equity securities		(2,137	)		1,845
Purchases of investments available-for-sale		(94,984	)		(82,245	)
Proceeds from sales of investments available-for-sale		0			85,491
Proceeds from the sales of other real estate owned		0			108
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal payments of investments held-to-maturity		23,206			3,627
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal payments of investments available-for-sale		90,358			70,887
Net increase in loans and leases		(197,050	)		(133,683	)
Purchase of loans and leases		(2,148	)		0
Proceeds from sale of loans and leases		68,087			0
Expenditures for premises and equipment		(3,854	)		(7,010	)

Net cash (used in) investing activities		(118,088	)		(61,172	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase in deposits		144,640			72,387
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings		(23,919	)		7,138
Retirement of long-term borrowings		0			(25,000	)
Common stock purchased and retired		(866	)		(1,437	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		1,173			929
Dividends paid		(9,757	)		(9,066	)

Net cash provided by financing activities		111,271			44,951

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		14,244			11,856
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		53,443			49,195

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	67,687		$	61,051

Supplemental Disclosures:
Interest payments	$	40,866		$	23,434
Income tax payments		7,042			9,185
Noncash Investing Activities:
Transfers from loans to other real estate owned		0			73
Reclassification of borrowings from long-term to short-term		262			40,362

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)			Total Stockholders’ Equity

Balances at January 1, 2006	$	14,794		$	26,599		$	177,084		$	(594	)	$	217,883
Comprehensive income:
Net income								24,557						24,557
Other comprehensive income, net of tax effects and reclassification adjustment											242			242

Total comprehensive income														24,799
Cash dividends - $0.66 per share								(9,757	)					(9,757	)
Stock compensation expense		0			461									461
Common stock issued pursuant to:
Director stock purchase plan – 2,381 shares		3			81									84
Stock option plan – 26,226 shares		26			622									648
Employee stock purchase plan – 14,380 shares		14			427									441
Stock repurchases – 25,000 shares		(25	)		(841	)								(866	)

Balances at September 30, 2006	$	14,812		$	27,349		$	191,884		$	(352	)	$	233,693


Balances at January 1, 2005	$	14,629		$	21,522		$	156,315		$	2,617		$	195,083
Comprehensive income:
Net income								25,120						25,120
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effects and reclassification adjustment											(2,539	)		(2,539	)

Total comprehensive income														22,581
Cash dividends - $0.62 per share								(9,066	)					(9,066	)
Common stock issued pursuant to:
Director stock purchase plan- 1,693 shares		2			54									56
Stock option plan – 23,486 shares		23			437									460
Employee stock purchase plan – 15,507 shares		16			397									413
Stock repurchases- 45,500 shares		(46	)		(1,391	)								(1,437	)

Balances at September 30, 2005	$	14,624		$	21,019		$	172,369		$	78		$	208,090

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – General

The foregoing financial statements are unaudited. In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (comprising only normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods have been included. These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in Sandy Spring Bancorp’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s Accounting Policies as disclosed in the 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results shown in this interim report are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year 2006.

The accounting and reporting policies of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank”), together with its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation, The Equipment Leasing Company, and West Financial Services, Inc., conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the financial services industry. Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts previously reported to conform to current classifications.

Consolidation has resulted in the elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions.

Cash Flows

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks and federal funds sold (which have original maturities of three months or less).

Note 2 – Acquisitions

In October 2005, the Company completed the acquisition of West Financial Services, Inc. (“WFS”) located in McLean, Virginia, an asset management and financial planning company with approximately $621 million in assets under management. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company purchased WFS with a combination of stock and cash totaling approximately $5.9 million. Additional contingent payments may be made and recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008 based on the financial results attained by WFS during those periods.

In the transaction, $0.9 million of assets were acquired, primarily accounts receivable, and $1.3 million of liabilities were assumed, primarily operating payables. The acquisition resulted in the recognition of $3.6 million of goodwill, which will not be amortized, and $4.6 million of identified intangible assets which will be amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 4 to 10 years. This acquisition was considered immaterial and, accordingly, no pro forma results of operations are provided for the pre-acquisition periods.

On September 30, 2006, the Company corrected and restated its purchase price allocation to reflect the deferred tax liability associated principally with the identified intangible assets. This correction and restatement resulted in an increase in goodwill and a reduction in other assets of $1.8 million at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

In January 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Neff & Associates (“Neff”), an insurance agency located in Ocean City, Maryland. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company purchased Neff for cash totaling approximately $1.9 million. Additional contingent payments may be made and recorded in 2008 based on the financial results attained by Neff in that year.

In the transaction, $0.3 million of assets were acquired, primarily accounts receivable, and $0.3 million of liabilities were assumed, primarily operating payables. The acquisition resulted in the recognition of $0.5 million of goodwill, which will not be amortized, and $1.4 million of identified intangible assets which will be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 5 to 10 years. This acquisition is considered immaterial and, accordingly, no pro forma results of operations are provided for the pre-acquisition periods.

Note 3 - New Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF on Issue No. 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” EITF 06-4 requires the recognition of a liability and related compensation costs for endorsement split-dollar life insurance policies that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods as defined in SFAS No. 106, “ Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” The EITF reached a consensus that Bank Owned Life Insurance policies purchased for this purpose do not effectively settle the entity’s obligation to the employee in this regard and thus the entity must record compensation cost and a related liability. Entities should recognize the effects of applying this Issue through either, (a) a change in accounting principle through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings or to other components of equity or net assets in the balance sheet as of the beginning of the year of adoption, or (b) a change in accounting principle through retrospective application to all prior periods. Management is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this Issue on the Company’s financial statements. This Issue is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007.

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In September 2006, the FASB published FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No.157” or the “Statement”). SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. While the Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, it does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In addition, the Statement establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Lastly, SFAS No. 157 requires additional disclosures for each interim and annual period separately for each major category of assets and liabilities. The Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management does not expect the adoption of this Statement to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB published FASB Statement No.158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“SFAS No. 158” or the “Statement”). The Statement requires an employer that is a business entity and sponsors one or more single-employer defined benefit plans to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan in its balance sheet. The funded status is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value (with limited exceptions) and the benefit obligation. For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is defined as the projected benefit obligation. The statement also requires recognition, as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, of the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to FASB Statement No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” or FASB Statement No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, including the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and the transition asset or obligation remaining from the initial application of Statements 87 or 106, are adjusted as they are subsequently recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to the recognition and amortization provisions of those Statements. Further, SFAS No. 158 requires that an entity measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end statement of financial position (with limited exceptions.)

The Statement also requires disclosure, in the notes to the financial statements, of additional information about certain effects on net periodic benefit cost for the next fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and transition asset or obligation. An employer with publicly traded equity securities is required to initially recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end statement of financial position is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. Management is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this Statement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 6 for additional information concerning this new pronouncement.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), which provides detail in the quantification and correction of financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 specifies that companies should apply a combination of the “rollover” and “iron curtain” methodologies when making determinations of materiality. The rollover method quantifies a misstatement based on the amount of the error originating in the current year income statement. The iron curtain approach quantifies misstatements based on the effects of correcting the misstatement existing in the balance sheet at the end of the current year, regardless of the year(s) of origination. SAB 108 instructs companies to quantify the misstatement under both methodologies and if either method results in the determination of a material error, then the company must adjust its financial statements to correct the error. SAB 108 also reminds preparers that a change from an accounting principle that is not generally accepted to a principle that is generally accepted is a correction of an error. The Bulletin is effective for annual financial statements covering the first fiscal year ending after November 15, 2006. Management does not expect the adoption of this Bulletin to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 4 – Stock Based Compensation

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”). SFAS 123(R) replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). SFAS 123(R) requires compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions to be recognized in the financial statements over the period that an employee provides services in exchange for the award. Public companies are required to adopt, and the Company has adopted effective January 1, 2006, the new standard using the modified prospective method. Under the modified prospective method, companies are allowed to record compensation cost for new and modified awards over the related vesting period of such awards prospectively, and to record compensation cost prospectively on the nonvested portion, at the date of adoption, of previously issued and outstanding awards over the remaining vesting period of such awards. No change to prior periods presented is permitted under the modified prospective method.

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Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) thereby expensing employee stock-based compensation using the fair value method prospectively for all awards granted, modified, settled, or vesting on or after January 1, 2006. The fair value at date of grant of the stock option is estimated using a binomial pricing model based on assumptions noted in the table below. The dividend yield is based on estimated future dividend yields. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual term of the share option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. Expected volatilities are generally based on historical volatilities. The expected term of share options granted is generally derived from historical experience. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock option vesting period. The impact of adoption of the fair value based method for expense recognition of employee awards resulted in expense of approximately $0.3 million, net of a tax benefit of approximately $0.1 million, for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, and $0.1 million, net of a tax benefit of $33 thousand, for the three month period ended September 30, 2006.

