1


                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

ST. FRANCIS CAPITAL CORPORATION          NEWS RELEASE

                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                         ST. FRANCIS CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                         ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER 
                                         RIGHTS PLAN


For More Information Contact:

Jon D. Sorenson
Chief Financial Officer
(414) 486-8700

________________________________________________________________________________

     Brookfield, Wisconsin - September 25, 1997 - 4:00 p.m. (CDT) . . . St.
Francis Capital Corporation ("St. Francis") (NASDAQ/NMS: STFR) announced today
that its board of directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Rights
Plan").   Although the Rights Plan has not been adopted in response to any
specific offer or threat of takeover, Thomas R. Perz, President and Chief
Executive Officer of St. Francis, said that "the Rights Plan is designed to
protect St. Francis's shareholders from any unfair or coercive takeover
attempt."

     Under the Rights Plan, St. Francis's shareholders of record as of October
10, 1997 will receive a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of St. Francis common stock.
Subject to the terms of the Rights Plan, each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of St. Francis's new series of
preferred stock at an exercise price of $150.  Until Rights become exercisable,
outstanding St. Francis stock certificates will represent both shares of St.
Francis common stock and Rights.  Rights will trade with the shares of St.
Francis's common stock until such time as they might become exercisable.

     Rights would not become exercisable until eleven business days after any
person or group has acquired, commenced, or announced its intention to commence
a tender or exchange offer to acquire 15% or more of St. Francis's common
stock.  Rights also become exercisable eleven business days after the
disinterested members of St. Francis's Board of Directors determine that a
person or group beneficially owning 10% or more of St. Francis's common stock
is likely to (i) seek short-term financial gain to the detriment of the best
long-term interests of St. Francis or its shareholders, or (ii) materially and
adversely effect the business or prospects of St. Francis.  At any time prior
to such eleventh business day, the Company is entitled to redeem the Rights at
$.01 per Right.  If Rights become exercisable, holders of each Right, other
than the acquiring or adverse person, will have the right, upon payment of the
exercise price, to purchase the number of shares of the Company's common stock
(in lieu of the preferred stock) which, at that time, have a market value of
two times the exercise price of a Right.  If the Rights become exercisable, St.
Francis's Board of Directors may also exchange Rights, other than those held by 
        

                                      1



   2

the acquiring person or adverse person, in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one share of the Company's common stock per Right.
        
     At any time after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's
common stock, if the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are
sold, Rights holders other than the acquiring person or group will have the
right, upon payment of the exercise price, to purchase that number of shares of
common stock of the acquiring company (in lieu of preferred shares) which, at
the time of the transaction, have a market value equal to two times the
exercise price of a Right.

     Rights will expire on September 25, 2007.  Details of the Rights
distribution are contained in a "Summary of Rights" which will be mailed to all
of St. Francis's shareholders of record as of October 10, 1997.

     St. Francis Capital Corporation is a unitary thrift holding company
incorporated under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and engaged in the
financial services business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, St. Francis
Bank, F.S.B.   St. Francis's principal business is attracting retail
deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with
funds generated from other operations, primarily to originate commercial,
consumer and mortgage loans within Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington,
Walworth and Kenosha counties and to invest in mortgage-backed and related
securities.  Primary areas of lending include commercial loans, single-family
and multi-family residential mortgages, home  equity lines of credit, second
mortgages and commercial real estate and  commercial loans.

                                    #  #  #



















                                      2