PennFed Financial Services, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings

Announces a New Stock Repurchase Program


WEST ORANGE, N.J., Jan. 25, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- PennFed Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:PFSB), the $2.2 billion holding company for New Jersey-based Penn Federal Savings Bank, announced earnings of 26 cents per diluted share for its second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005. Earnings for the comparable prior year quarter were 28 cents per diluted share.

For the first six months of fiscal 2006, PennFed reported earnings of 56 cents per diluted share, compared to 55 cents per diluted share for the comparable six months ended December 31, 2004.

"Earnings have been impacted by the challenging operating environment and the resulting pressure on net interest margin," said Joseph L. LaMonica, PennFed's President and Chief Executive Officer. As expected, as a result of the continuing rise in short term rates and the further flattening of the yield curve, net interest margin contracted to 1.89% for the current quarter from 2.05% last quarter and 2.33% a year ago. The expectation is that the yield curve will remain flat in the near term.

"Nevertheless," LaMonica stated, "PennFed will not relax underwriting standards for the sake of improving margin." "To counter some of the negative impact on earnings from a lower net interest margin, asset quality and expense management remain priorities," said LaMonica. While non-performing assets showed a slight increase in the quarter, the Company's actual charge-off experience continues to be minimal. Furthermore, the Company's current quarter non-interest expense ratio of just 1.01% was very strong, compared to 1.26% for the three months ended December 31, 2004.

Total assets at December 31, 2005 of $2.161 billion reflected growth of approximately 11% on an annualized basis from June 30, 2005. Loans receivable showed 14% growth annualized.

Total loan production was $115 million for the December 2005 quarter. "Given the difficult interest rate environment, we remain focused on the origination of home equity loans and commercial real estate loans in addition to one to four-family mortgage loans," said LaMonica. For the quarter just ended, PennFed's consumer loan originations totaled $28.0 million -- a 39% increase from the prior year quarter. The Company's commercial and multi-family real estate loan production of $14.4 million for the current quarter was strong compared to $8.3 million for the linked quarter and $16.2 million for the comparable prior year quarter.

Deposits grew to $1.386 billion at December 31, 2005 compared to $1.339 billion at June 30, 2005 -- equating to an annualized growth rate of 7%. The Company continues to see a shift in deposit mix as savings account customers move "parked" funds to other higher yielding alternatives. Checking and money market balances have increased by over 17% since June 30, 2005. Due to the continued rise in short term rates and very strong competitive deposit pricing, the rate paid on interest bearing liabilities increased 15 basis points over the linked quarter.

During the three months ended December 31, 2005, the Company repurchased 256,600 shares of common stock for a total cost of $4.8 million. Stock repurchases continue to be utilized as a means of managing capital.

The Company announced that that it completed all repurchases under its 5% Stock Repurchase Program previously authorized in February 2005 and that its Board of Directors authorized a new 5% Stock Repurchase Program.

LaMonica indicated that under the completed program, the Company had repurchased 675,000 shares from February 28, 2005 through January 24, 2006 at prices ranging from $13.30 to $19.75 per share. After completion of these repurchases, the Company had 12,989,650 shares of common stock outstanding.

Under the new program, the Company may repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares over the next 18 months, subject to market conditions and other factors.

PennFed stockholders of record as of February 10, 2006 will be paid a cash dividend of $0.07 per share on February 24, 2006. The Company's dividend policy will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis.

Penn Federal Savings Bank maintains 25 New Jersey branch offices. The Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, changes in economic conditions in the Company's market area, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, fluctuations in interest rates and demand for loans in the Company's market area, the relationship of short-term interest rates to long-term interest rates, competition and terrorist acts that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above, as well as other factors, could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.