At September 30, 2006, the Company had three stock-based compensation plans in existence, the 1992 and 1999 stock option plans (both expired but having outstanding options that may still be exercised) and the 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan, which is described below. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company, as permitted under SFAS 123, applied the intrinsic value recognition and measurement principles of APB 25, and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Therefore, no stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

The Company’s 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan (“Omnibus Plan”) provides for the granting of non-qualifying stock options to the Company’s directors, and incentive and non-qualifying stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock grants to selected key employees on a periodic basis at the discretion of the Board. The Omnibus Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock of which 1,562,762 are available for issuance at September 30, 2006, has a term of ten years, and is administered by a committee of at least three directors appointed by the Board of Directors. Options granted under the plan have an exercise price which may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant and must be exercised within ten years from the date of grant. The exercise price of stock options must be paid for in full in cash or shares of common stock, or a combination of both. The Stock Option Committee has the discretion when making a grant of stock options to impose restrictions on the shares to be purchased in exercise of such options. Outstanding options granted under the expired 1992 and 1999 Stock Option Plans will continue until exercise or expiration.

Options awarded prior to December 15, 2005 vest ratably over a two-year period, with one third vesting immediately upon grant. Effective October 19, 2005, the Board of Directors approved the acceleration, by one year, of the vesting of the then outstanding options to purchase approximately 66,000 shares of the Company’s common stock granted in December 2004. These included options held by certain members of senior management. This effectively reduced the two-year vesting period on these options to one year. The amount that would have been expensed for such unvested options in 2006 had the Company not accelerated the vesting would have been approximately $0.4 million. Additionally, stock options granted in 2004 have a ten year life. The other terms of the option grants remain unchanged. In December 2005, the Company granted options to employees, officers and directors of approximately 249,061 shares, scheduled to vest over a two-year period. These options expire seven years after the date of grant.

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Had the compensation cost for the Company’s stock-based compensation plan been determined under the fair value-based method, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts below for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited):

*(In thousands, except per share data)*	2006			2005

Net income, as reported	$	24,557		$	25,120
Basic earnings per share		1.66			1.72
Diluted earnings per share		1.65			1.70
Stock-based compensation cost, net of related tax effects		373			0

Information calculated as if fair value method had been applied to all awards:
Net income, as reported	$	24,557		$	25,120
Add: Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period, net of related tax effects		373			0
Less: Stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair value-based method, net of tax effects		(373	)		(849	)

Pro forma net income	$	24,557		$	24,271

Pro forma basic earnings per share	$	1.66		$	1.66

Pro forma diluted earnings per share	$	1.65		$	1.65

Had the compensation cost for the Company’s stock-based compensation plan been determined under the fair value-based method, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts below for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited):

*(In thousands, except per share data)*	2006			2005

Net income, as reported	$	8,122		$	9,467
Basic earnings per share		0.55			0.65
Diluted earnings per share		0.55			0.64
Stock-based compensation cost, net of related tax effects		129			0

Information calculated as if fair value method had been applied to all awards:
Net income, as reported	$	8,122		$	9,467
Add: Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period, net of related tax effects		129			0
Less: Stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair value-based method, net of tax effects		(129	)		(304	)

Pro forma net income	$	8,122		$	9,163

Pro forma basic earnings per share	$	0.55		$	0.63

Pro forma diluted earnings per share	$	0.55		$	0.62

The fair values of all of the options granted during the last three years have been estimated using a binomial option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions (unaudited) as of December 31:

	2005		2004		2003

Dividend Yield	2.48	%	2.14	%	2.12	%
Weighted average expected volatility	21.27	%	23.70	%	27.93	%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	4.34	%	4.03	%	3.66	%
Weighted average expected lives (in years)	5		8		8
Weighted average grant-date fair value	6.72		9.87		11.95

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

No options were granted for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

A summary of share option activity for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 follows:

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(Dollars in thousands, except per share data):	Number of Outstanding Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value

			(Unaudited)
Balance at January 1, 2006	1,004,473		$	33.08	6.9	$	3,635
Granted	0			0	0
Exercised	(22,476	)		23.54	4.6
Forfeited or expired	(32,173	)		37.43	7.0

Balance at September 30, 2006	949,824		$	33.15	6.2	$	3,812

Exercisable at September 30, 2006	792,611		$	32.16		$	3,812

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested options as of September 30, 2006, and changes during the nine month period then ended, is presented below (unaudited):

	Number Of Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value

Nonvested at January 1, 2006	166,017		$	6.72
Granted	0			0
Vested	0			0
Forfeited	(8,804	)		6.72

Nonvested at September 30, 2006	157,213			6.72

The number of options, exercise prices, and fair values has been retroactively restated for all stock dividends occurring since the date the options were granted.

The total of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements was approximately $1.1 million as of December 31, 2005 and $0.7 million as of September 30, 2006. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.25 years.

The Company generally issues authorized but previously unissued shares to satisfy option exercises.

Note 5 - Per Share Data

The calculations of net income per common share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are as shown in the following table. Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and does not include the impact of any potentially dilutive common stock equivalents. The diluted earnings per share calculation method is derived by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options, the unamortized compensation cost of stock options, and the accumulated tax benefit or shortfall that would be credited or charged to additional paid in capital.

(Dollars and amounts in thousands, except per share data)	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2006		2005		2006		2005

Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	8,122	$	9,467	$	24,557	$	25,120
Average common shares outstanding		14,793		14,620		14,795		14,626
Basic net income per share	$	0.55	$	0.65	$	1.66	$	1.72

Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	8,122	$	9,467	$	24,557	$	25,120
Average common shares outstanding		14,793		14,620		14,795		14,626
Stock option adjustment		122		115		125		113
Average common shares outstanding–diluted		14,915		14,735		14,920		14,739

Diluted net income per share	$	0.55	$	0.64	$	1.65	$	1.70

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Options for 581,724 shares and 370,047 shares of common stock were not included in computing diluted net income per share for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, because their effects are antidilutive. For the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, options for 573,423 and 365,118 shares of common stock were not included, respectively, for the same reason.

Note 6 - Pension, Profit Sharing, and Other Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The Company has a qualified, noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees. Benefits equal the sum of three parts: (a) the benefit accrued as of December 31, 2000, based on the formula of 1.50% of the highest five year average salary as of that date times years of service as of that date, plus (b) 1.75% of each year’s earnings after December 31, 2000 through December 31, 2005, plus (c) 1.00% of each year’s earnings after December 31, 2005. In addition, if the participant’s age plus years of service as of January 1, 2001, equal at least 60 and the participant had at least 15 years of service at that date, he or she will receive an additional benefit of 1.00% of year 2000 earnings for each of the first 10 years of service completed after December 31, 2000. Early retirement is also permitted by the Plan at age 55 after 10 years of service. The plan invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of managed fixed income and equity funds. Contributions provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date, but also for the benefit expected to be earned in the coming years. The Company’s funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum amount necessary to keep the plan fully funded when comparing the fair value of plan assets to the accumulated benefit obligation. The Company, with input from its actuaries, estimates that the 2006 contribution will be approximately $1.0 million which will maintain the pension plan’s fully funded status based on its accumulated benefit obligation.

FASB Statement No. 158, “Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” requires changes to the existing reporting for defined benefit postretirement plans that, among other changes, requires the Company to recognize on its balance sheet the overfunded or underfunded status of the above described defined benefit pension plan measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. Such funding difference would be recorded as an adjustment to the beginning balances of retained earnings and/or other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2005 the projected benefit obligation of the plan exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $2.8 million. This amount may change significantly by December 31, 2006 due to a management decision to change the amount of the 2006 contribution. Management is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this Statement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 3 for a description of this new accounting pronouncement.

