1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

FC BANC CORP. NEWS RELEASE

FC Banc Corp.
123 North Sandusky Avenue
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820

                   Contact:   G.W. (Bill) Holden
                              President and CEO
                              (419) 562-7040

FC BANC CORP. TO REPURCHASE UP TO 4.9% OF ITS OUTSTANDING SHARES

BUCYRUS, Ohio (March 28, 2001) - FC Banc Corp. (Electronic Bulletin Board: FCBQ)
today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has approved a stock
repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 30,000 shares of the
Company's outstanding common stock. This repurchase program will depend on
market conditions and, accordingly, there is no guarantee as to the exact number
of shares to be repurchased by the Company. Currently FC Banc Corp. has
approximately 600,497 shares outstanding.

         G.W. Holden, President and Chief Executive Officer of FC Banc Corp.,
stated that the repurchase program will expire in March, 2002. The board of
directors approved the repurchase program in view of current economic and market
factors, alternate investment strategies and the strong capital position of the
Company and its subsidiary, The Farmers Citizens Bank. The repurchased shares
will become treasury shares available for general corporate purposes. The
Company believes that the repurchase of its shares represents an attractive
investment opportunity which will benefit the Company and its stockholders. The
Company repurchased 19,696 shares during 2000 and 4,358 shares during the first
three months of 2001.

         According to Mr. Holden, the repurchases generally would be effected
through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions in
accordance with applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The repurchased shares will become treasury shares available for
general corporate purposes including possible stock dividends.

         At December 31, 2000, FC Banc Corp. reported total assets of $100.1
million and shareholders' equity of $11.7 million, or 11.52% of total assets.

         Through its subsidiary, The Farmers Citizens Bank, FC Banc Corp. offers
an extensive line of retail and small business banking services in North Central
Ohio through its main office in Bucyrus, two full-service branches in Bucyrus,
the Company's full-service branch in Cardington established in January, 1998,
and a Fredericktown location established in May, 2000.The Cardington branch
(located in Morrow County) was the Company's first branch located outside
Crawford County.