CONTACTS AT FIRST OF AMERICA:
     Jennifer D. Cox, Senior Vice President-Accounting Division,
       (616) 376-7115 / fax 376-7079
     Tony Thompson, Senior Vice President - Public & Media
       Relations, (616) 376-7266 / fax 376-7273

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST OF AMERICA BANK CORP. COMPLETES 
THE SALE OF ITS FLORIDA FRANCHISE

KALAMAZOO, Mich., October 1, 1997 -- First of America Bank
Corporation (NYSE: FOA) today completed the sale of its Florida
operation to Barnett Banks, Inc., headquartered in Jacksonville,
Florida.

"We believe very strongly that our strategic decision to sell our
Florida operation will benefit our profitability and help
optimize our shareholders total return.  This move allows us to
focus on our core lines of business in the Midwest -- Commercial
Banking, Retail Sales & Delivery, Consumer Finance & Mortgage
Services, and Trust & Financial Services -- as we believe our
Midwest markets provide the best opportunity for success" 
stated, Richard F. Chormann, chairman, president and chief
executive officer, First of America Bank Corporation.  

The sale resulted in a gain of about $0.14 cents per share, which
will be reflected in First of America's fourth quarter results. 
First of America's Florida operation, at September 30, 1997, had
approximately $1.1 billion in assets, loans of $780 million and
deposits of $870 million.  On a year-to-date basis, net income
for the operation is expected to be around $4 million.  Non-
interest revenue, on a pre-tax basis, for the same period should
be about $6 million and non-interest expenses about $30 million
(pre-tax).  Included in the sale are 58 branches; 35 are
traditional branches and 23 are supermarket branches.  After the
sale, First of America Bank Corporation will have approximately
$20 billion in assets, $14 billion in loans and $16 billion in
deposits.  

First of America Bank Corporation, headquartered in Kalamazoo,
Michigan engages in commercial and retail banking as well as
mortgage origination services.  The company also provides trust,
insurance and other financial services, through its Trust and
Financial Services Division.  First of America currently ranks
32nd among banking companies in the United States.

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