Revenue during the quarter grew 13.57 percent to $10.19 million from $8.98 million in the previous year period. Net interest income for the quarter rose 20.96 percent over the prior year period to $9.30 million. Non-interest income for the quarter rose 105.73 percent over the last year period to $0.79 million.

First Financial Northwest has made negative provision of $0.10 million for loan losses during the quarter, compared with a negative provision of $0.90 million in the same period last year.

Net interest margin improved 32 basis points to 3.65 percent in the quarter from 3.33 percent in the last year period. Efficiency ratio for the quarter improved to 57.96 percent from 66.04 percent in the previous year period. A decline in efficiency ratio indicates a rise in profitability.

"We are pleased with the improved shareholder returns that resulted from our balance sheet growth and share repurchases during the year," stated Joseph W. Kiley III, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This growth was achieved mainly through internal loan origination channels and, to a lesser extent, through purchases of loans. Specifically, we supplemented our internal loan originations by purchasing $58.3 million in commercial real estate loans secured by properties located in Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah during the year. In addition, deposit balances increased $42.4 million, due in large part to the success of our new offices. Our Mill Creek office opened on September 1, 2015, and its deposit base totaled $14.9 million at December 31, 2016. Our Edmonds office opened on March 21, 2016, and held $14.7 million in deposits at December 31, 2016. An additional office in Renton, utilizing the same successful design elements as our Mill Creek and Edmonds offices, opened on July 11, 2016, in the dynamic area known as The Landing, near the Boeing 737 plant at the south end of Lake Washington. At December 31, 2016, deposits

Noninterest-bearing deposit liabilities were $33.42 million or 4.66 percent of total deposits on Dec. 31, 2016, compared with $29.39 million or 4.35 percent of total deposits on Dec. 31, 2015.

Investments were almost stable over the past one year at $129.26 million on Dec. 31, 2016. Shareholders equity stood at $138.12 million as on Dec. 31, 2016, down 19.07 percent or $32.55 million from year-ago.

Return on assets moved up 26 basis points to 1.12 percent in the quarter from 0.86 percent in the last year period. At the same time, return on average equity increased 371 basis points to 8.58 percent in the quarter from 4.87 percent in the last year period.

Nonperforming assets moved down 32.83 percent or $1.56 million to $3.19 million on Dec. 31, 2016 from $4.75 million on Dec. 31, 2015. Meanwhile, nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.31 percent in the quarter, down from 0.48 percent in the last year period.