Hallmark Announces Intent to Transfer Listing

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 18  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. (AMEX:HAF) today announced its intention to voluntarily withdraw its Common Stock from listing on the American Stock Exchange and transfer such listing to the NASDAQ Global Market on or after Thursday, September 28, 2006.  The transfer of listing from the American Stock Exchange to the NASDAQ Global Market is expected to become effective following the pricing of its previously announced public offering.

Hallmark previously announced that it had filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed public offering of up to $80.5 million in shares of its common stock, including shares subject to the underwriters' over-allotment option.  The shares will be sold by Hallmark and its largest stockholder, Newcastle Partners, L.P.  The number of shares to be offered and offering price will be determined by market conditions at the time of pricing in consultation with the underwriters of the offering.

Hallmark has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at http://www.sec.gov/ . Alternatively, Hallmark, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free 1-800-333-6000.

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. is an insurance holding company which, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale of property and casualty insurance products to businesses and individuals. The Company's business involves marketing, distributing, underwriting and servicing commercial insurance in Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Washington; marketing, distributing, underwriting and servicing non- standard personal automobile insurance in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Idaho; marketing, distributing, underwriting and servicing general aviation insurance in 48 states; and providing other insurance related services. The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and its common stock is presently listed on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAF".

Forward-looking statements in this Release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ substantially from such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products and services in the marketplace, competitive factors, interest rate trends, the availability of financing, underwriting loss experience and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

   For further information, please contact:
   Mark J. Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, at
   [phone]
   http://www.hallmarkgrp.com/

DATASOURCE: Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.



CONTACT:  Mark J. Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc., [phone]



Web site:  http://www.hallmarkgrp.com/ 

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