PRESS RELEASE


Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.
4555 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  42512
(513) 351-6666
Contact: John R. Reusing


    October  11,  1996.  Fidelity  Financial  of  Ohio,  Inc.  ("Fidelity")
announced  today  the  completion  of  the  acquisition of Circle Financial
Corporation  ("CFC")  pursuant  to  the  merger of  CFC  with  and  into  a
subsidiary  of  Fidelity, and the subsequent  merger  of  People's  Savings
Association, a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  CFC,  with  and into Fidelity
Federal Savings Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity  (collectively,
the "Merger").  In connection with the Merger, each shareholder of CFC will
receive $38.00 in either cash or 3.85 shares of Fidelity Common  Stock  (or
under  certain  circumstances, a combination of cash and shares of Fidelity
Common Stock) in  exchange  for  each share of his or her CFC Common Stock,
provided  that the aggregate amount  of  cash  consideration  paid  to  CFC
shareholders  will  neither  exceed  nor  be  less  than  45%  of the total
consideration  paid  for  the  CFC  Common  Stock  by  Fidelity.  The total
approximate  value of the consideration to be paid to CFC  shareholders  is
expected to amount  to  $27.2  million.   Fidelity  and  CFC had previously
received all applicable regulatory and shareholder approvals.

    As  a  result  of  the Merger, Fidelity will have approximately  $493.7
million  in  consolidated   assets   and   $66.3  million  in  consolidated
stockholders' equity and will operate 10 offices  in the greater Cincinnati
area.

    John  R. Reusing, President and Chief Executive  Officer  of  Fidelity,
stated, "We  are  delighted  with  the  acquisition  of CFC.  CFC is a well
capitalized  and  profitable institution with a strong market  presence  in
Hamilton  County."    Mr.  Reusing  went  on  to  state  that,  "Fidelity's
acquisition of CFC combines  two community banks with very similar customer
service strategies and will permit Fidelity to continue to grow and enhance
shareholder value."

    Fidelity is an Ohio-chartered  thrift  holding  company which had total
consolidated  assets of $251.2 million, total consolidated  liabilities  of
$200.1 million and total consolidated stockholders' equity of $51.1 million
as of June 30,  1996.   The  Fidelity  Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "FFOH."