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 September 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:     November 12, 2004

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