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News Release


                      EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANCSHARES AGREES TO

                              ACQUIRE CNS BANCORP




Jefferson City, Missouri  (October 27, 1999) - Exchange National Bancshares,
Inc., a bank holding company headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, and CNS
Bancorp., Inc. (Nasdaq  SmallCap: CNSB), a unitary thrift holding company also
headquartered in Jefferson City, today announced that they have entered into a
definitive  agreement under which Exchange will acquire CNS for cash and stock.
Following the merger, CNS Bancorp's subsidiary, City National Savings Bank, FSB
will be merged into the Exchange National Bank of Jefferson City.

               In a joint announcement by Donald L. Campbell,  Chairman of the
Board of Exchange, and Robert E. Chiles, President and CEO of CNS, the parties
disclosed that each shareholder of CNS would receive $8.80 in cash and 0.15 of a
share of Exchange stock for each share of CNS stock  held when the  merger is
effective. The merger  consideration is subject to downward adjustment if CNS's
adjusted net worth falls below $20.95 million.  Exchange's stock is registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but at present no active trading
market exists.  Recently, Exchange effected a  three-for-two stock split and
announced plans to offer approximately  100,000 shares of stock to its Missouri
resident shareholders for a price of $60 per share. Based on that valuation, the
transaction would be valued at $17.80 per share of CNS stock, or a total of
about $25.25 million.  At June 30, 1999 CNS had stockholders' equity of $21.52
million and total consolidated assets of $93.09 million.  On October 26, 1999,
the closing price of CNS stock was $11.25.

               City National currently has five  offices, including  two in
Jefferson City and one each in Tipton,  St. Robert and California, Missouri.
Exchange plans to merge the two  Jefferson City offices into nearby existing
offices of Exchange National Bank. The other offices will become new branches
of Exchange National Bank.

               Mr.  Campbell  stated that one of the benefits to the transaction
from his perspective is the prospect of bringing  employees from City National
into Exchange to fill several vacancies on his bank's staff.  He said "This
transaction will do several things for us. It will expand our deposit base to
help fund our current loan  growth; it will add to our pool of officer  and
employee talent, particularly in the areas of customer service and lending;  it
will  give us  three new offices in  three new  markets;  it will offer us
opportunities for substantial savings in cost; and it will approximately  double
our shareholder  base. With our plans to list our stock with the Nasdaq national
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system next spring, the expansion of our stock ownership should help heighten
the interest of the investment community in our stock and provide present and
incoming shareholders with greater liquidity."

            Mr. Campbell will continue as Chairman and CEO of the merged banks.
David Turner, President of Exchange National Bank, will continue in that
position and Mr. Chiles will become Vice Chairman.

            Mr. Chiles stated he was pleased that his organization was joining
up with Exchange. He said "This merger will bring more services to our customers
and enhance career opportunities for most of our staff. We are also delighted to
be able to combine with a high quality locally based organization and people we
know well."

            The  transaction is subject to approval of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding stock of CNS and to regulatory  approval. It is anticipated
that the transaction will be submitted to a vote of the CNS shareholders early
in the second quarter of next year.

For further information contact:

Kathleen Bruegenhemke
Investor Relations Officer
Exchange National Bancshares, Inc.
573-761-6179

Robert E. Chiles
President and CEO
CNS Bancorp, Inc.
573-634-3336