Exhibit 99



For Immediate Release


Thursday, May 19, 2005

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

Oak Hill Financial Revises Earnings Estimate for 2005

Jackson,  Ohio -- Oak Hill  Financial,  Inc.  (Nasdaq NMS: OAKF) announced today
that it was revising its earnings  estimate for the full year 2005 to a range of
$1.80 to $2.00 per  share.  The  revision  is due  primarily  to a $4.3  million
increase in the  provision  for loan losses.  In addition,  the  company's  loan
volume has been  impacted by market  conditions  and a tightening  of its credit
standards.

In its April 14,  2005  release,  Oak Hill  Financial  noted that it had several
large loans that had the potential to move to nonperforming status and/or result
in  charge-offs.  In response to recent  deterioration  in some of these  loans,
management completed a comprehensive re-evaluation of its commercial, commercial
real estate,  and  residential  mortgage  loan  portfolios.  This review led the
company to pursue an  aggressive  course  for  resolving  the  issues  that were
identified, including the losses reported here.

The largest  component  of the  increase in  provision  expense,  $2.0  million,
resulted from losses on three commercial real estate loans to the same borrower.
The remainder was due to losses on various  commercial,  commercial  real estate
loans,  and  residential  mortgage  loans and increasing the company's loan loss
reserve from 1.29% at March 31, 2004 to 1.32% on May 19, 2005.

"We continue to focus on improving our credit quality," said R.E. Coffman,  Jr.,
President and CEO of Oak Hill Financial.  "With these actions we believe that we
have identified and addressed the significant losses in the portfolio."

"We have a solid plan to improve our  earnings  that  includes  cost-saving  and
revenue-enhancement  initiatives,"  Coffman  added.  "Oak Hill  Financial  has a
strong history of earnings growth and increasing shareholder value. While we are
not pleased with the current charge-offs, we are confident that the steps we are
taking will keep us on our positive long-term path."

In addition to the loan losses,  several  larger  credits have recently moved to
nonperforming  status. The largest of these is a group of commercial real estate
loans totaling $5.4 million that are part of the same  relationship  as the $2.0
million loss referenced  previously.  Management believes that further losses on
this relationship will be minimal.  Another commercial real estate loan of $3.35
million has also become  non-

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performing;  however,  no loss is anticipated on this loan. At May 19, 2005, Oak
Hill   Financial's   non-performing   assets/total   assets  and   nonperforming
loans/total loans ratios stood at 1.59% and 1.43%, respectively.

Coffman  further noted that Oak Hill Financial has 154,000  shares  remaining on
its  current  stock  repurchase  program.  "With our  Ripley  National  Bank and
Lawrence Financial Holdings  acquisitions  behind us, you can expect us to again
be active in buying in our shares,  which  should have a positive  impact on our
earnings per share and return on equity," he said.

Oak Hill  Financial is a financial  holding  company  headquartered  in Jackson,
Ohio. Oak Hill Banks  operates 33  full-service  banking  offices and three bank
loan  production  offices in 15 counties  across  southern  and central  Ohio. A
second subsidiary,  Oak Hill Financial  Insurance Agency,  provides group health
plans and other insurance  services to private and  public-sector  organizations
throughout the same region. The company also holds 49% of Oak Hill Title Agency,
LLC, which provides  title services for commercial and  residential  real estate
transactions.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This release contains certain  forward-looking  statements related to the future
performance and condition of Oak Hill Financial,  Inc. These  statements,  which
are subject to numerous  risks and  uncertainties,  are  presented in good faith
based  on  the  company's  current  condition  and  management's  understanding,
expectations,  and assumptions  regarding its future prospects as of the date of
this release.  Actual results could differ  materially  from those  projected or
implied by the statements  contained  herein.  The factors that could affect the
company's  future results are set forth in the periodic reports and registration
statements filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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