Middlefield Banc Corp. (NASDAQ: MBCN) is set to join the Russell Microcap® Index at the conclusion of the Russell US Indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US market opens on June 27, according to a preliminary list of additions posted on June 10.

Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

“I am pleased to announce our inclusion in the Russell Microcap® Index, representing Middlefield’s growing financial results, high level of profitability, and commitment to creating shareholder value,” stated Thomas G. Caldwell, Middlefield’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Inclusion in the Russell Microcap® Index is a significant milestone for our company and will help us increase liquidity and broaden our exposure to the investment community.”

Indexes provided by FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider, are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell US Indexes.

For more information on the Russell Microcap® Index and the Russell US Indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

About Middlefield

Middlefield Banc Corp., headquartered in Middlefield, Ohio, is a bank holding company with total assets of $732.9 million at March 31, 2016. The bank operates 10 full service banking centers and an LPL Financial® brokerage office serving Chardon, Cortland, Dublin, Garrettsville, Mantua, Middlefield, Newbury, Orwell, and Westerville. The Bank also operates a Loan Production Office in Mentor, Ohio.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader and data provider that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $10 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance, and embraces the IOSCO principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and client collaboration as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.