EXHIBIT 99.1






                     [SISTERSVILLE BANCORP, INC. LETTERHEAD]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
- ---------------------                       --------------------------------
December 4, 1997                            Stanley M. Kiser
                                            President
                                            (304) 652-3671

               SISTERSVILLE BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND

         Sistersville,  West Virginia -- Sistersville  Bancorp,  Inc. the parent
holding  company of First Federal  Savings Bank,  Sistersville,  West  Virginia,
today  announced that the Board of Directors had declared a $0.16 per share cash
dividend  payable on January 2, 1998, to  stockholders of record as of the close
of business on December 18, 1997. This is the first dividend paid by the Company
since it became a public company on June 25, 1997.

         Stanley M. Kiser, President of the Company, stated that "at the time we
went public we told our potential  investors  that we expect to pay  semi-annual
cash  dividends  on the  common  stock at a rate of $0.24 per share per annum to
commence the second full calendar quarter after our stock Conversion. Because we
anticipate declaring dividends semi-annually, the annualized dividend rate would
be $.32 per share.  We are proud to announce  that the dividend  declared  today
more than fulfills this expectation and should immediately  enhance  shareholder
value in the  Company."  Mr. Kiser also added that there can be no assurances as
to the payment or amount of any future dividends declared by the Company.

         The Bank is a  federally  chartered  savings  bank  that  conducts  its
business from its office  located in  Sistersville,  West  Virginia.  The Bank's
deposits  are insured up to the  maximum  legal  amount by the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC).  The  Company's  common  stock is  traded in the
over-the-counter  market with quotations  available  through the OTC "Electronic
Bulletin Board" under the symbol "SVBC."