SCHEDULE 14A
                     Information Required in Proxy Statement

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                    Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant:        Yes.

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant:  No.

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]      Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]      Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]      Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]      Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]      Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
         Section 240.14a-12

                           MARION CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
                (Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]      No fee required
[ ]      Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
         and 0-11
         (1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction
                  applies:             N/A
         (2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
                  applies:             N/A
         (3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
                  computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth
                  the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
                  state how it was determined):     N/A
         (4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:     N/A
         (5)      Total fee paid:
[ ]      Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
[ ]      Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
         Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
         the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous
         filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
         Schedule and the date of its filing.       N/A
         (1)      Amount Previously Paid:
         (2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         (3)      Filing Party:
         (4)      Date Filed:






                     [LOGO]      MARION CAPITAL
                                 HOLDINGS, INC.
                              100 West Third Street
                              Marion, Indiana 46952
                                 (765) 664-0556

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                          To Be Held On October 9, 1997

         Notice is hereby  given that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of
Marion  Capital  Holdings,  Inc.  (the  "Holding  Company")  will be held at the
Holiday Inn, 501 East Fourth Street,  Marion,  Indiana, on Thursday,  October 9,
1997, at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Standard Time.

         The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

         1.       Election  of  Directors.  Election  of  two  directors  of the
                  Holding Company to serve three-year terms expiring in 2000.

         2.       Ratification  of Auditors.  Ratification of the appointment of
                  Geo.  S.  Olive  &  Co.LLC  as  auditors  for  Marion  Capital
                  Holdings, Inc. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998.

         3.       Other Business. Such other matters as may properly come before
                  the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

         Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 22, 1997, are
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

         We urge you to read the enclosed Proxy Statement  carefully so that you
may  be  informed  about  the  business  to  come  before  the  meeting,  or any
adjournment  thereof. At your earliest  convenience,  please sign and return the
accompanying proxy in the postage-paid envelope furnished for that purpose.

         A copy of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, is
enclosed.  The  Annual  Report  is not a part of the proxy  soliciting  material
enclosed with this letter.


                                       By Order of the Board of Directors


                                        /s/ John M. Dalton
                                       John M. Dalton, President and 
                                        Chief Executive Officer

Marion, Indiana
September 5, 1997


IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL  MEETING,  PLEASE SIGN,  DATE AND
COMPLETE  THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY AND  RETURN  IT IN THE  ENCLOSED  ENVELOPE  WHICH
REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.






                     [LOGO]      MARION CAPITAL
                                 HOLDINGS, INC.
                              100 West Third Street
                              Marion, Indiana 46952
                                 (765) 664-0556

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                 October 9, 1997

         This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the holders of common stock,
without par value (the "Common Stock"),  of Marion Capital  Holdings,  Inc. (the
"Holding Company"), an Indiana corporation,  in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors  of the Holding  Company to be voted at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00 A.M.,  Eastern Standard Time,
on October 9, 1997, at the Holiday Inn, 501 East Fourth Street, Marion, Indiana,
and at any  adjournment  of such  meeting.  The  principal  asset of the Holding
Company  consists of 100% of the issued and outstanding  shares of common stock,
$.01 par  value per  share,  of First  Federal  Savings  Bank of Marion  ("First
Federal").  This Proxy Statement is expected to be mailed to the shareholders on
or about September 5, 1997.

         The proxy  solicited  hereby,  if properly  signed and  returned to the
Holding  Company and not revoked  prior to its use,  will be voted in accordance
with the instructions  contained therein. If no contrary instructions are given,
each proxy received will be voted for each of the matters  described  below and,
upon the  transaction  of such other  business as may  properly  come before the
meeting,  in  accordance  with the best  judgment  of the persons  appointed  as
proxies.

         Any  shareholder  giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time
before it is exercised by (i) filing with the  Secretary of the Holding  Company
written  notice  thereof  (Larry G.  Phillips,  100 West Third  Street,  Marion,
Indiana  46952),  (ii) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or
(iii) by appearing at the Annual Meeting and giving the Secretary  notice of his
or her intention to vote in person.  Proxies  solicited  hereby may be exercised
only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment  thereof and will not be used for
any other meeting.

