NEW PEOPLES BANKSHARES INC - Annual Report: 2005 (Form 10-K)

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United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

OR

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 000-33411

New Peoples Bankshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (276) 873-7000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock - $2 Par Value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of Section 15 (d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K(Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates, based on the last reported sales prices of $15 per share on the last business day of the second quarter of 2005 was $101,868,000.00.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, was 7,624,772 as of March 3, 2006.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the Corporation’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 18, 2006, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

General

New Peoples Bankshares, Inc. (New Peoples) is a financial holding company operating under the laws of Virginia and is headquartered in Honaker, Virginia. New Peoples wholly owns four subsidiaries: New Peoples Bank, Inc., (the Bank) a Virginia banking corporation; NPB Financial Services, Inc., (NPB Financial) an insurance and investment services corporation; and NPB Web Services, Inc., (NPB Web) a web design and hosting company. In July 2004, NPB Capital Trust I was formed for the issuance of trust preferred securities.

The Bank offers a range of banking and related financial services focused primarily towards serving individuals, small to medium size businesses, and the professional community. We strive to serve the banking needs of our customers while developing personal, hometown relationships with them. Our board of directors believes that marketing customized banking services will enable us to establish a niche in the financial services marketplace in our market.

The Bank is headquartered in Honaker, Virginia and operates 21 full service offices and 1 loan production office in the southwestern Virginia counties of Russell, Scott, Washington, Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise; Mercer county in southern West Virginia and Sullivan county in eastern Tennessee. The close proximity and mobile nature of individuals and businesses in adjoining counties in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and nearby cities places these markets within our bank’s targeted trade area, as well.

We provide professionals and small and medium size businesses in our market area with responsive and technologically advanced banking services. These services include loans that are priced on a deposit relationship basis, easy access to our decision makers, and quick and innovative action necessary to meet a customer’s banking needs. Our capitalization and lending limit enables us to satisfy the credit needs of a large portion of the targeted market segment. When a customer needs a loan that exceeds our lending limit, we try to find other financial institutions to participate in the loan with us.

Our History

The Bank was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia on December 9, 1997 and began operations on October 28, 1998. On September 27, 2001, the shareholders of the Bank approved a plan of reorganization under which they exchanged their shares of Bank common stock for shares of New Peoples common stock. On November 30, 2001, the reorganization was completed and the Bank became New Peoples’ wholly owned subsidiary.

The formation of the Bank was first discussed by a group of citizens who responded to their community’s yearning for the friendly hometown banking provided for years by Peoples Bank, which also originated in Russell County. Peoples Bank served their community as an independent community bank from its formation in 1970 until 1987 and as part of the Premier Bank family from its acquisition by Premier Bankshares Corporation in 1987 until 1997. First Virginia Banks, Inc. acquired Premier and all of its banking subsidiaries in 1997. Although Peoples Bank and the Bank have no formal or legal connection, several of the officers, board members and employees who made Peoples Bank a success formed the nucleus for the Bank.

This core Russell County group invited residents of Scott County, Buchanan County and Dickenson County to promote the idea of organizing what was then southwest Virginia’s first community bank in almost two decades. The community response was overwhelming and over 2,400 shareholders emerged to raise in excess of $11 million dollars in start-up capital within a 90-day sale period. The Commonwealth of Virginia authorized the Bank to open three branches at once, including the central headquarters in Honaker, Virginia, and branches in Weber City and Castlewood, Virginia. Loan production offices were opened in Norton, Clintwood and Claypool Hill, Virginia.

In June 2003, New Peoples formed two new wholly owned subsidiaries, NPB Financial Services, Inc. and NPB Web Services, Inc.

NPB Financial is a full-service insurance and investment firm, dealing in personal and group, life, health, and disability products, along with mutual funds, fixed rate annuities, variable annuities, fee based asset management and other investment products through a broker/dealer relationship with UVEST Financial Services, Inc.

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NPB Web is an internet web site development and hosting company. It produces custom designed web pages for use on the world wide web and serves as a web site host for customers and non-profit organizations. It also develops the web sites of other New Peoples’ subsidiaries and supplies advertising and marketing expertise for New Peoples.

In July 2004, NPB Capital Trust I was formed to issue $11.3 million in trust preferred securities.

Location and Market Area

We initially opened with full service branches in Honaker and Weber City, Virginia and in 1999 opened a full service branch in Castlewood, Virginia. During 2000, we opened full service branches in Haysi and Lebanon, Virginia. During 2001, we opened branches in Pounding Mill, Virginia and Princeton, West Virginia. In 2002, we opened branch offices in Gate City, Clintwood, Big Stone Gap, Tazewell and Davenport, Virginia. During 2003, we expanded into Grundy, Dungannon, and Bristol, Virginia. We expanded into Tennessee and opened an office in Bloomingdale, Tennessee in 2003, as well. In 2004, we opened offices in Richlands, Abingdon, and Bristol, Virginia. In 2005 full service branches were opened in Bluefield and Cleveland, Virginia. We have a loan production office located in Norton, Virginia. We anticipate opening full service branches in Esserville, Pound, and Lee County, Virginia and Jonesborough, Tennessee in 2006. Management will continue to investigate and consider other possible sites that would enable us to profitably serve our chosen market area.

In order to open additional banking offices, we must obtain prior regulatory approval, which takes into account a number of factors, including, among others, a determination that we have adequate capital and a finding that the public interest will be served. While we plan to seek regulatory approval at the appropriate time to establish additional banking offices, there can be no assurance when or if we will be able to undertake such expansion plans.

Internet Site

In March 2001, we opened our internet banking site at www.newpeoplesbank.com. The site includes a customer service area that contains branch and ATM locations, product descriptions and current interest rates offered on deposit accounts. Customers with internet access can access account balances, make transfers between accounts, enter stop payment orders, order checks, and use an optional bill paying service.

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Our SEC filings are filed electronically and are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, any document we file with the SEC can be read and copied at the SEC’s public reference facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of documents can be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. We also provide a link to our filings on the SEC website through our internet website www.npbankshares.com under “Investor Relations.”

Banking Services

General. We accept deposits, make consumer and commercial loans, issue drafts, and provide other services customarily offered by a commercial bank, such as business and personal checking and savings accounts, walk-up tellers, drive-in windows, and 24-hour automated teller machines. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and its deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to the limits provided thereunder.

We offer a full range of short-to-medium term commercial and personal loans. Commercial loans include both secured and unsecured loans for working capital (including inventory and receivables), business expansion (including acquisition of real estate and improvements) and purchase of equipment and machinery. Consumer loans may include secured and unsecured loans for financing automobiles, home improvements, education and personal investments.

Our lending activities are subject to a variety of lending limits imposed by state law. While differing limits apply in certain circumstances based on the type of loan or the nature of the borrower (including the borrower’s relationship to the Bank), in general, the Bank is subject to a loan-to-one borrower limit of an amount equal to 15% of its capital and surplus in the case of loans which are not fully secured by readily marketable or other permissible types of collateral. The Bank voluntarily may choose to impose a policy limit on loans to a single borrower that is less than the legal lending limit.

