EXHIBIT 32.1

         The following certification is provided by the undersigned President
and Principal Executive Officer of Centrue Financial Corporation on the basis of
such officer's knowledge and belief for the sole purpose of complying with 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.

                                  CERTIFICATION
                                  -------------

         In connection with the Quarterly Report of Centrue Financial
Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2008 (the
"Report"), I, Thomas A. Daiber, President and Principal Executive Officer of the
Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; 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/ Thomas A. Daiber
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Thomas A. Daiber
                                       Title: President and
                                              Principal Executive Officer
                                       Date:  August 8, 2008