 BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2021 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- Meridian Bancorp, Inc. the Company or Meridian NASDAQ: EBSB, the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank the Bank, announced net income of 18.1 million, or 0.36 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to 17.1 million, or 0.33 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income was 65.1 million, or 1.29 per diluted share, down from 67.0 million, or 1.30 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Companys return on average assets was 1.10 for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to 1.08 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Companys return on average assets was 1.01, down from 1.06 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Companys return on average equity was 9.51 for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to 9.45 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Companys return on average equity was 8.76, down from 9.56 for the year ended December 31, 2019. 