Net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine month periods ended September 30 includes the following components:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

(In thousands)	2006			2005			2006			2005

Service cost for benefits earned	$	276		$	406		$	828		$	1,217
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		307			273			922			819
Expected return on plan assets		(344	)		(288	)		(1,032	)		(862	)
Amortization of prior service cost		(43	)		(15	)		(131	)		(47	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		112			83			334			251

Net periodic benefit cost	$	308		$	459		$	921		$	1,378

Cash and Deferred Profit Sharing Plan

The Company has a qualified Cash and Deferred Profit Sharing Plan that includes a 401(k) provision with a Company match. The profit sharing component is non-contributory and covers all employees after ninety days of service. The 401(k) plan provision is voluntary and also covers all employees after ninety days of service. Employees contributing under the 401(k) provision receive a matching contribution up to 4% of compensation. The Plan permits employees to purchase shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp common stock with their 401(k) contributions, Company match, and other contributions under the Plan. The Company had expenses related to the qualified Cash and Deferred Profit Sharing Plan of $1.1 million and $1.8 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

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The Company also has a performance based compensation benefit which is integrated with the Cash and Deferred Profit Sharing Plan and which provides incentives to employees based on the Company’s financial results as measured against key performance indicator goals set by management. The Company had expenses related to the performance based compensation benefit of $1.6 million and $1.9 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements

The Company has Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements (SERAs) with its executive officers, providing for retirement income benefits as well as pre-retirement death benefits. Retirement benefits payable under SERAs, if any, are integrated with other pension plan and Social Security retirement benefits expected to be received by the executives. The Company is accruing the present value of these benefits over the remaining years to the executives’ retirement dates. The Company had expenses related to the SERAs of $0.8 million and $0.4 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Executive Health Insurance Plan

The Company has an Executive Health Insurance Plan that provides for payment of defined medical, vision and dental insurance costs and out of pocket expenses for selected executives and their families. Benefits, which are paid during both employment and retirement, are subject to a $6,500 limitation for each executive per year. The Company had expenses related to the Executive Health Insurance Plan of $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and $21 thousand and $0 for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Note 7 – Unrealized Losses on Investments

Shown below is information that summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair value for the Company’s available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment portfolios.

Gross unrealized losses and fair value by length of time that the individual available-for-sale securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

(In thousands) Available for sale as of September 30, 2006			Continuous unrealized losses existing for:

	Fair Value		Less than 12 months		More than 12 months		Total Unrealized Losses

U.S. Agency	$	189,163	$	180	$	1,802	$	1,982
U.S. Treasury Notes		595		0		4		4
Mortgage-backed		332		0		5		5

	$	190,090	$	180	$	1,811	$	1,991

(In thousands) Available for sale as of September 30, 2005			Continuous unrealized losses existing for:

	Fair Value		Less than 12 months		More than 12 months		Total Unrealized Losses

U.S. Agency	$	209,765	$	953	$	1,351	$	2,304
State and municipal		595		5		0		5
Mortgage-backed		364		2		4		6

	$	210,724	$	960	$	1,355	$	2,315

Approximately 100% of the bonds carried in the available-for-sale investment portfolio experiencing continuous losses as of September 30, 2006 and 2005 are rated AAA. The securities representing the unrealized losses in the available-for-sale portfolio as of September 30, 2006 and 2005 all have minimal duration risk (1.37 years in 2006 and 1.41 years in 2005), low credit risk, and minimal loss (approximately 1.04% in 2006 and 1.09% in 2005) when compared to book value. The unrealized losses that exist are the result of market changes in interest rates since the original purchase. These factors coupled with the fact that the Company has both the intent and ability to hold these investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value substantiates that the unrealized losses in the available-for-sale portfolio are temporary.

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Gross unrealized losses and fair value by length of time that the individual held-to-maturity securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

(In thousands) Held to Maturity as of September 30, 2006			Continuous unrealized losses existing for:

	Fair Value		Less than 12 months		More than 12 months		Total Unrealized Losses

U.S. Agency	$	33,656	$	0	$	750	$	750
State and municipal		14,490		5		101		106

	$	48,146	$	5	$	851	$	856

(In thousands) Held to Maturity as of September 30, 2005			Continuous unrealized losses existing for:

	Fair Value		Less than 12 months		More than 12 months		Total Unrealized Losses

U.S. Agency	$	34,021	$	375	$	0	$	375
State and municipal		16,376		17		121		138

	$	50,397	$	392	$	121	$	513

Approximately 87% and 97% of the bonds carried in the held-to-maturity investment portfolio experiencing continuous unrealized losses as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, are rated AAA and 13% and 3% as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, are rated AA1. The securities representing the unrealized losses in the held-to-maturity portfolio all have modest duration risk (4.53 years in 2006 and 3.98 years in 2005), low credit risk, and minimal losses (approximately 1.75% in 2006 and 1.01% in 2005) when compared to book value. The unrealized losses that exist are the result of market changes in interest rates since the original purchase. These factors coupled with the Company’s intent and ability to hold these investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value substantiates that the unrealized losses in the held-to-maturity portfolio are temporary.

Note 8 - Segment Reporting

The Company operates in four operating segments—Community Banking, Insurance, Leasing, and Investment Management. Only Community Banking currently meets the threshold for reportable segment reporting; however, the Company is disclosing separate information for all four operating segments. Each of the operating segments is a strategic business unit that offers different products and services. The Insurance, Leasing, and Investment Management segments are businesses that were acquired in separate transactions where management at the time of acquisition was retained. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. However, the segment data reflect intersegment transactions and balances.

The Community Banking segment is conducted through Sandy Spring Bank and involves delivering a broad range of financial products and services, including various loan and deposit products to both individuals and businesses. Parent company income is included in the Community Banking segment, as the majority of parent company activities are related to this segment. Major revenue sources include net interest income, gains on sales of mortgage loans, trust income, fees on sales of investment products and service charges on deposit accounts. Expenses include personnel, occupancy, marketing, equipment and other expenses. Included in Community Banking expenses are noncash charges associated with amortization of intangibles related to acquired entities totaling $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the amortization related to acquired entities totaled $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

The Insurance segment is conducted through Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Bank, and offers annuities as an alternative to traditional deposit accounts. In addition, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation operates the Chesapeake Insurance Group and Wolfe and Reichelt Insurance Agency, general insurance agencies located in Annapolis, Maryland, and Neff & Associates, located in Ocean City, Maryland. Major sources of revenue are insurance commissions from commercial lines and personal lines. Expenses include personnel and support charges. Included in insurance expenses are non-cash charges associated with amortization of intangibles totaling $0.1 million and $54 thousand for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. For the nine month periods ending September 30, 2006 and 2005, the expense related to the amortization of intangibles totaled $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

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The Leasing segment is conducted through The Equipment Leasing Company, located in Sparks, Maryland, a subsidiary of the Bank that provides leases for such items as computers, telecommunications systems and equipment, medical equipment and point-of-sale systems for retail businesses. Equipment leasing is conducted through vendors located primarily in states along the east coast from New Jersey to Florida and in Illinois. The typical lease is a “small ticket” by industry standards, averaging less than $30,000, with individual leases generally not exceeding $500,000. Major revenue sources include interest income. Expenses include personnel and support charges.

The Investment Management segment is conducted through West Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank that was acquired in October 2005. This asset management and financial planning firm, located in McLean, Virginia, provides comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, small businesses and associations including cash flow analysis, investment review, tax planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis and estate planning. West Financial has approximately $621.0 million in assets under management as of September 30, 2006. Major revenue sources include noninterest income earned on the above services. Expenses include personnel and support charges. Included in investment management expenses are non-cash charges associated with amortization of intangibles totaling $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Information about operating segments and reconciliation of such information to the consolidated financial statements follows:

(In thousands)	Community Banking		Insurance		Leasing		Investment Mgmt.		Inter-Segment Elimination			Total

Quarter ended September 30, 2006
Interest income	$	39,651	$	18	$	592	$	8	$	(251	)	$	40,018
Interest expense		15,922		0		225		0		(251	)		15,896
Provision for loan and lease losses		550		0		0		0		0			550
Noninterest income		6,878		1,715		156		1,047		(206	)		9,590
Noninterest expenses		19,374		1,417		252		857		(206	)		21,694

Income before income taxes		10,683		316		271		198		0			11,468
Income tax expense		3,036		125		108		77		0			3,346

Net income	$	7,647	$	191	$	163	$	121	$	0		$	8,122

Assets	$	2,595,057	$	12,777	$	31,943	$	7,625	$	(48,944	)	$	2,598,458
Quarter ended September 30, 2005
Interest income	$	31,062	$	12	$	472	$	0	$	(155	)	$	31,391
Interest expense		8,877		0		143		0		(155	)		8,865
Provision for loan and lease losses		600		0		0		0		0			600
Noninterest income		8,819		1,220		233		0		(160	)		10,112
Noninterest expenses		17,503		1,151		250		0		(160	)		18,744

Income before income taxes		12,901		81		312		0		0			13,294
Income tax expense		3,671		32		124		0		0			3,827

Net income	$	9,230	$	49	$	188	$	0	$	0		$	9,467

Assets	$	2,382,801	$	9,669	$	25,051	$	0	$	(34,161	)	$	2,383,360

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(In thousands)	Community Banking		Insurance		Leasing		Investment Mgmt.		Inter-Segment Elimination			Total

