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, 2005,
 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 14, 2005

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