EXHIBIT 99
 
           FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CF BANCORP 


ITASCA,  IL.,  DECEMBER  21, 1995-First  Midwest  Bancorp, Inc.(NASDAQ/NMS:FMBI)
today announced that  it has consummated the previously reported  acquisition of
CF Bancorp (NASDAQ:CFBC),  the holding company of Citizens Federal  Savings Bank
of Davenport, Iowa.   The transaction was structured as an exchange of stock and
was accounted for on a pooling-of-interest basis.

The  transaction represents  First  Midwest's first  interstate  acquisition and
enhances its  already strong  position in  the Illinois-Iowa Quad-Cities  market
comprised of  the cities of Moline  and Rock Island,  Illinois and Davenport and
Bettendorf,  Iowa.   First Midwest has  operated for many years  in the Illinois
half  of the  Quad-Cities where  it has  approximately  $375 million  in assets.
Headquartered  in Davenport with additional offices in Davenport and Bettendorf,
CF has  $225 million  in assets.  With  $600 million  in assets and  seven full-
service  offices, three  in Illinois and four  in Iowa,  the combined operations
result  in the  largest  financial institution  serving the  entire market.   In
addition to its strong banking presence, First Midwest enjoys a similarly strong
trust-investment  management  presence  in  the  Quad-Cities  with assets  under
management exceeding $500 million.

The  Quad-Cities is a significant market that is sometimes not recognized as the
diversified, dynamic and growing area that it represents.  As an MSA, the Quad-
Cities is an area having a population of some 400,000, employment in excess of 
200,000 and annual retail sales of approximately $2.5 billion.  As such, from 
each of these  perspectives the  Quad-Cities is larger  than the  perhaps better
known  markets  of   Peoria,  Rockford,   Springfield,  Bloomington-Normal   and
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

Commenting on the merger, Robert P. O'Meara, First Midwest Bancorp's President &
Chief  Executive Officer, said, "the  affiliation with CF, a very successful and
highly respected  company, permits  us to more  fully participate  in the bright
future of the entire Quad-Cities area.   Our office coverage of the entire Quad-
Cities  represents a  level of service  and convenience  not even  approached by
other financial institutions."  

Paul  Eckert, CF  Bancorp's  President  & Chief  Executive Officer,  said,  "the
dynamics and  outlook for the  Quad-Cities is very positive  and our affiliation
with First  Midwest represents  another step in enhanced  financial service  and
convenience  for  our customers.    The  combination of  our  retail  and  their
commercial and  trust-investment management  strengths will enable  us to better
serve our individual and business customers alike."

At $3.2  billion, First  Midwest  Bancorp is  Illinois' third  largest  publicly
traded bank  holding company  and is engaged in  commercial banking,  investment
management, trust and mortgage activities in northern Illinois and eastern Iowa.

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