Year to Date September 30, 2006
Interest income	$	111,983	$	48	$	1,649	$	15	$	(627	)	$	113,068
Interest expense		41,978		0		565		1		(627	)		41,917
Provision for loan and lease losses		2,545		0		0		0		0			2,545
Noninterest income		19,871		5,839		670		3,062		(611	)		28,831
Noninterest expenses		55,870		4,255		727		2,637		(611	)		62,878

Income before income taxes		31,461		1,632		1,027		439		0			34,559
Income tax expense		8,777		646		406		173		0			10,002

Net income	$	22,684	$	986	$	621	$	266	$	0		$	24,557

Assets	$	2,595,057	$	12,777	$	31,943	$	7,625	$	(48,944	)	$	2,598,458
Year to Date September 30, 2005
Interest income	$	87,844	$	25	$	1,324	$	0	$	(383	)	$	88,810
Interest expense		23,582		0		358		0		(383	)		23,557
Provision for loan and lease losses		1,600		0		0		0		0			1,600
Noninterest income		22,152		4,564		817		0		(528	)		27,005
Noninterest expenses		52,793		3,405		664		0		(528	)		56,334

Income before income taxes		32,021		1,184		1,119		0		0			34,324
Income tax expense		8,292		469		443		0		0			9,204

Net income	$	23,729	$	715	$	676	$	0	$	0		$	25,120

Assets	$	2,382,801	$	9,669	$	25,051	$	0	$	(34,161	)	$	2,383,360

Note 9 – Comprehensive Income

The components of total comprehensive income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

	For the three months ended September 30,

	2006					2005

(In thousands)	Pretax Amount	Tax Benefit/ (Expense)		Net Amount		Pretax Amount		Tax Benefit/ (Expense)	Net Amount

Net Income				$	8,122				$	9,467
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period	2,111	(834	)		1,277	(1,243	)	492		(751	)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	0	0			0	(1,761	)	696		(1,065	)

Total change in other comprehensive income	2,111	(834	)		1,277	(3,004	)	1,188		(1,816	)

Total comprehensive income				$	9,399				$	7,651

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	For the nine months ended September 30,

	2006							2005

(In thousands)	Pretax Amount		Tax Benefit/ (Expense)		Net Amount			Pretax Amount		Tax Benefit/ (Expense)	Net Amount

Net Income					$	24,557					$	25,120
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period	402		(159	)		243		(1,599	)	632		(967	)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	(1	)	0			(1	)	(2,601	)	1,029		(1,572	)

Total change in other comprehensive income	401		(159	)		242		(4,200	)	1,661		(2,539	)

Total comprehensive income					$	24,799					$	22,581

Note 10 – Subsequent Event

On October 10, 2006, the Company entered into a merger agreement to acquire Potomac Bank of Virginia (“Potomac”). Potomac, with assets of $254 million as of September 30, 2006, is a commercial bank headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia with four full-service branches located in Fairfax, Vienna, and Chantilly, Virginia.

Under the terms of the agreement, each outstanding share of Potomac’s common stock will be converted into either $21.75 in cash or 0.6143 of a share of the Company’s common stock. Each shareholder of Potomac will be entitled to elect the number of shares of Potomac common stock to be exchanged for cash or shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to a proration which will provide that 50% of the outstanding shares of Potomac common stock will receive cash and 50% will receive shares of the Company’s common stock.

The acquisition is subject to approval by both the Potomac shareholders and applicable bank regulatory authorities and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2007. As a result of the acquisition, Potomac will become a newly-formed division of Sandy Spring Bank.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Sandy Spring Bancorp makes forward-looking statements in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other portions of this Form 10-Q that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include: statements of goals, intentions, earnings expectations, and other expectations; estimates of risks and of future costs and benefits; assessments of probable loan and lease losses; assessments of market risk; and statements of the ability to achieve financial and other goals. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant uncertainties because they are based upon or are affected by: management’s estimates and projections of future interest rates, market behavior, and other economic conditions; future laws and regulations; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties. Because of these uncertainties, the Company’s actual future results may differ materially from those indicated. In addition, the Company’s past results of operations do not necessarily indicate its future results.

THE COMPANY

The Company is the registered bank holding company for Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank”), headquartered in Olney, Maryland. The Bank operates thirty-two community offices in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland, together with an insurance subsidiary, an equipment leasing company and an investment management company in McLean, Virginia.

The Company offers a broad range of financial services to consumers and businesses in this market area. Through September 30, 2006, year-to-date average commercial loans and leases and commercial real estate loans accounted for approximately 47% of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio, and year-to-date average consumer and residential real estate loans accounted for approximately 53%. The Company has established a strategy of independence, and intends to establish or acquire additional offices, banking organizations, and non-banking organizations as appropriate opportunities may arise.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America and follow general practices within the industry in which it operates. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions, and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions, and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment write-down or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility. The fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based either on quoted market prices or are provided by other third-party sources, when available. The estimates used in management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses require that management make assumptions about matters that are uncertain at the time of estimation. Differences in these assumptions and differences between the estimated and actual losses could have a material effect.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

The Company has for many years used a traditional efficiency ratio that is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation G and Item 10 of Commission Regulation S-K. This traditional efficiency ratio is used as a measure of operating expense control and efficiency of operations. Management believes that its traditional ratio better focuses attention on the operating performance of the Company over time than does a GAAP-based ratio, and that it is highly useful in comparing period-to-period operating performance of the Company’s core business operations. It is used by management as part of its assessment of its performance in managing noninterest expenses. However, this measure is supplemental, and is not a substitute for an analysis of performance based on GAAP measures. The reader is cautioned that the traditional efficiency ratio used by the Company may not be comparable to GAAP or non-GAAP efficiency ratios reported by other financial institutions.

In general, the efficiency ratio is noninterest expenses as a percentage of net interest income plus total noninterest income. This is a GAAP financial measure. Noninterest expenses used in the calculation of the traditional, non-GAAP efficiency ratio exclude intangible asset amortization. Income for the traditional ratio is increased for the favorable effect of tax-exempt income, and excludes securities gains and losses, which can vary widely from period to period without appreciably affecting operating expenses. The traditional measure is different from the GAAP-based efficiency ratio. The GAAP-based measure is calculated using noninterest expense and income amounts as shown on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Income. The traditional and GAAP-based efficiency ratios are presented and reconciled in Table 1.

Table 1 – GAAP based and traditional efficiency ratios

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

(Dollars in thousands)	2006			2005			2006			2005

Noninterest expenses–GAAP based	$	21,694		$	18,744		$	62,878		$	56,334
Net interest income plus noninterest income–GAAP based		33,712			32,638			99,982			92,258
Efficiency ratio–GAAP based		64.35	%		57.43	%		62.89	%		61.06	%

Noninterest expenses–GAAP based	$	21,694		$	18,744		$	62,878		$	56,334
Less non-GAAP adjustment:
Amortization of intangible assets		743			501			2,227			1,502

Noninterest expenses–traditional ratio		20,951			18,243			60,651			54,832
Net interest income plus noninterest income–GAAP based		33,712			32,638			99,982			92,258
Plus non-GAAP adjustment:
Tax-equivalency		1,677			1,853			4,618			5,328
Less non-GAAP adjustments:
Securities gains (losses)		0			1,761			1			2,601

Net interest income plus noninterest Income – traditional ratio		35,389			32,730			104,599			94,985
Efficiency ratio – traditional		59.20	%		55.74	%		57.98	%		57.73	%

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A. FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company’s total assets were $2.6 billion at September 30, 2006, increasing $138.8 million or 6% during the first nine months of 2006. Earning assets increased by 6% or $144.0 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $2.4 billion at September 30, 2006.

Total loans and leases, excluding loans held for sale, increased 8% or $131.1 million during the first nine months of 2006, to $1.8 billion despite the sale of $68.6 million in mortgage loans. The Company sold lower yielding residential mortgage loans to fund commercial loan growth. During this period, commercial loans and leases increased by $114.4 million or 15%, attributable primarily to commercial loans and leases (up 10%) and commercial mortgage loans (up 21%.) Consumer loans increased by $13.5 million or 4%, primarily due to a 51% increase in home equity loans. Residential real estate loans grew by $3.2 million or 1% despite the loan sale mentioned above. Residential mortgage loans held for sale increased by $10.7 million from December 31, 2005, to $21.1 million at September 30, 2006.

