Bank of Evansville - Investor Relations

Bank of Evansville, N.A. Receives Authority To Open
From Office of the Comptroller of Currency

New Evansville Bank to open West Side doors Monday, July 2

Evansville, IN - Bank of Evansville, N.A. received authority to open its doors on July 2, 2001 from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a department of the United States Treasury. The Bank will open their doors at the 530 N. St. Joseph Avenue office on Monday, July 2, 2001. They plan to open the office at 5130 Vogel Road, suite 130 the following Monday, July 9, 2001.

The Opening Shareholders Meeting was held on June 20, 2001. The OCC and FDIC conducted the required Pre-Opening Examination on June 21, 2001. Albert Umbach, Jr., Chairman of the Board, said, "The authority to open on July 2, 2001 culminates an organizing effort that began in April 2000. The Bank filed an application for a National Banking Charter on September 20, 2000 and received preliminary approvals in November 2000 and January 2001. In mid-April of this year the Organizing Directors entered into an agreement with Hilliard Lyons to act as its sales agent to assist them in completing the highly successful capital drive." Mr. Umbach also indicated, "The Bank intends to continue a relationship with Hilliard Lyons to market its stock in the future, and we plan to do what is required to be a Bulletin Board Stock as soon as possible."

"The directors and staff are interested in providing the Evansville area a truly community-oriented, community-owned bank," said Thomas L. Austerman, President and CEO. "We are long time residents of the Evansville market and believe we know, understand and appreciate the needs of our local businesses and consumers. We are committed to providing the people of Evansville uncompromising personal service with a sense of urgency."

In addition to being organized and managed by long time citizens of the market, the vast majority of its more than 730 shareholders are residents of the Evansville area. Michael S. Sutton, Executive Vice President, said, "We are a true community bank, and our name, Bank of Evansville, describes the business we're in and the market we want to serve very well."

Bank of Evansville plans to differ the delivery of its products and services from other financial institutions by placing the emphasis on - and investing in - employees and customers rather than in real estate and ATMs. Linda Newman, Cashier of the Bank, said, "For example, because people rather than computers will answer the phone, we think you will get a feel for the Bank of Evansville service difference the first time you call 962-BANK."

Stephen Byelick, Chief Financial Officer, said, "The organizing directors have worked hard and have put a great deal of effort in raising over $11,600,000 in capital and they plan to use it wisely to build a full-service banking environment that is strong, friendly, fair, fast and flexible."