Item 1.     Business

Overview

We are a bank holding company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. We are the sixth largest independent banking organization domiciled in the state of Kentucky based on total assets. Through our subsidiary PBI Bank, we operate 19 full-service banking offices in 12 counties in Kentucky. Our markets include metropolitan Louisville in Jefferson County and the surrounding counties of Henry and Bullitt, and extend south along the Interstate 65 corridor to Tennessee. We serve south central Kentucky and southern Kentucky from banking offices in Butler, Green, Hart, Edmonson, Barren, Warren, Ohio, and Daviess Counties. We also have an office in Lexington, Kentucky, the second largest city in Kentucky. PBI Bank is both a traditional community bank with a wide range of commercial and personal banking products, with a focus on commercial real estate and residential real estate lending, and an innovative on-line bank which delivers competitive deposit products and services through an on-line banking division operating under the name of Ascencia. As of December 31, 2008, we had total assets of $1.6 billion, total net loans of $1.3 billion, total deposits of $1.3 billion and stockholders’ equity of $164 million.

History

We were organized in 1988, and historically conducted our banking business through separate community banks under the common control of J. Chester Porter, our chairman, and Maria L. Bouvette, our president and chief executive officer. In 2004, we began to streamline our operations by consolidating our subsidiary banks under common control into a single bank. We completed our reorganization on December 31, 2005, when we acquired the interests of other shareholders in our three partially owned subsidiary bank holding companies in exchange for shares of our common stock, cash and indebtedness. Before December 31, 2005, our company and one of our subsidiary banks were S corporations for federal income tax purposes. Following the consolidation of our four subsidiary banks and the termination of our S corporation elections on December 31, 2005, all of our taxable income became subject to federal income taxes beginning in 2006, which caused our income tax expense to increase compared to the preceding years. See “Item 6. Selected Financial Data – Unauditied Pro Forma Selected Consolidated Financial Data” for more about the consolidation. On December 31, 2005, we also renamed our consolidated subsidiary PBI Bank to create a single brand name for our banking operations throughout our market area.

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On September 21, 2006, we completed an initial public offering of 1,550,000 shares of common stock. We sold 1,250,000 newly issued shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $30.0 million, and J. Chester Porter and Maria L. Bouvette, our controlling shareholders, together sold 300,000 shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $7.2 million for their own accounts. We received proceeds of $26.6 million, after deducting total expenses of $3.4 million, which consisted of $2.1 million in underwriters’ discounts and commissions and $1.3 million of other expenses.

We completed the acquisition of Ohio County Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Kentucky Trust Bank, effective October 1, 2007. At the time of the closing, Kentucky Trust Bank operated six retail banking offices in three Kentucky counties, including the Bowling Green and Owensboro markets, and had assets of approximately $120 million. The total acquisition price paid was $12 million, approximately 50% in cash and 50% in Porter Bancorp shares totaling 263,409 shares.

We completed the acquisition of Paramount Bank in Lexington, Kentucky, effective February 1, 2008. Paramount had approximately $75 million in assets and $76 million in deposits. The total acquisition price paid was approximately $5 million in cash.

Our Markets

We operate in markets that include the four largest cities in Kentucky – Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro and Bowling Green – and in other communities along the I-65 corridor.

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Growth Strategies

Our existing markets and the markets contiguous to our existing markets continue to provide attractive growth opportunities. Our 2008 growth strategy was focused on the following initiatives:

In 2008, we substantially strengthened our capital position when PBI Bank issued a $9.0 million subordinated capital note in July, which qualified as Tier 2 capital, and we issued $35.0 million of preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury under the Capital Purchase Program on November 21, 2008

Our 2009 focus will be managed growth in our markets while being attentive to credit quality in light of the challenging economic environment. We will also continue our long-term strategy of considering merger and acquisition opportunities that may arise from time to time. Management intends to remain disciplined and focused with regard to future merger and acquisition opportunities. We will continue to assess bank acquisitions, subject to market conditions and suitable candidates, which will be accretive to earnings within the first full year of combined operations; are in markets that have high growth potential; and have strong management teams that are compatible with our culture.

