EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              CONTACT:  Rick L. Smalley
OCTOBER 6, 2000                              David M. Seymour

                                   PHONE:    816 472-5244

DICKINSON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND CAMERON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                   TO AFFILIATE THROUGH MERGER

     Kansas City, MO - Dickinson Financial Corporation
("Dickinson") and Cameron Financial Corporation ("Cameron")
(NASDAQ "CMRN") announced today that they have entered into a
definitive agreement and plan of merger for Dickinson to acquire
Cameron's stock in a transaction which would be valued at $20.75
in cash, subject to possible adjustment, for each share
outstanding.  The transaction is expected to be completed during
January 2001, pending regulatory approval and approval of
Cameron's shareholders.

     "We are excited about the opportunity to serve Cameron's
communities and customers," said Rick L. Smalley, Dickinson's
President.  "The markets presently served by Cameron are a great
geographic fit with our existing Bank Midwest branch network
throughout north Missouri and Kansas City.  Both organizations
share a strong history of serving customers and the communities
in which they live."

     Cameron's Executive Vice President and Chief Executive
Officer Duane Kohlstaedt stated, "The combining of our two
institutions will merge similar customer bases and banking
philosophies with the advantage of extending a greater variety of
products, services and banking locations to the Northwest
Missouri customer base. We believe the opportunity for enhanced
financial services to be provided to our customers when combined
with the financial terms offered to our shareholders offers a
very attractive package."

     Dickinson Financial Corporation, a privately held regional
financial services company with approximately $2.7  billion in
assets, is the holding company for Bank Midwest, N.A.
headquartered in Kansas City, Armed Forces Bank, N.A.
headquartered at Ft. Leavenworth, Air Academy National Bank
headquartered in Colorado Springs, and Armed Forces Bank of
California, N.A. headquartered in San Diego.  Dickinson Financial
Corporation, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, employs more
than 1200 employees through its affiliates which operate in
Kansas and Missouri and eleven other states throughout the United
States.

     Cameron Financial Corporation, with over $300 million in
assets, is the holding company for The Cameron Savings & Loan
Association, F.A., which has offices in Cameron, Liberty,
Maryville and Mound City, Missouri.