EXHIBIT 99.1

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. Reports Earnings of $6.6 Million for 2012 Compared to $4.4 Million in 2011; Declares Fourth Consecutive Regular Dividend

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONA) ("Southern National") announced today that net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $6.6 million compared to $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. In addition, Southern National declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.05 per share payable on February 22, 2013 to shareholders of record on February 11, 2013. Southern National had previously paid regular dividends for the first three quarters of the year in the total amount of $.08 per share. In addition, a special dividend of $0.15 was declared and paid in December 2012.

Overview

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $6.6 million, up from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Southern National's efficiency ratio was 56.30% for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 51.52% for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Fourth quarter 2012 earnings were $1.3 million up from $255 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Total assets of Southern National Bancorp of Virginia were $722.1 million as of December 31, 2012, up from $611.4 million as of December 31, 2011.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $31.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $27.3 million during the prior year. Average loans during 2012 were $526.4 million compared to $477.6 million last year. The net interest margin was 5.19% in 2012, up slightly from 5.06% in 2011. The Greater Atlantic Bank (GAB) loan discount accretion contributed $3.4 million to net interest income during 2012, compared to $3.3 million during 2011. The loan discount accretion on the HarVest Bank portfolio contributed $717 thousand during 2012. Before taking the discount accretion related to the GAB and HarVest acquisitions into account, the net interest margin would have been 4.52% in 2012 and 4.45% in 2011.

Net interest income was $8.1 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2012 up from $7.0 million during the same period the prior year. Average loans during the fourth quarter of 2012 were $535.9 million compared to $491.7 million during the same period last year. The net interest margin was 5.01% in the fourth quarter of 2012, down slightly from 5.03% in the fourth quarter of 2011. The GAB loan discount accretion contributed $544 thousand to net interest income during the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to $728 thousand during the fourth quarter of 2011. The loan discount accretion on the HarVest Bank portfolio contributed $305 thousand during the fourth quarter of 2012. Before taking the accretions related to the GAB and HarVest acquisitions into account, the net interest margin was 4.49% on the fourth quarter of 2012 and 4.51% in the last quarter of 2011.

Noninterest Income

During 2012 noninterest income increased to $3.0 million during 2012 from $2.1 million in 2011. The increase resulted from the bargain purchase gain of $3.5 million from the HarVest transaction which was partially offset by the recognition of impairment in the values of six other real estate owned ("OREO") properties in the Charlottesville market and one in the Culpeper market totaling $2.7 million during 2012. We recognized gains of $113 thousand on the sale of three OREO properties during 2012. In addition, there was an OTTI of $717 thousand in trust preferred securities during 2012 compared to $329 thousand in OTTI charges during 2011. Also, during the first quarter of 2012 the bank sold the guaranteed portions of SBA loans and realized a $657 thousand gain, and during the third quarter of 2012, there was a sale of SBA pooled securities resulting in a gain of $287 thousand. Income from bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") contributed $797 thousand during 2012, compared to $1.3 million during 2011. Both periods were affected by death benefits; however, the death benefit received in the 2011 period was $800 thousand as compared to $195 thousand in the 2012 period.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $18.8 million in 2012 compared to $14.9 million in 2011. Audit and consulting fees totaled $1.1 million during 2012, compared to $393 thousand during 2011. Occupancy and furniture and equipment expenses were $3.4 million during 2012, compared to $2.8 million during 2011. Of this increase, $392 thousand resulted from operating five additional branches this year. In addition, salaries and benefits expense has increased $1.2 million during 2012, compared to 2011 as a result of the additional branches.   Full-time equivalent employees have increased from 112 at December 31, 2011, to 134 at December 31, 2012. As a result of recasting estimated recoveries under the FDIC indemnification agreement in the second quarter and the fourth quarter of 2012, amortization expense was $651 thousand for 2012, compared to accretion of $99 thousand for 2011.

Loan Portfolio

The composition of our loan portfolio consisted of the following at December 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

The covered portfolio continued to decline as a result of repayments in the Greater Atlantic Bank portfolio which continued to perform well. The non-covered portfolio grew largely as a result of the HarVest Bank acquisition in April.

During the fourth quarter there were over $6 million in prepayments in the HarVest acquired portfolio primarily attributable to loan participations which HarVest had with other banks. They were refinanced elsewhere at lower rates. Virtually all of them were outside HarVest's primary market area.

During the fourth quarter we also experienced pressure to lower rates on our legacy loans but it proved to be manageable and prepayments were less than on the HarVest portfolio. Subsequent to year-end and not reflected in the numbers above was one $7 million prepayment on a Sonabank legacy loan where the borrower was able to cut his principal and interest payments in half without recourse at another institution.