Table 2 – Analysis of Loans and Leases

The following table presents the trends in the composition of the loan and lease portfolio at the dates indicated:

(In thousands)	September 30, 2006			%		December 31, 2005			%

Residential real estate	$	571,878		32	%	$	568,703		34	%
Commercial loans and leases		894,819		49			780,427		46
Consumer		348,793		19			335,249		20

Total Loans and Leases		1,815,490		100	%		1,684,379		100	%

Less: Allowance for credit losses		(19,433	)				(16,886	)

Net loans and leases	$	1,796,057				$	1,667,493

Certain loan terms may create concentrations of credit risk and increase the lender’s exposure to loss. These include terms that permit the deferral of principal payments or payments that are smaller than normal interest accruals (negative amortization); loans with high loan-to-value ratios (“LTV”); loans, such as option adjustable-rate mortgages, that may expose the borrower to future increases in repayments that are in excess of increases that would result solely from increases in market interest rates; and interest-only loans. The Company does not make loans that provide for negative amortization. The Company originates option adjustable-rate mortgages infrequently and sells all of them in the secondary market. At September 30, 2006, the Company had a total of $51.1 million in residential real estate loans and $2.3 million in consumer loans with a LTV greater than 90%. Commercial loans, with a LTV greater than 75% to 85% depending on the type of loan, totaled $25.7 million at September 30, 2006. Interest only loans at September 30, 2006 include almost all of the $198.9 million outstanding under the Company’s equity lines of credit, (included in the consumer loan portfolio) and $66.5 million in other loans. The aggregate of these loan concentrations was $344.5 million at September 30, 2006, which represented 19% of total loans and leases outstanding at that date. The Company is of the opinion that its loan underwriting procedures are structured to adequately assess any additional risk that the above types of loans might present.

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The total investment portfolio decreased by 3% or $16.3 million from December 31, 2005, to $551.1 million at September 30, 2006. The decrease was driven by a decline of $23.5 million or 8% in held-to-maturity securities, offset by an increase of $5.1 million or 2% in available-for-sale securities and $2.1 million or 14% in other equity securities. The aggregate of federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks increased by $18.5 million during the first nine months of 2006, reaching $25.4 million at September 30, 2006.

Table 3 – Analysis of Deposits

The following table presents the trends in the composition of deposits at the dates indicated:

(In thousands)	September 30, 2006		%		December 31, 2005		%

Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	416,712	21	%	$	439,277	24	%
Interest-bearing deposits:
Demand		213,180	11			245,428	14
Money market savings		479,426	25			369,555	20
Regular savings		168,332	9			208,496	12
Time deposits less than $100,000		393,811	20			299,854	17
Time deposits $100,000 or more		276,389	14			240,600	13

Total interest-bearing		1,531,138	79			1,363,933	76

Total deposits	$	1,947,850	100	%	$	1,803,210	100	%

Total deposits were $1.9 billion at September 30, 2006, increasing $144.6 million or 8% from December 31, 2005. During the first nine months of 2006, growth rates of 31% were achieved for time deposits of less than $100,000 (up $94.0 million), 15% for time deposits of $100,000 or more (up $35.8 million), and 30% for money market deposits (up $109.9 million.) This increase in money market deposits was due primarily to a new deposit sweep product described below. Over the same period, decreases of 19% were recorded for interest-bearing regular savings (down $40.2 million), 13% for interest bearing demand deposits (down $32.2 million), and 5% for non-interest bearing demand deposits (down $22.6 million). These decreases were due largely to customers seeking out higher rates due to the current interest rate environment.

Total borrowings were $393.5 million at September 30, 2006, which represented a decrease of $23.9 million or 6% from December 31, 2005. Short-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (the “FHLB”) increased to $227.4 million during the period, an increase of $44.9 million or 25%. In addition, customer repurchase agreements decreased to $129.2 million during the first nine months of the year, a decrease of $41.6 million or 24%. The increase in FHLB advances was necessary to fund the growth in the loan portfolio while the decrease in customer repurchase agreements reflects the implementation of a new sweep account product during the 3^rd quarter of 2006 for commercial clients, in which overnight funds are shifted into a money market deposit account, providing customers a higher yield compared to the repurchase agreements. This new product also does not require the bank to post investment securities as collateral. This enables the bank to utilize the proceeds from the maturity or sale of such securities to fund loan growth.

Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Overview

The Company’s net income is largely dependent on its net interest income. Net interest income is susceptible to interest rate risk to the degree that interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice on a different basis than interest-earning assets. When interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice more quickly than interest-earning assets in a given period, a significant increase in market rates of interest could adversely affect net interest income. Similarly, when interest-earning assets mature or reprice more quickly than interest-bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could result in a decrease in net interest income. Net interest income is also affected by changes in the portion of interest-earning assets that are funded by interest-bearing liabilities rather than by other sources of funds, such as noninterest-bearing deposits and stockholders’ equity.

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The Company’s Board of Directors has established a comprehensive interest rate risk management policy, which is administered by Management’s Asset Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”). The policy establishes limits of risk, which are quantitative measures of the percentage change in net interest income (a measure of net interest income at risk) and the fair value of equity capital (a measure of economic value of equity (“EVE”) at risk) resulting from a hypothetical change in U.S. Treasury interest rates for maturities from one day to thirty years. The Company measures the potential adverse impacts that changing interest rates may have on its short-term earnings, long-term value, and liquidity by employing simulation analysis through the use of computer modeling. The simulation model captures optionality factors such as call features and interest rate caps and floors imbedded in investment and loan portfolio contracts. As with any method of gauging interest rate risk, there are certain shortcomings inherent in the interest rate modeling methodology used by the Company. When interest rates change, actual movements in different categories of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, loan prepayments, and withdrawals of time and other deposits, may deviate significantly from assumptions used in the model. Finally, the methodology does not measure or reflect the impact that higher rates may have on adjustable-rate loan customers’ ability to service their debts, or the impact of rate changes on demand for loan, lease, and deposit products.

The Company prepares a current base case and eight alternative simulations, at least once a quarter, and reports the analysis to the Board of Directors. In addition, more frequent forecasts are produced when interest rates are particularly uncertain or when other business conditions so dictate.

If a measure of risk produced by the alternative simulations of the entire balance sheet violates policy guidelines, ALCO is required to develop a plan to restore the measure of risk to a level that complies with policy limits within two quarters.

The Company’s interest rate risk management goals are (1) to increase net interest income at a growth rate consistent with the growth rate of total assets and, (2) to minimize fluctuations in net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets. Management attempts to achieve these goals by balancing, within policy limits, the volume of floating-rate liabilities with a similar volume of floating-rate assets; by keeping the average maturity of fixed-rate asset and liability contracts reasonably matched; by maintaining a pool of administered core deposits; and by adjusting pricing rates to market conditions on a continuing basis.

The balance sheet is subject to quarterly testing for eight alternative interest rate shock possibilities to indicate the inherent interest rate risk. Average interest rates are shocked by +/- 100, 200, 300, and 400 basis points (“bp”), although the Company may elect not to use particular scenarios that it determines are impractical in a current rate environment. It is management’s goal to structure the balance sheet so that net interest earnings at risk over a twelve-month period and the economic value of equity at risk do not exceed policy guidelines at the various interest rate shock levels.

The Company augments its quarterly interest rate shock analysis with alternative external interest rate scenarios on a monthly basis. These alternative interest rate scenarios may include non-parallel rate ramps and non-parallel yield curve twists.

Analysis

Measures of net interest income at risk produced by simulation analysis are indicators of an institution’s short-term performance in alternative rate environments. These measures are typically based upon a relatively brief period, usually one year. They do not necessarily indicate the long-term prospects or economic value of the institution.

ESTIMATED CHANGES IN NET INTEREST INCOME

CHANGE IN INTEREST RATES:	+ 400 bp		+ 300 bp		+ 200 bp		+ 100 bp		- 100 bp		- 200 bp		-300 bp		-400 bp

POLICY LIMIT	-25	%	-20	%	-17.5	%	-12.5	%	-12.5	%	-17.5	%	-20	%	-25	%
September 2006	-8.58		-6.83		-4.55		-0.91		0.61		-2.15		-5.74		-10.94
December 2005	-0.73		-1.74		-2.04		-0.57		-1.70		-5.79		-12.24		-22.51

The Net Interest Income at Risk position decreased since the 4^th quarter of 2005 in all down-rate scenarios, but increased in all up-rate scenarios. All of the above measures of net interest income at risk remained well within prescribed policy limits. Although assumed to be unlikely, our largest exposure is at the –400bp level, with a measure of -10.94%. This is also well within our prescribed policy limit of 25%. The sensitivity of net interest income indicated by this analysis is consistent with management’s decision to position the balance sheet in anticipation of an end to the rising interest rate cycle in the near future.

