EXHIBIT (a)(5)(ii)


                  CHESTER BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES TENDER OFFER

Chester, Illinois - (April 11, 2003) - Chester Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq Symbol:
CNBA), the holding company for Chester National Bank and Chester National Bank
of Missouri, today announced that it had commenced an offer to purchase up to
500 shares of its common stock from each of its shareholders. The offer will be
made at a purchase price of $22.00 per share by issuer tender offer, which
commences today.

The offer will be made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated April 11, 2003,
and related materials, and will expire on May 12, 2003 unless otherwise
extended. Any questions or requests for documents or forms related to the offer
should be directed to Chester National Bank at (618) 826-5038, Attention Michael
W. Welge. Chester Bancorp, Inc.'s Board of Directors has approved this tender
offer.

If after completion of the purchase offer there are fewer than 300 shareholders
of record, Chester Bancorp, Inc. intends to deregister its common stock with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and become a private company.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy
or a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of Chester Bancorp, Inc.'s
common stock. The offer is being made solely by the Offer of Purchase, which is
being mailed to shareholders today.

Shareholders and investors are urged to read Chester Bancorp, Inc.'s Schedule
13E-3 being filed today with the SEC in connection with this tender offer, which
includes the Offer to Purchase and related materials. These materials contain
important information including the various terms and conditions to the offer.
Investors may obtain copies of Chester Bancorp, Inc.'s Schedule 13E-3for free
from the SEC at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) or from Chester Bancorp, Inc.