1


                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the registrant |X|
Filed by a party other than the registrant |_|


Check the appropriate box:
|X|  Preliminary proxy statement
|_|  Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)
     (2))
|_|  Definitive proxy statement
|_|  Definitive additional materials
|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12


                               Lenox Bancorp, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
|X|  No fee required.
|_|  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which  transactions  applies:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)  Per unit price or other underlying valueof 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:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_|  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.

(1)  Amount Previously Paid:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)   Filing Party:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)   Date Filed:
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



 2










                                 April __, 2001





Dear Stockholder:

      You are cordially  invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of
Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc.,  the holding  company for Lenox Savings Bank. The meeting
will be held at the Bank's executive  offices at 4730 Montgomery Road,  Norwood,
Ohio on Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at 2:30 p.m., local time.

      The  notice  of  annual  meeting  and  proxy  statement  appearing  on the
following  pages  describe the formal  business to be transacted at the meeting.
During  the  meeting,  we will also  report on the  operations  of the  Company.
Directors  and officers of the Company,  as well as a  representative  of Clark,
Schaefer,  Hackett & Co., the Company's independent auditors, will be present to
respond to appropriate questions of stockholders.

      Please  note that  management  has  chosen to use a GREEN  proxy card this
year,  not a  white  proxy  card  as it  has in the  past.  Stockholders  should
therefore be sure to vote management's GREEN proxy.

      It is important that your shares are represented at this meeting,  whether
or not you attend the meeting in person and  regardless  of the number of shares
you own. To make sure your shares are  represented,  we urge you to complete and
mail the enclosed  GREEN proxy card. If you attend the meeting,  you may vote in
person even if you have previously mailed a proxy card.

      We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

                                 Sincerely,




                                 Virginia M. Heitzman
                                 PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR


 3



                               LENOX BANCORP, INC.
                              4730 MONTGOMERY ROAD
                               NORWOOD, OHIO 45212
                                 (513) 531-8655
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      On Wednesday,  May 9, 2001, Lenox Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company") will hold
its annual  meeting of  stockholders  at the  Bank's  executive  offices at 4730
Montgomery Road, Norwood, Ohio. The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m., local time.
At the meeting, the stockholders will consider and act upon the following:

      1.    The election of two directors to serve for a term of three years;

      2.    The  ratification  of  the appointment of Clark, Schaefer, Hackett &
            Co. as  independent  auditors  for the  Company  for the fiscal year
            ending December 31, 2001;

      3.    The  transaction of any other business that may properly come before
            the meeting.

      NOTE:  The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business scheduled
to come before the meeting.

      Stockholders  of  record at the close of  business  on April __,  2001 are
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting and any  adjournment or
postponement of the meeting.

      Please  complete  and sign the  enclosed  GREEN  form of  proxy,  which is
solicited by the Board of Directors,  and mail it promptly in the enclosed GREEN
envelope.  The proxy  will not be used if you  attend  the  meeting  and vote in
person.

                                    BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



                                    Diane P. Hunt
                                    CORPORATE SECRETARY

Norwood, Ohio
April __, 2001

IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT RETURN OF GREEN PROXIES WILL SAVE THE COMPANY THE EXPENSE
OF FURTHER  REQUESTS FOR PROXIES IN ORDER TO ENSURE A QUORUM.  A  SELF-ADDRESSED
GREEN  ENVELOPE  IS  ENCLOSED  FOR YOUR  CONVENIENCE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF
MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.


 4



                               LENOX BANCORP, INC.
                       ----------------------------------

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                       ----------------------------------

      This proxy statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Lenox Bancorp, Inc. ("Lenox Bancorp" or the
"Company") to be used at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company.  The
Company is the holding  company for Lenox Savings Bank (the "Bank").  The annual
meeting will be held at the Bank's  executive  offices at 4730 Montgomery  Road,
Norwood,  Ohio on Wednesday,  May 9, 2001, at 2:30 p.m.,  local time. This proxy
statement  and  the  enclosed  GREEN  proxy  card  are  being  first  mailed  to
stockholders on or about April __, 2001.

                           VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURE

WHO CAN VOTE AT THE MEETING

      You are entitled to vote your Lenox Bancorp common stock if the records of
the  Company  showed  that you held your  shares as of the close of  business on
April __,  2001.  As of the close of business  on that date,  a total of 285,028
shares of Lenox  Bancorp  common  stock were  outstanding.  Each share of common
stock has one vote. As provided in the Company's  Articles of Incorporation,  in
no  event  shall  any  record  owner  of the  Company's  common  stock  which is
beneficially owned, either directly or indirectly,  by a person who beneficially
owns in excess of 10% of the Company's  outstanding  shares,  be entitled to any
vote in respect of the shares held in excess of the 10% limit.

ATTENDING THE MEETING

      If you are a  stockholder  as of the close of business on April __,  2001,
you may attend the meeting.  However,  if your shares are held by a broker, bank
or other nominee (I.E., in "street  name"),  you will need proof of ownership to
be admitted to the meeting. A recent brokerage  statement,  a letter from a bank
or broker or a proxy card printed with the stockholder's name on it are examples
of proof of ownership.  If you want to vote your shares of Lenox Bancorp  common
stock  held in  street  name in person  at the  meeting,  you will have to get a
written proxy in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee who holds your
shares.

