Exhibit 99.1

Contact:

Ramsey Hamadi, SEVP and Chief Financial Officer

336-369-0900

NEWBRIDGE BANCORP REPORTS ANOTHER PROFITABLE QUARTER

AS NONPERFORMING ASSETS DROP SHARPLY

GREENSBORO, N.C., August 1, 2012 – NewBridge Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBBC), parent of NewBridge Bank, today reported results for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2012. 

For the three months ended June 30, 2012 net income totaled $921,000 compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. After dividends and accretion on preferred stock, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $192,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2012 net income totaled $2.4 million compared to $2.2 million for the same period a year ago. The prior year six month period benefitted from a one time gain of $2.0 million on the sale of investment securities.

Pressley A. Ridgill, President and Chief Executive Officer of NewBridge Bancorp, commented: “Our second quarter results were excellent. While we were pleased by a number of positive core earnings and efficiency trends, the highlight of our second quarter is the sharp decline in our classified asset portfolios, which fell to their lowest levels since September of 2010. During the June quarter, nonperforming assets declined $14.6 million, or 19.9%, falling from 4.22% of total assets to 3.38%. Nonperforming loans fell by $9.0 million, foreclosed properties declined by $5.5 million, and performing classified loans shrank by $3.6 million. In total, our classified

assets were reduced by $18.2 million, or 12.3%, from the prior quarter. For the remainder of 2012, it is our desire to accelerate the workout of the remaining problem assets and definitively shift our focus to growing a quality franchise. Since the beginning of the recession, the Company has charged off $153.6 million, or 9.4%, of our peak level of loans. We believe we are in the final stage of the adverse credit cycle. Our problem loan migration has largely reversed, and we are left with a manageable level of problem assets. Based on this belief, our team is developing a plan to dispose of a substantial portion of the remaining problem assets. We intend to aggressively market them and believe most will be sold by December 31, 2012. The greatest impact on our financial performance will likely occur in the September 2012 quarter as we determine which assets will be sold in an orderly market and identify those that will be sold in a liquidation market, and record write downs for the expected losses. We anticipate that the Company will report a net loss in the third quarter, but that we will remain well capitalized and anticipate that the implementation of this plan will rapidly lead to improved earnings in future periods as credit related costs fall to a fraction of their recent levels.”

Net interest income

Net interest income declined $206,000, or 1.2%, to $16.3 million for the quarter compared to $16.5 million a year ago. Year to date net interest income declined 4.2%, or $1.4 million, to $32.5 million. The Company’s net interest margin improved to 4.16% for the quarter compared to 4.14% for same period last year. The net interest margin for the six month period ending June 30, 2012 was 4.15%, down from 4.21% for the first six months of last year. For the six month period, the average balance of loans declined $133.3 million from the prior year’s six month average, resulting in a $4.4 million reduction in interest income from loans. This decline was partially offset by lower interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, which fell by $2.5 million. Interest income on investments increased 7.1% for the year, or $488,000, due primarily to a higher average balance in the investment portfolio.

The sustained low interest rate environment continues to impact loan yields. The annualized average yield on loans decreased to 4.99% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 5.16% for the three months ended June 30, 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the annualized average yield on loans decreased to 5.01% from 5.20% for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Net interest margin is also impacted by changes in interest income from nonaccrual loans. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, nonaccrual interest decreased the net interest margin by 9 basis points compared to 12 basis points for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $2.5 million during the quarter to $1.748 billion at June 30, 2012. Cash and cash equivalents climbed $26.4 million, but was offset by a $11.0 million decline in loans held for investment, a $5.9 million decline in investment securities and a $5.5 million decline in other real estate owned. During the past nine months, the Company has been actively building its commercial and private banking sales teams in the largest metropolitan areas of North Carolina, including the Piedmont Triad, Wilmington and Raleigh markets. During the second quarter, the Company received approval to open a full-service branch in Raleigh and elected to pursue a commercial loan production office in Charlotte. For the three and six month periods, the Company originated $59.6 million and $102.8 million, respectively, of new commercial loans.

Total deposits were unchanged at $1.449 billion. Core deposits, excluding time deposits, declined $40 million during the quarter to $1.043 billion. This decline in core deposits resulted

primarily from the withdrawal of temporary funds added in the prior quarter. Time deposit balances increased $40 million during the quarter due to the addition of $70 million of wholesale deposits. Retail time deposits declined $30 million during the quarter to $304.1 million. The weighted average interest rate on total deposits at June 30, 2012 was 0.36% and was 0.26% on the $1.043 billion of core deposits. The highest cost cross section of deposits remains retail time deposits, which had an interest rate of 0.75% on the $304.1 million of deposit balances. Approximately $124.9 million of retail time deposits with a weighted average rate of 0.58% will mature in the third quarter of 2012. An additional $62.5 million of retail time deposits with approximately the same weighted average rate will mature by year end 2012.

Shareholders’ equity increased $2.5 million during the quarter and $6.2 million for the year to $169.6 million. The higher equity balance for the quarter included a $2.1 million increase in comprehensive income from changes in value of investment securities, as well as a $192,000 increase to retained earnings. Tangible book value per common share increased $0.18 during the quarter and $0.42 for the year to $7.27 at June 30, 2012.

