It was the 19th straight quarter in the red for the Baltimore parent of 1st Mariner Bank, which is struggling to avoid a federal takeover. Not including the tax charge, the company lost $4 million a year earlier.
The company lost $30.2 million during all of last year, down from $46.6 million in 2010. But the company's 2010 performance was better before accounting for income taxes, which totaled about $19 million compared with a small income-tax benefit last year. First Mariner said it took an income-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2010 related to its deferred tax assets.
Mark A. Keidel, the company's president and chief operating officer, said in a statement that First Mariner saw some improvements in the October through December period, including a better net interest margin and lower "controllable" operating expenses.
jhopkins@baltsun.com
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