EXHIBIT 32.1

                           SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION*

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Rurban Financial Corp. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
I, Kenneth A. Joyce, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the
best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

                                                /s/ Kenneth A. Joyce*
                                                ---------------------
                                                Print Name: Kenneth A. Joyce
                                                Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                                Date:  August 12, 2004

* This certification is being furnished as required by Rule 13a-14(b) under
  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Section 1350
  of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United State Code, and shall not be
  deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise
  subject to the liability of that Section. This certification shall not be
  deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the
  Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise stated in
  such filing.




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