                        PennFed Financial Services, Inc.
                 (Holding Company for Penn Federal Savings Bank)
                   Selected Consolidated Financial Information
                (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                         Dec. 31,    Sept. 30,   June 30,    Dec. 31,
                           2005        2005        2005        2004
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Selected Financial
 Condition Data:
  Cash and cash
   equivalents            $ 17,988    $ 17,838    $ 15,220    $ 14,829
  Investments, net         425,405     425,412     410,509     422,159
  Mortgage-backed
   securities, net          68,978      73,270      78,201      87,879
  Loans held for
   sale                        242         937       4,826       2,580
  Loans receivable:
   One- to four-
    family mortgage
    loans                1,222,023   1,195,924   1,143,663   1,075,831
   Commercial and
    multi-family
    real estate
    loans                  170,653     165,882     169,765     168,092
   Consumer loans          166,723     156,894     144,423     124,402
   Allowance for
    loan losses             (5,913)     (5,916)     (6,050)     (6,064)
   Other, net                9,592       9,410       8,853       7,931
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Loans receivable,
   net                   1,563,078   1,522,194   1,460,654   1,370,192

  FHLB stock                25,028      24,586      22,391      22,102
  Other intangible
   assets                        0           0           0         454
  Other assets              60,546      59,450      58,750      59,293
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total assets          $2,161,265  $2,123,687  $2,050,551  $1,979,488
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
  Deposits:
   Checking and
    money market         $ 266,674   $ 243,457   $ 227,031   $ 199,297
   Savings                 335,367     360,488     385,360     430,203
   Certificates of
    deposit and
    accrued interest       784,334     760,057     727,100     623,954
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total deposits         1,386,375   1,364,002   1,339,491   1,253,454

  FHLB advances            450,465     425,465     415,465     425,465
  Other borrowings         141,770     148,134     107,952     122,624
  Junior subordinated
   debentures               42,104      42,093      42,082      42,059
  Other liabilities         16,379      18,123      21,507      12,551
  Stockholders'
   equity                  124,172(a)  125,870     124,054     123,335
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total liabilities
   and stockholders'
   equity               $2,161,265  $2,123,687  $2,050,551  $1,979,488
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
  Book value per
   share                    $ 9.54      $ 9.53      $ 9.34      $ 9.04

  Equity to assets            5.75%       5.93%       6.05%       6.23%

 Asset Quality Data:
  Non-performing
   loans                   $ 2,718     $ 1,998     $ 2,619     $ 1,776
  Real estate owned,
   net                         502         477           0           0
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total non-
  performing assets        $ 3,220     $ 2,475     $ 2,619     $ 1,776
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
  Non-performing
   loans to total
   loans                      0.17%       0.13%       0.18%       0.13%
  Non-performing
   assets to total
   assets                     0.15%       0.12%       0.13%       0.09%
  Allowance for
   loan losses to
   non-performing
   loans                    217.55%     296.10%     231.00%     341.44%
  Allowance for
   loan losses to
   total gross loans          0.38%       0.39%       0.41%       0.44%

 Regulatory Capital
 Ratios (of the Bank):
  Tangible capital
   ratio (requirement
   - 1.50%)                   7.80%       8.02%       8.28%       8.56%
  Core capital ratio
   (requirement -
   4.00%)                     7.80%       8.02%       8.28%       8.56%
  Risk-based capital
  ratio (requirement
  - 8.00%)                   14.89%      15.39%      15.84%      16.58%

 (a) Common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2005 totaled
     13,015,782 shares.

                        PennFed Financial Services, Inc.
                 (Holding Company for Penn Federal Savings Bank)
                   Selected Consolidated Financial Information
                (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                            For the three            For the six
                            months ended             months ended
                             December 31,            December 31,
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
                           2005        2004        2005        2004
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Selected Operating
  Data:
 Interest and
  dividend income         $ 28,350    $ 25,999    $ 56,033    $ 51,804
 Interest expense           18,715      15,060      36,206      29,794
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net interest and
    dividend income          9,635      10,939      19,827      22,010
   Provision for
    loan losses                  0           0           0           0
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net interest and
    dividend income
    after provision
    for loan losses          9,635      10,939      19,827      22,010
  Non-interest income:
    Service charges            704         867       4,174       1,593
    Net gain (loss)
     from real
     estate
     operations                  2         157          (1)        157
    Net gain on
     sales of loans             21          70         143          94
    Income on BOLI             219         121         435         249
    Other                      153         140         334         362
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total non-
    interest income          1,099       1,355       5,085       2,455
  Non-interest expenses:
    Compensation &
     employee
     benefits                3,067       3,079       6,326       6,272
    Net occupancy
     expense                   594         559       1,179       1,098
    Equipment                  538         543       1,509       1,078
    Advertising                165         227         299         394
    Amortization of
     intangible
     assets                      0         454           0         907
    Federal deposit
     insurance
     premium                    45          43          87          84
    Extinguishment
     of debt                     0           0       1,351           0
    Other                      979       1,276       2,390       2,467
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total non-
    interest
    expenses                 5,388       6,181      13,141      12,300
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Income before
    income taxes             5,346       6,113      11,771      12,165
   Income tax
    expense                  1,892       2,133       4,185       4,397
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net income              $ 3,454     $ 3,980     $ 7,586     $ 7,768
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
  Weighted avg. no.
   of diluted
   common shares        13,509,140  14,114,728  13,604,862  14,187,618
  Diluted earnings
   per common share         $ 0.26      $ 0.28      $ 0.56      $ 0.55