                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

         Only shareholders of record at the close of business on August 22, 1997
("Voting Record Date"),  will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  On the
Voting Record Date,  there were 1,773,356  shares of the Common Stock issued and
outstanding,  and the Holding  Company  had no other class of equity  securities
outstanding.  Each share of Common  Stock is  entitled to one vote at the Annual
Meeting on all matters properly  presented at the Annual Meeting.  A majority of
the votes  entitled to be cast, in person or by proxy,  at the Annual Meeting is
necessary for a quorum. In determining whether a quorum is present, shareholders
who abstain, cast broker non-votes, or withhold authority to vote on one or more
director  nominees will be deemed  present at the Annual  Meeting.  There are no
persons known to management beneficially owning 5% or more of the Common Stock.

                       PROPOSAL I -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of Directors,  by resolution  adopted pursuant to the By-Laws
of the Holding Company, established that the Board of Directors shall consist of
seven  members.  Effective  July 21, 1997, Jon R. Marler was elected to fill the
vacancy on the Board created by the death of Robert D. Burchard in June of 1997.
The By-Laws  provide  that the Board of  Directors  is to be divided  into three
classes as nearly equal in number as possible.  The members of each class are to
be elected for a term of three years and until their  successors are elected and
qualified.  One class of directors is to be elected  annually.  The nominees for
director  this year are Jerry D.  McVicker and Jon R. Marler,  each of whom is a
current director of the Holding  Company.  If elected by the shareholders at the
Annual Meeting, the terms of Messrs. McVicker and Marler will expire in 2000.

         Unless  otherwise  directed,  each proxy  executed  and  returned  by a
shareholder  will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below. If any



person named as a nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election at
the time of the Annual  Meeting,  the proxy holders will nominate and vote for a
replacement  nominee  recommended  by the Board of Directors.  At this time, the
Board of Directors  knows of no reason why the nominees  listed below may not be
able to serve as directors if elected.

         The following table sets forth certain information  regarding directors
continuing  in office and the  nominees  for the  position  of  director  of the
Holding  Company,  including  the number and  percent of shares of Common  Stock
beneficially  owned  by  such  persons  as of the  Voting  Record  Date.  Unless
otherwise  indicated,  each person in the table below has sole investment and/or
voting power with respect to the shares  shown as  benefically  owned by him. No
nominee for  director is related to any other  nominee for director or executive
officer of the Holding Company by blood, marriage, or adoption, and there are no
arrangements or understandings between any nominee and any other person pursuant
to which  such  nominee  was  selected.  The table also sets forth the number of
shares of Holding Company Common Stock  benefically  owned by Larry G. Phillips,
one of the  Holding  Company's  executive  officers,  and by all  directors  and
executive officers of the Holding Company as a group.



                                                                     Director
                                                                       of the         Common Stock
                                                   Director of        Holding      Beneficially Owned
                             Expiration of        First Federal       Company        as of August 22      Percentage
Name                       Term as Director           Since            Since             1997(1)           of Class
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 
Director Nominees
Jon R. Marler                     2000               1997              1997                500(2)             0.03%
Jerry D. McVicker                 2000               1996              1996             62,066(3)             3.50%
Directors Continuing in Office
Steven L. Banks                   1999               1996              1996              5,438(4)             0.31%
W. Gordon Coryea                  1999               1965              1992             21,851(5)             1.23%
John M. Dalton                    1998               1974              1992             41,767(6)             2.36%
Jack O. Murrell                   1998               1974              1992             20,006(7)             1.13%
George L. Thomas                  1999               1962              1992             32,498(8)             1.83%
Executive Officer
Larry G. Phillips,
Senior Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer            --                 --                --              19,592(9)             1.10%
All directors and executive
officers as a group (9 persons)                                                       226,420(10)            12.77%


(1)      Based upon information  furnished by the respective  director nominees.
         Under  applicable  regulations,  shares are  deemed to be  beneficially
         owned by a person if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares the
         power to vote or  dispose of the  shares,  whether or not he or she has
         any  economic  power  with  respect  to  the  shares.  Includes  shares
         benefically owned by members of the immediate  families of the director
         nominees residing in their homes.

