NEWS RELEASE
                                    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
                                    Shirley B. Kessler
                                    President and
                                    Chief Executive Officer
                                    ----------------------------  
                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                    (618) 395-8676


                    COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
       COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF EGYPTIAN BANCSHARES, INC.,
      THE EGYPTIAN STATE BANK AND SALINE COUNTY STATE BANK


     Olney, Illinois - November 3, 1997.  Community Financial
Corp. (Nasdaq.nms: CFIC), the holding company for Community Bank
& Trust, N.A. and American Bank of Illinois in Highland, and
Egyptian Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for The Egyptian
State Bank and Saline County State Bank, announced today that
they have completed the transaction pursuant to which Community
Financial Corp. acquired Egyptian Bancshares, Inc. for a cash
purchase price of $7.76 million and The Egyptian State Bank and
Saline County State Bank became wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Community Financial Corp.

     The Egyptian State Bank has one office, located in Carrier
Mills, Illinois, with total assets of $24.4 million, and Saline
County State Bank has two offices, located in Stonefort and Creal
Springs, Illinois, with total assets of $16.5 million.  The two
banks will remain separate bank subsidiaries of Community Finan
cial Corp.  All staff members of the two banks will be retained
to ensure the high level of service the customers have come to
expect.

     "Community Financial Corp. is very enthusiastic about its
affiliation with Egyptian Bancshares, Inc.," stated Shirley B.
Kessler, President of Community Financial Corp.  "We are excited
about the growth potential this market holds and the opportunity
to offer our existing products to new customers."

     Gene Overstreet, President of Egyptian Bancshares, The
Egyptian State Bank and Saline County State Bank,  said, "We
believe that affiliation with Community Financial Corp.  and its
subsidiary, Community Bank & Trust, N.A., will enable us  to
enhance our product offerings and better serve our communities. 
Community Bank & Trust provides the same kind of personal service
that has been the foundation of our growth.  We are confident
that our customers will benefit from this affiliation."



     The acquisition results in consolidated assets for Community
Financial Corp. of approximately $273.8 million, consolidated
loans of approximately $149.9 million, and consolidated deposits
of approximately $189.6 million based on September 30, 1997
financial information.

     Community Financial Corp. is the bank holding company for
Community Bank & Trust, N.A., and American Bank of Illinois,
serving Southern Illinois.