First Place Financial 10-Q 2004 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.1

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of First Place Financial Corp. (“First Place”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Steven R. Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of First Place, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of First Place.

May 13, 2004	/s/ Steven R. Lewis
	Steven R. Lewis
	President and Chief Executive Officer