LOGO                                                  LOGO




                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



FROM:    First Charter Corporation   Bank of Union
         22 Union Street, North      201 North Charlotte Avenue
         Concord, NC 28026-0228      Monroe, NC 28112

CONTACT: Lawrence M. Kimbrough       H. Clark Goodwin
         President and Chief         President and Chief 
         Executive Officer           Executive Officer
         (704) 786-3300              (704) 289-9555 

DATE:    September 13, 1995


                  FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION AND BANK OF UNION
                          ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO MERGE


      First Charter Corporation (FCTR) and Bank of Union jointly
announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to merge. 
The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter
of 1996, will create the largest community banking company
serving the Greater Charlotte Metropolitan Area of North
Carolina with a combined $470 million in assets.

      Bank of Union will add five full service banking offices in
Union and Mecklenburg Counties to First Charter's twelve offices
which serve Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Rowan Counties.  At June
30, 1995, Bank of Union had approximately $134 million in assets
and $117 million in deposits.  Bank of Union earned returns on
assets and returns on equity of 1.29% and 15.43%, respectively,
for the second quarter ended June 30, 1995.

      In the transaction, Bank of Union shareholders will receive
0.75 shares of the common stock of First Charter for each share
of Bank of Union common stock.  Based on a First Charter stock
price of $20.50 as of September 13, 1995, the total transaction
value equals $33.7 million or $15.38 for each share of Bank of
Union common stock.  No fractional shares of First Charter stock
will be issued and the transaction is structured to qualify as a 
tax-free reorganization.  The merger agreement, which is based on
a fixed exchange ratio, is anticipated to be accounted for as a
pooling of interests.  Under the terms of the merger Bank of
Union will become a separate subsidiary of First Charter
Corporation.  In addition,  the Bank of Union has granted First
Charter the option to purchase up to 19.9 percent of its
outstanding common stock, under certain circumstances.

    
  Lawrence M. Kimbrough, President and Chief Executive Officer of
First Charter Corporation, stated, "The merger with Bank of Union
continues our strategy of building the Greater Charlotte
Metropolitan Area's premier community bank.  Union County, much
like First Charter's existing markets, is a dynamic banking
market with some of the best demographic trends in the State.  We
believe that the combined operations will be able to better serve
the needs of the consumers and businesses in these markets."

      Mr. Kimbrough furthered, "First Charter is committed to
being not only the premier community banking company in the
Greater Charlotte Metropolitan Area, but also one of the most
profitable banking companies in the nation.  We anticipate that
the merger will enhance First Charter's earnings per share by the
end of 1996." 

      H. Clark Goodwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Bank of Union, noted, "We are pleased to be joining forces with
First Charter, a company with a history of serving its
communities, providing a challenging and rewarding environment
for its employees, delivering strong financial performance and
yielding solid shareholder returns. We look forward to teaming up
with First Charter and to continuing to serve the banking needs
of Union and Mecklenburg Counties."

      Consummation of the proposed merger is subject to certain
conditions, among them, regulatory approval and approval by the
shareholders of First Charter and Bank of Union.  First Charter
Corporation common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market
System under the quotation symbol "FCTR".