Exhibit 32(a)


                  CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. S 1350

           I, Mark E. Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer  of Hallmark Financial
 Services, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby  certify that the accompanying report
 on  Form  10-Q  for the  quarter  ended March 31, 2004,  and filed  with the
 Securities and Exchange Commission  on the date hereof (the "Report"), fully
 complies with the requirements  of Section 13(a)  of the Securities Exchange
 Act of  1934, as amended.  I further certify  that the information contained
 in  the Report  fairly  presents,  in all  material respects,  the financial
 condition and results of operations of the Company.


 Date:     May 14, 2004

                                  /s/ Mark E. Schwarz
                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  Mark E. Schwarz,
                                  Chief Executive Officer