VOTE REQUIRED

      The annual meeting will be held if a majority of the outstanding shares of
common stock entitled to vote is represented at the meeting. If you return valid
proxy instructions or attend the meeting in person,  your shares will be counted
for purposes of determining  whether there is a quorum, even if you abstain from
voting.  Broker  non-votes also will be counted for purposes for determining the
existence of a quorum.  A broker  non-vote  occurs when a broker,  bank or other
nominee  holding  shares for a  beneficial  owner does not vote on a  particular
proposal  because  the nominee  does not have  discretionary  voting  power with
respect  to  that  item  and has  not  received  voting  instructions  from  the
beneficial owner.

      In  voting on the  election  of  directors,  you may vote in favor of both
nominees,  withhold  votes as to both nominees or withhold  votes as to specific
nominees.  Directors  are elected by a plurality  of the votes cast.  This means
that the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.  Votes
that are withheld and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
election.


 5



      In voting on the approval of the ratification of the appointment of Clark,
Schaefer,  Hackett & Co. as independent  auditors,  you may vote in favor of the
proposal,  vote against the proposal or abstain from voting. This matter will be
decided by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the votes  represented at the
meeting  and  entitled  to vote.  Abstentions  will  have the same  effect  as a
negative vote, while broker non- votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
voting.

VOTING BY PROXY

      This proxy  statement  is being sent to you by the Board of  Directors  of
Lenox Bancorp for the purpose of requesting  that you allow your shares of Lenox
Bancorp  common  stock to be  represented  at the annual  meeting by the persons
named in the enclosed GREEN proxy card. All shares of Lenox Bancorp common stock
represented  at the  meeting  by  properly  executed  proxies  will be  voted in
accordance with the instructions  indicated on the GREEN proxy card. If you sign
and return a GREEN proxy card without  giving voting  instructions,  your shares
will be voted as recommended by the Company's  Board of Directors.  THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE  MANAGEMENT  NOMINEES  AND "FOR"
RATIFICATION OF CLARK, SCHAEFER, HACKETT & CO. AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.

      If any  matters  not  described  in  this  proxy  statement  are  properly
presented at the annual meeting,  the persons named in the GREEN proxy card will
use their own  judgment  to  determine  how to vote your  shares.  If the annual
meeting is postponed or adjourned,  your Lenox Bancorp common stock may be voted
by the persons  named in the GREEN  proxy card on the new meeting  date as well,
unless you have  revoked  your  proxy.  The  Company  does not know of any other
matters  to be  presented  at the  meeting  and does not  intend to  adjourn  or
postpone the meeting in order to solicit additional proxies.

      You may  revoke  your  proxy at any time  before  the vote is taken at the
meeting.  To revoke  your  proxy you must  either  advise the  Secretary  of the
Company in writing  before your  shares  have been voted at the annual  meeting,
deliver a later  dated  proxy,  or attend the  meeting  and vote your  shares in
person.  Attendance  at  the  annual  meeting  will  not  in  itself  constitute
revocation of your proxy.

      If your  Lenox  Bancorp  common  stock is held in  street  name,  you will
receive  instructions  from your  broker,  bank or other  nominee  that you must
follow in order to have your shares voted.  Your broker or bank may allow you to
deliver your voting  instructions via the telephone or the Internet.  Please see
the instruction form that accompanies this proxy statement.

PARTICIPANTS IN LENOX SAVINGS BANK'S ESOP

      If you participate in the Lenox Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan
you will have received with this proxy statement a voting  instruction form that
reflects  all shares  you may vote under the plan.  Under the terms of the ESOP,
all shares held by the ESOP are voted by the ESOP trustee,  but each participant
in the ESOP may direct  the  trustee  how to vote the  shares of Company  common
stock allocated to his or her account.  All participants  will vote their shares
anonymously.  Unallocated  shares of common stock held by the ESOP and allocated
shares for which no timely voting instructions are received will be voted by the
ESOP trustee in the same proportion as shares for which the trustee has received
voting  instructions,  subject to the  exercise  of its  fiduciary  duties.  The
deadline for returning your voting  instructions  to the plan's trustee is April
30, 2001.


                                        2

 6




                                 STOCK OWNERSHIP

      The following table provides  information as of April 1, 2001 with respect
to persons  believed by the Company to be the beneficial  owners of more than 5%
of the Company's outstanding common stock. A person may be considered to own any
shares of common stock over which he or she has, directly or indirectly, sole or
shared voting or investment power.


                                                                     PERCENT OF
                                                      NUMBER OF     COMMON STOCK
NAME AND ADDRESS                                     SHARES OWNED   OUTSTANDING
- ----------------                                     ------------  -------------
                                                                  
Lenox Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan      33,212(1)         11.7%
4730 Montgomery Road
Norwood, Ohio 45212

John C. Lame                                          28,063             9.9%
1260 Hayward Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208

Virginia M. Heitzman                                  18,045             6.2%
4730 Montgomery Road
Norwood, Ohio 45212

- -----------------------------------
(1) Under the terms of the employee  stock  ownership  plan,  the employee stock
    ownership plan trustee, subject to its fiduciary responsibilities, will vote
    unallocated and allocated shares for which no timely voting instructions are
    received in the same proportion as shares for which the trustee has received
    voting  instructions from  participants.  As of April 1, 2001, 16,074 shares
    have been  allocated  to  participants'  accounts and 17,138  shares  remain
    unallocated.


