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 second quarter ended June 30, 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:     August 13, 2004

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