 Return on average
  common equity              11.09%      12.97%      12.11%      12.80%
 Return on average
  assets                      0.65%       0.81%       0.72%       0.79%
 Average total
  assets                $2,137,449  $1,966,796  $2,112,355  $1,954,909
 Average earning
  assets                $2,066,915  $1,901,002  $2,042,199  $1,891,056
  Yield on average
  interest-earning
  assets                      5.46%       5.45%       5.47%       5.46%
 Cost of average
  interest-bearing
  liabilities                 3.70%       3.25%       3.63%       3.23%
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net interest rate
  spread                      1.76%       2.20%       1.84%       2.23%
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
 Net interest
  margin                      1.89%       2.33%       1.97%       2.35%
 Non-interest exp.
  as a % of avg.
  assets                      1.01%       1.26%       1.24%       1.26%
 Efficiency ratio            50.20%      47.19%      52.75%      46.87%

 Loan originations
  and purchases:
  One- to four-
   family mortgage
   loans                $   73,061  $   55,899  $  191,290  $  179,143
  Commercial and
   multi-family
   real estate loans        14,387      16,217      22,702      22,032
  Consumer loans            27,996      20,121      58,466      37,826
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total loan
    originations
    and purchases       $  115,444  $   92,237  $  272,458  $  239,001
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

                   PennFed Financial Services, Inc.
            (Holding Company for Penn Federal Savings Bank)
              Selected Consolidated Financial Information
           (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                  CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME
                  ----------------------------------

                             For the                   For the 
                        Three months ended        Six months ended
                           December 31,             December 31,
                     -----------------------   -----------------------
                        2005         2004         2005         2004
                     ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
 Reported net income $    3,454   $    3,980   $    7,586   $    7,768
 Adjustments:
  Commercial loan
   prepayment premium         0            0       (2,688)           0
  Prepayment penalty
   on FHLB advances           0            0        1,351            0
  Acceleration of
   depreciation on
   branch automation
   system software            0            0          372            0
  Increase in
   obligation under
   certain long-term
   benefit plans              0            0          259            0
  Net tax effect              0            0          247            0
                     ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Adjustments, net
   of taxes                   0            0         (459)           0
                     ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
 "Adjusted" net
  income             $    3,454   $    3,980   $    7,127   $    7,768
                     ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
 Weighted avg. no 
  of diluted common
  shares             13,509,140   14,114,728   13,604,862   14,187,618
 Diluted earnings
  per common share   $     0.26   $     0.28   $     0.52   $     0.55

 Return on average
  common equity           11.09%       12.97%       11.38%       12.80%

 Return on average
  assets                   0.65%        0.81%        0.67%        0.79%

 Non-interest exp 
  as a % of avg 
  assets                   1.01%        1.26%        1.06%        1.26%
 Efficiency ratio         50.20%       47.19%       50.21%       46.87%