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The measures of equity value at risk indicate the ongoing economic value of the Company by considering the effects of changes in interest rates on all of the Company’s cash flows, and discounting the cash flows to estimate the present value of assets and liabilities. The difference between these discounted values of the assets and liabilities is the economic value of equity, which, in theory, approximates the fair value of the Company’s net assets.

ESTIMATED CHANGES IN ECONOMIC VALUE OF EQUITY (EVE)

CHANGE IN INTEREST RATES:	+ 400 bp		+ 300 bp		+ 200 bp		+ 100 bp		- 100 bp		-200 bp		-300 bp		-400 bp

POLICY LIMIT	-40	%	-30	%	-22.5	%	-10.0	%	-12.5	%	-22.5	%	-30	%	-40	%
September 2006	-17.23		-12.28		-7.28		-1.71		-3.16		-9.95		-17.87		-27.27
December 2005	-10.85		-7.49		-4.37		-1.24		-0.74		-5.59		-12.31		-20.01

Measures of the economic value of equity (EVE) at risk position increased over year-end 2005 in all rising rate shock bands as well as all falling rate bands. The lengthening of duration for investments, loans, and borrowings coupled with a shortening of duration for deposits were key contributors to the increased risk position. Although assumed to be unlikely, our largest exposure is at the –400bp level, with a measure of -27.27%. This is also well within our prescribed policy limit of 40%.

Liquidity

Liquidity is measured using an approach designed to take into account loan and lease payments, maturities, calls and pay-downs of securities, earnings, balance sheet growth, mortgage banking activities, investment portfolio liquidity, and other factors. Through this approach, implemented by the funds management subcommittee of ALCO under formal policy guidelines, the Company’s liquidity position is measured weekly, looking forward at thirty-day intervals out to 180 days. The measurement is based upon the asset-liability management model’s projection of a funds’ sold or purchased position, along with ratios and trends developed to measure dependence on purchased funds and core growth. Resulting projections as of September 30, 2006 showed short-term investments exceeding short-term borrowings over the subsequent 180 days by $25.1 million, which decreased from an excess of $27.5 million at June 30, 2006. This excess of liquidity over projected requirements for funds indicates that the Company can increase its loans and other earning assets without incurring additional borrowing.

During the 3^rd quarter of 2006, the Company introduced a deposit sweep product for its commercial customers, as an alternative to the existing repurchase agreement option, in which overnight funds are transferred to a money market deposit account yielding a higher rate of return for the client. The shift of funds from repurchase agreements to the deposit sweep account reduces the required amount of available-for-sale securities the Company must hold as collateral and therefore provides another potential source of liquidity for funding loan growth.

The Company also has external sources of funds, which can be drawn upon when required. The main source of external liquidity is a line of credit for $775.5 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, of which $524.0 million was available based on pledged collateral with $229.2 million outstanding at September 30, 2006. Other external sources of liquidity available to the Company in the form of lines of credit granted by the Federal Reserve, correspondent banks and other institutions totaled $156.2 million at September 30, 2006, against which there were no outstandings. Based upon its liquidity analysis, including external sources of liquidity available, management believes the liquidity position is appropriate at September 30, 2006.

The following is a schedule of significant commitments at September 30, 2006:

	(In thousands)

Commitments to extend credit:
Unused lines of credit (home equity and business)	$	367,555
Other commitments to extend credit		187,064
Standby letters of credit		42,108

	$	596,727

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Capital Management

The Company recorded a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.20% at September 30, 2006, compared to 13.14% at December 31, 2005; a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.23%, compared to 12.23%; and a capital leverage ratio of 9.52%, compared to 9.56%. Capital adequacy, as measured by these ratios, was well above regulatory requirements. Management believes the level of capital at September 30, 2006, is appropriate.

Stockholders’ equity for September 30, 2006, totaled $233.7 million, representing an increase of $15.8 million or 7% from $217.9 million at December 31, 2005. The accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity comprised of net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes, decreased by 41% or $0.2 million from December 31, 2005 to ($0.4 million) at September 30, 2006.

Internal capital generation (net income less dividends) added $14.8 million to total stockholders’ equity during the first nine months of 2006. When internally formed capital is annualized and expressed as a percentage of average total stockholders’ equity, the resulting rate was 9% compared to 10% reported for the full-year 2005.

External capital formation (equity created through the issuance of stock under the employee stock purchase plan, stock option plan and the director stock purchase plan) totaled $1.2 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2006. However, share repurchases amounted to $0.9 million from December 31, 2005 through September 30, 2006, for a net increase in stockholders equity from these sources of $0.3 million.

Dividends for the first nine months of the year were $0.66 per share in 2006, compared to $0.62 per share in 2005, for respective dividend payout ratios (dividends declared per share to diluted net income per share) of 40% versus 36%.

B. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

Net income for the first nine months of the year decreased $0.6 million or 2% to $24.6 million in 2006 from 2005, representing annualized returns on average equity of 14.64% in 2006 and 16.74% in 2005, respectively. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the first nine months of the year were $1.65 in 2006, compared to $1.70 in 2005.

Net interest income grew by $5.9 million, or 9%, to $71.1 million for the first nine months of 2006, while total noninterest income grew by $1.8 million, or 7% for the period. However, this growth was more than offset by a $0.9 million or 59% increase in the provision for loan and lease losses, a $6.5 million, or 12%, increase in noninterest expenses, and $0.8 increase in income tax expense.

The increase in net interest income was achieved in spite of decreased net interest margin and net interest spread. Net interest margin decreased by 9 basis points to 4.30% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, from 4.39% for the same period of 2005, as the net interest spread decreased by 26 basis points. These declines in margin and spread are due to relatively high short-term interest rates compared to long-term rates (a flattening yield curve), together with a decline in average noninterest-bearing deposits resulting from increased competition for such deposits in the Company’s market area. Noninterest-bearing deposits also declined due to the migration of such balances into customer repurchase agreements and the Company’s new deposit sweep product as a result of the increasing rates paid on such instruments reflecting the current interest rate environment.

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Table 4 – Consolidated Average Balances, Yields and Rates

(Dollars in thousands and tax equivalent)	For the nine months ended September 30,

	2006						2005

	Average Balance		Interest (1)		Annualized Average Yield/Rate		Average Balance		Interest (1)		Annualized Average Yield/Rate

Assets
Total loans and leases (2)	$	1,779,941	$	93,345	7.01	%	$	1,514,796	$	68,687	6.06	%
Total securities		564,228		23,891	5.67			608,712		24,822	5.45
Other earning assets		12,560		450	4.80			27,169		629	3.08

TOTAL EARNING ASSETS		2,356,729			117,686	6.68	%		2,150,677			94,138	5.85	%
Nonearning assets		189,941							177,908

Total assets	$	2,546,670						$	2,328,585

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing demand deposits	$	229,629			497	0.29	%	$	238,118			471	0.26	%
Money market savings deposits		375,259			8,102	2.89			376,951			4,194	1.49
Regular savings deposits		189,042			556	0.39			220,055			572	0.35
Time deposits		613,283			17,691	3.86			485,045			9,506	2.62

Total interest-bearing deposits		1,407,213			26,846	2.55			1,320,169			14,743	1.49
Short-term borrowings		440,131			13,342	4.05			281,771			6,530	3.07
Long-term borrowings		37,021			1,729	6.23			66,490			2,284	4.57

Total interest-bearing liabilities		1,884,365			41,917	2.97			1,668,430			23,557	1.88

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits		416,167							438,455
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities		21,810							21,044
Stockholders’ equity		224,328							200,656

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,546,670						$	2,328,585

Net interest income and spread				$	75,769	3.71	%				$	70,581	3.97	%

Less: tax equivalent adjustment					4,618							5,328

Net interest income					71,151							65,253


Net interest margin (3)						4.30	%						4.39	%

Ratio of average earning assets to
Average interest-bearing liabilities		125.07	%						128.90	%

(1)

Interest income includes the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments (reduced by the nondeductible portion of interest expense) using the appropriate federal income tax rate of 35.00% and, where applicable, the marginal state income tax rate of 7.00% (or a combined marginal federal and state rate of 39.55%), to increase tax-exempt interest income to a taxable-equivalent basis. The net taxable-equivalent adjustment amounts utilized in the above table to compute yields were $4.6 million and $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

(2)	Non-accrual loans are included in the average balances.

(3)	Net interest margin = annualized net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by total interest-earning assets.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the first nine months of the year was $71.2 million in 2006, an increase of 9% from $65.3 million in 2005, due primarily to an 18% increase in average loans and leases and a 95 basis point increase in tax-equivalent yield on loans when compared to the first nine months of 2005. Non-GAAP tax-equivalent net interest income, which takes into account the benefit of tax advantaged investment securities, also increased by 7%, to $75.8 million in 2006 from $70.6 million in 2005. The effects of changes in average balances, yields and rates are presented in Table 4.

