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                                                                     EXHIBIT 99


                          [MLF BANCORP LETTERHEAD]



                                PRESS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



               MLF BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT



        VILLANOVA, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1996 -- MLF Bancorp, Inc. ("Company")
(NASDAQ NMS: MLFB), today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has
declared a two-for-one stock split to be effective on September 6,1996 to
shareholders of record at the close of business on August 9, 1996. Shareholders
will receive one additional share of MLF Bancorp, Inc. stock for every one share
held at the date of record.  As a result of the split, the number of shares
outstanding will increase from 5,934,605 to 11,869,210.

        Commenting on the Board's action, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Dennis S. Marlo, noted, "The stock split is a sign of our continuing
commitment to our investors, and of our confidence in the Company's capacity to
provide continued earnings growth.  We believe that, by splitting the stock, we
are providing value to our shareholders by enhancing market liquidity in our
stock."

        Yesterday, the Company reported first quarter earnings of $3.2 million,
equivalent to $0.54 per share based on current shares outstanding, the
Company's best quarterly earnings since going public in August 1994.

        MLF Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Main Line Bank.  The Bank
conducts business from its headquarters in Villanova, PA, 18 full-service
Business Centers in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, and nine
mortgage loan production offices in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey,
and northern Delaware.



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Contact: Brian M. Hartline
         Chief Financial Officer
         (610) 526-6270



MLF Bancorp, Inc. press releases available at http://www.prnewswire.com/