Sierra Bancorp Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

PORTERVILLE, Calif., Oct. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq:BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share.  The dividend was approved subsequent to the Board's review of the Company's financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, which reflect continued capital strength, relatively robust net income, and a favorable trend in nonperforming assets.  The dividend will be paid on November 14, 2013 to shareholders of record as of October 31, 2013.  Including dividends paid by Bank of the Sierra prior to the formation of Sierra Bancorp, the Company has paid regular cash dividends to shareholders every year since 1987, comprised of annual dividends from 1987 through 1998 and quarterly dividends since then.  The dividend noted in today's announcement will mark the 59^th consecutive regular quarterly cash dividend for the Company.

Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 36th year of operations and at $1.4 billion in assets is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley.  The Company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 25 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center, an agricultural credit center, and an SBA center.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company.  Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward looking statements.  Actual results may differ from those projected.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the bank's ability to maintain current dividend payments or increase dividend payouts to shareholder, its ability to continue to generate record financial results, changes in economic conditions, interest rates and loan portfolio performance,  and other factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings.  Sierra Bancorp undertakes no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Sierra Bancorp