[LOGO]  GFSB
        BANCORP, INC.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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September 20, 2004                     Jerry R. Spurlin, Chief Financial Officer
                                       (505) 726-6500

                      GFSB BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES EARNINGS

Gallup, New Mexico - GFSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ SmallCap:  GUPB), parent holding
company of Gallup Federal  Savings Bank,  Gallup,  New Mexico,  today  announced
earnings  for the year ended June 30,  2004,  of  $1,350,000  ($1.14 per diluted
share).  Earnings for the same period a year earlier were $1,690,000  ($1.46 per
diluted  share).  For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004,  earnings were $198,000
($0.17 per diluted share) compared to $473,000 ($0.41 per diluted share) for the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.

The decrease in earnings for the full year is primarily the result of a $260,000
increase in  non-interest  expense and a $517,000  increase in the provision for
loan  losses,  partially  offset by an  increase  in net  interest  earnings  of
$65,000,  an  increase  in  non-interest  earnings  of  $244,000  and a $128,000
decrease in income tax expense.  The fourth quarter earnings decline reflected a
$263,000  increase in the provision and $109,000 decrease in net interest income
which offset a $73,000 increase in non-interest income and a $30,000 decrease in
non-interest expense.

The increase in  non-interest  income for the full year was  primarily  due to a
$263,000   increase  in  service  charge  income  and  a  $44,000   increase  in
miscellaneous  income,  partially offset by a $62,000 decrease in net gains from
sales of loans.  The  increase  in service  charge  income is  primarily  due to
increased  insufficient  funds  charges  collected on NOW and checking  accounts
because of  increased  volume of  insufficient  funds  checks.  The  increase in
miscellaneous  income is primarily due to gains on the sale of other real estate
owned.  The  decrease  in income tax expense is  primarily  due to a decrease in
earnings before income taxes.  For the quarter,  non-interest  income  increased
$73,000,  primarily  due to a $55,000  increase in service  charge  income and a
$13,000 increase in net gains from sales of loans.

The increase in non-interest  expense was primarily  attributable to bank growth
and an $82,000 increase in professional  fees, which is primarily due to $52,000
in fees paid to  consultants  for  services  related to the  Company's  recently
announced  plans to merge with First Federal Banc of the Southwest,  Inc., and a
$30,000 increase in legal fees, audit expense and accounting fees largely due to
the Company's efforts to comply with requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. For
the quarter,  non-interest expense decreased $30,000, primarily due to a $34,000
decrease in advertising  and a $5,000 decrease in occupancy  expense,  partially
offset by a $10,000 increase in data processing.


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                P.O. Box 820 o 221 West Aztec o Gallup, NM 87301



The  increase  in the  provision  for loan  losses  for the full year and fourth
quarter was primarily the result of an increase in classified loans, an increase
in charge-offs and growth in commercial and commercial real estate loans.

At June 30, 2004, the Company's capital to asset ratio was 7.8%, with assets and
stockholders' equity of $232.1 million and $18.1 million, respectively.

This  release  may  contain  forward-looking  statements.  We caution  that such
statements may be subject to a number of uncertainties  and actual results could
differ materially and, therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on any
forward-looking  statements.  The Company does not undertake,  and  specifically
disclaims,  any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions that
may be made to any  forward-looking  statements  to reflect  the  occurrence  of
anticipated  or  unanticipated  events or  circumstances  after the date of such
statements.


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                               GFSB BANCORP, INC.
                   Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
                  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)


             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

                                                           At Period End
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                         06/30/04     06/30/03
                                                 ------------------------------

Cash and investments                                       39,625       37,208
Mortgage-backed securities                                 30,680       38,517
FHLB stock                                                  4,409        4,333
Loans receivable, net                                     152,431      146,264
Loans held-for-sale                                           411          132
Premises and equipment                                      2,514        2,314
Prepaid and other assets                                    2,017        1,187
                                                 ==============================
  TOTAL ASSETS                                            232,087      229,955

Deposits                                                  133,860      129,759
Advances from FHLB                                         73,652       76,642
Other Secured Borrowings                                    4,815        3,658
Repurchase agreements                                         157          585
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                      1,471        1,567
Stockholders' equity                                       18,132       17,744
                                                 ==============================
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              232,087      229,955



                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

                                       -----------------------------------------
                                        Three Months Ended    Fiscal Year Ended
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                          06/30/04  6/30/03  06/30/04  06/30/03

Interest earnings                            2,955    3,318    12,114    12,743
Interest expense                             1,266    1,520     5,469     6,162
                                       -----------------------------------------

    NET INTEREST EARNINGS                    1,689    1,798     6,645     6,581
Provision for loan losses                      500      237       969       452
                                       -----------------------------------------

    NET INTEREST EARNINGS AFTER
      PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES              1,189    1,561     5,676     6,129
Non-interest income                            233      160       867       623
Non-interest expense                         1,156    1,186     4,630     4,370
                                       -----------------------------------------

    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES               266      535     1,913     2,382
Provision for income taxes                      68       62       563       692
                                       -----------------------------------------

    NET EARNINGS                               198      473     1,350     1,690

Weighted average number of                   1,132    1,118     1,127     1,115
  shares outstanding- basic

Earnings per common share-basic               0.17     0.42      1.20      1.52

Weighted average number of                   1,194    1,166     1,183     1,160
  shares outstanding- diluted

Earnings per common share-diluted             0.17     0.41      1.14      1.46


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