                                        3

 7



      The following table provides information about the shares of Lenox Bancorp
common stock that may be considered to be owned by each director and nominee for
director  of the  Company,  by  the  executive  officer  named  in  the  Summary
Compensation Table and by all directors and executive officers of the Company as
a group as of April 1, 2001. A person may be considered to beneficially  own any
shares of common stock over which he or she has, directly or indirectly, sole or
shared voting or investing power. Unless otherwise indicated,  each of the named
individuals has sole voting power and sole investment  power with respect to the
shares shown.




                                                            NUMBER OF SHARES
                                             NUMBER OF        THAT MAY BE          PERCENT OF
                                            SHARES OWNED   ACQUIRED WITHIN 60        COMMON
                                            (EXCLUDING     DAYS BY EXERCISING        STOCK
                NAME                       (OPTIONS)(1)        OPTIONS           OUTSTANDING(2)
- ---------------------------------------   --------------  --------------------  ----------------
                                                                            
Gail R. Behymer........................       3,321               767                 1.4%

Henry E. Brown.........................       3,739               767                 1.6

Virginia M. Heitzman...................      14,075(3)          5,109                 6.6

John C. Lame...........................      28,063               256                 9.9

Vernon L. Morrison.....................         100(4)             --                 0.0

Reba St. Clair.........................       1,276               767                 0.7

All directors and executive officers
   as a group (8 persons)..............      59,390            10,221                23.6%

- ---------------------------------
(1) Includes unvested shares of restricted stock awards held in trust as part of
    the Lenox  Savings  Bank 1997  Incentive  Plan,  with  respect  to which the
    beneficial  owner  has  voting  but not  investment  power as  follows:  Mr.
    Behymer--170 shares; Mr. Brown--170 shares; Ms. Heitzman--1,021  shares; Mr.
    Lame--340 shares; and Ms. St. Clair--170 shares.
(2) Based on  285,028  shares of Lenox  Bancorp  common  stock  outstanding  and
    entitled to vote as of April 1, 2001,  plus the number of shares that may be
    acquired  within 60 days by each  individual  (or group of  individuals)  by
    exercising stock options.
(3) Includes  6,689  shares held under the Lenox  Savings  Bank  Employee  Stock
    Ownership  Plan,  with  respect  to which Ms.  Heitzman  has  voting but not
    investment power.
(4) Represents 100 shares owned by Mr. Morrison's spouse.

                       PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    The Company's Board of Directors  currently  consists of five members.  Four
directors  are  independent  and  one is an  officer.  Each  director  serves  a
three-year term. The nominees for election this year are Henry E. Brown, whom is
a  director  of the  Company  and the Bank,  and  Vernon L.  Morrison,  who is a
director of the Bank.

    It is intended that the proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors will be
voted for the election of the nominees named above.  If any nominee is unable to
serve,  the  persons  named in the GREEN  proxy card  would vote your  shares to
approve the  election  of any  substitute  proposed  by the Board of  Directors.
Alternatively,  the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution to reduce the size
of the Board.  At this time,  the Board of Directors  knows of no reason why any
nominee might be unable to serve.


                                        4

 8



    THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
MANAGEMENT NOMINEES.

    Information  regarding the management nominees and the directors  continuing
in office is provided below.  Unless otherwise stated,  each individual has held
his or her current occupation for the last five years. The age indicated in each
nominee's   biography  is  as  of  December  31,  2000.   There  are  no  family
relationships  among the directors or executive  officers.  The indicated period
for service as a director includes service as a director of the Bank.

                   COMPANY NOMINEES FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      The management nominees standing for election are:

      HENRY  E.  BROWN  holds  a B.S.  degree  in  Civil  Engineering  from  the
University  of  Missouri-Rolla.   Mr.  Brown  has  been  an  officer  of  TecSol
Manufacturing,  a machine  fabrication  company  located in Fort  Walton  Beach,
Florida  since  October  1999.  In October  1999,  Mr. Brown retired after being
employed  with  Procter & Gamble  for 31 years.  Mr.  Brown is  Chairman  of the
Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors.  Age 55. Director since
1995.

      VERNON L. MORRISON has been the President of Lighthouse Mortgage Services,
Inc., a mortgage lending company located in Columbus, Ohio, since February 2000.
Mr. Morrison was Vice President of First  Community  Bank,  located in Columbus,
Ohio, from July 1994 until February 1999. Age 40. Director since 2000.

                         DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

      The following directors have terms ending in 2002:

      GAIL R. BEHYMER holds a B.S. in Industrial  Management  and a M.B.A.  from
the University of Cincinnati.  He worked at Procter & Gamble for 34 years with a
background in construction  and facilities  management.  He held the position of
Operations Manager prior to his retirement in 1995. Age 60. Director since 1993.

