Santa Lucia Bancorp, an Atascadero-based bank with a branch in Santa Maria, recently released results for the first quarter of 2010, reporting a net loss of $696,000 to common shareholders.

The company also announced that its net interest margin fell to 4.35 percent for the period ending March 31, compared with 4.65 percent for the same period in 2009. Total shareholders’ equity also decreased to $22,245,000 from $25,294,000 for the first quarter of last year. Total net loans increased $882,000, and total deposits increased $6,567,000 from 2009.

“In spite of economic conditions that continue to prove challenging, we are pleased with the positive loan and deposit growth over the past quarter and year,” bank president and CEO John Hansen said in a press release. Santa Lucia’s Santa Maria branch is located at 1825 S. Broadway.

For more information, visit santaluciabank.com or call 614-9100.