                   PennFed Financial Services, Inc.
            (Holding Company for Penn Federal Savings Bank)
              Selected Consolidated Financial Information
           (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                               For the three months ended       
                        ---------------------------------------
                         Dec. 31,      Sep. 30,       Jun. 30,  
                           2005          2005           2005    
                        ----------    ----------     ---------- 
 Selected Operating Data:
   Interest and
    dividend income     $   28,350    $   27,683     $   26,751   
   Interest expense         18,715        17,491         16,290   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
   Net interest and
    dividend income          9,635        10,192         10,461   
   Provision for
    loan losses                  0             0              0   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
   Net interest and
    dividend income
    after provision
    for loan losses          9,635        10,192         10,461   
   Non-interest income:
    Service charges            704         3,470            800   
    Net gain (loss)
     from real estate
     operations                  2            (3)            (1)  
    Net gain on sales
     of loans                   21           122            128   
    Income on BOLI             219           216            224   
    Other                      153           181            146   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
     Total non-
      interest income        1,099         3,986          1,297   
   Non-interest
   expenses:
    Compensation &
     employee benefits       3,067         3,259          2,856   
    Net occupancy
     expense                   594           585            578   
    Equipment                  538           971            546   
    Advertising                165           134            170   
    Amortization of
     intangible assets           0             0              0   
    Federal deposit
     insurance premium          45            42             44   
    Extinguishment of
     debt                        0         1,351              0   
    Other                      979         1,411          1,534   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
    Total non-
     interest expenses       5,388         7,753          5,728   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
   Income before
    income taxes             5,346         6,425          6,030   
   Income tax expense        1,892         2,293          2,158   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
   Net income           $    3,454    $    4,132     $    3,872   
                        ==========    ==========     ==========   

   Weighted avg. no 
    of diluted common
    shares              13,509,140    13,700,349     13,742,337   
   Diluted earnings
    per common share    $     0.26    $     0.30     $     0.28   
   Return on average
    common equity            11.09%        13.12%         12.50%  
   Return on average
    assets                    0.65%         0.79%          0.76%  
   Average total
    assets              $2,137,449    $2,087,261     $2,029,268   
   Average earning
    assets              $2,066,915    $2,017,484     $1,959,481   
   Yield on average
    interest-earning
    assets                    5.46%         5.47%          5.46%  
   Cost of average
    interest-bearing
    liabilities               3.70%         3.55%          3.44%  
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
   Net interest rate
    spread                    1.76%         1.92%          2.02%  
                        ==========    ==========     ==========   
   Net interest
    margin                    1.89%         2.05%          2.14%  

   Non-interest exp 
    as a % of avg 
    assets                    1.01%         1.49%          1.13%  
   Efficiency ratio          50.20%        54.67%         48.71%  

   Loan originations
   and purchases:
    One- to four-family
     mortgage loans     $   73,061    $  118,229     $  107,521   
    Commercial and
     multi-family real
     estate loans           14,387         8,315          8,470   
    Consumer loans          27,996        30,470         29,301   
                        ----------    ----------     ----------   
     Total loan
      originations and
      purchases         $  115,444    $  157,014     $  145,292   
                        ==========    ==========     ==========   

                                          For the three months ended
                                          --------------------------
                                           Mar. 31,        Dec. 31,
                                             2005            2004
                                          ----------      ----------
 Selected Operating Data:
   Interest and dividend income           $   26,167      $   25,999
   Interest expense                           15,300          15,060
                                          ----------      ----------
   Net interest and dividend income           10,867          10,939
   Provision for loan losses                       0               0
                                          ----------      ----------
   Net interest and dividend income after
    provision for loan losses                 10,867          10,939
   Non-interest income:
    Service charges                              703             867
    Net gain (loss) from real estate
     operations                                    0             157
    Net gain on sales of loans                   172              70
    Income on BOLI                               217             121
    Other                                        152             140
                                          ----------      ----------
     Total non-interest income                 1,244           1,355
   Non-interest expenses:
    Compensation & employee benefits           3,135           3,079
    Net occupancy expense                        643             559
    Equipment                                    516             543
    Advertising                                  155             227
    Amortization of intangible assets            454             454
    Federal deposit insurance premium             44              43
    Extinguishment of debt                         0               0
    Other                                      1,196           1,276
                                          ----------      ----------
    Total non-interest expenses                6,143           6,181
                                          ----------      ----------
   Income before income taxes                  5,968           6,113
   Income tax expense                          2,114           2,133
                                          ----------      ----------
   Net income                             $    3,854      $    3,980
                                          ==========      ==========
   Weighted avg. no of diluted common
    shares                                13,959,738      14,114,728
   Diluted earnings per common share      $     0.28      $     0.28
   Return on average common equity             12.44%          12.97%
   Return on average assets                     0.78%           0.81%
   Average total assets                   $1,985,274      $1,966,796
   Average earning assets                 $1,913,274      $1,901,002
   Yield on average interest-earning
    assets                                      5.48%           5.45%
   Cost of average interest-bearing
    liabilities                                 3.34%           3.25%
                                          ----------      ----------
   Net interest rate spread                     2.14%           2.20%
                                          ==========      ==========
   Net interest margin                          2.26%           2.33%

