SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 9, 1996 RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP. ________________________________________________________________________________ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Ohio 0-13507 34-1395608 _______________ ________________ ____________________ (State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer jurisdiction of Number) (Identification No.) incorporation) 401 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512 ________________________________________________________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (419) 782-8950) Not Applicable ________________________________________________________________________________ (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Exhibit Index at Page 2. Page 1 of 3 Pages Item 5. Other Events. On December 9, 1996, the Board of Directors of Rurban Financial Corp. ("Rurban") declared a share dividend and a cash dividend upon Rurban's Common Shares. Under the share dividend, Rurban shareholders received .05 Common share for each Common Share held of record on December 24, 1996. Shares were issued and share certificates were distributed on January 31, 1997. Shareholders of record on December 24, 1996 were also paid, on January 6, 1997, a cash dividend of $.15 per Common Share. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired: None required. (b) Pro forma financial information: None required (c) Exhibits: 99 Press Release Issued December 10, 1996 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP. Date: March 14, 1997 By: Thomas C. Williams, President -2-