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 MIDAMERICA BANK OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY


     Olney, Illinois - December 1, 1997.  Community Financial
Corp. (Nasdaq.nms: CFIC), the holding company for Community Bank
& Trust, N.A., American Bank of Illinois in Highland, The
Egyptian State Bank and Saline County State Bank, announced today
that it has completed the transaction pursuant to which Community
Financial Corp. acquired MidAmerica Bank of St. Clair County in
O'Fallon, Illinois for a cash purchase price of $5.6 million and
MidAmerica Bank of St. Clair County became a wholly owned
subsidiary of Community Financial Corp.

     MidAmerica Bank of St. Clair County has one office, located
in O'Fallon, Illinois, with total assets of $19.3 million and
will remain a separate bank subsidiary of Community Financial
Corp.  All staff members of the bank 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 MidAmerica Bank of St. Clair County," 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."

     Norman Backues, President of MidAmerica Bank of St. Clair
County,  said, "We believe that affiliation with Community
Financial Corp.  and its other bank subsidiaries will enable us 
to enhance our product offerings and better serve our
communities.  Community Financial Corp. 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 $294.8 million, consolidated
loans of approximately $162.1 million, and consolidated
deposits of approximately $223.0 million based on October 31,
1997 financial information.

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