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We obtain short-to-medium term commercial and personal loans through direct solicitation of business owners and continued business from existing customers. Completed commercial loan applications are reviewed by our loan officers. As part of the application process, information is obtained concerning the income, financial condition, employment and credit history of the applicant. If commercial real estate is involved, information is also obtained concerning cash flow after debt service. Loan quality is analyzed based on the Bank’s experience and its credit underwriting guidelines.

Loans by type as a percentage of total loans are as follows:

Commercial Loans. We make commercial loans to qualified businesses in our market area. Our commercial lending consists primarily of commercial and industrial loans to finance accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment. Commercial business loans generally have a higher degree of risk than residential mortgage loans, but have commensurately higher yields. Residential mortgage loans generally are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayment from employment and other income and are secured by real estate whose value tends to be easily ascertainable. In contrast, commercial business loans typically are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayment from cash flow from its business and are secured by business assets, such as commercial real estate, accounts receivable, equipment and inventory. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial business loans may be substantially dependent on the success of the business itself.

Further, the collateral for commercial business loans may depreciate over time and cannot be appraised with as much precision as residential real estate. To manage these risks, our underwriting guidelines require us to secure commercial loans with both the assets of the borrowing business and other additional collateral and guarantees that may be available. In addition, we actively monitor certain measures of the borrower, including advance rate, cash flow, collateral value and other appropriate credit factors.

Residential Mortgage Loans. Our residential mortgage loans consist of residential first and second mortgage loans, residential construction loans, home equity lines of credit and term loans secured by first and second mortgages on the residences of borrowers for home improvements, education and other personal expenditures. We make mortgage loans with a variety of terms, including fixed and floating or variable rates and a variety of maturities.

Under our underwriting guidelines, residential mortgage loans generally are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayment from employment and other income and are secured by real estate whose value tends to be easily ascertainable. These loans are made consistent with the appraisal policies and real estate lending policies, which detail maximum loan-to-value ratios and maturities.

Construction Loans. Construction lending entails significant additional risks, compared to residential mortgage lending. Construction loans often involve larger loan balances concentrated with single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. Construction loans also involve additional risks attributable to the fact that loan funds are advanced upon the security of property under construction, which is of uncertain value prior to the completion of construction. Thus, it is more difficult to evaluate accurately the total loan funds required to complete a project and related loan-to-value ratios. To minimize the risks associated with construction lending, loan to value limitations for residential, multi-family and non-residential properties are in place. These are in addition to the usual credit analysis of borrowers. Management feels that the loan-to-value ratios are sufficient to compensate for fluctuations in the real estate market to minimize the risk of loss. Maturities for construction loans generally range from 4 to 12 months for residential property and from 6 to 18 months for non-residential and multi-family properties.

Consumer Loans. Our consumer loans consist primarily of installment loans to individuals for personal, family and household purposes. The specific types of consumer loans that we make include home improvement loans, debt consolidation loans and general consumer lending. Consumer loans entail greater risk than residential mortgage loans do, particularly in the case of consumer loans that are unsecured, such as lines of credit, or secured by rapidly depreciable assets such as automobiles. In such cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted consumer loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance as a result of the greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation. The remaining deficiency often does not warrant further substantial collection efforts against the borrower. In addition, consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower’s continuing financial

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stability, and thus are more likely to be adversely affected by job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on such loans. Such loans may also give rise to claims and defenses by a consumer loan borrower against an assignee of such loan such as the Bank, and a borrower may be able to assert against such assignee claims and defenses that it has against the seller of the underlying collateral.

Our underwriting policy for consumer loans is to accept moderate risk while minimizing losses, primarily through a careful analysis of the borrower. In evaluating consumer loans, we require our lending officers to review the borrower’s level and stability of income, past credit history and the impact of these factors on the ability of the borrower to repay the loan in a timely manner. In addition, we maintain an appropriate margin between the loan amount and collateral value.

Other Bank Services. Other bank services include safe deposit boxes, cashier’s checks, certain cash management services, traveler’s checks, direct deposit of payroll and social security checks and automatic drafts for various accounts. We offer ATM card services that can be used by our customers throughout Virginia and other regions. We also offer MasterCard and VISA credit card services through an intermediary. Electronic banking services include debit cards, internet banking, telephone banking, and wire transfers.

We do not anticipate exercising trust powers in the next few years. We may establish a trust department in the future but cannot do so without the prior approval of the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Financial Institutions. In the interim, we are able to provide trust services through our affiliation with UVEST Financial Services, Inc.

Competition

The banking business is highly competitive. We compete as a financial intermediary with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in the southwestern Virginia, southern West Virginia, and eastern Tennessee market area and elsewhere. Our market area is a highly competitive, highly branched banking market.

Competition in the market area for loans to small businesses and professionals, the Bank’s target market, is intense, and pricing is important. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we have. They offer certain services, such as extensive and established branch networks and trust services that we do not expect to provide or will not provide in the near future. Moreover, larger institutions operating in the southwestern Virginia market area have access to borrowed funds at lower costs than are available to us. Deposit competition among institutions in the market area also is strong. As a result, it is possible that we may pay above-market rates to attract deposits. We generally pay above-market rates, usually one percent above current rates for a six-month period, to attract deposits when we open a new branch office.

While pricing is important, our principal method of competition is service. As a community banking organization, we strive to serve the banking needs of our customers while developing personal, hometown relationships with them. As a result, we provide a significant amount of service and a range of products without the fees that customers can expect from larger banking institutions.

According to a market share report prepared by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC), as of June 30, 2005, the most recent date for which market share information is available, the Bank’s deposits as a percentage of total deposits in its major market areas were as follows: Russell County, VA – 34.64%, Scott County, VA - 29.70%, Dickenson County, VA – 27.70%, Tazewell County, VA – 7.10%, Buchanan County, VA – 8.58%, Wise County, VA – 3.42%, Washington County, VA – 5.50%, Mercer County, WV – 4.71% and Sullivan County, TN – 0.48% and the City of Bristol, VA - 2.35%.

Employees

As of December 31, 2005, we had 270 total employees, of which 254 were full-time employees. None of our employees is covered by any collective bargaining agreement, and we consider relations with employees to be excellent.

Supervision and Regulation

General As a bank holding company, New Peoples is subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the examination and reporting requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve). As a state-chartered commercial bank, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Financial Institutions. It is also subject to

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regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve. Other federal and state laws, including various consumer protection and compliance laws, govern the activities of the Bank, the investments that it makes and the aggregate amount of loans that it may grant to one borrower.

The following description summarizes the significant federal and state laws applicable to New Peoples and its subsidiaries. To the extent that statutory or regulatory provisions are described, the description is qualified in its entirety by reference to that particular statutory or regulatory provision.

The Bank Holding Company Act Under the Bank Holding Company Act, New Peoples is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve and is required to file periodic reports regarding its operations and any additional information that the Federal Reserve may require. Activities at the bank holding company level are limited to:

Some of the activities that the Federal Reserve has determined by regulation to be proper incidents to the business of a bank holding company include making or servicing loans and specific types of leases, performing specific data processing services and acting in some circumstances as a fiduciary or investment or financial adviser.

