Exhibit 99


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


RELEASE DATE:                                   CONTACT:
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March 16, 2005                                  Frank D. Martz
                                                Group Senior Vice President
                                                of Operations and Secretary
                                                (724) 758-5584


             ESB FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND
             -------------------------------------------------

     ESB Financial Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors at
its meeting on March 15, 2005 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.10 on
the Common Stock of ESB Financial Corporation payable on April 25, 2005 to the
stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2005.

     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, 2004. The Company recognized net income for the
three month period ended December 31, 2004 of $2.6 million or $.25 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 23 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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