Exhibit 99(a)

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

MEDIA CONTACT:     Tina Farrington, 419-784-2549, rfcmkt@rurban.net
INVESTOR CONTACT:  Sandra Stockhorst, 419-784-4023, rfcinv@rurban.net


            RURBAN ANNOUNCES DEFERRAL OF INTEREST ON DEBT SECURITIES

DEFIANCE, Ohio, February 13, 2003 - RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP. (NASDAQ: RBNF)
("Rurban") announced that on February 12, 2003 it filed a deferral notice with
US Bank, Trustee of Rurban's trust preferred indenture, to defer payments of
interest on the debt securities which would have been due on March 7, 2003. This
action is consistent with the requirements of the "Written Agreement" between
Rurban and federal and state banking regulatory authorities, the details of
which have been previously disclosed. The deferral of interest payments is
permitted under the terms of the indenture between Rurban and the holders of the
debt securities. During any interest deferral period, the indenture prohibits
Rurban from paying dividends on its common stock.

"It is important that we share this information with our shareholders because it
provides additional information as to when Rurban will be able to resume its
dividend. Regardless of our level of profitability, the indenture for the debt
securities prohibits Rurban from paying a dividend prior to the end of the
deferral period, which is September 7, 2003. Prior to the end of the deferral
period, Rurban will again examine its ability to resume dividends," stated
Kenneth A. Joyce, President and CEO.

Joyce added, "The future of Rurban is bright. We look forward to resuming
dividends as soon as profits indicate that this is the best path to pursue.
Putting our regulatory issues behind us is the first step and we are working
towards accomplishing this as soon as possible. Rurban stock has significant
intrinsic value and we intend to deliver that value to our investors."

About Rurban Financial Corp.

Rurban Financial Corp. is a publicly held bank holding company based in
Defiance, Ohio and is located on the Internet at http://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 4,565,721
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 are The State Bank and Trust Company,
Reliance Financial Services, N.A., Rurbanc Data Services, Inc. (RDSI) and RFC
Banking Company which consists of The Peoples Banking Company, The First Bank of
Ottawa and The Citizens Savings Bank Company. 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that are forward looking as defined by
the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases.
Rurban intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important
risk factors including those identified in Rurban's most recent periodic report
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly,
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be
regarded as a representation by Rurban or any other person that the results
expressed therein will be achieved.