With some limited exceptions, the Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before:

In addition, and subject to some exceptions, the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, require Federal Reserve approval prior to any person or company acquiring “control” of a bank holding company. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. Control is rebuttably presumed to exist if a person acquires 10% or more, but less than 25%, of any class of voting securities and either has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or no other person owns a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the transaction. The regulations provide a procedure for challenging this rebuttable control presumption.

In November 1999, Congress enacted the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”), which made substantial revisions to the statutory restrictions separating banking activities from other financial activities. Under the GLBA, bank holding companies that are well-capitalized and well-managed and meet other conditions can elect to become “financial holding companies.” As financial holding companies, they and their subsidiaries are permitted to acquire or engage in previously impermissible activities such as insurance underwriting, securities underwriting and distribution, travel agency activities, insurance agency activities, merchant banking and other activities that the Federal Reserve determines to be financial in nature or complementary to these activities. Financial holding companies continue to be subject to the overall oversight and supervision of the Federal Reserve, but the GLBA applies the concept of functional regulation to the activities conducted by subsidiaries. For example, insurance activities would be subject to supervision and regulation by state insurance authorities. New Peoples has elected to be treated as a financial holding company for various reasons.

Payment of Dividends New Peoples is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking and other subsidiaries. New Peoples derives the majority of its revenues from dividends paid to the company by its subsidiaries. The Bank is subject to laws and regulations that limit the amount of dividends it can pay. In addition, both New Peoples and the Bank are subject to various regulatory restrictions relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain capital at or above regulatory minimums. Banking regulators have indicated that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only if the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. New Peoples does not expect that any of these laws, regulations or policies will materially affect the ability of the Bank to pay dividends. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Bank, however, did not declare any dividends to New Peoples in order that it may retain earnings to fund future loan growth and branch expansion efforts. For additional discussion of restriction on dividends see Note 14 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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The FDIC has the general authority to limit the dividends paid by FDIC insured banks if the FDIC deems the payment to be an unsafe and unsound practice. The FDIC has indicated that paying dividends that deplete a bank’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsound and unsafe banking practice.

Insurance of Accounts, Assessments and Regulation by the FDIC The deposits of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to the limits set forth under applicable law. The deposits of the Bank are subject to the deposit insurance assessments of the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”) of the FDIC.

The FDIC has implemented a risk-based deposit insurance assessment system under which the assessment rate for an insured institution may vary according to regulatory capital levels of the institution and other factors, including supervisory evaluations. For example, depository institutions insured by the BIF that are “well capitalized” and that present few or no supervisory concerns are required to pay only the statutory minimum assessment of $2,000 annually for deposit insurance, while all other banks are required to pay premiums ranging from .03% to .27% of domestic deposits. These rate schedules are subject to future adjustments by the FDIC. In addition, the FDIC has authority to impose special assessments from time to time.

The FDIC is authorized to prohibit any BIF-insured institution from engaging in any activity that the FDIC determines by regulation or order to pose a serious threat to the BIF. Also, the FDIC may initiate enforcement actions against banks, after first giving the institution’s primary regulatory authority an opportunity to take such action. The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any depository institution if it determines, after a hearing, that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, order or any condition imposed in writing by the FDIC. It also may suspend deposit insurance temporarily during the hearing process for the permanent termination of insurance, if the institution has no tangible capital. If deposit insurance is terminated, the deposits at the institution at the time of termination, less subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured for a period from six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. New Peoples is not aware of any existing circumstances that could result in termination of any of the Bank’s deposit insurance.

Capital Requirements The Federal Reserve has issued risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to banking organizations that it supervises. Under the risk-based capital requirements, New Peoples and the Bank are each generally required to maintain a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets (including certain off-balance sheet activities, such as standby letters of credit) of 8%. At least half of the total capital must be composed of “Tier 1 Capital”, which is defined as common equity, retained earnings and qualifying perpetual preferred stock, less certain intangibles. The remainder may consist of “Tier 2 Capital”, which is defined as specific subordinated debt, some hybrid capital instruments and other qualifying preferred stock and a limited amount of the loan loss allowance. In addition, each of the federal banking regulatory agencies has established minimum leverage capital requirements for banking organizations. Under these requirements, banking organizations must maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average quarterly assets equal to 3% to 5%, subject to federal bank regulatory evaluation of an organization’s overall safety and soundness. In sum, the capital measures used by the federal banking regulators are:

Under these regulations, a bank holding company or bank will be:

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The risk-based capital standards of the Federal Reserve explicitly identify concentrations of credit risk and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage these risks, as important factors to be taken into account by the agency in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. The capital guidelines also provide that an institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates be considered by the agency as a factor in evaluating a banking organization’s capital adequacy.

The FDIC may take various corrective actions against any undercapitalized bank and any bank that fails to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fails to implement a plan accepted by the FDIC. These powers include, but are not limited to, requiring the institution to be recapitalized, prohibiting asset growth, restricting interest rates paid, requiring prior approval of capital distributions by any bank holding company that controls the institution, requiring divestiture by the institution of its subsidiaries or by the holding company of the institution itself, requiring new election of directors, and requiring the dismissal of directors and officers. As of December 31, 2005, New Peoples and the Bank were “well capitalized,” with Total Capital ratios of 11.82%, Tier 1 Capital ratios of 10.96% and leverage ratios of 9.63%.

Other Safety and Soundness Regulations There are a number of obligations and restrictions imposed on bank holding companies and their depository institution subsidiaries by federal law and regulatory policy that are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of such depository institutions and to the FDIC insurance funds in the event that the depository institution is insolvent or is in danger of becoming insolvent. For example, under the requirements of the Federal Reserve with respect to bank holding company operations, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and to commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances where it might not do so otherwise. In addition, the “cross-guarantee” provisions of federal law require insured depository institutions under common control to reimburse the FDIC for any loss suffered or reasonably anticipated by the FDIC as a result of the insolvency of commonly controlled insured depository institutions or for any assistance provided by the FDIC to commonly controlled insured depository institutions in danger of failure. The FDIC may decline to enforce the cross-guarantee provision if it determines that a waiver is in the best interests of the deposit insurance funds. The FDIC’s claim for reimbursement under the cross guarantee provisions is superior to claims of shareholders of the insured depository institution or its holding company but is subordinate to claims of depositors, secured creditors and nonaffiliated holders of subordinated debt of the commonly controlled insured depository institutions.

Interstate Banking and Branching Current federal law authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies without geographic limitation. Effective June 1, 1997, a bank headquartered in one state is authorized to merge with a bank headquartered in another state, as long as neither of the states had opted out of such interstate merger authority prior to such date. After a bank has established branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction, the bank may establish and acquire additional branches at any location in the state where a bank headquartered in that state could have established or acquired branches under applicable federal or state law.

Monetary Policy The commercial banking business is affected not only by general economic conditions but also by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve. The instruments of monetary policy employed by the Federal Reserve include open market operations in United States government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowing and changes in reserve requirements against deposits held by all federally insured banks. The Federal Reserve’s monetary 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. In view of changing conditions in the national and international economy and in the money markets, as well as the effect of actions by monetary fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve, no prediction can be made as to possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, loan demand or the business and earnings of the Bank.

