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  annual
 report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended December 31, 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:     March 22, 2006

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