(2)      These  shares are held jointly by Mr.  Marler and his spouse.  Excludes
         10,083  shares  subject  to a stock  option  granted  under the  Marion
         Capital Holdings, Inc. Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan").

(3)      Includes  6,490  shares  owned  jointly by Mr.  McVicker  and his wife,
         15,000  shares held in a trust as to which Mr.  McVicker is trustee and
         beneficiary,  and 10,083 shares subject to a stock option granted under
         the Option Plan.

(4)      Of these  shares,  500 are held in a trust  as to  which  Mr.  Banks is
         trustee  and  beneficiary,  and 4,938  are  subject  to a stock  option
         granted under the Option Plan. This number  excludes  options for 5,145
         shares held by Mr.  Banks which  become  exercisable  more than 60 days
         after the Voting Record Date.

(5)      Of these shares,  6,644 are subject to a stock option granted under the
         Option Plan and 1,207 are held under the First Federal  Savings Bank of
         Marion Recognition and Retention Plan (the "RRP").

(6)      Of these  shares,  11,929 are owned jointly by Mr. Dalton and his wife,
         9,537  are  held  in a  revocable  trust  as to  which  Mr.  Dalton  is
         co-trustee and his wife is a beneficiary,  14,000 shares are subject to
         a stock option  granted under the Option Plan, and 2,801 are held under
         the RRP.

(7)      Of these shares,  12,965 are held jointly by Mr.  Murrell and his wife,
         3,334 are subject to a stock option  granted under the Option Plan, and
         1,207 are held under the RRP.

(8)      Of these shares, 19,605 are held in a trust as to which Mr. Thomas is a
         trustee and his wife is a beneficiary,  6,017 are held in a trust as to
         which Mr. Thomas' wife is a trustee and his children are beneficiaries,
         4,083 are subject to a stock option  granted under the Option Plan, and
         1,207 are held under the RRP.

(9)      Of these shares,  14,320 are held jointly by Mr. Phillips and his wife,
         4,000 are subject to a stock option  granted under the Option Plan, and
         772 are held under the RRP.

(10)     The  total of such  shares  includes  53,010  shares  subject  to stock
         options  granted  under the Option Plan and 8,015 shares which are held
         under the RRP. The total  excludes  options for 15,228  shares  granted
         under the Option Plan which are exercisable more than 60 days after the
         Voting Record Date.


Presented  below is certain  information  concerning  the directors and director
nominees of the Holding Company:

         Steven L.  Banks  (age 47) has been  Executive  Vice  President  of the
Holding Company and First Federal since September 1, 1996. Theretofore he served
as President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Fidelity  Federal  Savings  Bank,
Marion, Indiana since prior to 1991.

         W.  Gordon  Coryea  (age 72) is an  attorney  at law  based in  Marion,
Indiana, and has served as attorney for First Federal since 1965.

         John M. Dalton  (age 63) has served as  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of the Holding  Company and First Federal since February,  1996,  became
Vice  Chairman of the Holding  Company and First  Federal in August,  1996,  and
became  Chairman  of the  Holding  Company  and  First  Federal  in July,  1997.
Theretofore  he served as Executive  Vice  President of First Federal since 1983
and of the Holding  Company  since 1992.  He also serves as  President  of First
Marion.

         Jon R. Marler (age 47) has served as Senior Vice  President of Ralph M.
Williams and  Associates (a real estate  developer  located in Marion,  Indiana)
since June 1982.

         Jerry D.  McVicker  (age 52) has served as Director of  Operations  for
Marion Community Schools (education) since April, 1996. Theretofore he served as
Assistant Principal of Marion High School since prior to 1991.

         Jack O. Murrell (age 74) served as President of Murrell and Keal, Inc.,
since 1958 (a retailer located in Marion, Indiana) until his retirement in 1993.