Our Products and Services

We meet our customers’ banking needs with a broad range of financial products and services. Our lending services include real estate, commercial, mortgage and consumer loans to small to medium-sized businesses located in our markets, the owners and employees of those businesses, as well as other executives and professionals. We complement our lending operations with an array of retail and commercial deposit products. In addition, we offer our customers drive-through banking facilities, automatic teller machines, night depository, personalized checks, credit cards, debit cards, internet banking, electronic funds transfers through ACH services, domestic and foreign wire transfers, travelers’ checks, cash management, vault services, loan and deposit sweep accounts and lock box services. Through our trust division, we offer personal trust services, employer retirement plan services and personal financial and retirement planning services.

Employees

At December 31, 2008, the Company had 276 full-time equivalent employees. Our employees are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and management considers the Company’s relationship with employees to be good.

Competition

The banking business is highly competitive, and we experience competition in our market from many other financial institutions. Competition among financial institutions is based upon interest rates offered on deposit accounts, interest rates charged on loans, other credit and service charges relating to loans, the quality and scope of the services offered, the convenience of banking facilities and, in the case of loans to commercial borrowers, relative lending limits. We compete with commercial banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market funds and other mutual funds, as well as super-regional, national and international financial institutions that operate offices within our market area and beyond.

There are a number of banks that offer services exclusively over the internet, such as ING Bank and E*TRADE Bank, and other banks, such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank that market their internet services to their customers nationwide. We believe that only the very largest of the commercial banks with which we compete offer the comprehensiveness of internet banking services that we are able to offer. However, many of the larger banks do have greater market presence and greater financial resources to market their internet banking services. Additionally, new competitors and competitive factors are likely to emerge, particularly in view of the rapid development of internet commerce. On the other hand, there have been some recently published reports indicating that the actual rate of growth in the use of internet banking services by consumers and businesses is lower than had been previously predicted and that many customers still prefer to be able to conduct at least some of their banking transactions at local banking offices. We believe that these findings support our strategic decision to complement our traditional community bank with our uniquely branded online bank to offer customers the benefits of both traditional and internet banking services. We believe that this strategy will contribute to our growth in the future.

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Supervision and Regulation

The following is a summary description of the relevant laws, rules and regulations governing banks and bank holding companies. The descriptions of, and references to, the statutes and regulations below are brief summaries and do not purport to be complete. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the specific statutes and regulations discussed.

Porter Bancorp. Porter Bancorp is registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. As such, we must file with the Federal Reserve Board annual and quarterly reports and other information regarding our business operations and the business operations of our subsidiaries. We are also subject to examination by the Federal Reserve Board and to operational guidelines established by the Federal Reserve Board. We are subject to the Bank Holding Company Act and other federal laws on the types of activities in which we may engage, and to other supervisory requirements, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations.

Acquisitions. A bank holding company must obtain Federal Reserve Board approval before acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting stock or all or substantially all of the assets of a bank, merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company and before engaging, or acquiring a company that is not a bank but is engaged in certain non-banking activities. Federal law also prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company without notifying the Federal Reserve Board in advance, and then only if the Federal Reserve Board does not object to the proposed transaction. The Federal Reserve Board has established a rebuttable presumptive standard that the acquisition of 10% or more of the voting stock of a bank holding company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 would constitute an acquisition of control of the bank holding company. In addition, any company is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquirer that is a bank holding company) or more of any class of a bank holding company’s voting securities, or otherwise obtaining control or a “controlling influence” over a bank holding company.

Permissible Activities. A bank holding company is generally permitted under the Bank Holding Company Act to engage in or acquire direct or indirect control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, bank holding company or company engaged in any activity that the Federal Reserve Board determines to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident to the business of banking.

