First Defiance Financial Corp. Shareholders Re-Elect Four Directors At Annual Meeting

DEFIANCE, Ohio, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Defiance Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: FDEF) hosted its annual meeting of shareholders on April 26 at the company's Operations Center in Defiance. William J. Small, Chairman, President and CEO, reviewed the company's 2010 achievements and challenges as well as current issues facing the financial industry.  Donald P. Hileman, EVP and CFO, provided details on the company's financial performance in 2010 and first quarter of 2011.

Mr. Small noted that 2010 showed signs of economic recovery and First Defiance ended the year in a solid position by following its basic, conservative business plan.  Deposit growth, record-breaking mortgage loan volume, strong core fundamentals and the maintenance of net interest margin were the keys to success.  The bank grew deposits to $1.6 billion and originated over $409 million in mortgage loans in 2010, and consolidated assets grew to $2.06 billion at March 31, 2011.  Small noted that First Federal Bank is the largest community bank based in northwest Ohio, allowing the bank to offer a full menu of services with decision makers close to home.

Mr. Small also reviewed the regulatory environment and its impact on financial institutions, and expressed optimism for the future. "The economy is slowly improving and we will continue to focus on core deposit growth, asset quality and expense control in 2011," Small said. "Our core fundamentals are strong, we are well-capitalized and we have the people in place to take First Federal Bank successfully through 2011 and beyond."

In the business portion of the meeting, shareholders re-elected four directors for three-year terms expiring at the annual meeting in 2014: Jean A. Hubbard, who was appointed as a director in 2008; Barbara A. Mitzel, appointed as a director in 2008; James L. Rohrs, appointed in 2002; and Thomas A. Voigt, who has been a director since 1995. Shareholders also approved a non-binding advisory vote on First Defiance's executive compensation and approved the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath, LLP as the registered independent accounting firm for 2011.

About First Defiance Financial Corp.

First Defiance Financial Corp., headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, is the holding company for First Federal Bank of the Midwest and First Insurance & Investments. First Federal operates 33 full service branches and 45 ATM locations in northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana. First Insurance & Investments specializes in property and casualty and group health and life insurance, with offices in Defiance, Archbold, Bryan and Bowling Green, Ohio. For more information, visit the company's website at www.fdef.com .

SOURCE First Defiance Financial Corp.

Copyright 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.