         George L. Thomas (age 80) served as Chairman of the Foster-Forbes Glass
Co., a division of the  National  Can  Corporation,  located in Marion,  Indiana
until his retirement in 1984.

         THE  DIRECTORS  SHALL  BE  ELECTED  UPON  RECEIPT  OF  A  PLURALITY  OF
AFFIRMATIVE VOTES CAST AT THE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING.  Plurality means that
individuals  who receive the largest  number of votes cast are elected up to the
maximum  number of directors to be chosen at the  meeting.  Abstentions,  broker
non-votes,  and instructions on the accompanying  proxy to withhold authority to
vote for one or more of the  nominees  will  result in the  respective  nominees
receiving fewer votes.  However,  the number of votes otherwise  received by the
nominee will not be reduced by such action.

The Board of Directors and its Committees

         During the fiscal year ended June 30,  1997,  the Board of Directors of
the Holding  Company met six times.  No director  attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate  total number of meetings  during the last fiscal year of the Board of
Directors  of the  Holding  Company  held  while he  served as  director  and of
meetings of  committees  which he served  during that fiscal  year.  Among other
committees, the Board of Directors of the Holding Company has an Audit Committee
and a Stock Compensation  Committee.  All committee members are appointed by the
Board of Directors.

         The Audit Committee, comprised of Messrs. Coryea, McVicker and Murrell,
recommends the appointment of the Holding Company's independent accountants, and
meets with them to outline the scope and review the  results of such audit.  The
Audit  Committee meets as needed and held one meeting during the year ended June
30, 1997.

         The Stock  Compensation  Committee  administers  the Holding  Company's
Stock  Option  Plan and the RRP.  The  members  of that  Committee  are  Messrs.
Murrell, and Thomas. It did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997.

         The Board of Directors  nominated  the slate of directors  set forth in
the Proxy Statement. Although the Board of Directors of the Holding Company will
consider  nominees  recommended by shareholders,  it has not actively  solicited
recommendations for nominees from shareholders nor has it established procedures
for this  purpose.  Article  III,  Section 12 of the Holding  Company's  By-Laws
provides  that  shareholders  entitled to vote for the election of directors may
name  nominees  for  election  to the Board of  Directors  but there are certain
requirements  that must be  satisfied  in order to do so.  Among  other  things,
written notice of a proposed nomination must be received by the Secretary of the
Holding  Company  not less than 60 days prior to the Annual  Meeting;  provided,



however,  that in the event that less than 70 days' notice or public  disclosure
of the date of the  meeting is given or made to  shareholders  (which  notice or
public  disclosure  includes  the date of the Annual  Meeting  specified  in the
Holding  Company's  By-Laws if the Annual Meeting is held on such date),  notice
must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day  following
the day on which  such  notice  of the date of the  meeting  was  mailed or such
public disclosure was made.

Management Remuneration and Related Transactions

         Remuneration of Named Executive Officers

         No cash  compensation is paid directly by the Holding Company to any of
its executive officers. Each of such officers is compensated by First Federal.

         The following table sets forth information as to annual,  long-term and
other compensation for services in all capacities to the Holding Company and its
subsidiaries for the last three fiscal years of (i) the individual who served as
the chief executive  officer of the Holding Company during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1997 and (ii) each executive  officer of the Holding Company serving as
such during the 1997 fiscal year, who earned over $100,000 in salary and bonuses
during that year (the "Named Executive Officers").



                           Summary Compensation Table
                                                                             Long Term Compensation
                                              Annual  Compensation                   Awards
                                                               Other Annual  Restricted                 All Other
                            Fiscal                             Compensation  Stock                    Compensation
Name and Principal Position  Year     Salary ($) Bonus ($)(1)     ($) (2)    Awards ($)(3)  Options (#)    ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
John M. Dalton               1997     $187,450       $32,100       --              --          --          --
   President, Chief Executive1996     $171,350       $30,000       --              --          --          --
   Officer and Director      1995     $160,450       $28,100       --              --          --          --
Steven L. Banks              1997     $104,950       $ 7,000       --              --        10,083 (5)    --
   Executive Vice President                                                                             
   and Director (4)                                                                                     
Larry G. Phillips            1997     $101,700       $16,600       --              --          --          --
   Senior Vice President,    1996     $ 95,350       $15,500       --              --          --          --
   Secretary and Treasurer   1995     $ 89,200       $14,500       --              --          --          --
                                                                                                      

(1)      The bonus amounts were paid under First Federal's bonus plan.