Under current federal law, a bank holding company may elect to become a financial holding company, which enables the holding company to conduct activities that are “financial in nature.” Activities that are “financial in nature” include securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; merchant banking activities; and activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be closely related to banking. No regulatory approval will be required for a financial holding company to acquire a company, other than a bank or savings association, engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to activities that are financial in nature, as determined by the Federal Reserve Board. We have not filed an election to become a financial holding company.

U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program . Pursuant to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (the “U.S. Treasury”) Capital Purchase Program (the “CPP”), on November 21, 2008, Porter Bancorp issued and sold to the U.S. Treasury in an offering exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, (i) 35,000 shares of Porter Bancorp’ Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, no par value and liquidation preference $1,000 per share ($35 million aggregate liquidation preference) (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and (ii) a warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase 299,829 shares of Porter Bancorp’s common stock, at an exercise price of $17.51 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments for an aggregate purchase price of $35 million in cash. The securities purchase agreement, dated November 21, 2008, pursuant to which the securities issued to the U.S. Treasury under the CPP were sold, limits the payment of dividends on Porter Bancorp’s common stock to the current quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share without prior approval of the U.S. Treasury, limits Porter Bancorp’s ability to repurchase shares of its common stock (with certain exceptions, including the repurchase of our common stock to offset share dilution from equity-based compensation awards), grants the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Warrant and the common stock of Porter Bancorp to be issued under the Warrant certain registration rights, and subjects Porter Bancorp to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Capital Adequacy Requirements.  The Federal Reserve Board has adopted a system using risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. Under the guidelines, specific categories of assets are assigned different risk weights, based generally on the perceived credit risk of the asset. These risk weights are multiplied by corresponding asset balances to

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determine a “risk-weighted” asset base. The guidelines require a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%. At least half of the total capital must be composed of common equity, retained earnings, senior perpetual preferred stock issued to the U. S. Treasury under the CPP and qualifying perpetual preferred stock and certain hybrid capital instruments, less certain intangible assets (“Tier 1 capital”). The remainder may consist of certain subordinated debt, certain hybrid capital instruments, qualifying preferred stock and a limited amount of the allowance for loan losses (“Tier 2 capital”). Total capital is the sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. To be considered well-capitalized under the risk-based capital guidelines, an institution must maintain a total capital to total risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 10% and a Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets ratio of 6% or greater. As of December 31, 2008, our ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets was 14.1% and our ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets was 12.1%, both ratios significantly above the required amounts.

In addition to the risk-based capital guidelines, the Federal Reserve Board uses a leverage ratio as an additional tool to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. The leverage ratio is a company’s Tier 1 capital divided by its average total consolidated assets. Certain highly rated bank holding companies may maintain a minimum leverage ratio of 3.0%, but other bank holding companies may be required to maintain a leverage ratio of 4.0%. As of December 31, 2008, our leverage ratio of 10.1% was significantly above the required amount.

The federal banking agencies’ risk-based and leverage ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations that meet certain specified criteria, assuming that they have the highest regulatory rating. Banking organizations not meeting these criteria are expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. The federal bank regulatory agencies may set capital requirements for a particular banking organization that are higher than the minimum ratios when circumstances warrant. Federal Reserve Board guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels, without significant reliance on intangible assets.

Dividends. Under Federal Reserve policy, bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that bank holding companies should not declare a level of cash dividends that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries.

Porter Bancorp is a legal entity separate and distinct from PBI Bank. The majority of our revenue is from dividends paid to us by PBI Bank. PBI Bank is subject to laws and regulations that limit the amount of dividends it can pay. If, in the opinion of a federal regulatory agency, an institution under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, the agency may require, after notice and hearing, that the institution cease and desist from such practice. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete an institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. Under FDICIA, an insured institution may not pay any dividend if payment would cause it to become undercapitalized or if it already is undercapitalized. Moreover, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC have issued policy statements providing that bank holding companies and banks should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