Federal Reserve System In 1980, Congress enacted legislation that imposed reserve requirements on all depository institutions that maintain transaction accounts or nonpersonal time deposits. NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts and other types of accounts that permit payments or transfers to third parties fall within the definition of transaction accounts and are subject to these reserve requirements, as are any nonpersonal time deposits at an institution.

These percentages are subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve. Because required reserves must be maintained in the form of vault cash or in a non-interest-bearing account at, or on behalf of, a Federal Reserve Bank, the effect of the reserve requirement is to reduce the amount of the institution’s interest-earning assets.

Transactions with Affiliates Transactions between banks and their affiliates are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. An affiliate of a bank is any bank or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such bank. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B (i) limit the extent to which the Bank or its subsidiaries may engage in “covered transactions” with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of such institution’s capital stock and

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surplus, and maintain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus, and (ii) require that all such transactions be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable, to the association or subsidiary as those provided to a nonaffiliate. The term “covered transaction” includes the making of loans, purchase of assets, issuance of a guarantee and similar other types of transactions.

Loans to Insiders The Federal Reserve Act and related regulations impose specific restrictions on loans to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders of banks. Under Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act, loans to a director, an executive officer and to a principal shareholder of a bank, and some affiliated entities of any of the foregoing, may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such person and affiliated entities, the bank’s loan-to-one borrower limit. Loans in the aggregate to insiders and their related interests as a class may not exceed two times the bank’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus until the bank’s total assets equal or exceed $100 million, at which time the aggregate is limited to the bank’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. Section 22(h) also prohibits loans, above amounts prescribed by the appropriate federal banking agency, to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders of a bank or bank holding company, and their respective affiliates, unless such loan is approved in advance by a majority of the board of directors of the bank with any “interested” director not participating in the voting. The FDIC has prescribed the loan amount, which includes all other outstanding loans to such person, as to which such prior board of director approval is required, as being the greater of $25,000 or 5% of capital and surplus (up to $500 thousand). Section 22(h) requires that loans to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders be made on terms and underwriting standards substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to other persons.

Community Reinvestment Act Under the Community Reinvestment Act and related regulations, depository institutions have an affirmative obligation to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas, including low and moderate-income areas, consistent with safe and sound banking practice. The Community Reinvestment Act requires the adoption by each institution of a Community Reinvestment Act statement for each of its market areas describing the depository institution’s efforts to assist in its community’s credit needs. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act and are periodically assigned ratings in this regard. Banking regulators consider a depository institution’s Community Reinvestment Act rating when reviewing applications to establish new branches, undertake new lines of business, and/or acquire part or all of another depository institution. An unsatisfactory rating can significantly delay or even prohibit regulatory approval of a proposed transaction by a bank holding company or its depository institution subsidiaries. The Bank received a rating of “Satisfactory” at its last Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation, as of August 4, 2003.

The GLBA and federal bank regulators have made various changes to the Community Reinvestment Act. Among other changes, Community Reinvestment Act agreements with private parties must be disclosed and annual reports must be made to a bank’s primary federal regulator. A bank holding company will not be permitted to become a financial holding company and no new activities authorized under the GLBA may be commenced by a holding company or by a bank financial subsidiary if any of its bank subsidiaries received less than a “satisfactory” rating in its latest Community Reinvestment Act examination.

Fair Lending; Consumer Laws In addition to the Community Reinvestment Act, other federal and state laws regulate various lending and consumer aspects of the banking business. The Federal banking agencies and the Department of Justice, have become concerned that prospective borrowers experience discrimination in their efforts to obtain loans from depository and other lending institutions. These agencies have brought litigation against depository institutions alleging discrimination against borrowers. Many of these suits have been settled, in some cases on material terms, short of a full trial.

Recently, these governmental agencies have clarified what they consider to be lending discrimination and have specified various factors that they will use to determine the existence of lending discrimination under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act, including evidence that a lender discriminated on a prohibited basis, evidence that a lender treated applicants differently based on prohibited factors in the absence of evidence that the treatment was the result of prejudice or a conscious intention to discriminate, and evidence that a lender applied an otherwise neutral non-discriminatory policy uniformly to all applicants, but the practice had a discriminatory effect, unless the practice could be justified as a business necessity.

Banks and other depository institutions also are subject to numerous consumer-oriented laws and regulations. These laws, which include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 and the Fair Housing Act, require compliance by depository institutions with various disclosure and consumer information handling requirements and requirements regulating the availability of funds after deposit or the making of some loans to customers.

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Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 was signed into law on November 12, 1999. The GLBA covers a broad range of issues, including a repeal of most of the restrictions on affiliations among depository institutions, securities firms and insurance companies. The following description summarizes some of its significant provisions.

The GLBA repealed sections 20 and 32 of the Glass-Steagall Act, thus permitting unrestricted affiliations between banks and securities firms. It also permits bank holding companies to elect to become financial holding companies, which can engage in a broad range of financial services. A financial holding company may engage in or acquire companies that engage in a broad range of financial services, including securities activities such as underwriting, dealing, investment, merchant banking, insurance underwriting, sales and brokerage activities. In order to become a financial holding company, a bank holding company and all of its affiliated depository institutions must be well-capitalized, well-managed and have at least a satisfactory Community Reinvestment Act rating. New Peoples has elected to be treated as a financial holding company for various reasons.

The GLBA provides that the states continue to have the authority to regulate insurance activities, but prohibits the states in most instances from preventing or significantly interfering with the ability of a bank, directly or through an affiliate, to engage in insurance sales, solicitations or cross-marketing activities. Although the states generally must regulate bank insurance activities in a nondiscriminatory manner, the states may continue to adopt and enforce rules that specifically regulate bank insurance activities in specific areas identified under the law. Under the GLBA, the federal bank regulatory agencies adopted insurance consumer protection regulations that apply to sales practices, solicitations, advertising and disclosures.

The GLBA adopted a system of functional regulation under which the Federal Reserve is designated as the umbrella regulator for financial holding companies, but financial holding company affiliates are principally regulated by functional regulators such as the FDIC for state nonmember bank affiliates, the Securities and Exchange Commission for securities affiliates, and state insurance regulators for insurance affiliates. It repealed the broad exemption of banks from the definitions of “broker” and “dealer” for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. It also identified a set of specific activities, including traditional bank trust and fiduciary activities, in which a bank may engage without being deemed a “broker,” and a set of activities in which a bank may engage without being deemed a “dealer.” Additionally, the GLBA made conforming changes in the definitions of “broker” and “dealer” for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

The GLBA contains extensive customer privacy protection provisions. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, both at the inception of the customer relationship and on an annual basis, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. The law provides that, except for specific 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. An institution may not disclose to a non-affiliated third party, other than to a consumer reporting agency, customer account numbers or other similar account identifiers for marketing purposes. The GLBA also provides that the states may adopt customer privacy protections that are stricter than those contained in the act.

