First Financial Northwest, Inc. Declares Sixth Consecutive Cash Dividend

RENTON, Wash., Jul 16, 2009 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- FFNW | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- First Financial Northwest, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFNW) reported that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.085 per share on its common stock on July 15, 2009.

The dividend will be paid August 12, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 29, 2009. This is the sixth consecutive cash dividend paid by First Financial Northwest, Inc. since the completion of its mutual to stock conversion on October 9, 2007.

"Our financial strength allows us to continue to focus on our long-term objectives in this very challenging environment for the banking industry," said Victor Karpiak, Chairman, President and CEO of First Financial Northwest, Inc. "Among these is the continuation of paying a cash dividend to our shareholders."

First Financial Northwest, Inc. is a Washington corporation headquartered in Renton, Washington. It is the parent company of First Savings Bank Northwest, a Washington chartered stock savings bank that was originally organized in 1923. The Company serves the Puget Sound Region of Washington that includes King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap Counties, through its full-service banking office. The Company is part of the ABA NASDAQ Community Bank Index (ABAQ) as well as the Russell 3000 Index. For additional information about the Company and the Bank, please visit our website at www.fsbnw.com and click on the "Investor Relations" section.

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains statements that the Company believes are "forward-looking statements." These statements relate to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for construction/land development, residential, commercial real estate, consumer and other types of loans, the number of unsold homes and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; results of examinations of us by the Office of Thrift Supervision and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses or to write-down assets; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board; war or terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services and other risks detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: First Financial Northwest

First Financial Northwest, Inc.
          Victor Karpiak
          (425) 255-4400

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