EXHIBIT 99

                        P R E S S   R E L E A S E


RELEASE DATE:                                      CONTACT:
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March 17, 2004                                     Frank D. Martz
                                                   Group Senior Vice President
                                                   of Operations and Secretary
                                                   (724) 758-5584


          ESB FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND
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     ESB Financial Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors at
its meeting on March 16, 2004 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.10 on
the Common Stock of ESB Financial Corporation payable on April 23, 2004 to
the stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2004.

     In announcing the scheduled cash dividend, Charlotte A. Zuschlag,
President and Chief Executive Officer, noted the Company's results of
operations for the three months ended December 31, 2003. The Company
recognized net income for the three month period ended December 31, 2003 of
$2.3 million or $.22 per diluted share.  This announcement reflects the
Company's policy of declaring a regular quarterly cash dividend.  This
quarterly cash dividend equates to an annual cash dividend of $.40 per share.

     ESB Financial Corporation is the parent Holding Company of ESB Bank and
offers a wide variety of financial products and services through sixteen
offices in the contiguous counties of Allegheny, Lawrence, Beaver and Butler
in Pennsylvania. The common stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the symbol "ESBF".



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