      VIRGINIA M.  HEITZMAN  joined the Bank in 1986 and has served as President
and Chief  Executive  Officer  since 1994 and Executive  Managing  Officer since
1989. Ms. Heitzman has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry.  Age
42. Director since 1996.

      REBA ST.  CLAIR  holds a B.A.  in  Political  Science  from Knox  College.
Previously  an officer in the  military,  she is currently a Finance  Manager at
Procter & Gamble.  Ms. St.  Clair is a board member for  Leadership  Cincinnati,
Hamilton County Youth  Conference,  Lighthouse Youth Services,  Playhouse in the
Park,  The Cincinnati Art Museum and the  Cincinnati  Ballet.  Age 40.  Director
since 1995.

                           DIRECTOR WITH TERM EXPIRING

      The  following  director's  term  expires  at the 2001  annual  meeting of
stockholders.  The board of  directors  did not  nominate  him for  election  to
another three-year term of office:


                                        5

 9



      JOHN C. LAME is currently a financial  planner and investment  advisor for
Paine Webber.  Prior to joining Paine Webber in 1997,  Mr. Lame served six years
as a vice president with Merrill Lynch. Mr. Lame also worked at Procter & Gamble
for 12 years from 1979 to 1991. Age 43. Director since 1998.

      Mr. Lame has filed proxy  solicitation  material with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  and has stated his  intention  to solicit  proxies for the
election as directors of Lenox Bancorp, Inc. of John C. Lame and Guy E. Napier.

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      The business of the Company is conducted  through  meetings and activities
of its Board of  Directors  and its  committees.  The Board of  Directors of the
Company meets as needed.  During the year ended  December 31, 2000, the Board of
Directors of the Company held 14 meetings.  All of the  directors of the Company
attended at least 75% of the total number of the  Company's  Board  meetings and
committee  meetings on which such directors  served during 2000,  except for Mr.
Lame, who missed four board meetings  during fiscal 2000. The Board of Directors
of the Company  maintains  committees,  the nature and  composition of which are
described below:

      AUDIT  COMMITTEE.  The Audit  Committee,  currently  consisting of Messrs.
Behymer,  Lame and Ms. St. Clair,  provides assurance that financial disclosures
made by  management  portray the  Company's  financial  condition and results of
operations.  The Committee  also  maintains a liaison with outside  auditors and
reviews the adequacy of internal  controls.  The Audit  Committee of the Company
did not meet in 2000.

      COMPENSATION COMMITTEE.  The Compensation Committee,  currently consisting
of Messrs.  Behymer,  Brown,  Ms. Heitzman and Ms. St. Clair, is responsible for
all  matters  regarding  compensation  and  fringe  benefits  for  officers  and
employees. The Compensation Committee met two times during 2000.

      NOMINATING  COMMITTEE.  The  Company's  Nominating  Committee for the 2001
annual  meeting  consisted  of the full  board of  directors.  However,  Messrs.
Behymer  and Lame  were not in  attendance.  The  Committee  considered  various
options for nominees for director to stand for election at the Company's  annual
meeting of  stockholders.  After such  deliberations,  the Nominating  Committee
nominated Mr. Brown to serve for an additional  three-year  term.  However,  the
Nominating  Committee  declined to  nominate  Mr.  Lame for  another  term,  and
instead,  after  reviewing his  credentials,  recommended  to the Board that Mr.
Morrison be  nominated.  The  Company's  Articles of  Incorporation  and Code of
Regulations provide for stockholder  nominations of directors.  These provisions
require such  nominations  to be made pursuant to timely  written  notice to the
secretary of the Company.  The  stockholder's  notice of nomination must contain
all information relating to the nominee which is required to be disclosed by the
Company's  Code of  Regulations  and by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
The Nominating Committee met on February 26, 2001.

      The Company also maintains an Executive Committee and a Strategic Planning
Committee.

      DIRECTORS'  FEES.  Members  of the  Company's  Board of  Directors  do not
receive  Board  fees  from the  Company.  For the  first  three  months of 2000,
non-employee  directors of the Bank who have served as directors of the Bank for
one year or more  received a retainer  of $100 per month,  plus $370 per meeting
attended.  Effective  April 1, 2000, the Board stopped paying such fees. In lieu
of Board  fees,  the  Board  plans  to  adopt a stock  plan,  which  will  grant
restricted stock awards and/or stock options to directors based upon

                                        6

 10



the  financial  performance  of the Bank during the previous  fiscal year.  Once
adopted, the plan will apply retroactively to the time at which payment of Board
fees was stopped.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

      The  following  information  is  furnished  for  Ms.  Heitzman.  No  other
executive officer of Lenox Bancorp received salary and bonus of $100,000 or more
during the year ended December 31, 2000.