USA Patriot Act The USA Patriot Act became effective in October 2001 and provides for the facilitation of information sharing among governmental entities and financial institutions for the purpose of combating terrorism and money laundering. Among other provisions, the USA Patriot Act permits financial institutions, upon providing notice to the United States Treasury, to share information with one another in order to better identify and report to the federal government concerning activities that may involve money laundering or terrorists’ activities. The USA Patriot Act is considered a significant banking law in terms of information disclosure regarding certain customer transactions. Although it does create a reporting obligation and cost of compliance for the Bank and NPB Financial, New Peoples does not expect the USA Patriot Act to materially affect its products, services or other business activities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) has sent, and will send, our banking regulatory agencies lists of the names of persons suspected of terrorist activities. The Bank and NPB Financial have been requested, and will be requested, to search their records for any relationships or transactions with persons on those lists. If the Bank or NPB Financial finds any relationship or transactions, it must file a suspicious activity report and contact the FBI.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), which is a division of the Department of the Treasury, is responsible for helping to ensure that United States entities do not engage in transactions with “enemies” of the United States, as defined by various Executive Orders and Acts of Congress. OFAC has sent, and will send, our banking regulatory agencies lists of names of persons and organizations suspected of aiding, harboring or engaging in terrorist acts. If the Bank or NPB Financial finds a name on any account, or wire transfer that is on an OFAC list, it must freeze such

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account, file a suspicious activity report and notify the FBI. The USA Patriot Act also requires financial institutions, such as the Bank and NPB Financial, to maintain “customer identification programs”. These programs must provide for the collection of certain identifying information at account openings, the verification of the identity of new account holders within a reasonable time period, the reasonable belief by a banking organization that it knows each customer’s identity, the recordation of the information used to verify a customer’s identity and the comparison of the names of new customers against government lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act On July 30, 2002 President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). The stated goals of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are to increase corporate responsibility, provide enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties by publicly traded companies and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities law. The changes required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its implementing regulations are intended to allow shareholders to monitor the performance of companies and their directors more easily and effectively.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally applies to all domestic companies, such as New Peoples, that file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act includes significant additional disclosure requirements and new corporate governance rules, which required the SEC to adopt extensive additional disclosures, corporate governance provisions and other related rules. New Peoples has expended considerable time and money in complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and expects to continue to do so in the future.

Future Regulatory Uncertainty Because federal regulation of financial institutions changes regularly and is the subject of constant legislative debate, New Peoples cannot forecast how federal regulation of financial institutions may change in the future and impact its operations. Although Congress in recent years has sought to reduce the regulatory burden on financial institutions with respect to the approval of specific transactions, New Peoples fully expects that the financial institution industry will remain heavily regulated in the near future and that additional laws or regulations may be adopted further regulating specific banking practices.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Changes in interest rates could have an adverse effect on our income.

Our profitability depends to a large extent upon our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Our net interest income will be adversely affected if market interest rates change so that the interest we pay on deposits and borrowings increases faster than the interest we earn on loans and investments. Changes in interest rates also affect the value of our loans. An increase in interest rates could adversely affect borrowers’ ability to pay the principal or interest on existing loans or reduce their desire to borrow more money. This may lead to an increase in our nonperforming assets or a decrease in loan originations, either of which could have a material and negative effect on our results of operations. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are partly or completely outside of our control, including governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and general economic conditions such as inflation, recession, unemployment and money supply. Fluctuations in market interest rates are neither predictable nor controllable and may have a material and negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to maintain effective systems of internal and disclosure control could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.

Effective internal and disclosure controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. As part of our ongoing monitoring of internal control we may discover material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control as defined under standards adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, that require remediation. Last year, management identified a “material weakness” in our internal control over financial reporting as part of its assessment of those controls and, therefore, concluded that, as of December 31, 2004, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective. Relatedly, we disclosed in our amended filing on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, and on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005, that our disclosure controls and procedures did not operate effectively as of the end of each of those reporting periods due to the identified material weakness in our internal control. Under the PCAOB standards, a “material weakness” is a significant deficiency or combination of significant deficiencies that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. We believe that this material weakness has been successfully remediated

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and management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2005, our internal control over financial reporting was effective. We cannot guarantee, however, that other internal or disclosure control deficiencies might not be identified or come into existence at a later date. Any failure to maintain effective controls or to timely effect any necessary improvement of our internal and disclosure controls could, among other things, result in losses from fraud or error, harm our reputation or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.

We have a high concentration of loans secured by real estate and a downturn in the real estate market, for any reason, could result in losses and materially and adversely affect business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is dependent on real estate. In addition to the financial strength and cash flow characteristics of the borrower in each case, we often secure loans with real estate collateral. At December 31, 2005, approximately 70.08% of our loans have real estate as a primary or secondary component of collateral. The real estate collateral in each case provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended. An adverse change in the economy affecting values of real estate generally or in our primary markets specifically could significantly impair the value of our collateral and result in a significant portion of our portfolio being under-collateralized. In such a case, it would be likely that we would be required to increase our provision for loan losses, which would negatively affect our results of operations. If we are required to liquidate the collateral securing a loan to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values, our ability to recover fully on defaulted loans by foreclosing and selling the real estate collateral would be diminished and we would be more likely to suffer losses on defaulted loans, which could adversely affect our profitability and financial condition.

We will face risks with respect to future expansion.

Our current strategy is to continue growing in the southwest Virginia, southern West Virginia and northeastern Tennessee markets. Our expansion strategy will involve a number of risks such as the time and expense associated with evaluating new markets for expansion, hiring local management and opening new offices. Any future expansion efforts may entail substantial costs and may not produce the additional growth or earnings that were anticipated, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Any expansion plans we undertake may also divert the attention of our management from the operation of our current business, which could also have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

The success of our growth strategy depends on our ability to identify and recruit individuals with experience and relationships in the markets in which we intend to expand.

We intend to expand our banking network over the next several years in the southwest Virginia, southern West Virginia and northeastern Tennessee markets. We believe that to expand into new markets successfully, we must identify and recruit experienced key management members with local expertise and relationships in these markets. We expect that competition for qualified management in the markets in which we expand will be intense and that there will be a limited number of qualified persons with knowledge of and experience in the community banking industry in these markets. The process of identifying and recruiting individuals with the combination of skills and attributes required to carry out our strategy is often lengthy. Even if we identify individuals that we believe could assist us in establishing a presence in a new market, we may be unable to recruit these individuals away from more established banks. Many experienced banking professionals employed by our competitors are covered by agreements not to compete or solicit their existing customers if they were to leave their current employment. These agreements make the recruitment of these professionals more difficult. Our inability to identify, recruit and retain talented personnel to manage new offices effectively and in a timely manner would limit our growth and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely heavily on our management team and the unexpected loss of any of those personnel could adversely affect our operations; we depend on our ability to attract and retain key personnel.

We are a customer-focused and relationship-driven organization. We expect our future growth to be driven in a large part by the relationships maintained with our customers by our President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth D. Hart, and our other executive and senior lending officers. We have entered into employment agreements with Mr. Hart and Frank Sexton, Jr., our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The existence of such agreements, however, does not necessarily assure that we will be able to continue to retain their services. The unexpected loss of either Mr. Hart or Mr. Sexton or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business and possibly result in reduced revenues and earnings.

