Centrue Financial Declares Dividend of $0.075 Per Share

Centrue Financial Declares Dividend of $0.075 Per Share 


KANKAKEE, Ill., Oct. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Centrue Financial Corporation
 announced today that its Board of Directors voted to declare a cash dividend on
its common stock of $0.075 per share.  The dividend is payable November 28, 2003
to stockholders of record on November 11, 2003. The previously declared dividend
of $0.15 is being adjusted to coincide with the recent 2-for-1 stock split in
the form of a dividend.  The additional shares from the stock split will be
distributed on or about October 31, 2003 by Centrue Financial's transfer agent,
LaSalle Bank National Association.

Centrue Financial Corporation and Centrue Bank are headquartered in Kankakee,
Illinois, which is 60 miles south of downtown Chicago.  Centrue Bank operates
seventeen branches in eight counties.  Centrue Financial was formed through the
merger of Kankakee Bancorp, Inc. and Aviston Financial Corporation on October 9,
2003.  Centrue Bank has total assets of more than $600 million and 192
employees.

SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains, and future oral and written statements of Centrue
Financial and its management may contain, forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to
the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance and business of Centrue Financial.  Forward-looking statements,
which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Centrue
Financial's management and on information currently available to management, are
generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "could,"
"should" or other similar expressions.  Additionally, all statements in this
document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they
are made, and Centrue Financial undertakes no obligation to update any statement
in light of new information or future events.

A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of Centrue Financial
to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in its forward-looking statements.  These factors include, among others,
the following: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the
economic impact of past and any future terrorist threats or attacks; (iii)
changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies
concerning Centrue Financial's general business; (iv) changes in interest rates
and prepayment rates of Centrue Financial's assets: (v) increased competition in
the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi)
changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and
reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees;
(viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions;
(x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving Centrue
Financial; and (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices.  These risks
and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements
and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  Additional
information concerning Centrue Financial and its business, including additional
factors that could materially affect Centrue Financial's financial results, is
included in Centrue Financial's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. 

DATASOURCE: Centrue Financial Corporation



CONTACT:  Thomas A. Daiber, Chief Executive Officer, or James M.

Lindstrom, Chief Financial Officer, both of Centrue Financial Corporation,

[phone], or fax, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.kfs-bank.com/ 

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