EXHIBIT 99.1




                                  PRESS RELEASE

                       NORTH COUNTRY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                              MANISTIQUE, MICHIGAN

For Immediate Release:                         May 17, 2004
Contact:                                       Investor Relations (800) 200-7032
Website:                                       www.northcountrybank.com


                   NORTH COUNTRY ADJUSTS ITS BRANCHING NETWORK
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(Manistique, Michigan) -- North Country Bank and Trust, a Michigan
state-chartered, FDIC insured bank wholly owned by North Country Financial
Corporation (Nasdaq: NCFC) closed three branches, and consolidated its branches
in two other markets.



On May 7, 2004 North Country permanently closed its branches located in Boyne
City, Cadillac, and Calumet, Michigan.



On May 14, 2004 North Country consolidated its Sault Ste. Marie-Cascade branch
located at 4250 I-75 Business Spur into its branch at 138 Ridge Street, Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan. Operations at the Cascade location have ceased, but full
services in the Sault Ste. Marie market will continue from North Country's Ridge
Street branch.



Also on May 14, 2004, North Country's branch at 333 East State Street, Traverse
City was consolidated into the branch located at 3530 North Country Drive,
Traverse City, Michigan. Although operations at the Main Street location have
been discontinued, full banking services remain available in the Traverse City
area at the North Country Drive location.


C. James Bess, president and chief executive officer of NCFC and North Country
Bank and Trust said, "We regret any inconvenience to the customers of these
closed and consolidated branches, and look forward to continuing to serve their
banking needs at North Country's 17 other branches, via the U.S. mail, on-line,
or at ATMs. Although it was a difficult decision to shut down these branches,
closing our small, unprofitable locations is part of North Country's overall
rehabilitation plan, and necessary to move the company toward its strategic
objectives."

Headquartered in Manistique, Michigan, North Country Financial Corporation is a
financial services company providing a full range of commercial, consumer, and
mortgage banking products and services primarily through its wholly owned bank
subsidiary, North Country Bank and Trust. North Country Bank and Trust operates
17 branches located throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower
Michigan.