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If our allowance for loan losses becomes inadequate, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

We maintain an allowance for loan losses that we believe is a reasonable estimate of known and inherent losses in our loan portfolio. Through a periodic review and consideration of the loan portfolio, management determines the amount of the allowance for loan losses by considering general market conditions, credit quality of the loan portfolio, the collateral supporting the loans and performance of our customers relative to their financial obligations with us. The amount of future losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, that may be beyond our control, and these losses may exceed our current estimates. Rapidly growing loan portfolios are, by their nature, unseasoned. As a result, estimating loan loss allowances is more difficult, and may be more susceptible to changes in estimates, and to losses exceeding estimates, than more seasoned portfolios. Although we believe the allowance for loan losses is a reasonable estimate of known and inherent losses in our loan portfolio, we cannot fully predict such losses or that our loan loss allowance will be adequate in the future. Excessive loan losses could have a material impact on our financial performance. Because of our growth strategy, we expect that our earnings will be negatively impacted by loan growth, which requires additions to our allowance for loan losses. Consistent with our loan loss reserve methodology, we expect to make additions to our loan loss reserve levels as a result of our growth strategy, which may affect our short-term earnings.

Federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase our provision for loan losses or recognize further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of our management. Any increase in the amount of our provision or loans charged-off as required by these regulatory agencies could have a negative effect on our operating results.

Lack of seasoning of our loan portfolio may increase the risk of credit defaults in the future, which would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.

Although we have experienced lenders who are familiar with their customer base, some of our loans are too new to have exhibited signs of weakness. In addition, recent expansions into new markets increase credit risk. In general, new loans do not begin to show signs of credit deterioration or default until they have been outstanding for some period of time, a process referred to as “seasoning.” As a result, a portfolio of older loans will usually behave more predictably than a newer portfolio, although there can be no assurance that more seasoned loans will be of higher quality or perform better. Because a portion of our loan portfolio is relatively new, the current level of delinquencies and defaults may not be representative of the level that will prevail when our portfolio becomes more seasoned, which may be significantly higher than current levels. A higher rate of delinquencies or defaults on loans could cause us to increase our provision for loan losses and otherwise negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and financial prospects.

Our profitability may suffer because of rapid and unpredictable changes in the highly regulated environment in which we operate.

We are subject to extensive supervision by several governmental regulatory agencies at the federal and state levels. These agencies examine financial and bank holding companies and commercial banks, establish capital and other financial requirements and approve new branches, acquisitions or other changes of control. Our ability to establish new banks or branches or make acquisitions is conditioned on receiving required regulatory approvals from the applicable regulators. Recently enacted, proposed and future banking legislation and regulations have had, and will continue to have, or may have a significant impact on the financial services industry. These regulations, which are intended to protect depositors and not our shareholders, and the interpretation and application of them by federal and state regulators, are beyond our control, may change rapidly and unpredictably and can be expected to influence our earnings and growth. Such changes could subject us to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products we may offer, increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, and/or assist competitors that are not subject to similar regulation, among other things. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to regulatory limitations which, to the extent we require such dividends in the future, may affect our ability to pay its obligations and pay dividends.

We are a separate legal entity from the Bank and our other subsidiaries and we do not have significant operations of our own. We currently depend on the Bank’s cash and liquidity as well as dividends paid by it to us to pay our operating expenses. No assurance can be made that in the future the Bank will have the capacity to pay the necessary dividends and that we will not require dividends from the Bank to satisfy our obligations. The availability of dividends from the Bank is limited by various statutes and regulations. It is possible, depending upon our financial condition and other factors, that federal regulators could assert that payment of dividends or other payments by the Bank are an unsafe or unsound practice. In the event the Bank is unable to pay dividends sufficient to satisfy our obligations and the Bank is unable to pay dividends to us, we may not be able to service our obligations as they become due. Consequently, the inability to receive dividends from the Bank could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.

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Our business is subject to various lending and other economic risks that could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in economic conditions, particularly an economic slowdown, could hurt our business. Our business is directly affected by political and market conditions, broad trends in industry and finance, legislative and regulatory changes, changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies and inflation, all of which are beyond our control. A deterioration in economic conditions, in particular an economic slowdown within our geographic region, could result in the following consequences, any of which could hurt our business materially:

Although our market area is somewhat economically diverse, in certain areas the local economies are more reliant upon agriculture and coal mining. To the extent an economic downturn disproportionately affected these two industries, the above-described negative effects could be exacerbated.

A downturn in the real estate market could hurt our business. Our business activities and credit exposure are concentrated in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee and at December 31, 2005, approximately 70.02% of our loans have real estate as a primary or secondary component of collateral. As such, a downturn in this regional real estate market could hurt our business because of the geographic concentration within this regional area. If there is a significant decline in real estate values, the collateral for our loans will provide less security. As a result, our ability to recover on defaulted loans by selling the underlying real estate would be diminished, and we would be more likely to suffer losses on defaulted loans.

We face strong competition from other financial institutions, financial service companies and other organizations offering services similar to those offered by us and our subsidiaries, which could hurt our business.

Our business operations are centered primarily in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Increased competition within this region may result in reduced loan originations and deposits. Ultimately, we may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors. Many competitors offer the types of loans and banking services that we offer. These competitors include other savings associations, national banks, regional banks and other community banks. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks and other financial intermediaries. In particular, the Bank’s competitors include other state and national banks and major financial companies whose greater resources may afford them a marketplace advantage by enabling them to maintain numerous banking locations and to mount extensive promotional and advertising campaigns.

Additionally, banks and other financial institutions with larger capitalization and financial intermediaries not subject to bank regulatory restrictions have larger lending limits and are thereby able to serve the credit needs of larger clients. These institutions, particularly to the extent they are more diversified than us, may be able to offer the same loan products and services that we offer at more competitive rates and prices. If we are unable to attract and retain banking clients, we may be unable to continue the Bank’s loan and deposit growth and our business, financial condition and prospects may be negatively affected.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

As of March 15, 2006, there were no unresolved comments from the staff of the SEC with respect to any of New Peoples’ periodic or current reports.

Item 2. Properties

At December 31, 2005, the Company’s net investment in premises and equipment in service was $22.0 million. Our main office and operations center is located in Honaker, Virginia. This location contains a full service branch, and our administration and operations center.

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The Bank owns 17 of its 21 full service branches. The owned properties in Virginia are located in Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Bluefield, Bristol, Castlewood, Clintwood, Gate City, Grundy, Haysi, Honaker, Lebanon, Pounding Mill, Richlands, Tazewell, and Weber City. Offices in Princeton, West Virginia and Bloomingdale, Tennessee are also owned by the Bank.

The Bank has 5 operating lease arrangements of varying lengths. Of these 5, 4 are full service branches in Bristol, Cleveland, Davenport and Dungannon, Virginia. The other leased office is located in Norton, Virginia and is used for loan production and NPB Financial operations.

We believe that all of our properties are maintained in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for our operational needs.