Under Kentucky law, dividends by Kentucky banks may be paid only from current or retained net profits. Before any dividend may be declared for any period (other than with respect to preferred stock), a bank must increase its capital surplus by at least 10% of the net profits of the bank for the period until the bank’s capital surplus equals the amount of its stated capital attributable to its common stock. Moreover, the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions must approve the declaration of dividends if the total dividends to be declared by a bank for any calendar year would exceed the bank’s total net profits for such year combined with its retained net profits for the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus or a fund for the retirement of preferred stock or debt. We are also subject to the Kentucky Business Corporation Act, which generally prohibits dividends to the extent they result in the insolvency of the corporation from a balance sheet perspective or in the corporation becoming unable to pay debts as they come due. PBI Bank did not pay any dividends in 2008. At year-end 2008, $33.9 million of retained earnings was available to the Bank to pay dividends in future periods.

Prior to November 21, 2011, unless Porter Bancorp has redeemed all of the Series A Preferred Stock issued to the U.S. Treasury on November 21, 2008 or unless the U.S. Treasury has transferred all the preferred securities to a third party, the consent of the U.S. Treasury will be required for Porter Bancorp to declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on common stock other than (i) regular quarterly cash dividends of not more than the current level of $0.21 per share, as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar transaction, (ii) dividends payable solely in shares of common stock and (iii) dividends or distributions of rights or junior stock in connection with a shareholders’ rights plan.

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Imposition of Liability for Undercapitalized Subsidiaries. Bank regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” to resolve problems associated with insured depository institutions whose capital declines below certain levels. In the event an institution becomes “undercapitalized,” it must submit a capital restoration plan. The capital restoration plan will not be accepted by the regulators unless each company having control of the undercapitalized institution guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy.

The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank is limited to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be “adequately capitalized.” The bank regulators have greater power in situations where an institution becomes “significantly” or “critically” undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. For example, a bank holding company controlling such an institution can be required to obtain prior Federal Reserve Board approval of proposed dividends, or might be required to consent to a consolidation or to divest the troubled institution or other affiliates.

Source of Financial Strength. Under Federal Reserve policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to, and to commit resources to support, its bank subsidiaries. This support may be required at times when, absent such a policy, the bank holding company may not be inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans by the bank holding company to its bank subsidiaries are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of the bank subsidiary. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of subsidiary banks will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

PBI Bank. PBI Bank, a Kentucky chartered commercial bank, is subject to regular bank examinations and other supervision and regulation by both the FDIC and the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (“KDFI”). Kentucky’s banking statutes contain a “super-parity” provision that permits a well-rated Kentucky banking corporation to engage in any banking activity which could be engaged in by a national bank operating in any state; a state bank, a thrift or savings bank operating in any other state; or a federal chartered thrift or federal savings association meeting the qualified thrift lender test and operating in any state could engage, provided the Kentucky bank first obtains a legal opinion specifying the statutory or regulatory provisions that permit the activity.

Capital Requirements. Similar to the Federal Reserve Board’s requirements for bank holding companies, the FDIC has adopted risk-based capital requirements for assessing state non-member banks’ capital adequacy. The FDIC’s risk-based capital guidelines require that all banks maintain a minimum ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8.0% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4.0%. To be well-capitalized, a bank must have a ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets of at least 10.0% and a ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of 6.0%. As of December 31, 2008, PBI Bank’s ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets was 12.0% and its ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets was 10.1%.

The FDIC also requires a minimum leverage ratio of 3.0% of Tier 1 capital to total assets for the highest rated banks and an additional cushion of approximately 100-200 basis points for all other banks, which will effectively increase the minimum leverage ratio for other banks to 4.0% or 5.0% of Tier 1 capital or more. As of December 31, 2008, PBI Bank’s leverage ratio was 8.4%. Under the FDIC’s regulations, the highest rated banks are those which have well diversified risks, including no undue interest rate risk exposure; excellent control systems; good earnings; high asset quality; high liquidity and well managed on-and-off-balance sheet activities; and which in general are considered strong banking organizations, rated in the highest rating category under the regulatory rating system for banks. The leverage ratio operates in tandem with the FDIC’s risk-based capital guidelines and places a limit on the amount of leverage a bank can undertake by requiring a minimum level of capital to total assets.

