Exhibit 99.1

         Provident Financial Group, Inc. Announces Final Exchange Ratio
               for Acquisition of Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.

Cincinnati,  November 24, 1999 - Provident Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:  PFGI)
today announced that the final  regulatory  approval  required to consummate the
previously  announced  acquisition of Fidelity  Financial of Ohio, Inc. (Nasdaq:
FFOH) was granted on November 17, 1999.

Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, at closing each outstanding common
share of Fidelity  Financial will convert into 0.4939 shares of Provident common
stock.  The conversion  ratio is equal to $21.00 divided by Provident's  average
closing share price over the 10-day trading period ending on November 17, 1999.

The  Fidelity  Financial  shareholder  meeting  to  consider  the  terms  of the
acquisition is scheduled for December 15, 1999.  The  transaction is expected to
close early in the first quarter of 2000.

About Provident Financial Group, Inc.

Provident  Financial  Group,  Inc., a  Cincinnati-based  commercial  banking and
financial  services  company  with $9.0 billion in  on-balance  sheet assets and
$14.3 billion in managed  assets,  provides  full-service  national and regional
commercial  and retail  banking  operations  through The Provident  Bank and the
Provident  Bank of Florida.  Additional  company  information  is  available  at
http://www.provident-financial.com.

About Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.

Fidelity  Financial of Ohio, Inc.  operates 15  full-service  banking offices in
Hamilton  and Butler  counties  in  southwestern  Ohio  through  its  subsidiary
Centennial Bank.  Centennial offers a variety of commercial lending and business
checking products as well as mortgage and consumer loan products.

For further information, please contact:

Provident Financial Group, Inc.
Christopher J. Carey
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
513-639-4644 / 800-851-9521
e-mail:  InvestorRelations@provident-financial.com

Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.
Paul D. Staubach
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
or
Gregory P. Niesen
Senior Vice President & Treasurer
513-922-5959