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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1



PRESS RELEASE - October 8, 1998

                            Contact:      Edward V. Lett
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                            Telephone:    (305) 451-4660, ext. 117






                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          TIB FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCES SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION



         KEY LARGO, FL. (OCT. 8, 1998) - TIB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: TIBB),
holding company for TIB Bank of the Keys, today announced that the board of
directors has authorized the company to purchase up to 50,000 shares of the
company's common stock. The shares may be purchased from time to time in the
open market.

         In announcing the buyback, Edward V. Lett, President and Chief
Executive Officer of TIB Financial Corp., said, "Our current level of capital
along with our growth projections for both assets and earnings allow for this
investment on behalf of all of our shareholders. The management and optimum
utilization of capital is a high priority for our company. The board of
directors and management believe the proposed repurchase of the company's shares
at current prices is a prudent use of capital."

         TIB Bank of the Keys, the company's bank subsidiary, operates nine
offices in the Florida Keys and two offices in south Miami-Dade County. The
company's stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol
TIBB. Copies of TIBB press releases, SEC filings, current price quotes, stock
charts and other valuable information for investors may be found on the websites
http://www.hawkassociates.com and www.tibbank.com.

         For further information, contact Edward V. Lett, President and CEO, at
(305)451-4660.