Prompt Corrective Action. Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”), the FDIC must take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. FDIC regulations define the levels at which an insured institution would be considered “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” A “well-capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk- based capital ratio of 6.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 5.0% or higher; and is not subject to any written agreement, order or directive requiring it to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. An “adequately capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 4.0% or higher (3.0% or higher if the bank was rated a composite 1 in its most recent examination report and is not experiencing significant growth); and does not meet the criteria for a well-capitalized bank. A bank is “undercapitalized” if it fails to meet any one of the ratios required to be adequately capitalized. As of December 31, 2008, PBI Bank was “well capitalized” as defined by the FDIC. A depository institution may be deemed to be in a capitalization category that is lower than is indicated by its actual capital position if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating. The degree of regulatory scrutiny increases and the permissible activities of a bank decreases, as the bank moves downward through the capital categories. Depending on a bank’s level of capital, the FDIC’s corrective powers include:

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In the event an institution is required to submit a capital restoration plan, the institution’s holding company must guaranty the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy. The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank is limited to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be “adequately capitalized.” The bank regulators have greater power in situations where an institution becomes “significantly” or “critically” undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. For example, a bank holding company controlling such an institution can be required to obtain prior Federal Reserve Board approval of proposed dividends, or might be required to consent to a consolidation or to divest the troubled institution or other affiliates.

Deposit Insurance Assessments. The deposits of PBI Bank are insured by the DIF of the FDIC up to the limits set forth under applicable law and are subject to the deposit insurance premium assessments of the DIF. The FDIC imposes a risk-based deposit premium assessment system, which was amended pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (the “Reform Act”). Under this system, as amended, the assessment rates for an insured depository institution vary according to the level of risk incurred in its activities. To arrive at an assessment rate for a banking institution, the FDIC places it in one of four risk categories determined by reference to its capital levels and supervisory ratings. In addition, in the case of those institutions in the lowest risk category, the FDIC further determines its assessment rate based on certain specified financial ratios or, if applicable, its long-term debt ratings. Currently, banks pay between 5 and 43 basis points per $100 of assessable deposits, depending on the insured institution’s risk category as described above. On December 16, 2008, the FDIC adopted a final rule increasing risk-based assessment rates uniformly by 7 basis points to between 12 and 50 basis points, on an annualized basis, beginning in the first quarter of 2009. The assessment rate schedule can change from time to time, at the discretion of the FDIC, subject to certain limits. Under the current system, premiums are assessed quarterly. The Reform Act also provides for a one-time premium assessment credit for eligible insured depository institutions, including those institutions in existence and paying deposit insurance premiums on December 31, 1996, or certain successors to any such institution. The assessment credit is determined based on the eligible institution’s deposits at December 31, 1996 and is applied automatically to reduce the institution’s quarterly premium assessments to the maximum extent allowed, until the credit is exhausted. In addition, insured deposits have been required to pay a pro rata portion of the interest due on the obligations issued by the Financing Corporation (“FICO”) to fund the closing and disposal of failed thrift institutions by the Resolution Trust Corporation.

On February 27, 2009, the FDIC adopted an interim rule, with request for comment, which would institute a one-time special assessment of 20 cents per $100 of domestic deposits on FDIC insured institutions. If approved, PBI Bank estimates that the assessment would total approximately $2.8 million. The assessment would be payable on September 30, 2009.

Safety and Soundness Standards.  The FDIA requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to prescribe standards, by regulations or guidelines, relating to internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agencies deem appropriate. Guidelines adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder.

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In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of FDIA. See “Prompt Corrective Actions” above. If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the agency may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.

