FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Scott Shockey or Bryna Butler
1-800-468-6682 or (740) 446-2631

                          OVBC DECLARES EXTRA DIVIDEND

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio -- Jeffrey E. Smith,  President  and Chief Executive Officer of
Ohio Valley Banc Corp.  (OVBC) today  reported  that the Board of Directors  has
declared a special  extra cash  dividend.  This fifth cash  dividend  of 2004 is
being paid to OVBC shareholders, so that they may share in the successful return
on their company's investment in ProCentury (PROS), formerly known as ProFinance
Holdings Corporation. This extra cash dividend of $.19 per share will be payable
on December 15, 2004 to shareholders of record December 1, 2004.

In October of 2000,  under the  provisions of the  Gramm-Leach-Bliley  Financial
Modernization  Act, OVBC joined forces with the financial  holding  companies of
four other  community  banks to  purchase a 50% equity  interest  in  ProFinance
Holdings Corporation.  ProFinance, to be later re-named ProCentury (PROS), is an
insurance underwriter and reinsurance company.

OVBC's  investment of $1.9 million was believed to be the first  acquisition  of
its kind made as a result of the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley  Act. The Act
includes  legislation that allows  financial  institutions to invest directly in
insurance companies.

ProCentury  enjoyed a successful  initial public offering in April of this year,
generating a gross return to Ohio Valley Banc Corp. of $4.7  million,  resulting
in a net profit of $1.6 million after taxes.

Smith commented,  "The flexibility  that  Gramm-Leach-Bliley  gives to community
banks,  like OVB, coupled with the loyal support of our  shareholders  made this
return possible.  I recall an old OVB billboard that said, `Thanks for giving us
your  business'.  This special  dividend is our way of saying `thank you' to our
shareholders for a great year."

Ohio Valley Banc Corp.  common  stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under
the symbol OVBC. The holding  company owns Ohio Valley Bank,  with 16 offices in
Ohio and West Virginia,  and Loan Central,  with five consumer  finance  company
offices in Ohio. For more information go to www.ovbc.com.