EXHIBIT 99





                         [IBT BANCORP, INC. LETTERHEAD]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                      CONTACT:
                                      --------
November 18, 1999                     Charles G. Urtin, Executive Vice President
                                      (724) 863-3100

                  IBT BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE

     Irwin,  Pennsylvania -- IBT Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board - IBTB) today
announced that its board of directors has approved a repurchase plan covering up
to 5%, or 151,100 shares of the company's common stock.  Repurchases may be made
from time to time.

     The  company  is the  holding  company  for Irwin  Bank & Trust  Company of
Pennsylvania. The company has consolidated assets of approximately $446 million.
The bank operates from its main office,  five branch offices,  four  supermarket
branch offices and a loan office all in Westmoreland  and Allegheny  counties in
Western  Pennsylvania.  The bank offers full service  banking and trust services
and its  deposits  are  insured up to the  maximum  legal  amount by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC").