EXHIBIT 99








                    UNION PLANTERS SIGNS DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
                     TO ACQUIRE SHO-ME FINANCIAL CORPORATION

MEMPHIS,  TENNESSEE;  June 23,  1997  (NYSE:  UPC) C Benjamin  W.  Rawlins  Jr.,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Union Planters Corporation,  and Raymond
G.  Merryman,   President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Sho-Me  Financial
Corporation,  jointly announced today that the two companies have entered into a
definitive  agreement  pursuant to which Union  Planters  would  acquire  Sho-Me
Financial Corporation in a tax-free exchange of stock.

The agreement  calls for Union  Planters to exchange  .7694 shares of its common
stock for each common share of Sho-Me  Financial  Corporation.  The  transaction
would be valued at approximately  $59 million or $39.34 per share based on Union
Planters=   June  23  closing   stock  price  of  $51.125.   UPC  will  purchase
approximately 1.2 million shares in the open market to use in the exchange.  The
acquisition  is expected  to be  complete  by the fourth  quarter of 1997 and is
subject to shareholder  and regulatory  approval and the  satisfaction of normal
contractual closing conditions.

As of March 31, 1997,  Sho-Me  Financial  Corporation  reported  $305 million in
total assets and  approximately  $29 million in  shareholders=  equity.  Sho-Me,
headquartered in Mt. Vernon,  Mo.,  operates eight banking  facilities under the
name 1st Savings Bank in Mount  Vernon,  Aurora,  Bolivar,  Republic,  El Dorado
Springs and Springfield.  At the conclusion of the merger,  these locations will
merge with Union  Planters  Bank of  Southwest  Missouri,  a $184  million-asset
affiliate  of Union  Planters  Corporation.  This  combination  will give  Union
Planters  approximately  $488  million  in  total  assets  and  17  full-service
locations in Lawrence, Polk, Cedar, Greene, Christian and Taney counties.

In making the  announcement,  Ben Rawlins  stated,  "Our  philosophy has been to
affiliate with well-run,  community-focused institutions. The addition of Sho-Me
Financial Corporation to the Union Planters family of banks is in line with this
philosophy and strengthens our position in Southwest Missouri."

Raymond Merryman commented,  "We look forward to our strategic  combination with
Union   Planters  and  the  subsequent   enhanced   product  line  and  customer
conveniences. Their community-






oriented  management  structure was a main attraction for us and we look forward
to great opportunities for our customers, employees and shareholders, as well as
the communities we serve."

Union Planters  Corporation,  headquartered in Memphis,  Tenn., is a $15 billion
multi-bank  holding  company  with  over 433  offices  in  Missouri,  Tennessee,
Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky.



For more information:

Union Planters Corporation:
Bill Andrews
Director of Marketing
(901) 580-2892

Sho-Me Financial Corporation:
Raymond Merryman
President and Chief Executive Officer
(417) 466-2171