   Non-interest exp. as a % of avg assets       1.24%           1.26%
   Efficiency ratio                            46.97%          47.19%

   Loan originations and purchases:
    One- to four-family mortgage loans    $   63,610      $   55,899
    Commercial and multi-family real
     estate loans                              8,110          16,217
    Consumer loans                            23,681          20,121
                                          ----------      ----------
     Total loan originations and
      purchases                           $   95,401      $   92,237
                                          ==========      ==========

                   PennFed Financial Services, Inc.
            (Holding Company for Penn Federal Savings Bank)
              Selected Consolidated Financial Information
           (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                  CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME
                  ----------------------------------

                                      For the three months ended
                                --------------------------------------
                                 Dec. 31,      Sep. 30,      Jun. 30,
                                   2005          2005          2005
                                ----------    ----------    ---------- 
 Reported net income            $    3,454    $    4,132    $    3,872 

 Adjustments:
  Commercial loan prepayment
   premium                               0        (2,688)            0 
  Prepayment penalty on FHLB
   advances                              0         1,351             0 
  Acceleration of depreciation
   on branch automation system
   software                              0           372             0 
  Increase in obligation under
   certain long-term benefit
   plans                                 0           259             0
  Additional Sarbanes Oxley
   compliance costs                      0             0           208 
  Net tax effect                         0           247           (73)
                                ----------    ----------    ---------- 
  Adjustments, net of taxes              0          (459)          135 
                                ----------    ----------    ---------- 
 "Adjusted" net income          $    3,454    $    3,673    $    4,007 
                                ==========    ==========    ========== 

 Weighted avg no. of diluted
  common shares                 13,509,140    13,700,349    13,742,337 
 Diluted earnings per common
  share                         $     0.26    $     0.27    $     0.29 

 Return on average common equity     11.09%        11.66%        12.93%

 Return on average assets             0.65%         0.70%         0.79%

 Non-interest exp. as a % of
  avg. assets                         1.01%         1.11%         1.09%
 Efficiency ratio                    50.20%        50.21%        46.94%


                                           For the three months ended  
                                          ---------------------------- 
                                            Mar. 31,        Dec. 31,   
                                              2005            2004     
                                          ------------    ------------ 
 Reported net income                      $      3,854    $      3,980 
                                                                       
 Adjustments:                                                          
  Commercial loan prepayment                                           
   premium                                           0               0 
  Prepayment penalty on FHLB                                           
   advances                                          0               0 
  Acceleration of depreciation on branch                               
   automation system software                        0               0 
  Increase in obligation under certain                                 
   long-term benefit plans                           0               0 
  Additional Sarbanes Oxley                                            
   compliance costs                                  0               0 
  Net tax effect                                     0               0 
                                          ------------    ------------ 
  Adjustments, net of taxes                          0               0 
                                          ------------    ------------ 
 "Adjusted" net income                    $      3,854    $      3,980 
                                          ============    ============ 
                                                                       
 Weighted avg                                                          
  no. of diluted common shares              13,959,738      14,114,728 
 Diluted earnings per common share        $       0.28    $       0.28 
                                                                       
 Return on average common equity                 12.44%          12.97%
                                                                       
 Return on average assets                         0.78%           0.81%
                                                                       
 Non-interest exp. as a % of avg. assets          1.24%           1.26%
 Efficiency ratio                                46.97%          47.19%

            

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