EXHIBIT 99.1


                            (CIVITAS BANKGROUP LOGO)

                      810 Crescent Centre Drive, Suite 320
                               Franklin, TN 37067
                      office 615.263.9500 fax 615.383.8830


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact:   Aimee Punessen
March 31, 2006                                         Public Relations Manager
                                                       (615) 236-7454

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Civitas BankGroup (OTC:CVBG) has closed its sale of The
Murray Bank in Murray, Kentucky, announced Richard E. Herrington, president of
Civitas. Civitas sold its 50 percent share for $8.5 million to BancKentucky, its
partner in the bank.

"We're all pleased to have closed this transaction because it is in the best
interest of all parties involved," said Herrington. "The Murray Bank has been a
profitable investment for Civitas; the opportunity to incubate this community
bank has been good for both parties. BancKentucky now has 100 percent local
ownership of a growing bank and Civitas will redeploy capital to pursue growth
opportunities with Cumberland Bank in Middle Tennessee."

Civitas BankGroup is a bank holding company headquartered in Franklin,
Tennessee. Civitas is the parent company of Cumberland Bank, with 11 branches in
Green Hills, Franklin, Spring Hill, Brentwood, Gallatin, White House, Portland,
Carthage, Gordonsville and Lafayette. A twelfth branch will open shortly in
Hendersonville.

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THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE WHICH ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS ARE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE PURSUANT TO THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
DESCRIBING OUR FUTURE PLANS, PROJECTIONS, STRATEGIES AND EXPECTATIONS, ARE BASED
ON ASSUMPTIONS AND INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, MANY OF WHICH
ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
PROJECTED DUE TO CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES, COMPETITION IN THE INDUSTRY, CHANGES
IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER FACTORS. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CONCERNING SUCH FACTORS, WHICH COULD AFFECT US, IS CONTAINED IN OUR
FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.