                                                 ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                                     OTHER
                                                                     ANNUAL       ALL OTHER
           NAME AND            FISCAL                             COMPENSATION   COMPENSATION
     PRINCIPAL POSITIONS        YEAR    SALARY($)(1)   BONUS($)     ($)(2)           ($)
- -----------------------------  ------   ------------   --------   -----------   --------------
                                                                   
Virginia M. Heitzman (3).....   2000    $84,250        $  --       $   --         $14,002(4)
   President, Chief Executive   1999     84,250           --           --          32,079
   Officer and Director         1998     74,250           --           --          33,641


- -------------------------------
(1) Includes directors' fees of $5,600 in 1999.  Beginning in 2000, Ms. Heitzman
    no longer received directors' fees.
(2) Does  not  include  the  aggregate  amount of perquisites and other personal
    benefits,  which  was less  than 10% of the total  annual  salary  and bonus
    reported.
(3) Ms. Heitzman also beneficially  owns 1,021  unvested  shares  of  restricted
    stock granted on July 21, 1997 under the Lenox Bancorp,  Inc. 1997 Incentive
    Plan. As of December 31, 2000, the market value of those shares was $8,423.
(4) Consists of employer  contribution  to the Bank's  401(k) plan of $3,828 and
    employee stock ownership plan allocations with a market value of $10,174.

OPTION VALUE AT FISCAL YEAR END

       The following  table provides  information  regarding  unexercised  stock
options for Ms.  Heitzman as of December 31, 2000. Ms. Heitzman did not exercise
any stock options during the year ended December 31, 2000.




                                NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                               UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED                VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                       OPTIONS                       IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
        NAME                     AT FISCAL YEAR-END (#)            AT FISCAL YEAR-END ($)(1)
- ---------------------------  --------------------------------   --------------------------------
                             EXERCISABLE        UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE        UNEXERCISABLE
                             -----------        -------------   -----------        -------------
                                                                           
Virginia M. Heitzman.......    5,109                3,404          $--                 $--


- ------------------------------
(1) Value of unexercised  in-the-money  stock options equals the market value of
    shares covered by in-the-money  options on December 31, 2000 less the option
    exercise  price.  Options  are  in-the-money  if the market  value of shares
    covered by the options is greater than the exercise price.



                                        7

 11



EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

      The Bank and the  Company  entered  into  employment  agreements  with Ms.
Heitzman.  The  employment  agreements  provide  for a  three-year  term for Ms.
Heitzman.  The Bank employment agreement provides that,  commencing on the first
anniversary date and continuing each  anniversary date thereafter,  the Board of
Directors of the Bank may extend the agreement  for an  additional  year so that
the remaining term shall be three years, unless written notice of non-renewal is
given by the Board of  Directors  of the Bank  after  conducting  a  performance
evaluation of Ms. Heitzman.  The term of the Company employment agreement may be
extended on a daily basis unless  written  notice of non-renewal is given by the
Board of Directors of the Company.  The agreements  provide that Ms.  Heitzman's
base salary will be reviewed annually.  The current base salary for Ms. Heitzman
is $84,250.  In addition to the base salary,  the agreements  provide for, among
other things,  participation  in stock  benefit plans and other fringe  benefits
applicable to executive personnel.

      The  agreements  provide  for  termination  by the Bank or the Company for
cause as defined in the  agreements,  at any time.  In the event the Bank or the
Company  chooses to terminate Ms.  Heitzman's  employment for reasons other than
for cause,  or in the event Ms.  Heitzman  resigns from the Bank and the Company
after specified  circumstances that would constitute  constructive  termination,
Ms. Heitzman or, in the event of her death, her  beneficiary,  would be entitled
to receive an amount  equal to the  remaining  base salary  payments  due to Ms.
Heitzman  and the  contributions  that would have been made on her behalf to any
employee  benefit plans of the Bank or the Company  during the remaining term of
the agreement;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of the Bank's agreement, the
payment  shall not,  in the  aggregate,  exceed  three  times the average of Ms.
Heitzman's five preceding taxable years' annual  compensation.  The Bank and the
Company would also continue and pay for her health and  disability  coverage for
the remaining term of the agreement.

      Under the agreements,  if voluntary  (after specified  circumstances  that
would constitute constructive  termination) or involuntary termination follows a
change in  control of the Bank or the  Company  (as  defined  in the  employment
agreement),  Ms. Heitzman or, in the event of her death, her beneficiary,  would
be entitled to a severance payment equal to the greater of: (i) the payments due
for the remaining term of the agreement;  or (ii) three times the average of the
five  preceding  taxable  years' annual  compensation.  The Bank and the Company
would also continue her life,  health,  and  disability  coverage for thirty-six
months.  Notwithstanding that both agreements provide for a severance payment in
the event of a change in control, Ms. Heitzman would only be entitled to receive
a severance payment under one agreement.

      Payments  under the  agreements  in the event of a change in  control  may
constitute some portion of an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the
Internal  Revenue  Code  resulting  in the  imposition  of an excise  tax on the
recipient and denial of the deduction for such excess amounts to the Company and
the Bank. Under certain circumstances,  severance payments to Ms. Heitzman under
the agreements may be subject to prior approval by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.

      Payments  under the Bank's  agreement will be guaranteed by the Company in
the event that payments or benefits are not paid by the Bank.  Payment under the
Company's agreement would be made by the Company. All reasonable costs and legal
fees paid or  incurred  by Ms.  Heitzman  pursuant to any dispute or question of
interpretation  relating to the agreements shall be paid by the Bank or Company,
respectively,  if Ms.  Heitzman is successful on the merits  pursuant to a legal
judgment, arbitration or settlement. The employment agreements also provide that
the Bank and  Company  shall  indemnify  the  Executive  to the  fullest  extent
allowable under Ohio law.