(2)      The Named  Executive  Officers of the Holding  Company  receive certain
         perquisites,  but the  incremental  cost of providing such  perquisites
         does not exeed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the officer's salary and
         bonus.

(3)      As of June 30, 1997, the number and value of restricted  shares held by
         for Mr. Dalton were 2,801 shares and $65,123 respectively;  and for Mr.
         Phillips were 772 shares and $17,949,  respectively.  Dividends paid on
         the  restricted  shares are payable to the grantee and are not included
         in the table.

(4)      Mr. Banks became  affiliated  with the Bank as Executive Vice President
         on September 1, 1996.

(5)      These options  became  exercisable  as to 4,938 shares on March 1, 1997
         and become  exercisable  as to 4,938  shares on January 1, 1998 and 207
         shares on January 1, 1999.

         Stock Options

         The following table sets forth  information  related to options granted
during  fiscal year 1996 to the only Named  Executive  Officer to receive  stock
options during that period.



                                     Option Grants - Last Fiscal Year
                                             Individual Grants
                                                % of Total
                                              Options Granted        Exercise or
                            Options            to Employees           Base Price       Expiration
     Name                Granted(#)(1)        In Fiscal Year         ($/Share)(2)         Date
                                                                               
Steven L. Banks              10,083               100%                 $20.25           8/31/2006


(1)      Options to acquire shares of the Holding Company's Common Stock.  These
         options  became  exercisable  as to 4,938  shares  on March 1, 1997 and
         become exercisable as to 4,938 shares on January 1, 1998 and 207 shares
         on January 1, 1999.

(2)      The option  exercise  price may be paid in cash or with the approval of
         the Stock  Compensation  Committee in shares of Holding  Company Common
         Stock or a combination  thereof.  The option exercise price equaled the
         market value of a share of the Holding Company Common Stock on the date
         of grant.




         The following table includes  information  relating to option exercises
by the Named  Executive  Officers  during  fiscal  1997 and the number of shares
covered  by  exercisable  and  unexercisable  stock  options  held by the  Named
Executive  Officers  as of June 30,  1997.  Also  reported  are the  values  for
"in-the-money"  options  (options  whose exercise price is lower than the market
value of the shares at fiscal year end) which  represent the spread  between the
exercise price of any such existing stock options and the fiscal year-end market
price of the stock.

               Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
        Outstanding Stock Option Grants and Value Realized as of 6/30/97



                                                                Number of                     Value of Unexercised
                                                          Securities Underlying                   In-the-Money
                                                            Unexercised Options                    Options at
                     Shares Acquired      Value            at Fiscal Year End (#)            Fiscal Year End ($) (1)
Name                  on Exercise (#)   Realized       Exercisable     Unexercisable      Exercisable   Unexercisable
- ----                  ---------------   --------       -----------     -------------      -----------   -------------
                                                                                              
John M. Dalton            7,380         $95,482         14,000                 --           $185,000           --
Steven L. Banks             ---             ---          4,938              5,145           $ 14,814        $15,435
Larry G. Phillips         2,000         $23,813          4,000                 --           $ 53,000           --


(1)      Amounts  reflecting  gains  on  outstanding  options  are  based on the
         average  between  the high and low  prices  for the  shares on June 30,
         1997, which was $23.25 per share.

       Compensation of Directors

         All  directors  of First  Federal  receive a  retainer  fee of $600 per
month, plus a fee of $600 per Board meeting attended. All directors receive $150
for each special  meeting of the Board  attended.  Members of Board  Committees,
other than  officers,  are paid a separate fee of $100 per  meeting,  unless the
meetings are unusually  long in which case $150 per meeting is paid. As Chairman
of the Board of First  Federal,  Mr. Dalton  receives a retainer fee of $900 per
month, plus a fee of $900 per Board meeting attended.