Branching. Kentucky law permits Kentucky chartered banks to establish a banking office in any county in Kentucky. A Kentucky bank may also establish a banking office outside of Kentucky. Well capitalized Kentucky banks that have been in operation at least three years and that satisfy certain criteria relating to, among other things, their composite and management ratings, may establish a banking office in Kentucky without the approval of the KDFI upon notice to the KDFI and any other state bank with its main office located in the county where the new banking office will be located. Branching by all other banks requires the approval of the KDFI, who must ascertain and determine that the public convenience and advantage will be served and promoted and that there is reasonable probability of the successful operation of the banking office.

The transaction must also be approved by the FDIC, which considers a number of factors, including financial history, capital adequacy, earnings prospects, character of management, needs of the community and consistency with corporate powers.

An out-of-state bank is permitted to establish banking offices in Kentucky only by merging with a Kentucky bank. De novo branching into Kentucky by an out-of-state bank is not permitted. This difficulty for out-of-state banks to branch in Kentucky may limit the ability of a Kentucky bank to branch into many states, as several states have reciprocity requirements for interstate branching.

Insider Credit Transactions. The restrictions on loans to directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and their related interests (collectively referred to herein as “insiders”) contained in the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O apply to all insured depository institutions and their subsidiaries. These restrictions include limits on loans to one borrower and conditions that must be met before such a loan can be made. There is also an aggregate limitation on all loans to insiders and their related interests. These loans cannot exceed the institution’s total unimpaired capital and surplus.

Consumer Protection Laws. PBI Bank is subject to consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks. While the list set forth herein is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act, among others. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits or making loans to such customers.

Privacy. Federal law currently contains extensive customer privacy protections provisions. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, at the inception of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. These provisions also provide that, except for certain limited exceptions, an institution may not provide such personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that such information may be so provided and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. Federal law makes it a criminal offense, except in limited circumstances, to obtain or attempt to obtain customer information of a financial nature by fraudulent or deceptive means.

Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) requires the FDIC to assess our record in meeting the credit needs of the communities we serve, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and persons. The FDIC’s assessment of our record is made available to the public. The assessment also is part of the Federal Reserve Board’s consideration of applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or its holding company, to establish a new banking office or to relocate an office.

Bank Secrecy Act. The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 (“BSA”) was enacted to deter money laundering, establish regulatory reporting standards for currency transactions and improve detection and investigation of criminal, tax and other regulatory violations. BSA and subsequent laws and regulations require us to take steps to prevent the use of PBI Bank in the flow of illegal or illicit money, including, without limitation, ensuring effective management oversight, establishing sound policies and procedures, developing effective monitoring and reporting capabilities, ensuring adequate training and establishing a comprehensive internal audit of BSA compliance activities. In recent years, federal regulators have increased the attention paid to compliance with the provisions of BSA and related laws, with particular attention paid to “Know Your Customer” practices. Banks have been encouraged by regulators to enhance their identification procedures prior to accepting new customers in order to deter criminal elements from using the banking system to move and hide illegal and illicit activities.

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USA Patriot Act. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) contains anti-money laundering measures affecting insured depository institutions, broker-dealers and certain other financial institutions. The Patriot Act requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, including standards for verifying customer identification at account opening, and rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering, and grants the Secretary of the Treasury broad authority to establish regulations and to impose requirements and restrictions on financial institutions’ operations. In addition, the Patriot Act requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to consider the effectiveness of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering activities when reviewing bank mergers and bank holding company acquisitions.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the maximum deposit insurance amount per depositor has been increased from $100,000 to $250,000 until December 31, 2009. Additionally, on October 14, 2008, after receiving a recommendation from the boards of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, and consulting with the President, the Secretary of the Treasury signed the systemic risk exception to the FDIC Act, enabling the FDIC to establish its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (“TLGP”). Under the transaction account guarantee program of the TLGP, the FDIC will fully guarantee, until the end of 2009, all non-interest-bearing transaction accounts, including NOW accounts with interest rates of 0.5 percent or less and IOLTAs (lawyer trust accounts). The TLGP also guarantees all senior unsecured debt of insured depository institutions or their qualified holding companies issued between October 14, 2008 and June 30, 2009 with a stated maturity greater than 30 days. All eligible institutions were permitted to participate in both of the components of the TLGP without cost for the first 30 days of the program. Following the initial 30 day grace period, institutions were assessed at the rate of ten basis points for transaction account balances in excess of $250,000 for the transaction account guarantee program and at the rate of either 50, 75, or 100 basis points of the amount of debt issued, depending on the maturity date of the guaranteed debt, for the debt guarantee program. Institutions were required to opt-out of the TLGP if they did not wish to participate. PBI Bank chose to participate in the transaction account guarantee program and chose to opt out of the debt guarantee program.

