NEWS RELEASE                            HEARTLAND Community Bank
                                        Contact:   Vida Lampkin
                                        Phone:     (870) 836-6841
                                        Fax:       (870) 836-7125



                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                              ---------------------


Camden,  Arkansas  (May 22, 2003) - Charles T. Black has been elected  President
and Chief Executive Officer of HEARTLAND Community Bank and HCB Bancshares, Inc.
of Camden, Arkansas according to Vida H. Lampkin, Chairman of the Board.

Black has 27 years of experience working for banks in Arkansas, including having
served as President and CEO of Peoples Bank and Chairman of Peoples  Bancshares,
Inc.  of  Lewisville  until a merger with  Citizens  National  Bank of Hope.  He
previously  served as Senior Vice  President of First  National Bank of Magnolia
and Interim  President of City Bank and Trust of Shreveport,  La. Black has been
with HEARTLAND Community Bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer
since May 2002.

A native  of  Waldo,  Arkansas,  Black  has a BBA in  Management  from  Southern
Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas. He is also a graduate from both the ABA
National  Commercial  Lending  School at the  University  of  Oklahoma.  and the
Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.

Black's professional affiliations include the Arkansas Bankers Association where
he served on the Executive Board and as Treasurer. Black currently serves on the
ABA  Subsidiary  Board.  He has also served as president  and/or board member of
numerous state and community organizations. Black is a member of the Camden Noon
Lions Club.

HCB  Bancshares,  Inc. is a $250 million  Holding  Company  listed on the NASDAQ
stock  exchange  under the  symbol  HCBB with full  service  banking  facilities
located in Camden, Fordyce, Sheridan, and Bryant, Arkansas.