         Directors  of the Holding  Company are paid a fee of $50 per meeting if
the  meeting  is held on the same day as a First  Federal  meeting  and $100 per
meeting if the Holding Company meets on a different day.

         Supplemental  Retirement  Plan for  Directors.  Effective  May 1, 1992,
First Federal  entered into  deferred  compensation  agreements  which remain in
effect for the  directors  listed  below.  These  agreements  provide  that upon
retirement  from the  Board  after  attaining  age 70,  each  director  shall be
entitled to receive annual  benefits in the following  amounts for the following
number of years following such termination of service as a director:

                                                 Period Remaining Payable
  Director                 Annual Payment            at June 30, 1997
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  John M. Dalton                 $9,960                   10 years
  Jack O.  Murrell              $10,500               7 years, 8 months
  W. Gordon Coryea               $8,748               7 years, 7 months
  George L. Thomas              $10,392               7 years, 9 months

         At the request of a director  and subject to First  Federal's  consent,
payments may be made in a lump sum rather than annual  installments.  A director
may also elect to receive his benefits upon  attaining age 70 even if he remains
on the Board of Directors.  If service is  terminated,  the director may request
acceleration of payments based upon the accruals to date.

         If the director  dies prior to attaining age 70, his  beneficiary  will
receive  annual  payments  equal to the Board fees paid by First  Federal in the
twelve  months  immediately  prior to his death for a period of 15 years.  If he
dies after his benefits  commence,  his beneficiary  will be entitled to receive
the remaining payments over the balance of the applicable payment period.

         A director has the option of increasing his benefits  payable under the
plan by deferring a larger amount of his directors fees to help fund the payment
of such increased benefits, although no director has elected to do so.




         First  Federal  for the fiscal  year ended  June 30,  1997,  accrued an
expense for this plan of $133,588 of which $32,250 consisted of interest on this
deferred liability which accrues at an annual rate of 10.5%.

         Death Benefit Agreements with Directors. First Federal, as of April 30,
1988,  entered into an agreement  with Mr.  Coryea which  provides that upon his
death his  beneficiary  will be  entitled to receive  for a 15-year  period,  an
annual  payment of $26,000.  The payment of these death  benefits is conditioned
upon the continuous  service of Mr. Coryea for a period of five years  following
the adoption of the plan and until attaining age 70.

         First Federal has purchased  paid-up life insurance on the lives of the
directors covered under the supplemental retirement plan for directors and death
benefit  agreement  described above, to fund the benefits  available under these
plans.

         Transactions With Certain Related Persons

         First  Federal  may make  available  to its  directors,  officers,  and
employees real estate  mortgage loans secured by their  principal  residence and
other loans.  These loans are made in the ordinary  course of business  with the
same collateral, interest rates and underwriting criteria as those of comparable
transactions prevailing at the time and do not involve more than the normal risk
of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

         W. Gordon  Coryea,  a director  of both the  Holding  Company and First
Federal,   serves  as  counsel  to  First  Federal  in   connection   with  loan
delinquencies  and  provides  routine  legal  work  such  as  deed  preparation,
foreclosures and preparation of other legal documents.  Mr. Coryea received fees
of $32,035 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, for such services.  First
Federal expects to continue using Mr. Coryea's  services for such matters in the
current fiscal year.

                     PROPOSAL II -- RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS

         The  Board  of  Directors   proposes  for  the   ratification   of  the
shareholders  at the Annual  Meeting the  appointment of Geo. S. Olive & Co.LLC,
certified public accountants,  as independent auditors for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1998.  Geo. S. Olive & Co.LLC has served as auditors for First  Federal
since 1979.  A  representative  of Geo. S. Olive & Co.LLC will be present at the
Annual  Meeting with the  opportunity  to make a statement if he so desires.  He
will also be available to respond to any appropriate questions  shareholders may
have.

