Trans Financial to Acquire Eight Banc One Offices in Western Kentucky with $154 Million in Deposits

Business Wire, March 6, 1998

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1998--Trans Financial Inc. (NASDAQ: TRFI) today announced a signed, definitive agreement to purchase $154 million in deposits and $27 million in loans from Banc One Corp. (NYSE: ONE). The acquisition includes eight Banc One offices in Hopkins and Christian counties in western Kentucky.

Terms of the acquisition agreement were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in third quarter 1998.

"Trans Financial is committed to continued growth through acquisition and new branch construction in 1998 and beyond," said Vince Berta, Trans Financial president and chief executive officer. "The western Kentucky market has been a targeted expansion area for some time, and we are investigating additional acquisition opportunities in both Kentucky and Tennessee.

"The Banc One acquisition strengthens our presence in Kentucky and is expected to be accretive to earnings in 1999. It also provides additional opportunities to expand our community and private banking operations, including home loans, investments, 24-hour personal and small business banking, and commercial and trust services. The Trans Financial team looks forward to welcoming the Banc One customers and employees aboard."

The eight Banc One Kentucky locations being acquired by Trans Financial include two in Hopkinsville, four in Madisonville, one in Mortons Gap, and one in Hanson. The Banc One acquisition, plus two new offices currently under construction in Clarksville, Tenn., brings the total number of Trans Financial sales centers to 57 -- 39 in Kentucky and 18 in Tennessee.

Trans Financial Inc. is a financial services holding company headquartered in Bowling Green, operating primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee. The company serves business and consumer customers through its financial sales centers, a 24-hour call center, direct sales teams, and wholly-owned brokerage and mortgage affiliates. Trans Financial stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market Tier of the Nasdaq Stock market under the symbol TRFI. -0-

This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the company believes that the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: economic conditions (both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the company and its banks operate); competition for the company's customers, including those associated with the acquired offices, from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation (which changes from time to time over which the company has no control); changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the company's customers; and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT: Trans Financial Inc., Bowling Green

Analysts: Ed Matthews, 502/793-7717

or

Media: Jennifer Miller-Lee, 502/745-7607