Empire National Bank at 1707 Veterans Hwy. in Islandia on...

Empire National Bank at 1707 Veterans Hwy. in Islandia on Oct. 23, 2012. Credit: Heather Walsh

Physical expansion and personnel costs ate into profits at Empire Bancorp in the third quarter, the holding company for Empire National Bank reported Monday.

Empire said net income for the three months ended Sept. 30 fell by 5.9 percent to $623,000 or 9 cents a share from the quarter a year earlier.

The bank cited the costs of expanding its headquarters in Islandia, the opening of a loan and deposit production office in Manhattan, plus the costs of wage increases and new hires.

But Empire said its net interest income was $5.1 million in the quarter, up 19 percent from a year earlier.

Total assets were $576 million at Sept. 30, up 12 percent over a year earlier.

Empire has four branches, not including the Manhattan office.

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