We will continue to investigate and consider other possible sites that will enable us to profitably serve our chosen market area. Purchases of premises and equipment for the year 2006 will depend on the decision to open additional branches.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

In the course of operations, we may become a party to legal proceedings. We are not aware of any material pending or threatened legal proceedings.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

(a) Market Information

The Bank acts as the transfer agent for New Peoples. At present, there is no public trading market for our common stock. Trades in our common stock occur sporadically on a local basis.

The high and low trade prices known to us of our common stock for each quarter in the past two years are set forth in the table below. Other transactions may have occurred at prices about which we are not aware.

The most recent sales price of which management is aware was $15.00 per share during the first quarter of 2006.

(b) Holders

On February 27, 2006, there were approximately 4,908 shareholders of record.

(c) Dividends

On June 7, 2005, we issued a 10% stock dividend to all shareholders of record on the same date. We have never declared a cash dividend. The declaration of dividends in the future will depend on our earnings and capital requirements. We are subject to certain restrictions imposed by the reserve and capital requirements of federal and Virginia banking statutes and regulations. Additionally, we intend to follow a policy of retaining earnings, if any, for the purpose of increasing net worth and reserves in order to promote growth and the ability to compete in our market area. As a result, we do not anticipate paying a dividend on our common stock in 2006. See Note 14 and Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of dividend limitations and capital requirements.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following consolidated summary sets forth selected financial data for us for the periods and at the dates indicated. The selected financial data has been derived from our audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001. The following is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information and the financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10K.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

Caution About Forward Looking Statements

We make forward looking statements in this annual report that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward looking statements include statements regarding our profitability, liquidity, allowance for loan losses, interest rate sensitivity, market risk, growth strategy, and financial and other goals. The words “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” or other similar words or terms are intended to identify forward looking statements.

These forward looking statements are subject to significant uncertainties because they are based upon or are affected by factors including the following: the ability to successfully manage our growth or implement our growth strategies if we are unable to identify attractive markets, locations or opportunities to expand in the future; maintaining capital levels adequate to support our growth; maintaining cost controls and asset qualities as we open or acquire new branches; the successful management of interest rate risk; changes in interest rates and interest rate policies; reliance on our management team, including our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changes in general economic and business conditions in our market area; risks inherent in making loans such as repayment risks and fluctuating collateral values; competition with other banks and financial institutions, and companies outside of the banking industry, including those companies that have substantially greater access to capital and other resources; demand, development and acceptance of new products and services; problems with technology utilized by us; changing trends in customer profiles and behavior; and changes in banking and other laws and regulations applicable to us.

Because of these uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward looking statements. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For additional discussion of risk factors that may cause our actual future results to differ materially from the results indicated within forward looking statements, please see Item 1A – Risk Factors herein.

General

The following commentary discusses major components of our business and presents an overview of our consolidated financial position at December 31, 2005 and 2004 as well as results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. This discussion should be reviewed in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other statistical information presented elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

We are not aware of any current recommendations by any regulatory authorities that, if they were implemented, would have a material effect on our liquidity, capital resources or results of operations.

New Peoples generates a significant amount of its income from the net interest income earned by the Bank. Net interest income is the difference between interest income and interest expense. Interest income depends on the amount of interest-earning assets outstanding during the period and the interest rates earned thereon. The Bank’s interest expense is a function of the average amount of deposits and borrowed money outstanding during the period and the interest rates paid thereon. The quality of the assets further influences the amount of interest income lost on nonaccrual loans and the amount of additions to the allowance for loan losses. The Bank also generates noninterest income from service charges on deposit accounts and commissions on insurance products sold.

Overview

After 7 years of operations, New Peoples reached a milestone by crossing the $500 million asset size and at year-end 2005 had $527.8 million in total assets. This represents total asset growth of $90.0 million over year-end 2004, or 20.56%. Total deposits grew $74.6 million, or 19.21%, to $462.7 million, and total loans were $468.0 million, an increase of $84.5 million, or 22.02%. Total stockholders’ equity was $39.0 million at the end of 2005 as compared to total stockholders’ equity of $36.1 million at the end of 2004.

Our strategy is to continue growing in the southwest Virginia, southern West Virginia and northeastern Tennessee markets. With the additions of the Bluefield and Cleveland, Virginia offices in 2005, we now have 22 locations throughout the region. Future branches are planned over the next five years.

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In the year 2005, we faced rising interest rates and made significant and prudent investments to support New Peoples’ expansion. As a result, net income decreased $535 thousand, or 16.41%, to $2.7 million for the year 2005, as compared to net income of $3.3 million in the previous year.

The major contributing factor for the decrease is a lower net interest margin. The net interest margin decreased to 4.38% for 2005 from 5.00% for 2004. The primary reason for this decrease relates to the 8 interest rate hikes enforced by the Federal Reserve Bank during 2005. As a result, our cost of funds increased at a faster pace than the yield on our earning assets. During 2005, we have been strategically repositioning the maturities and repricing of the assets and liabilities to benefit from future interest rate increases.

During 2005, we made difficult but necessary decisions to provide a stronger infrastructure for the growth we have experienced and anticipate to have. We have significantly enhanced our loan review process and continue to make improvements. As a result, we have further evaluated our loan portfolio and increased the allowance for loan losses by making a provision of $1.1 million for 2005 as compared to $990 thousand in 2004. In addition, we have made significant investments in the past year by enhancing our deposit risk management area and internal audit functions. We believe that these are prudent investments that will yield long-term benefits. The cost of additional personnel in these areas, although immediate, is expected to provide a long term benefit as we continue to grow.

Asset quality remained strong as evidenced by non-performing loans being $562 thousand, or .12% of total loans during 2005. Net charge offs during 2005 totaled $277 thousand. The ratio of net charge offs to average loans was .07%. The allowance for loan losses was $3.9 million at December 31, 2005 as compared to $3.1 million in 2004.

The return on average assets was .56%, .83%, and .86% for the periods ending December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The return on average equity was 7.28%, 9.58%, and 9.46% for the same periods ending December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

We remain focused on being a community bank that strives to meet the financial service needs of our customers throughout southwest Virginia, southern West Virginia, and eastern Tennessee.

Critical Accounting Policies

Certain critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. Our most critical accounting policy relates to our provision for loan losses, which reflects the estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of our borrowers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, our estimates would be updated, and additional provisions could be required. For further discussion of the estimates used in determining the allowance for loan losses, we refer you to the section on “Provision for Loan Losses” in this discussion.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Our net interest income, which equals total interest and dividend income less total interest expense, increased $1.4 million, or 8.06%, from $17.8 million for 2004 to $19.2 million for 2005. This growth is related to the increased loan volume during the year. Loan income increased to $30.0 million for 2005 from $24.0 million for 2004, which is an increase of $6.0 million, or 24.84%.

Interest expenses, however, grew at a more rapid pace than interest income. Total interest expense was $11.3 million for 2005 as compared to $6.5 million for 2004. This $4.8 million, or 74.30%, increase is primarily related to the 8 interest rates hikes imposed by the Federal Reserve in 2005. Pressure to fund loan growth and increased competition are also factors in the increase in our cost of funds. In addition, in 2005 we realized a full year effect of trust preferred interest expense. This resulted in a $437 thousand increase from $232 thousand for 2004 as compared to $669 thousand in 2005.