Loan Loss Provision/Asset Quality

Given market conditions, property location, length of time on the market and other factors, we completed an updated property by property review in the second quarter of 2012 and recognized impairment in the values of seven properties in an aggregate amount of $2.2 million. In addition, we recognized impairment of $150 thousand in the first quarter of 2012 and $300 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2012. The impairment was partially offset by a small gain on the sale of one property. During the year, we also sold three commercial properties and foreclosed on three properties and acquired one in the HarVest Bank acquisition. 

As a result, non-covered OREO as of December 31, 2012 was $13.2 million compared to $13.6 million as of the end of the previous year.

Non-covered nonaccrual loans were $5.0 million (excluding $2.6 million of loans fully covered by SBA guarantees) at December 31, 2012 compared to $2.1 million (excluding $2.5 million of loans fully covered by SBA guarantees) at the end of last year. The ratio of non-covered non-performing assets to non-covered assets decreased from 2.98% (excluding the SBA guaranteed loans) at the end of 2011 to 2.80% (excluding the SBA guaranteed loans) at December 31, 2012. The portions of these SBA loans that were unguaranteed were charged off.

We had charge-offs totaling $6.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $8.0 in 2011. Charge-offs in the fourth quarter of 2012 included $400 thousand on a loan originated and sold by 1^st Service Bank to a third party prior to its acquisition by Sonabank in 2006. The third party attempted to put back the loan to Sonabank, and we contested and agreed to enter into arbitration. Late in 2012, an arbitrator ruled against us. The loan is impaired, and we have reflected a charge of $320 thousand in the provision for loan losses for this loan and recognized an immediate charge-off against our allowance for loan losses of the full amount of the loan. 

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia's allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-covered total loans was 1.54%, at December 31, 2012 and 2011. Management believes the allowance is adequate at this time but monitors trends in past due and non-performing loans to determine whether the allowance should be adjusted.

Securities Portfolio

Investment securities, available for sale and held to maturity, were $86.4 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $45.0 million at the end of 2011. The increase was due to the following:

• The retention of $27.1 million of HarVest's mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.
• The purchase of $7.0 million in municipal securities. All municipal securities have been evaluated individually by us. Public ratings range from S&P AAA to AA- or Moody Aa2 to Aa3.
• We purchased 5 callable agencies totaling $30.0 million.

These purchases were partially offset by normal repayments and the sale of $8.2 million in SBA guaranteed loan pools acquired in the Greater Atlantic Bank merger.

Other securities held include the following:

• Pooled trust preferred securities as follows:

• We own 55,000 shares of the Freddie Mac perpetual preferred stock Series V. The fair value of these shares at December 31, 2012 was $102 thousand.
   
• We also own $816 thousand of SARM 2005-22 1A2, a residential collateralized mortgage obligation that is not government-sponsored.
   
• We own residential government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities in the amount of $35.4 million and residential government-sponsored collateralized mortgage obligations totaling $5.4 million. 

HarVest Acquisition

During the second quarter of 2012 Sonabank assumed substantially all of the deposits and other liabilities and acquired substantially all of the assets of HarVest Bank of Maryland in an FDIC assisted transaction. HarVest Bank had branches in Bethesda, North Rockville, Germantown and Frederick. With Sonabank's existing branch in Rockville that brought Sonabank's total number of branches in Maryland to five, four of which are in Montgomery County.

Branch Activity

During the third quarter Sonabank opened a de novo branch in Haymarket, Virginia.

During the fourth quarter Sonabank moved HarVest Bank's Bethesda branch to a far superior location on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda.

Deposits

Total deposits were $551.0 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $461.1 million at December 31, 2011. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits were $49.6 million as of December 31, 2012 up from $32.6 million a year earlier.

Stockholders' Equity 

Total stockholders' equity increased to $103.2 million as of December 31, 2012 from $99.1 million at December 31, 2011 as a result of the retention of earnings. Our Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratios were 18.33% and 19.37% for Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc., as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. is a bank holding company with assets of $722.1 million at December 31, 2012. Sonabank provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium sized businesses. Sonabank has fifteen branches in Virginia, located in Fairfax County (Reston, McLean and Fairfax), in Charlottesville, Warrenton (2), Middleburg, Leesburg (2), South Riding, Front Royal, New Market, Haymarket,  Richmond and Clifton Forge, and five branches in Maryland.    

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to future events or the future performance of Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results. These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the respective management of Southern National Bancorp and Sonabank and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond their respective control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results discussed or implied in these forward-looking statements because of numerous possible uncertainties. Words like "may," "plan," "contemplate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "continue," "expect," "project," "predict," "estimate," "could," "should," "would," "will," and similar expressions, should be considered as identifying forward-looking statements, although other phrasing may be used. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and may not be realized due to a variety of factors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in the Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other reports and statements filed by Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. with the SEC. You should consider such factors and not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. No obligation is undertaken by Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the issuance of this press release.

CONTACT: R. Roderick Porter, President
         Phone: 202-464-1130 ext. 2406
         Fax: 202-464-1134
         Website: www.sonabank.com