Noninterest Income

Operating noninterest income, which excludes gains and losses on sales of securities and other real estate owned (“OREO”), totaled $4.0 million for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011. Retail banking revenue declined $229,000 from a year ago to $2.3 million, and wealth management services revenue declined $65,000 to $561,000. The declines were partially offset by higher mortgage banking revenue, which increased $285,000. For the six month periods, operating noninterest income totaled $8.0 million each year. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, retail banking revenue declined $475,000 to $4.6 million while mortgage banking revenue increased $423,000 to $1.1 million. Wealth management services revenue was down $16,000 for the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

Losses on sales and write downs of OREO increased $1.4 million to $3.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 from $1.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, and increased $0.9 million to $4.0 million for the first six months of 2012.

Securities gains totaled $2.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to no gains during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense declined $840,000, or 5.8%, to $13.7 million for the quarter just ended compared to $14.6 million for the prior year’s second quarter, and declined $1.6 million to $27.3 million for the first six months of 2012 from the prior year of $29.0 million. The lower noninterest expense was due in large part to management’s on-going efforts to reduce controllable expenses. Since the Company formed in a merger in 2007, approximately $16.5 million of annual expense has been eliminated.

Asset Quality

Total classified loans decreased 10.6%, or $12.6 million, during the quarter. Total classified loans crested later than many of the Company’s other credit metrics, rising until the third quarter of 2010. Since then, classified loans have declined 36.5%, or $61.2 million. As a percentage of the Bank’s tier one capital plus reserves, classified assets declined to 63% from 78% at December 31, 2011 and 93% at September 30, 2010. Nonperforming loans declined 20.7%, or $9.0 million, during the quarter. The decrease was due primarily to a decline in nonaccrual loans. Nonperforming loans peaked at June 30, 2009 at $64.1 million. Since then, they have

declined 45.9%, or $29.4 million. Nonperforming loans represent 2.98% of total loans held for investment. OREO decreased $5.5 million during the quarter to $24.5 million. Including OREO, total nonperforming assets decreased $14.6 million to $59.2 million, or 3.38% of total assets at June 30, 2012. The average age of OREO properties is 16 months. Troubled debt restructured loans totaled $16.1 million of the $34.7 million of nonperforming loans. Accruing restructured loans totaled $5.2 million and nonaccruing restructured loans totaled $10.9 million. The Company evaluates all troubled debt restructured loans at the time of the restructure for impairment, which typically results in the asset being moved to nonaccrual. The Company’s highest risk and most closely monitored nonperforming assets are nonaccruing loans excluding troubled debt restructures. These loans totaled $18.5 million at June 30, 2012, down $37.7 million, or 67%, since June 30, 2009.

The allowance for credit losses totaled $25.2 million at June 30, 2012, or 2.17% of loans held for investment. The Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans totaled 72.8% at June 30, 2012, compared to 71.2% at December 31, 2011 and 58.8% at June 30, 2011. The allowance consists of general reserves, totaling 87.8%, and specific reserves of 12.2%. The confirmed losses from the Company’s nonperforming loans have been previously recognized through chargeoffs. Consequently, the Company’s allowance for credit losses is generally applicable to inherent losses within the Company’s watch list and other performing loans portfolio. Since the current adverse credit cycle began in 2007, the Company has charged off $153.6 million of loans and OREO, or 9.4% of our highest/peak level of loan balances of $1.627 billion at September 30, 2008. The annualized average quarterly net loss percentages over this 22 quarter period for commercial loans, mortgage loans, credit reserves and home equity lines, retail loans and credit cards were 1.71%, 0.57%, 1.45%, 1.80% and 1.33%, respectively.

The Company is well within the regulatory commercial real estate high concentration guidelines in land acquisition, development and construction (the “AD&C portfolio”) loans, as well as total commercial real estate loans. At June 30, 2012, the Company’s concentration levels were 32.05% and 131.83%, respectively, of total regulatory capital, which compares favorably to the interagency regulatory guidance maximum concentrations of 100% and 300%, respectively. The AD&C portfolio totaled $63 million at June 30, 2012, including $27 million of speculative residential construction and residential acquisition and development. This portfolio is largely graded as classified loans.

Outlook

Mr. Ridgill stated that “as previously discussed, we believe that our decision to accelerate the resolution of our remaining problem assets will result in a loss in the September 2012 quarter. We anticipate the cost associated with this will be fully estimated in that quarter and will immediately lead to stronger earnings in the fourth quarter and beyond. The Company’s annual earnings before taxes and credit related costs have exceeded $27 million for each of the last two years. Through six months, we are once again on pace to exceed this level. As high credit costs are removed from our results, we anticipate strong earnings in 2013. While we expect margins will remain under pressure, we believe a decline in credit costs alone will result in strong returns to our shareholders.”

About NewBridge Bancorp

NewBridge Bancorp is the parent company of NewBridge Bank, a full service state chartered community bank headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The stock of NewBridge Bancorp trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol of “NBBC”.

As one of the largest community banks in the state, NewBridge Bank serves small to midsize businesses, professionals and consumers with a comprehensive array of financial services including retail and commercial banking, private banking, wealth management and mortgage banking. NewBridge Bank has assets of approximately $1.7 billion with 30 banking offices in North Carolina.

Disclosures About Forward Looking Statements

The discussions included in this document and its exhibits may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. For the purposes of these discussions, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward looking statements. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “plans,” “projects,” or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of NewBridge and its management about future events. The accuracy of such forward looking statements could be affected by factors including, but not limited to, the financial success or changing conditions or strategies of NewBridge Bancorp’s clients or vendors, fluctuations in interest rates, actions of government regulators, the availability of capital and personnel or general economic conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by forward looking statements are discussed in NewBridge’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. NewBridge undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements following the date of this press release.

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FINANCIAL SUMMARY

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

FINANCIAL SUMMARY