EXHIBIT 99.1


                             AMERICAN BANCORP, INC.


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                            18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of American Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2002 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Ronald J. Lashute, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

(1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
      respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company
      as of September 30, 2002 (the last date of the period covered by the
      Report).



    November 4, 2002                    /s/ Ronald J. Lashute
- -------------------------               -------------------------
          DATE                          Ronald J. Lashute
                                        Chief Executive Officer