                                        8

 12



                             AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

      The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for assisting
the Board of Directors in  fulfilling  its  responsibility  to the  stockholders
relating  to  corporate  accounting,  reporting  practices  and the  quality and
integrity  of the  financial  reports of the  Company.  Additionally,  the Audit
Committee  selects the auditors and reviews their  independence and their annual
audit.  The Audit  Committee is comprised  of three  directors,  each of whom is
independent under National Association of Securities Dealers' listing standards.
The  Board  of  Directors  has not  adopted  a  written  charter  for the  Audit
Committee.

      The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the annual financial statements
with  management  and the  independent  accountants.  As  part of this  process,
management represented to the Audit Committee that the financial statements were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The Audit
Committee also received and reviewed  written  disclosures and a letter from the
accountants concerning their independence as required under applicable standards
for  auditors  of public  companies.  The  Audit  Committee  discussed  with the
accountants the contents of such materials,  the  accountant's  independence and
the additional  matters  required under Statement on Auditing  Standards No. 61.
Based on such review and discussions,  the Audit Committee  recommended that the
Board of Directors include the audited consolidated  financial statements in the
Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2000 for
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                 Gail R. Behymer
                                  John C. Lame
                                 Reba St. Clair

                COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

      Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  requires  the
Company's executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of
any  registered  class of the Company's  equity  securities,  to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
Executive officers,  directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by
regulation  to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they
file.

      Based  solely on its review of the copies of the  reports it has  received
and  written  representations  provided  to the  Company  from  the  individuals
required to file the reports,  the Company  believes  that each of the Company's
executive  officers  and  directors  has  complied  with  applicable   reporting
requirements  for  transactions  in Lenox Bancorp common stock during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2000, with the exception of a late report filed by David
K. Brown,  Vice  President of Finance  with regard to the granted of  restricted
stock awards and stock options in November 2000.

                         TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT

      It is the  policy  of the Bank to make  loans to  executive  officers  and
directors on their  principal  residences.  The Bank's policy  provides that all
loans made by the Bank,  including lines of credit,  to its directors be made in
the ordinary  course of business,  on  substantially  the same terms,  including
interest rates and  collateral,  as those  prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with other persons and may not involve more than the normal risk of
collectibility or present other unfavorable features; provided, however

                                        9

 13



the Bank may offer loans to  executive  officers on terms not  available  to the
public, but available to other full- time employees, in accordance with recently
modified federal regulations. All such loans, however, did not involve more than
the normal risk of  collectibility or present other  unfavorable  features.  Any
loan made to an executive  officer or director  must be approved by the Board of
Directors prior to its being committed.

                     PROPOSAL 2 -- RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS

      The Board of Directors has appointed Clark, Schaefer,  Hackett & Co. to be
its  auditors  for  the  2001  fiscal  year,  subject  to  the  ratification  by
stockholders.  A representative of Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. is expected to
be present at the annual  meeting  to  respond  to  appropriate  questions  from
stockholders  and will have the opportunity to make a statement should he or she
desire to do so.

      If the  ratification of the appointment of the auditors is not approved by
a  majority  of the votes cast by  stockholders  at the  annual  meeting,  other
independent public accountants will be considered by the Board of Directors. THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS THAT  STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF
THE APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS.

AUDIT FEES

      The aggregate  fees the Company  billed by Clark,  Schaefer for the annual
audit and for the review of the Company's  Forms 10-QSB for the fiscal year 2000
totaled $49,500.

ALL OTHER FEES

      The  aggregate  fees the  Company  paid to Clark,  Schaefer  for all other
non-audit services (excluding  information technology services described above),
including fees for tax-related services, during fiscal year 2000 totaled $7,430.

      The  Audit  Committee  believes  that the  non-audit  fees  paid to Clark,
Schaefer are compatible with maintaining Clark, Schaefer's independence.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      The cost of  solicitation  of proxies on behalf of the Board will be borne
by  the  Company.   In  addition  to  the   solicitation  of  proxies  by  mail,
_______________________________,  a proxy  solicitation  firm,  will  assist the
Company in soliciting proxies for the annual meeting. The Company will pay a fee
of $_____, plus out-of-pocket  expenses for these services.  Proxies may also be
solicited personally or by telephone by directors,  officers and other employees
of the Company and the Bank  without any  additional  compensation.  The Company
will also request persons, firms and corporations holding shares in their names,
or in the name of their nominees,  which are  beneficially  owned by others,  to
send proxy  materials to, and obtain proxies from, the  beneficial  owners,  and
will reimburse those record holders for their reasonable expenses in doing so.



                                       10

 14



      The  Company's   Annual  Report  to   Stockholders   has  been  mailed  to
stockholders  of record  as of the close of  business  on April  __,  2001.  Any
stockholder  who has not received a copy of the Annual  Report may obtain a copy
by writing  to the  Secretary  of the  Company.  The Annual  Report is not to be
treated  as  part  of  the  proxy  solicitation   material  or  as  having  been
incorporated herein by reference.

