News Release
Date:     April 18, 1997

Contact:
          Katherine Taylor
          815-961-7164

                                                           AMCORE
                                                           BANK
                                                           LOGO

            AMCORE FINANCIAL, INC., COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF FIRST
                     NATIONAL BANCORP, MONROE, WISCONSIN



     ROCKFORD, IL - AMCORE Financial, Inc. today took a major step toward
becoming a regional financial institution. The acquisition of First National
Bancorp of Monroe, Wis., was completed taking AMCORE across state lines for
the first time.

     "This truly is a historic moment for AMCORE," says Robert J. Meuleman,
president and chief executive officer. "We now officially are a multi-state
financial institution."

     First National Bancorp has assets of approximately $215 million. The
acquisition brings AMCORE's assets to over $3 billion. AMCORE issued 1,881,524
shares of its stock in exchange for all of First National's 249,539 common
shares outstanding. First National Bancorp owns the First National Bank and
Trust of Monroe.

     First National has 105 employees and five offices in southern Wisconsin,
including Monroe, New Glarus, Belleville and two in Madison. Monroe is 50
miles from Rockford.

     AMCORE will record during the second quarter an after tax charge of about
a $1.3 million, or eight cents per share, for expenses related to the merger.
Last year, First National earned nearly $2.8 million. "This is a well run bank
with a strong management team," says Meuleman. "Its culture is similar to
AMCORE's, so this will be a good fit for both organizations."

     Meuleman says AMCORE offers the communities it serves the resources of a
large bank, yet encourages its affiliates to retain their local autonomy and
community commitment. Both banks follow the community banking philosophy. "Our
goal is to offer our customers a broad range of products and services so we
can meet their financial needs better than any of our competitors," he says.





 AMCORE Bank N.A. Rockford
 501 Seventh Street, Post Office Box 1537, Rockford, Illinois 61110-0037
 Telephone 815-968-2241



     AMCORE plans to broaden further its position in southern Wisconsin later
this summer when it finalizes the acquisition of Country Bank Shares
Corporation of Mount Horeb. Country Bank Shares has facilities in nine
communities and has assets of approximately $300 million. AMCORE will have
assets in excess of $3.3 billion and 54 locations when the Country Bank Shares
acquisition is completed.

     "We no longer are just an Illinois institution," savs Meuleman. "We
intend to remain on our course of becoming an acquirer of choice and building
on our reputation as a super community bank."

     First National will become AMCORE's sixth subsidiary bank, operating as
AMCORE Bank N.A., South Central. AMCORE currently operates 41 locations in
northern Illinois through five subsidiary banks: AMCORE Bank N.A., Rockford;
AMCORE Bank N.A., Northwest; AMCORE Bank N.A., Rock River Valley; AMCORE Bank
N.A., North Central and AMCORE Bank, Aledo.

     AMCORE also has five financial service subsidiaries: AMCORE Investment
Group, N.A., which includes trust services, a capital management company, a
brokerage company and the AMCORE Vintage family of mutual funds; AMCORE
Mortgage, Inc.; AMCORE Consumer Finance Company, Inc.; AMCORE Insurance Group,
Inc.; and Rockford Mercantile Agency, Inc., a bill collection service.

     This news release, other than historical financial and other information,
may consist of forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including the risks detailed from time-to-time in the company's
SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.
31, 1996. Actual results may vary materially.

     AMCORE common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "AMFI." AMCORE
Financial Inc., may be reached on the Internet at http://www.AMCORE.com.