Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

CARDINAL ANNOUNCES IMPROVED QUARTERLY EARNINGS;

ASSET QUALITY REMAINS STRONG

Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFNL) (the “Company”) today announced earnings of $7.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for quarter ended March 31, 2012.  This is a 46.6% increase over earnings of $5.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2011.

Selected Highlights

·                  Asset quality continues to be strong.  Nonperforming assets remained low at 0.62% of total assets, and annualized net loan charge offs were 0.63% of loans outstanding.  Real estate owned decreased to $2.5 million from $3.0 million at the previous quarter ended December 31, 2011, and the Company currently has $0 loans receivable past due 90 days or more.

·                  The Company’s tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.71% for the current quarter, up from 3.67% in the same quarter of 2011.  This compares to 3.88% for the previous quarter ended December 31, 2011.

·                  Total assets at period-end were $2.61 billion versus $2.06 billion one year earlier, an increase of 26.6%.

·                  Loans held for investment grew to $1.66 billion, an increase of $247 million, or 17.5%, compared to the March 31, 2011.

·                  Total deposits grew to $1.862 billion, an increase of 34.2% compared to March 31, 2011.

·                  All capital ratios substantially exceed the requirements of banking regulators to be considered well-capitalized.  Tangible common equity capital (TCE) as a percentage of total assets was 9.33%.

Income Statement Review

For the first quarter of 2012, net income was $7.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Compared to the year ago quarter, this was an increase of 46.6%.  For these comparable periods, the net interest income increased 23.1% to $21.7 million from $17.7 million, and the tax equivalent net interest margin improved to 3.71% from 3.67%. The margin decreased from 3.88% from the previous quarter ended December 31, 2011.  Average loan balances increased $70 million, or 17.9% annualized, compared to the last quarter of 2011; however, average loan yields decreased by 0.22% as new loans were funded in this low rate environment.  Additionally, the Company attracted approximately $125 million of core deposits via a high yield checking campaign, and it converted $100 million to longer term brokered CDs to establish permanent funding for the recent growth in loans held for investment.  These deposits replaced short-term wholesale borrowing.  This repositioning provides the Company flexibility as it assesses its future growth opportunities.

Non-interest income was $9.7 million for the current quarter compared to $5.4 million for the year ago quarter.  The increase in non-interest income is primarily attributable to gains from mortgage banking activities, which improved to $6.9 million from $3.1 million. Management fee income, which is earned for providing services to other mortgage companies, also improved to $1.0 million from $300,000. Mortgage banking operations were positively impacted by the continuation of strong refinancing activity combined with a recent increase in local home buying.

Non-interest expense increased to $18.1 million for the current quarter from $14.1 million for the year ago quarter.  Most of the increase was due to personnel expenses, which were $9.5 million versus $6.7 million for the comparable periods.  The Company has continued to strategically add and retain business development officers in all business lines.  In particular, the Company has increased its mortgage banking presence to 13 offices in the Washington DC area, an addition of 6 offices.  Associated with this growth, the mortgage banking unit has added 94 employees, 51 of which are new loan officers and assistants.  Although this “ramp-up” of expenses has occurred, the Company’s efficiency ratio has improved to 57.6% for the first quarter 2012 compared to 61.2% for the first quarter of 2011.

Review of Balance Sheet and Credit Quality

At March 31, 2012, total assets of the Company were $2.61 billion, an increase of 26.6% from total assets of $2.06 billion at March 31, 2011. Loans held for investment grew 17.5% to $1.66 billion at March 31, 2012, from $1.41 billion at March 31, 2011.  During this period, the Bank’s investment portfolio decreased $71 million, while loans held for sale increased $333 million.

The Bank’s asset growth was primarily funded by a 34.2% increase in deposits, which grew $475 million and totaled $1.862 billion at March 31, 2012 versus $1.387 billion a year earlier.  In addition to the already mentioned high yield checking growth and brokered CD increase, non-interest bearing demand deposit account balances also increased by 32.8% year over year, reflecting the Bank’s continued focus on generating lower funding costs.

For the current quarter the provision for loan losses was $1.9 million. This compares to $1.1 million for the first quarter of last year.  The total allowance for loan losses decreased to 1.52% of loans outstanding from a comparable ratio of 1.71% at March 31, 2011, and decreased from 1.60% at the previous quarter ended December 31, 2011.  The Company’s nonperforming assets stood at 0.62% of total assets at March 31, 2012, which compares to 0.69% at December 31, 2011 and 0.51% at March 31, 2011.  Net loan charge-offs totaled $2.6 million for the current quarter, compared to $1.1 million for the year ago quarter.  There were $0 loans past due 90 days or more at March 31, 2012, while early stage loan delinquencies at 30-89 days past due were $1.6 million.

Other Information

With respect to the previously disclosed matter involving the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”), the Company continues to cooperate fully with the DOJ in its investigation and has provided relevant information to resolve the issues. It is too early to assess whether the resolution of this matter will have an effect on the Company.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

Bernard H. Clineburg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said:

“We are pleased to announce another solid quarter for Cardinal with strong earnings.  Our mortgage banking performance was exemplary while our bank’s profits were consistent with expectations. Loan losses remained minimal as we have maintained our conservative risk philosophy.

Moving forward, our Company will continue to concentrate on gaining core market share and increasing franchise value for our shareholders.  We remain committed to building a great financial services company for our employees, clients, shareholders and the communities we serve.”

CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements contain information related to matters such as the Company’s intent, belief or expectation with regard to such matters as financial and operational performance, credit quality and branch expansion. Such statements are necessarily

based on management’s assumptions and estimates and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties concerning the Company’s operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and beyond the control of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results of the Company to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Cardinal Financial Corporation: Cardinal Financial Corporation, a financial holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia with assets of $2.61 billion at March 31, 2012, serves the Washington Metropolitan region through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardinal Bank, with 27 conveniently located banking offices. Cardinal also operates several other subsidiaries: George Mason Mortgage, LLC, and Cardinal First Mortgage, LLC, residential mortgage lending companies based in Fairfax, with 13 offices throughout the Washington Metropolitan region; Cardinal Trust and Investment Services, a trust division; Cardinal Wealth Services, Inc., a full-service brokerage company; and Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc., an asset management company. The Company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ (CFNL). For additional information please visit our Web site at www.cardinalbank.com or call (703) 584-3400.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Summary Statements of Condition

March 31, 2012,  December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011

(Dollars in thousands)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Summary Income Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Selected Financial Information

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data and ratios)

(unaudited)

(1)         Tangible book value is calculated as total shareholders’ equity, adjusted for changes in other comprehensive income, less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by common shares outstanding.

(2)         Net interest margin is calculated as net interest income divided by total average earning assets and reported on a tax equivalent basis at a rate of 35% for 2012 and 2011.

(3)         Efficiency ratio is calculated as total non-interest expense (less nonrecurring expense) divided by the total of net interest income and non-interest income.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Average Statements of Condition and Yields on Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

(1)         The average yields for loans receivable and investment securities available-for-sale are reported on a fully taxable-equivalent basis at a rate of 35% for 2012 and 2011.

Cardinal Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries

Segment Reporting at and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012:

At and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011: