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EXHIBIT 24. POWER OF ATTORNEY

                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY
                    DIRECTORS OF OHIO STATE BANCSHARES, INC.

         Know all men by these presents that each person whose name is signed
below has made, constituted and appointed, and by this instrument does make,
constitute and Gary E. Pendleton, his true and lawful attorney with full power
of substitution and resubstitution to affix for him and in his name, place and
stead, as attorney-in-fact, his signature as director or officer, or both, of
Ohio State Bancshares, Inc., an Ohio corporation, (the "Company"), to a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 or other form registering common stock of the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Company's sale
and issuance of common stock and to any and all amendments, post effective
amendments and exhibits to that Registration Statement, and to any and all
applications and other documents pertaining thereto, giving and granting to such
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform every act and thing
whatsoever necessary to be done in the premises, as fully as he might or could
do if personally present, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact or any such substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed at Marion,
Ohio, this 17th day of September, 1998.


    /s/ Samuel J. Birnbaum                                 /s/ Lois J. Fisher   
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Samuel J. Birnbaum                                    Lois J. Fisher


                                                           /s/ William H. Harris
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Theodore L. Graham                                    William H. Harris


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Lloyd L. Johnston                                     F. Winton Lackey


    /s/ Thurman Matthews                                  /s/ Peter B. Miller   
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Thurman Matthews                                      Peter B. Miller


    /s/ John D. Owens                                     /s/ Gary E. Pendleton
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John D. Owens                                         Gary E.  Pendleton


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Fred K. White