Effect on Economic Environment. The policies of regulatory authorities, including the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve Board, have a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the means available to the Federal Reserve Board to affect the money supply are open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits.

Federal Reserve Board monetary policies have materially affected the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of such policies on our business and earnings and those of our subsidiaries cannot be predicted.

Recently Enacted and Future Legislation. Various laws, regulations and governmental programs affecting financial institutions and the financial industry are from time to time introduced in Congress or otherwise promulgated by regulatory agencies. Such measures may change the operating environment of Porter Bancorp and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. The nature and extent of future legislative, regulatory or other changes affecting financial institutions is very unpredictable at this time.

Specifically, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the “ARRA”) was enacted on February 17, 2009. The ARRA includes a wide variety of programs intended to stimulate the economy and provide for extensive infrastructure, energy, health, and education needs. In addition, the ARRA imposes certain new executive compensation and corporate governance obligations on all current and future CPP recipients, including Porter Bancorp, until the institution has redeemed the preferred stock, which CPP recipients are now permitted to do under the ARRA without regard to the three year holding period and without the need to raise new capital, subject to approval of its primary federal regulator. The executive compensation restrictions under the ARRA are more stringent than those currently in effect under the CPP, but it is yet unclear how these executive compensation standards will relate to the similar standards recently announced by the U.S. Treasury, or whether the standards will be considered effective immediately or only after implementing regulations are issued by the U.S. Treasury. The ARRA also sets forth additional corporate governance obligations for CPP recipients, including requirements for the U.S. Treasury to establish standards that provide for semi-annual meetings of compensation committees of the board of directors to discuss and evaluate employee compensation plans in light of an assessment of any risk posed from such compensation plans. CPP recipients are further required by the ARRA to have in place company-wide policies regarding excessive or luxury expenditures, permit non-binding shareholder “say-on-pay” proposals to be included in proxy materials, as well as require written certifications by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer with respect to compliance.

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On February 18, 2009 the U.S. Treasury outlined the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which includes measures that could impact Porter Bancorp, including measures to (i) implement a comprehensive homeowner stability initiative that incentivizes financial institutions to reduce homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments, (ii) develop clear and consistent guidelines for loan modifications that participants will be obligated to use and (iii) authorize judicial modifications of home mortgages in personal bankruptcy cases, which modifications must be accepted by the loan servicer or lender. The foregoing programs and actions remain subject to further clarification, and full implementation, and their full impact upon Porter Bancorp remains unpredictable at this time.

We cannot predict what other legislation or economic policies of the various regulatory authorities might be enacted or adopted or what other regulations might be adopted or the effects thereof. Future legislation and policies and the effects thereof might have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits and affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on time and savings deposits. Such legislation and policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

Available Information

We file reports with the SEC including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current event reports on Form 8-K and proxy statements, as well as any amendments to those reports. The public may read and copy any materials the Registrant files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov . Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are accessible at no cost on our web site at http://www.pbibank.com , under the Investors Relations section, once they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. A shareholder may also request a copy of our Annual Report or Form 10-K free of charge upon written request to: Corporate General Counsel, Porter Bancorp, Inc., 2500 Eastpoint Parkway, Louisville, Kentucky 40223.