EXHIBIT 99


For Immediate Release




December 22, 2003

Contact: David G. Ratz, Executive Vice President & COO
         (740) 286-3283


Coffman Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Oak Hill Financial

JACKSON,  Ohio, -- Oak Hill Financial,  Inc. (Nasdaq: OAKF) announced today that
Ralph E.  "Gene"  Coffman,  Jr. has been named  Chief  Executive  Officer of the
company effective January 1, 2004.

Coffman, 52, succeeds long-time CEO John D. Kidd, who will remain as Chairman of
Oak Hill  Financial's  Board of  Directors  and  continue  to be  active  in the
company's  strategic  planning,  long-term  expansion,  and  investor  relations
functions.  Coffman's  appointment  completes the transition  anticipated in Oak
Hill Financial's previously announced management succession plan.


Coffman,  who also serves on the Oak Hill  Financial's  Board of Directors,  was
named President and Chief Administrative Officer January 1, 2003 and will retain
the  President's  title in his new  position.  From  1999 to 2002,  he served as
President  and CEO of the  company's  former  Towne Bank  subsidiary,  which was
merged into its Oak Hill Banks subsidiary in late 2002.


Commenting  on  Coffman's  appointment,  Kidd  said,  "Gene  has  been  a  major
contributor  to our  success  over  the past  several  years,  and he is  highly
qualified  to  become  CEO.  I have  absolute  confidence  that  he  will  do an
outstanding  job  in  continuing  to  move  the  company  forward  and  building
shareholder value."


A 30-year financial industry veteran, Coffman joined Oak Hill Financial in 1996.
Prior to becoming CEO of Towne Bank, he served as an Executive  Vice  President,
Senior Vice President, and Area President for Oak Hill Banks. Previously, he was
President and CEO of American Community Bank in Lima, Ohio, a Regional President
with BancOhio (now National City Bank), and a Regional Vice President of Florida
National Bank. Coffman is a graduate of Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.


Kidd,  63, joined the former Oak Hill Savings Bank as Executive  Vice  President
and CEO in 1970 after several years as a CPA with the accounting  firm now known
as Grant  Thornton  LLP.  He has been CEO and a director  of Oak Hill  Financial
since  its  formation  as the  bank's  holding  company  in  1981.  He held  the
President's title from 1995 to 2002 and was named Chairman on January 1, 2003.


During  Kidd's  33-year  tenure,  Oak Hill  Financial has grown from two banking
facilities and $12 million in assets to 25 full-service  banking  offices,  five
bank loan offices,  six consumer finance offices,  and $904 million in assets at
September  30,  2003.  Since  leading  the company  through  its initial  public
offering in October of 1995, Kidd has overseen two bank  acquisitions that added
$180  million in assets,  internal  asset growth in excess of $500  million,  an
expansion of the company's  geographic  footprint from four to fifteen  Southern
Ohio counties,  and strong earnings performance that has resulted in a four-fold
increase in the price of the company's common stock since the IPO.


Commenting  on his  appointment,  Coffman  said,  "I'm  very  grateful  for this
opportunity,  and I  appreciate  the  confidence  that  Jack  and the  Board  of
Directors  have shown in me. Jack's track record has been  exceptional,  and I'm
going to do whatever it takes to keep our momentum going."


When asked  about his plans for the  company,  Coffman  added,  "We are going to
continue  on the same course  that has made us  successful.  My basic plan is to
build on the  foundation  that Jack has put in place and to  continue to provide
outstanding  service to our customers and a superior return to our shareholders.
From a strategy standpoint, you can expect us to stay focused on expansion, both
internal and in pursuit of acquisition  opportunities.  Also,  we've worked very
hard to keep our costs in line,  and we will continue to keep a close eye on our
efficiency ratio. We will emphasize  top-line revenue growth through  aggressive
expansion  and  business  development  efforts and  diversification  of revenues
through acquisitions and new product development.  Finally, we are going to make
sure we have the systems and  controls  in place to meet our  obligation  to our
customers,  shareholders,  and  regulatory  agencies that we always operate in a
safe and responsible manner."


In addition to Oak Hill Banks, Oak Hill Financial also operates consumer finance
specialist Action Finance Company,  employee benefits agency McNelly,  Patrick &
Associates, and Oak Hill Title Agency.