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                                  EXHIBIT 3(i)

                             EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.
                      ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED


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                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                             EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.


FIRST:       The name of the Corporation shall be Emerald Financial Corp.

SECOND:      The place in the State of Ohio where the principal office of
the Corporation is to be located is in the City of Strongsville, Cuyahoga
County.

THIRD:       The purpose of the Corporation shall be to engage in any lawful
act or activity for which corporations may be formed under Sections 1701.01 to
1701.98, inclusive, of the Ohio Revised Code.

FOURTH:      The number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to have
outstanding shall be ten million (10,000,000), which shall be shares of common
stock without par value (the "Common Stock"). Shares of Common Stock may be
issued in whole or fractional shares.

FIFTH:       The preemptive right to purchase additional shares or any other
securities of the Corporation is expressly denied to all shareholders or
securities holders of all classes. No shareholder of the Corporation shall have,
as a matter of right, the preemptive right to subscribe for or purchase any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any class or to which
shall be attached or appertain any warrants or rights entitling the holder
thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class.

             In addition to any power the Corporation may have under applicable
law to purchase shares of Common Stock issued by it, the Corporation may
repurchase such shares from the estate of a deceased shareholder on such
reasonable terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may establish;
PROVIDED, that the Corporation thereafter offer such shares for resale within
two years.

SIXTH:       No holder of shares of any class shall have the right to vote
cumulatively in the election of directors or otherwise.