The net interest margin, which equals net interest income divided by total interest earning assets, in 2005 was 4.38%, compared to 5.00% in 2004. The explanation for the decrease is discussed in the previous paragraph. In addition, in 2005, we implemented the deferral of loan origination fees and costs. As a result, loan interest income was negatively impacted by $230 thousand in 2005. Although there was a negative impact in the year 2005, these net origination fees amortize over the life of the loan and provide an income stream in future periods.

The net interest margin, in 2004 was 5.00%, compared to 4.58% for 2003. This is an increase of 42 basis points. During 2004, we experienced strong loan growth resulting in a higher yield on earning assets of 6.82% for 2004 versus 6.71% for 2003. Interest expense increased slightly in 2004 as compared to 2003.

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The following table shows the rates paid on earning assets and deposit liabilities for the periods indicated.

Net Interest Margin Analysis

Average Balances, Income and Expense, and Yields and Rates

(Dollars in thousands)

Net interest income is affected by changes in both average interest rates and the average volumes of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The following table sets forth the amounts of the total changes in interest income and expense which can be attributed to rate (change in rate multiplied by old volume) and volume (change in volume multiplied by old rate) for the periods indicated. The change in interest due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the change due to rates.

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Volume and Rate Analysis

(Dollars in thousands)

Loans

Our primary source of income comes from interest earned on loans receivable. We have continued to have strong loan demand as evidenced by annual increases of $84.5 million, $88.1 million, and $73.0 million for the years 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. A schedule of loans by type is set forth immediately below. Approximately 70.08% of the loan portfolio is secured by real estate at the end of 2005.

Loans receivable outstanding are summarized as follows:

Loan Portfolio

Our loan maturities as of December 31, 2005 are shown in the following table:

Maturities of Loans

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This above table reflects the earlier of the maturity or re-pricing dates for loans at December 31, 2005. In preparing this table, no assumptions are made with respect to loan prepayments. Loan principal payments are included in the earliest period in which the loan matures or can be re-priced. Principal payments on installment loans scheduled prior to maturity are included in the period of maturity or re-pricing.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $1.1 million for 2005 as compared with $990 thousand for 2004. The allowance for loan losses was $3.9 million at December 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses at the end of 2005 was approximately .84% of total loans as compared to .81% at the end of 2004. Net loans charged off for 2005 were $277 thousand, or .07% of average loans, and $332 thousand, or .10% of average loans at the end of 2004.

The provision for loan losses was $990 thousand for 2004 as compared with $364 thousand for 2003. The allowance for loan losses was $3.1 million at December 31, 2004. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was .81% at the end of 2004 as compared to .82% at the end of 2003. Net loans charged off for 2004 were $332 thousand, or .10% of average loans, compared to $156 thousand for 2003, or .06% of average loans.

The calculation of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting policy. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is based upon management’s judgment and analysis. The following factors are evaluated in determining the adequacy of the allowance: risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, current and historical loss experience, concentrations, and internal and external factors such as general economic conditions.

Certain risk factors exist in the Bank’s loan portfolio. Since the Bank began in 1998, we have experienced significant loan growth each year. Although we have experienced lenders who are familiar with their customer base, some of the loans are too new to have exhibited signs of weakness. In addition, recent expansions into new markets increase credit risk. We consider these factors to be the primary higher risk characteristics of the loan portfolio.

Loans delinquent greater than 90 days still accruing interest and loans in non-accrual status present a higher risk factor. As of December 31, 2005, there were 9 loans in non-accrual status totaling $446 thousand, or .10% of total loans. The amount of interest that would have been recognized on these loans in the year 2005 was $19 thousand. There were 6 loans greater than 90 days past due and still accruing interest totaling $116 thousand, or .02% of total loans. It is our policy to stop accruing interest on a loan, and to classify that loan as non-accrual, under the following circumstances: (a) whenever we are advised by the borrower that scheduled payment or interest payments cannot be met, (b) when our best judgment indicates that payment in full of principal and interest can no longer be expected, or (c) when any such loan or obligation becomes delinquent for 90 days unless it is both well secured and in the process of collection. Non-accrual loans did not have a significant impact on interest income in any of the periods presented. No loans are classified as troubled debt restructurings as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 15, “Accounting by Debtors and Creditors for Troubled Debt Restructurings.” There are also no loans identified as “potential problem loans.” We do not have any commitments to lend additional funds to non-performing debtors. Following is a summary of non-accrual and past due loans greater than 90 days still accruing interest:

Non-Accrual and Past Due Loans

(Dollars in thousands)

Loss experience in the loan portfolio has been minimal. Net loans charged-off over the five year period have not exceeded .10% of average loans in a particular year. In addition, non-performing assets as a percentage of total loans has not exceeded .34%. The trend was consistent through 2005. We view these as positive indicators of the quality of the loans originated in the early years of the Bank.

A majority of the loans are collateralized by real estate located in our market area. Market values have been and remain stable. It is our policy to sufficiently collateralize loans to minimize loss exposures in case of default. The market area is somewhat diverse, but in certain areas more reliant upon agriculture and coal mining. As a result, increased risk of loan impairments is possible if these industries experience a significant downturn. However, we do not foresee this happening in the near future.

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The aforementioned risk factors are considered in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. We believe that the methodology used to calculate the allowance provides sufficiently for potential losses present at the end of the period. The evaluation of individual loan credits is performed by our internal credit review department. Loans are initially risk rated by the originating loan officer. If deteriorations in the financial condition of the borrower and the capacity to repay the debt occur, along with other factors, the loan may be downgraded. This is typically determined by either the loan officer or credit review personnel. Guidance for the evaluation is established by the regulatory authorities who periodically review the results for compliance. The classifications used by the Bank are exceptional, very good, standard, acceptable, transitory risk, other assets especially mentioned, substandard, doubtful and loss.

In the past, our policy has been to keep the allowance for loan losses at a minimum of 1.00% of total loans or an amount calculated by multiplying a loss factor times each risk classification pool. This was due to the fact that we had no historical loss trends as a de novo financial institution. This methodology is consistent with the guidelines traditionally used by bank regulatory agencies. However, during the fourth quarter of 2003, we changed our methodology for calculating the allowance for loan losses. This change in methodology has been approved by the Board of Directors. Due to the risk factors previously mentioned, all loans classified as other assets especially mentioned, substandard, doubtful and loss are now individually reviewed for impairment. An evaluation is made to determine if the collateral is sufficient for each of these credits. If an exposure exists, a specific allowance is directly made for the amount of the potential loss, which specific allowance totaled $52 thousand on December 31, 2005, or 1.32% of the allowance for loan loss. In addition, for these credits adequately secured by collateral, a general allocation is made to allow for any inherent risks. We calculate an allowance for the remaining loan portfolio based upon an estimated loan loss percentage. The evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. As economic conditions and performance of our loans change, it is possible that future increases may be needed to the allowance for loan losses. The following table provides a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses.

Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses

(Dollars in thousands)