Exhibit 99.1 


NEWS RELEASE
 
Date:              October 14, 1998
                   
Contact:           Media:                         Investors:
                   William F. Falger              William A. Franson
                   President and CEO              Executive Vice President, CFO
                   County National Bank           County National Bank
                   (814)765-9621                  (814)765-9621
                            or                           or
                   Robert H. Young                Robert H. Young
                   Executive Vice President, CFO  Executive Vice President, CFO
                   First Western Bancorp, Inc.    First Western Bancorp, Inc.
                   (724)652-8550                  (724)652-8550



                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

County National Bank To Acquire First Western Bank's Punxsutawney Branch

    Clearfield, PA (October 14, 1998) --CNB Financial Corporation, headquartered
in Clearfield, PA, and First Western Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in New Castle,
PA, today announced that their banking subsidiaries, County National Bank and
First Western Bank, N.A., have reached a definitive agreement for County
National Bank to purchase the Punxsutawney branch from First Western Bank.

    The agreement includes the acquisition of the branch office, related
deposits, consumer loans and small business banking relationships of the
Punxsutawney branch, located at 545 W. Mahoning Street, in Jefferson County.

    County National Bank will acquire approximately $37 million in deposits and
$11.5 million in consumer and small business loans, along with related fixed
assets, lease, and other agreements.  The transaction, subject to regulatory
approval, is expected to be completed by mid February, 1999.

    "The acquisition of this Punxsutawney branch complements our existing
banking franchise and supports our strategy of long-term asset and earnings
growth," stated William F. Falger, President and Chief Executive Officer of
County National Bank.  "This location gives us the opportunity to expand our
banking presence within Central Pennsylvania by including Jefferson County in
our existing four county market area of Clearfield, Centre, Elk, and McKean
counties."

 
    First Western Bank customers can be assured that County National Bank will
provide the same high level of customer service they have received from First
Western through its broad menu of basic and innovative financial products at
competitive rates and terms.  "Our community banking philosophy stresses the
importance of giving our customers the type of service that not only meets but
exceeds their expectations by focusing on convenience, easy access, and fast,
local decision making," stated Mr. Falger.  "Also, we're committed to our
communities we serve.  Recently, we made a commitment to the DuBois market by
building a new full-service office, located close to the DuBois Mall, to meet
the ever expanding needs of our customers."

    "This branch is not located within or near our core banking network in
Western Pennsylvania," stated Mr. Stephen R. Sant, President of First Western
Bank, N.A. "After thoroughly reviewing our markets and facilities, we determined
that it made better sense from a profitability standpoint for the Punxsutawney
office to be operated by a bank that is better known."

    First Western Bancorp, Inc. with assets of more than $2.1 billion, is parent
of First Western Bank, N.A., a full-service bank that also provides trust and
financial services.  First Western Insurance Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of
First Western Bank.  First Western employs more than 750 people and operates 51
financial stores in ten Pennsylvania counties (Lawrence, Mercer, Beaver, Butler,
Erie, Allegheny, Cambria, Washington, Jefferson, and Westmoreland) and Ashtabula
County in Ohio.

    Employing approximately 208 people, County National Bank is an independent,
locally owned, community bank with 15 offices located throughout Clearfield,
Centre, Elk and McKean counties, and is the sole banking subsidiary of CNB
Financial Corporation.  Total assets for the bank holding company are
approximately $399 million.  The Bank also has an extensive Trust & Asset
Management Services division.