Flushing Bank Receives Favorable Rating from Kroll Bond Rating Agency

UNIONDALE, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2016 -- Flushing Financial Corporation (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FFIC), the parent holding company for Flushing Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that the Bank has received favorable ratings for both the Bank and the Company from Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) registered with the SEC. The announcement was made by John R. Buran, President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Bank and the Company received favorable ratings with a stable outlook of A-/K2 and BBB+/K2, respectively. According to KBRA’s report, the Company’s ratings are supported by improving asset quality, robust regulatory capital ratios, and deposit market share and earnings stability.

Mr. Buran stated: “We are very pleased with the results of the KBRA rating, which validates our strong financial performance and successful integration into the communities we serve. We have grown profitably over our 87 year history in both good and difficult times. Most recently, we were profitable throughout the Great Recession and its aftermath and continue to be profitable today. There has been remarkable consistency in our financial performance and growth in shareholder returns, including both stock prices and dividends over the last ten years.”

About Kroll Bond Rating Agency

KBRA was established in 2010 in an effort to restore trust in credit ratings by creating new standards for assessing risk and by offering accurate and transparent ratings. KBRA is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) and is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commission (NAIC) as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP). KBRA is a full-service rating agency whose mission is to set a standard of excellence and integrity.

About Flushing Financial Corporation

Flushing Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:FFIC) is the holding company for Flushing Bank®, a New York State-chartered commercial bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank serves consumers, businesses, professionals, corporate clients, and public entities by offering a full complement of deposit, loan, and cash management services through its 19 banking offices located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Nassau County. As a leader in real estate lending, the Bank’s experienced lending team creates mortgage solutions for real estate owners and property managers both within and outside the New York City metropolitan area. The Bank also operates an online banking division, iGObanking.com®, which offers competitively priced deposit products to consumers nationwide. Additional information on Flushing Bank and Flushing Financial Corporation may be obtained by visiting the Company’s website at http://www.flushingbank.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this Press Release that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "forecasts", "potential" or "continue" or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact: 
Susan K. Cullen
Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 
Flushing Bank
718-961-5400