Exhibit 99(a)
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                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:         Sandra L. Stockhorst               Tina M. Farrington
                  VP, Investor Relations             SVP, Marketing
                  (419) 784-4023                     (419) 784-2549

WORLDCOM INVESTMENT IMPACTS RURBAN SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

DEFIANCE, Ohio, July 3, 2002 - RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP. (NASDAQNM: RBNF)
("Rurban") reported today it holds $2 million in WorldCom Group bonds. Rurban
estimates that it will record an unrealized, after tax loss of $1.1 million in
the second quarter ended June 30, 2002, related to the decline in market value
of its WorldCom investment. Rurban holds $2 million par value of WorldCom
maturing in May 2004 as a part of its $94 million investment portfolio. Market
value of the bonds as of June 30, 2002 was $325,000.

Subsequent events in the WorldCom situation may increase or decrease Rurban's
loss on this investment.

RURBAN'S SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE IN EARLY AUGUST.

ABOUT RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP.
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Rurban Financial Corp. is a publicly held bank holding company based in
Defiance, Ohio and is located on the Internet at www.rurbanfinancial.net.
Rurban's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System under the
symbol RBNF.


The Company currently has 10,000,000 shares of stock authorized and 4,566,721
shares outstanding. The investment banking firms of McDonald & Co. Securities
Inc. (Trident Securities Division), Sweney Cartwright and Co., and Friedman,
Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. are the primary market makers for these shares.

Rurban's wholly owned subsidiaries and operating divisions are The State Bank
and Trust Company, Reliance Financial Services, N.A., The Peoples Banking
Company, The First Bank of Ottawa, The Citizens Savings Bank Company and Rurbanc
Data Services, Inc. (RDSI). The banks offer a full range of financial services
through their offices in the Northern Ohio counties of Defiance, Paulding,
Fulton, Hancock, Putnam, Sandusky, Wood and Cuyahoga. Reliance Financial
Services offers a diversified array of trust and financial services to customers
nationwide. RDSI provides data processing services to community banks in Ohio,
Michigan and Indiana.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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This press release may contain statements that are forward looking as defined by
the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases.
The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe
harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations regarding important risk factors including those identified in the
Company's most recent periodic report and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from
those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such
statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any
other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved.



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