EXHIBIT 99



LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP.                               CONTACT: KEVIN J. COOGAN,
PATERSON, NEW JERSEY                                            PRESIDENT & CEO
                                                                973-890-1234



                            LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP.
                 ANNOUNCES EVALUATION OF STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES


         Lakeview Financial Corp., the holding company of Lakeview Savings Bank,
Paterson, New Jersey (the "Corporation")  announced that the Corporation's Board
of Directors has been  evaluating  strategic  alternatives  in order to maximize
shareholder  value.  Included in the Corporation's  strategic  alternatives is a
possible sale of the Corporation;  however,  at this time, it is not possible to
determine  whether the Corporation  will receive any expressions of interest or,
if so, whether any such  expressions of interest will be acceptable or result in
the Corporation  entering into  negotiations  with any potential  acquirer.  The
Corporation  has  retained  Sandler  O'Neill &  Partners,  L.P. to assist in its
evaluation of its alternatives.

         As a matter of  policy,  the  Corporation  does not  intend to  comment
publicly  concerning  any  proposals  that  may  be  received  or  any  possible
negotiations  the  Corporation  may  enter  into in  connection  with  any  such
proposals  until the  Corporation  determines  that public  disclosure  would be
appropriate.