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                                                                   Exhibit 99(a)
                                                                   -------------

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:         Sandra L. Stockhorst      Tina M. Farrington
                  VP, Investor Relations    SVP, Marketing
                  (419) 784-4023            (419) 784-2549

            RURBAN ENTERS INTO WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL RESERVE
                   AND OHIO DIVISION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

DEFIANCE, Ohio, July 9, 2002 - RURBAN FINANCIAL CORP. (NASDAQNM: RBNF)
("Rurban") and its wholly owned subsidiary, The State Bank and Trust Company
(Bank), announced they entered into a written agreement (Agreement) with the
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Ohio Division of Financial
Institutions on July 5, 2002. The Agreement results from an examination as of
December 31, 2001, conducted in March and April 2002. The Agreement will not
result in an interruption of day-to-day operations of the company or any
subsidiaries. "The issues resulting in the Agreement developed over a period of
time and likewise it will take time to resolve them. We are making substantial
progress in the evaluation of our asset quality on a loan by loan basis and the
Agreement issues are being aggressively addressed," commented Richard C.
Burrows, Rurban Interim President and CEO.

Rurban will comply with the Agreement's provisions, which include among other
items, retention of an independent consultant to conduct a management review and
to prepare a written report of findings and recommendations to Rurban's Board of
Directors. Rurban will then submit a written management plan and business plan
to its regulators. Rurban had previously retained independent consultants,
Austin Associates, LLC, and they are preparing a management review and assisting
in other compliance areas of the Agreement. Rurban agrees with its regulators
that the measures outlined in the Agreement will assist the company in better
monitoring its internal audit and control functions, management of the company
and its asset quality.

Additionally, Rurban will submit a written plan to strengthen board supervision
of the Bank, and is revising its loan policies and procedures to address current
deficiencies. The Agreement addresses asset quality, the allowance for loan
losses, loan review, interest income accrual, and steps Rurban will take to
correct all documentation and credit information deficiencies noted. The
Agreement requires submission of written procedures to strengthen and maintain
internal controls and a contingency funding plan. Prior written regulatory
approval is required to pay dividends, incur debt, or redeem stock.

Rurban will work closely with its regulators to fully comply with the Agreement
and to make all changes to policies and procedures required. Rurban has also
appointed a committee of outside directors to monitor and coordinate Rurban's
compliance with each provision of the agreement and provide quarterly written
progress reports to its regulators.


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About Rurban Financial Corp.
----------------------------

Rurban Financial Corp. is a publicly held bank holding company based in
Defiance, Ohio and is located on the Internet at www.rurbanfinancial.net.
Rurban's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System under the
symbol RBNF.

The Company currently has 10,000,000 shares of stock authorized and 4,565,721
shares outstanding. The investment banking firms of McDonald & Co. Securities
Inc. (Trident Securities Division), Sweney Cartwright and Co., and Friedman,
Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. are the primary market makers for these shares.

Rurban's wholly owned subsidiaries and operating divisions are The State Bank
and Trust Company, Reliance Financial Services, N.A., The Peoples Banking
Company, The First Bank of Ottawa, The Citizens Savings Bank Company and Rurbanc
Data Services, Inc. (RDSI). The banks offer a full range of financial services
through their offices in the Northern Ohio counties of Defiance, Paulding,
Fulton, Hancock, Putnam, Sandusky, Wood and Cuyahoga. Reliance Financial
Services offers a diversified array of trust and financial services to customers
nationwide. RDSI provides data processing services to community banks in Ohio,
Michigan and Indiana.

Forward-Looking Statements
--------------------------

This press release may contain statements that are forward looking as defined by
the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases.
The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe
harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations regarding important risk factors including those identified in the
Company's most recent periodic report and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from
those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such
statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any
other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved.