For the first nine months, total interest income increased by $24.3 million or 27% in 2006, compared to 2005. On a non-GAAP tax-equivalent basis, interest income increased by 25%. Average earning assets increased by 10% versus the prior period to $2.4 billion from $2.2 billion; while the average yield earned on those assets increased by 83 basis points to 6.68%. Comparing the first nine months of 2006 versus the same period in 2005, average total loans and leases grew by 18% to $1.8 billion (76% of average earning assets, versus 70% a year ago), while recording a 95 basis point increase in average yield to 7.01%. Average residential real estate loans increased by 10% (reflecting increases in both mortgage and construction lending); average consumer loans increased by 7% (attributable primarily to home equity loan growth); and, average commercial loans and leases grew by 29% (due to increases in all categories of commercial loans and leases). Over the same period, average total securities decreased by 7% to $564.2 million (24% of average earning assets, versus 28% a year ago), while the average yield earned on those assets increased by 22 basis points to 5.67%.

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Interest expense for the first nine months of the year increased by $18.4 million or 78% in 2006 compared to 2005. Average total interest-bearing liabilities increased by 13% over the prior year period, while the average rate paid on these funds increased by 109 basis points to 2.97%. As shown in Table 4, all categories of interest-bearing liabilities showed increases in the average rate as market interest rates continued to rise.

Table 5 – Effect of Volume and Rate Changes on Net Interest Income

	2006 vs. 2005								2005 vs. 2004

	Increase Or (Decrease)			Due to Change In Average: *					Increase Or (Decrease)			Due to Change In Average:*

(In thousands and tax equivalent)				Volume			Rate					Volume			Rate

Interest income from earning assets:
Loans and leases	$	24,658		$	13,016		$	11,642	$	16,828		$	11,534		$	5,294
Securities		(931	)		(1,860	)		929		(3,495	)		(11,803	)		8,308
Other earning assets		(179	)		(430	)		251		341			(70	)		411

Total interest income		23,548			10,726			12,822		13,674			(339	)		14,013
Interest expense on funding of earning assets:
Interest-bearing demand deposits		26			(17	)		43		(32	)		16			(48	)
Regular savings deposits		(16	)		(86	)		70		2			23			(21	)
Money market savings deposits		3,908			42			3,866		2,589			39			2,550
Time deposits		8,185			2,939			5,246		3,047			889			2,158
Total borrowings		6,257			3,746			2,511		(7,928	)		(5,434	)		(2,494	)

Total interest expense		18,360			6,624			11,736		(2,322	)		(4,467	)		2,145

Net interest income	$	5,188		$	4,102		$	1,086	$	15,996		$	4,128		$	11,868

*	Where volume and rate have a combined effect that cannot be separately identified with either, the variance is allocated to volume and rate based on the relative size of the variance that can be separately identified with each.

Credit Risk Management

The Company’s loan and lease portfolio (the “credit portfolio”) is subject to varying degrees of credit risk. Credit risk is mitigated through portfolio diversification, limiting exposure to any single customer, industry or collateral type. The Company maintains an allowance for loan and lease losses (the “allowance”) to absorb possible losses in the loan and lease portfolio. The allowance is based on careful, continuous review and evaluation of the loan and lease portfolio, along with ongoing, quarterly assessments of the probable losses inherent in that portfolio. The allowance represents an estimation made pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” or SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” The adequacy of the allowance is determined through careful and continuous evaluation of the credit portfolio, and involves consideration of a number of factors, as outlined below, to establish a prudent level. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective and requires significant estimates, including estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans and leases based on historical loss experience and consideration of current economic trends, which may be susceptible to significant change. Loans and leases deemed uncollectible are charged against the allowance, while recoveries are credited to the allowance. Management adjusts the level of the allowance through the provision for loan and lease losses, which is recorded as a current period operating expense. The Company’s systematic methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance includes: (1) the formula allowance reflecting historical losses, as adjusted, by credit category, and (2) the specific allowance for risk-rated credits on an individual or portfolio basis.

The formula allowance, which is based upon historical loss factors, as adjusted, establishes allowances for the major loan and lease categories based upon adjusted historical loss experience over the prior eight quarters, weighted so that losses in the most recent quarters have the greatest effect. The factors used to adjust the historical loss experience address various risk characteristics of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio including: (1) trends in delinquencies and other non-performing loans, (2) changes in the risk profile related to large loans in the portfolio, (3) changes in the categories of loans comprising the loan portfolio, (4) concentrations of loans to specific industry segments, (5) changes in economic conditions on both a local and national level, (6) changes in the Company’s credit administration and loan and lease portfolio management processes, and (7) quality of the Company’s credit risk identification processes.

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The specific allowance is used to allocate an allowance for internally risk rated commercial loans where significant conditions or circumstances indicate that a loss may be imminent. Analysis resulting in specific allowances, including those on loans identified for evaluation of impairment, includes consideration of the borrower’s overall financial condition, resources and payment record, support available from financial guarantors and the sufficiency of collateral. These factors are combined to estimate the probability and severity of inherent losses. Then a specific allowance is established based on the Company’s calculation of the potential loss imbedded in the individual loan. Allowances are also established by application of credit risk factors to other internally risk rated loans, individual consumer and residential loans and commercial leases having reached nonaccrual or 90-day past due status. Each risk rating category is assigned a credit risk factor based on management’s estimate of the associated risk, complexity, and size of the individual loans within the category. Additional allowances may also be established in special circumstances involving a particular group of credits or portfolio within a risk category when management becomes aware that losses incurred may exceed those determined by application of the risk factor alone.

The amount of the allowance is reviewed monthly by the Senior Loan Committee, and reviewed and approved quarterly by the Board of Directors.

The provision for loan and lease losses totaled $2.5 million for the first nine months of 2006 compared to $1.6 million in the same period of 2005. The Company experienced net recoveries during the first nine months of 2006 and 2005 of $2 thousand and $14 thousand, respectively.

Management believes that the allowance is adequate. However, its determination requires significant judgment, and estimates of probable losses inherent in the credit portfolio can vary significantly from the amounts actually observed. While management uses available information to recognize probable losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in the credits comprising the portfolio and changes in the financial condition of borrowers, such as may result from changes in economic conditions. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, and independent consultants engaged by Sandy Spring Bank, periodically review the credit portfolio and the allowance. Such review may result in additional provisions based on these third-party judgments of information available at the time of each examination. During the first nine months of 2006, there were no changes in estimation methods or assumptions that affected the allowance methodology. The allowance for loan and lease losses was 1.07% of total loans and leases at September 30, 2006 and 1.00% at December 31, 2005. The allowance increased during the first nine months of 2006 by $2.5 million, to $19.4 million at September 30, 2006, from $16.9 million at December 31, 2005. The increase in the allowance during the first nine months of 2006 was due to the increased provision for loan and lease losses mentioned above which was due primarily to growth in the size of the loan portfolio.

Nonperforming loans and leases increased by $2.4 million to $3.8 million at September 30, 2006 from $1.4 million at December 31, 2005, while nonperforming assets also increased by $2.4 million for the same period to $3.8 million at September 30, 2006. Expressed as a percentage of total assets, nonperforming assets increased to 0.15% at September 30, 2006 from 0.06% at December 31, 2005. The allowance for loan and lease losses represented 506% of nonperforming loans and leases at September 30, 2006, compared to coverage of 1,210% at December 31, 2005. The increase in nonaccrual loans and leases was due primarily to one commercial loan totaling $1.1 million that is subject to a Small Business Administration guarantee and on which a specific reserve of $0.2 million has been established. The increase in loans and leases 90 days past due was mainly the result of four loans. Two of these loans are matured loans which are current as to interest payments and are supported by strong client financials. The other two loans have more than adequate collateral. No losses are expected on any of these four loans. Significant variation in this coverage ratio may occur from period to period because the amount of nonperforming loans and leases depends largely on the condition of a small number of individual credits and borrowers relative to the total loan and lease portfolio. Other real estate owned was $0 at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. The balance of impaired loans and leases was $0.1 million at September 30, 2006, with specific reserves against those loans of $0.1 million, compared to $0.4 million at December 31, 2005, with specific reserves of $31,000.