             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

         Section  16(a) of the  1934 Act  requires  that the  Holding  Company's
officers  and  directors  and  persons  who own  more  than  10% of the  Holding
Company's  Common Stock file reports of ownership and changes in ownership  with
the SEC.  Officers,  directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by
SEC  regulations to furnish the Holding Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms that they file.

         Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms  received by it,
and/or written  representations  from certain  reporting persons that no Forms 5
were required for those persons,  the Holding  Company  believes that during the
fiscal  year ended June 30,  1997,  all filing  requirements  applicable  to its
officers,  directors  and greater  than 10%  beneficial  owners with  respect to
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act were satisfied in a timely manner.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         Any proposal  which a shareholder  wishes to have presented at the next
Annual Meeting of the Holding Company must be received at the main office of the
Holding  Company for the inclusion in the proxy statement no later than 120 days
in  advance  of  September  5,  1998.  Any such  proposal  should be sent to the
attention  of the  Secretary  of the Holding  Company at 100 West Third  Street,
Marion, Indiana 46952.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         Management  is not aware of any  business  to come  before  the  Annual
Meeting other than those matters described in the Proxy Statement.  However,  if
any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended
that the  proxies  solicited  hereby  will be voted with  respect to those other
matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.




         The cost of  solicitation  of  proxies  will be  borne  by the  Holding
Company.   The  Holding  Company  will  reimburse   brokerage  firms  and  other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in
sending proxy material to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock. In addition
to  solicitation  by mail,  directors,  officers,  and  employees of the Holding
Company  may solicit  proxies  personally  or by  telephone  without  additional
compensation.

         Each  shareholder  is urged to  complete,  date and sign the  proxy and
return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.


                                       By Order of the Board of Directors


                                        /s/ John M. Dalton
                                       John M. Dalton, President and 
                                        Chief Executive Officer


[FRONT OF PROXY CARD]

REVOCABLE PROXY           MARION CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.
                         Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                                 October 9, 1997

         The  undersigned  hereby appoints John M. Dalton and Larry G. Phillips,
with  full  power of  substitution,  to act as  attorneys  and  proxies  for the
undersigned to vote all shares of common stock of Marion Capital Holdings,  Inc.
which the  undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held at the Holiday  Inn,  501 East Fourth  Street,  Marion,  Indiana,  on
Thursday,  October  9,  1997,  at 10:00  a.m.,  and at any and all  adjournments
thereof, as follows:

1.       The  election as  directors of all  nominees  listed  below,  except as
         marked to the contrary.

                          [ ] FOR            [ ]    VOTE WITHHELD

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a
line through the nominee's name on the list below:

         Jon R. Marler                                  Jerry D. McVicker

                          (each for a three year term)

2.       Ratification  of the appointment of Geo. S. Olive & Co. LLC as auditors
         for the year ending June 30, 1998.

         [ ]  FOR             [ ]  AGAINST           [ ]  ABSTAIN

In their  discretion,  the proxies are  authorized to vote on any other business
that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.


 The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" each of the listed propositions.

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

This Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof.

The undersigned  acknowledges receipt from Marion Capital Holdings,  Inc., prior
to the execution of this Proxy,  of a Notice of the Meeting,  a Proxy  Statement
and an Annual Report to Shareholders.


[BACK OF PROXY CARD]

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         Should  the  undersigned  be  present  and elect to vote at the  Annual
Meeting or at any adjournment thereof and after notification to the Secretary of
the Corporation at the Meeting of the  shareholder's  decision to terminate this
Proxy,  then the power of such attorneys and proxies shall be deemed  terminated
and of no further force and effect.

PLEASE PROMPTLY COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE
PAID ENVELOPE.


                                           Dated:_____________________, 1997
                                                    NUMBER OF SHARES





                           -------------------------   -------------------------
                           Print Name of Shareholder   Print Name of Shareholder


                           -------------------------   -------------------------
                           Signature of Shareholder    Signature of Shareholder

                           Please  sign  exactly as your name  appears  above on
                           this  card.  When  signing  as  attorney,   executor,
                           administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your
                           full title.  If shares are held jointly,  each holder
                           should sign.