      A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2000, AS FILED WITH THE  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  WILL BE FURNISHED
WITHOUT CHARGE TO ALL PERSONS WHO WERE  STOCKHOLDERS AS OF THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS
ON APRIL __, 2001 UPON WRITTEN  REQUEST TO DIANE P. HUNT,  CORPORATE  SECRETARY,
LENOX BANCORP, INC., 4730 MONTGOMERY ROAD, NORWOOD, OHIO 45212.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

      To be considered for inclusion in the Company's  proxy  statement and form
of proxy  relating to the 2002 annual  meeting of  stockholders,  a  stockholder
proposal  must be  received by the  Secretary  of the Company at the address set
forth on the notice of annual  meeting of  stockholders  not later than December
__, 2001.  If such annual  meeting is held on a date more than 30 calendar  days
from May 9, 2002, a stockholder  proposal must be received by a reasonable  time
before the proxy solicitation for such annual meeting is made. Any such proposal
will be subject to 17 C.F.R.  ss.  240.14a-8 of the Rules and Regulations  under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

      The  Code  of  Regulations  provide  an  advance  notice  procedure  for a
stockholder to properly bring business before an annual meeting. The stockholder
must give written  advance  notice to the Secretary of the Company not less than
thirty (30) days prior to the meeting; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that
less than forty (40) days notice or prior public  disclosure  of the date of the
meeting  is given or made to  stockholders,  notice by the  stockholder  must be
received  not later than the close of  business on the fifth day  following  the
date on which the Company's  notice to  stockholders  of the annual meeting date
was  mailed or such  public  disclosure  was made.  In order for the notice of a
stockholder  proposal for  consideration at the Company's 2002 annual meeting of
stockholders  to be timely,  the Company  would have to receive  such notice not
later than April 9, 2002 assuming the 2002 annual meeting is held on May 9, 2002
and that the Company  provides at least 40 days notice or public  disclosure  of
the date of the meeting.  The advance  notice by  stockholders  must include the
stockholder's  name and  address,  as they  appear  on the  Company's  record of
stockholders,  a brief  description  of the  proposed  business,  the reason for
conducting such business at the annual  meeting,  the class and number of shares
of the Company's  capital stock that are beneficially  owned by such stockholder
and any material interest of such stockholder in the proposed business.  Nothing
in this paragraph shall be deemed to require the Company to include in its proxy
statement or the proxy relating to any annual meeting any  stockholder  proposal
which does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the SEC
in effect at the time such proposal is received.

      Whether or not you plan to attend the  meeting,  please  vote by  marking,
signing,  dating and promptly  returning  the  enclosed  GREEN proxy card in the
enclosed GREEN envelope.

                                    BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                    Diane P. Hunt
                                    CORPORATE SECRETARY
Norwood, Ohio
April __, 2001

                                       11

 15



                                                                      APPENDIX A

      The following table sets forth the names,  principal business occupations,
business  addresses  (or home  addresses if retired) and the number of shares of
the common stock of Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc. (the  "Company")  beneficially  owned,
directly or indirectly,  as of April 1, 2001, by the those individuals deemed to
be participants  in this proxy  solicitation  under the federal  securities laws
(the  "Participants").  None of the Participants  owns any securities of record,
but not beneficially.  Unless otherwise indicated, each of the named individuals
has sole  voting  power and sole  investment  power  with  respect to the shares
shown.


                                                                NUMBER OF SHARES
                                                   NUMBER OF       THAT MAY BE
                                                  SHARES OWNED   ACQUIRED WITHIN 60
                                                  (EXCLUDING    DAYS BY EXERCISING
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND BUSINESS ADDRESS   OPTIONS)(1)        OPTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------  ------------- --------------------
                                                               
Gail R. Behymer................................      3,321             767
Retired
11541 Symmes Gate Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

Henry E. Brown.................................      3,739             767
Retired
1005 Burton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45229

Virginia M. Heitzman...........................     14,075(2)        5,109
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lenox Savings Bank
4730 Montgomery Road
Norwood, Ohio 45212

John C. Lame...................................     28,053             256
Investment Advisor and Financial Planner
UBS Paine Webber, Inc.
312 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Vernon L. Morrison.............................        100(3)           --
President
Lighthouse Mortgage Services, Inc.
3220 Riverside Drive, Suite A-1
Columbus, Ohio 43221

Reba St. Clair.................................      1,276             767
Finance Manager
The Procter & Gamble Co.
2 P&G Plaza
Cincinnati, Ohio 45201

- ------------------------------
(1) Includes unvested shares of restricted stock awards held in trust as part of
    the Lenox  Savings  Bank 1997  Incentive  Plan,  with  respect  to which the
    beneficial  owner  has  voting  but not  investment  power as  follows:  Mr.
    Behymer--170 shares; Mr. Brown--170 shares; Ms. Heitzman--1,021  shares; Mr.
    Lame--340 shares; and Ms. St. Clair--170 shares.
(2) Includes  6,689  shares held under the Lenox  Savings  Bank  Employee  Stock
    Ownership  Plan,  with  respect  to which Ms.  Heitzman  has  voting but not
    investment power.
(3) Represents 100 shares owned by Mr. Morrison's spouse.


