Filed by MAF Bancorp, Inc.
                           Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                                (Commission File No: 333-108742)

                                Subject Company: St. Francis Capital Corporation


    ON OCTOBER 24, 2003, MAF BANCORP, INC. ISSUED THE FOLLOWING NEWS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For: MAF Bancorp, Inc.                      Contacts: Jerry A. Weberling,
     55th Street & Holmes Avenue                      Chief Financial Officer
     Clarendon Hills, IL 60514                        Michael J. Janssen,
                                                        Senior Vice President
     www.mafbancorp.com                               (630) 325-7300

                  MAF BANCORP RECEIVES ALL REGULATORY APPROVALS
                 FOR ST. FRANCIS CAPITAL CORPORATION ACQUISITION

Clarendon Hills, Illinois, October 24, 2003 - MAF Bancorp, Inc. (MAFB) and St.
Francis Capital Corporation (STFR) announced today that they have received all
of the required regulatory approvals in connection with MAFB's acquisition of
St. Francis Capital Corporation. MAF has scheduled a November 25, 2003 special
shareholders' meeting to approve the transaction. St. Francis has scheduled
their special shareholders' meeting for November 26, 2003. The parties expect to
close the transaction shortly after receipt of the necessary shareholder
approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

MAF Bancorp is the parent company of Mid America Bank, a federally chartered
stock savings bank. The Bank currently operates a network of 43 retail banking
offices primarily in Chicago and its western suburbs. The Company's common stock
trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol MAFB. At September 30, 2003,
MAF had assets of $6.7 billion, deposits of $4.3 billion and stockholders'
equity of $616 million.

At June 30, 2003, St. Francis had assets of $2.3 billion, deposits of $1.4
billion, stockholders' equity of $194 million and 23 branch offices in the
Milwaukee area. St. Francis common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under
the symbol STFR.

   NOTE: The following notice is included to meet certain legal requirements.
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MAF has filed a registration statement containing a joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other documents regarding its proposed acquisition of
St. Francis with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MAF and St. Francis
shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, because it
contains important information about MAF and St. Francis, and the proposed
transaction. Copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus have been mailed to
MAF and St. Francis shareholders, and it and other documents filed by MAF or St.
Francis with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to MAF at 55th Street & Holmes
Avenue, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 or St. Francis at 13400 Bishops Lane, Suite
350, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005-6203.

MAF and St. Francis and their respective directors, executive officers and
certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of MAF and St.
Francis in favor of the proposed merger. Information regarding such persons can
be found in MAF's and St. Francis' respective proxy statements, annual reports
on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Additional
information regarding the interests of such persons is set forth in the joint
proxy statement/prospectus that has been filed with the SEC.