Exhibit 99.1


Friday November 20, 8:02 am Eastern Time

Company Press Release

STAR BANC CORPORATION AND FIRSTAR CORPORATION MERGER COMPLETED 

MILWAUKEE and CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nov. 20, 1998-- Star Banc 
Corporation (NYSE:STB - news) and Firstar Corporation (NYSE:FSR - news) 
announced that their merger is effective today, Friday, November 20, 
1998.  As of today, the combined companies will be called "Firstar 
Corporation" and its common stock will trade on the New York 
Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FSR."  This announcement was 
made by Jerry A. Grundhofer, president and chief executive officer of 
Firstar Corporation.

Grundhofer commented, "We are pleased to welcome the customers and 
shareholders of these two fine companies to a new organization.  The 
merging of these two first-class banks creates a leading provider of 
financial services in the Midwest region, with the ability to offer 
greater financial strength, a broader range of products and services, 
stronger technology and greater efficiency to our customers and 
communities.  This merger provides unmatched economic benefits for 
shareholders and will position the new Firstar strategically to operate 
on a new and higher level of banking going forward.  In the coming 
months, we look forward to introducing our customers in Wisconsin, 
Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Arizona to our "Five Star Service 
Guarantee" and "24-Hour Banking System."  Our customers in Ohio, 
Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee will be introduced to such enhancements 
as new credit card products and small business products and services, in 
addition to other new products.  Importantly, all customers of 
the new Firstar will benefit from our new and enhanced offering of 
industry-leading consumer, commercial and trust financial services and 
products."

The new company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has 
approximately $38 billion in total assets.  The new Firstar ranks as the 
21st largest bank in assets and the 14th in market capitalization as of 
September 30, 1998, among U.S. bank holding companies.

In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, Star Banc 
Corporation shareholders will receive one share of new Firstar stock for 
each share of Star Banc stock they owned as of close of business on 
November 19, 1998.  Firstar shareholders will receive 0.76 shares in the 
new Firstar for each share of Firstar that they owned as of close of 
business on November 19, 1998.  This exchange of stock will be made 
automatically for those shareholders holding their shares in 
brokerage accounts or in a dividend reinvestment plan.  Firstar's stock 
transfer division area will inform those holding shares in their own 
names as to how to exchange shares.

Firstar Corporation is a $38 billion bank holding company with 720 full-
service banking offices in Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, 
Iowa, Minnesota, Tennessee and Arizona. Firstar offers a full complement 
of consumer, commercial and trust financial services and products.  
Firstar, a leader in high quality customer service and relationship 
banking, was the first bank in the U.S. to offer a fully integrated 24-
Hour Banking System in 1995.  Firstar's 24-Hour Banking System includes 
branch banking, voice activated phone banking, PC banking, Super 
ATMs, video kiosk banking and Internet Banking.  Firstar's Internet 
Banking is available to customers through a state-of-the-art on-line 
real time system which enables customers to access their total banking 
relationship, at no charge, through their personal computer.  In 1996, 
Firstar was the first bank to offer its Five Star Service Guarantee 
which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or 
customers will be paid for their inconvenience.  Firstar's 
Internet address is http://www.firstar.com.  Firstar was founded in 
1853.

Contact:

Firstar Corporation
Steve Dale (Media), 513/632-4524
Joe Messinger (Analysts), 414/765-5235