Exhibit 99

           [FIRST FEDERAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP LETTERHEAD]


                        NEWS RELEASE

                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                           March 20, 1997

Gary G. Clark, Chairman             
FirstFederal Financial Services Corp 
135 East Liberty Street              
Wooster, OH  44691                   
Phone:  (330) 264-8001               

               FirstFederal Financial Services Corp
             Announces Issuance of Subordinated Notes
       and Filing of Application to Convert to Bank Charter


     Wooster, Ohio (NASD: "FFSW"; "FFSWO") FirstFederal Financial
Services Corp today announced that it had sold privately $40.5
million of 9.125% Subordinated Notes due March 15, 2004.  The
Notes were placed through McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. and
are intended to qualify, pursuant to rules of the Federal Reserve
System, as Tier II capital.  The issuance of the Notes comes in
conjunction with the Company's application to become a bank
holding company and the application of its primary subsidiary,
First Federal Savings and Loan Association, to become a national
bank.  "The issuance of the Notes provides a source of funds at
an attractive rate and further bolsters our capital as we make
the move to a bank holding company," according to Gary G. Clark,
Chairman and CEO.  The Notes are subject to redemption at the
option of the Company commencing March 15, 2002.