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Table 6 — Analysis of Credit Risk

(Dollars in thousands)

Activity in the allowance for credit losses is shown below:

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005

Balance, January 1	$	16,886		$	14,654
Provision for loan and lease losses		2,545			1,600
Loan charge-offs:
Residential real estate		0			0
Commercial loans and leases		(38	)		(70	)
Consumer		(19	)		(30	)

Total charge-offs		(57	)		(100	)
Loan recoveries:
Residential real estate		0			49
Commercial loans and leases		20			57
Consumer		39			8

Total recoveries		59			114

Net recoveries (charge-offs)		2			14

Balance, period end	$	19,433		$	16,268

Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans and leases (annual basis)		0.00	%		0.00	%
Allowance to total loans and leases		1.07	%		1.03	%

The following table presents nonperforming assets at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2006			December 31, 2005			September 30, 2005

Non-accrual loans and leases	$	1,495		$	437		$	1,032
Loans and leases 90 days past due		2,346			958			2,289

Total nonperforming loans and leases*		3,841			1,395			3,321

Total nonperforming assets	$	3,841		$	1,395			3,321

Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.15	%		0.06	%		0.14	%

Those performing credits considered potential problem credits (which the Company classifies as substandard), as defined and identified by management, amounted to approximately $11.5 million at September 30, 2006, compared to $5.9 million at December 31, 2005. These are credits where known information about the borrowers’ possible credit problems causes management to have doubts as to their ability to comply with the present repayment terms. This could result in their reclassification as nonperforming credits in the future, but most are well collateralized and are not believed to present significant risk of loss. Loans classified for regulatory purposes not included in either non-performing or potential problem loans consist only of “other loans especially mentioned” and do not, in management’s opinion, represent or result from trends or uncertainties reasonably expected to materially impact future operating results, liquidity or capital resources, or represent material credits where known information about the borrowers’ possible credit problems causes management to have doubts as to the borrowers’ ability to comply with the loan repayment terms.

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Noninterest Income and Expenses

Total noninterest income was $28.8 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, a 7% or $1.8 million increase from the same period of 2005. The increase in noninterest income for the first nine months of 2006 was due primarily to an increase of $3.5 million or 121% in trust and investment management fees, resulting from the acquisition of West Financial Services in October, 2005. Insurance agency commissions grew by 24% or $1.0 million as a result of higher premiums from existing commercial property and casualty lines as well as the acquisition of Neff & Associates in January, 2006. In addition, Visa check fees increased $0.2 million or 10%, and fees on sales of investment products increased $0.7 million or 45% due to increased sales of such products. These increases were offset in part by a decrease in securities gains of $2.6 million, a decrease in gains on sales of mortgage loans of $0.8 million or 27%, and a decrease in other noninterest income of $0.2 million or 5%.

Total noninterest expenses were $62.9 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, a 12% or $6.5 million increase from the same period in 2005. The Company incurs additional costs in order to enter new markets, provide new services, and support the growth of the Company. Management controls its operating expenses, however, with the goal of maximizing profitability over time. Most of the rise in noninterest expenses during the first nine months of 2006 occurred in salaries and employee benefits which increased $3.7 million or 11% due in part to the acquisition of West Financial Services, Inc. in October 2005 and Neff & Associates in January 2006, and to the growth in the number of full-time equivalent employees. The amortization of intangible assets increased by $0.7 million or 48% due to the acquisitions of West Financial Services, Inc. in October 2005 and Neff & Associates in January 2006. Marketing expenses increased by $1.0 million or 108% as part of the Company’s plan to increase brand recognition and to grow market share, while outside data services grew by $0.3 million or 15%. Occupancy and equipment expenses increased $0.4 million or 6% due to acquisitions and growth in the branch network. Average full-time equivalent employees increased to 626 during the first nine months of 2006, from 582 during the like period in 2005, an 8% increase. The ratio of net income per average full-time-equivalent employee after completion of the first nine months of the year was $39,000 in 2006 and $43,000 in 2005.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate increased to 28.9% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, from 26.8% for the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to a decline in the interest income from state tax-advantaged investments, the growth in interest income earned on the loan portfolio and the increase in noninterest income, which is taxed at a full statutory rate.

C. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - THIRD QUARTER 2006 AND 2005

Third quarter net income of $8.1 million ($0.55 per share-diluted) in 2006 was $1.3 million or 14% below net income of $9.5 million ($0.64 per share-diluted) shown for the same quarter of 2005. Annualized returns on average equity for these periods were 14.06% in 2006 versus 18.31% in 2005.

Third quarter net interest income was $24.1 million in 2006, an increase of $1.6 million or 7% from $22.5 million in 2005, due primarily to loan growth. Non-GAAP tax-equivalent net interest income, which takes into account the benefit of tax advantaged investment securities, increased by $1.4 million or 6%. The net interest margin decreased by 14 basis points to 4.25% for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 from 4.39% in 2005, due to relatively high short-term interest rates compared to long-term rates (a flattening yield curve) and a decrease of $47.2 million or 10% in noninterest-bearing deposits compared to the prior year quarter. This decrease was due to client reaction to the higher rate environment.

The provision for loan and lease losses totaled $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2006 compared to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2005. The Company experienced net (charge-offs)/recoveries during the third quarter of 2006 and 2005 of ($27 thousand) and $5 thousand respectively.

Third quarter noninterest income was $9.6 million in 2006, representing a 5% or $0.5 million decrease from the same period in 2005. Compared to the third quarter of 2005, the third quarter of 2006 showed an increase of $1.0 million or 94% in trust and investment management fees, reflecting the acquisition of West Financial Services in the fourth quarter of 2005. Insurance agency commissions increased by $0.3 million or 26% in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, due largely to the acquisition of Neff & Associates in the first quarter of 2006. In addition, fees on sales of investment products increased $0.3 million or 66% for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 compared to 2005. However, these increases were more than offset by a decrease in securities gains of $1.8 million, a decrease in the gain on sale of mortgage loans of $0.5 million or 40% and a decline in service charges on deposit accounts of $0.1 million or 7% compared to the same period in 2005.

Third quarter noninterest expenses increased $3.0 million or 16% to $21.7 million in 2006 from $18.7 million in 2005. This increase was mainly the result of increases in salaries and employee benefits of $1.2 million or 11% due primarily to the acquisitions mentioned above and also to an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees. Other increases included marketing expenses, which grew by $0.9 million in the 3^rd quarter of 2006 compared to $0.3 in the 3^rd quarter of 2005 due to the timing of such expenses incurred under the Company’s plan to increase brand recognition and to grow market share. In addition, outside data services increased by $0.2 million or 21%, intangibles amortization which increased by $0.2 million or 48% and other noninterest expenses which grew by $0.4 million or 15%.

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The third quarter effective tax rate increased to 29.2%, from the 28.8% recorded in the third quarter of 2005. This increase was primarily due to a decline in the interest income from state tax advantaged investments, the growth in interest income earned on the loan portfolio and the increase in noninterest income, which is taxed at a full statutory rate.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

See “Financial Condition - Market Risk and Interest Rate Sensitivity” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, above, which is incorporated herein by reference. Management has determined that no additional disclosures are necessary to assess changes in information about market risk that have occurred since December 31, 2005.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated as of the last day of the period covered by this report, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Act of 1934) during the quarter ended September 30, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors as disclosed in the 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table provides information on the Company’s purchases of its common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased	(b) Average Price Paid per Share	(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	(d) Maximum Number that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)(3)

January 2006	0	NA	0	686,634
February 2006	0	NA	0	686,634
March 2006	0	NA	0	686,634
April 2006	0	NA	0	686,634
May 2006	25,000	34.63	25,000	661,634
June 2006	0	NA	0	661,634
July 2006	0	NA	0	661,634
August 2006	0	NA	0	661,634
September 2006	0	NA	0	661,634

(1)	Includes purchases of the Company’s stock made by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliated purchasers of the Company as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18.

(2)

On May 24, 2005, the Company publicly announced a stock repurchase program that permits the repurchase of up to 5%, or approximately 732,000 shares, of its outstanding common stock. The current program replaced a similar plan that expired on March 31, 2005. Repurchases under the program may be made on the open market and in privately negotiated transactions from time to time until March 31, 2007, or earlier termination of the program by the Board. The repurchases are made in connection with shares expected to be issued under the Company’s various benefit plans, as well as for other corporate purposes. At September 30, 2006, a total of 661,634 shares remained under the plan.

(3)	Indicates the number of shares remaining under the plan at the end of the indicated month.

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Item 6. EXHIBITS

	Exhibit 31(a) and (b)	Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications
	Exhibit 32 (a) and (b)	18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certifications

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

(Registrant)


By:	/S/ HUNTER R. HOLLAR

	Hunter R. Hollar President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 6, 2006


By:	/S/ PHILIP J. MANTUA

	Philip J. Mantua Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 6, 2006