                                       A-1

 16



    Mr.  Lame's  term as a director  of the  Company  expires at the 2001 annual
meeting  of  stockholders.  The  board of  directors  did not  nominate  him for
election  to  another  term of office.  Mr.  Lame has filed  proxy  solicitation
material  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and has  stated  his
intention to solicit proxies for the election of himself and another  individual
as directors of the Company.

    Other than stock options and stock awards granted to each of the individuals
above except for Mr.  Morrison,  and the  participation  by Ms.  Heitzman in the
Lenox Savings Bank Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan, no  Participant,  is or was
within the past year, a party to a contract,  arrangement or understanding  with
any  person  with  respect  to  any  securities  of  the  Company.  None  of the
Participants owns any securities of any parent or subsidiary of the Company.

    Except for Ms. Heitzman,  who entered into an employment  agreement with the
Company and the Bank, no Participant has any arrangement or  understanding  with
any  person:  (i) with  respect to any future  employment  by the Company or its
affiliates or (ii) with respect to any future  transactions to which the Company
or any of its affiliates may be a party. For a description of the material terms
of the Bank and Company employment agreements with Ms. Heitzman, see "Proposal I
- - Executive  Compensation  -  "Employment  Agreements"  in the  Company's  Proxy
Statement.

    The  following  table sets forth all  purchases  and sales of the  Company's
common stock by the  Participants  since April 1, 1999 and the dates and amounts
of such transactions.


          NAME                                TRANSACTIONS(1)
- -------------------------   ----------------------------------------------------

Henry E. Brown...........   o Purchased 2,000 shares on July 29, 1999.

John C. Lame (2)            o Purchased 6,480 shares on March 19, 2001.
                            o Acquired 85 shares of restricted shares as
                            director compensation on August 21, 2000.
                            o Donated 10,000  shares on  December  10,  1999.
                            o Acquired 23,557 shares from spouse on October 26,
                            1999.
- -------------------------
(1) None  of  the  Participants  borrowed  or  otherwise  obtained funds for the
    purpose of acquiring or holding securities of the Company.
(2) Information  for Mr. Lame  was  taken  from  his preliminary proxy statement
    filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2001.


                                       A-2

 17


                                  [FRONT SIDE]

                                 REVOCABLE PROXY

                               LENOX BANCORP, INC.

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                   May 9, 2001
                              2:30 p.m., local time
                         -------------------------------

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      The undersigned  hereby appoints the official proxy committee of the Board
of Directors of Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  consisting of Henry E.
Brown and Virginia M. Heitzman,  or any of them, with full power of substitution
in each, to act as proxies for the  undersigned and to vote all shares of Common
Stock of the  Company  which the  undersigned  is  entitled  to vote only at the
Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  to be held on May 9, 2001, at 2:30 p.m., local
time, at the Company's  administrative offices at 4730 Montgomery Road, Norwood,
Ohio, and at any and all adjournments thereof, as follows:

      1.    The election as directors  of all nominees  listed  (unless the "For
            All Except" box is marked and the  instructions  below are  complied
            with).

            Henry E. Brown and Vernon L. Morrison

                                                            FOR ALL
            FOR               VOTE WITHHELD                 EXCEPT
            ---               -------------                 ------

            |_|                   |_|                        |_|

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any  individual  nominee,  mark "FOR ALL
EXCEPT" and write that nominee's name on the line provided below.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      2.    The  ratification  of  the appointment of Clark, Schaefer, Hackett &
            Co. as independent  auditors of Lenox  Bancorp,  Inc. for the fiscal
            year ending December 31, 2001.

            FOR                     AGAINST                 ABSTAIN
            ---                     -------                 -------
            |_|                      |_|                      |_|



 18


                                   [BACK SIDE]

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE LISTED
PROPOSALS.

   THIS PROXY IS REVOCABLE AND WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS
ARE SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE PROPOSALS  LISTED. IF
ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
BY THE  PROXIES  IN THEIR  BEST  JUDGMENT.  AT THE  PRESENT  TIME,  THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS  KNOWS OF NO OTHER  BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND
DOES NOT  INTEND  TO  ADJOURN  OR  POSTPONE  THE  MEETING  IN  ORDER TO  SOLICIT
ADDITIONAL PROXIES. THIS PROXY ALSO CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY ON THE BOARD
OF  DIRECTORS  TO VOTE WITH  RESPECT TO THE  ELECTION  OF ANY PERSON AS DIRECTOR
WHERE THE  NOMINEES  ARE  UNABLE TO SERVE OR FOR GOOD  CAUSE  WILL NOT SERVE AND
MATTERS INCIDENT TO THE CONDUCT OF THE MEETING.

   The undersigned  acknowledges receipt from the Company prior to the execution
of this  proxy of a Notice  of Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  and of a Proxy
Statement dated April __, 2001 and of the Annual Report to Stockholders.

   Please  sign  exactly  as your name  appears on this  card.  When  signing as
attorney,  executor,  administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your full
title.  If shares are held jointly,  each holder may sign but only one signature
is required.


                     Dated:___________________________



                     ---------------------------------
                     SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER



                     ---------------------------------
                     SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER


                     ---------------------------------

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