

EXHIBIT 99(a)

                        Admiralty Bank, USI Florida Form
                        Strategic Partnership to Provide
                          Insurance, Financial Services

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2000-- Admiralty Bancorp,
Inc., (NASDAQ NM: AAABB - news) and USI Florida, leaders in the South Florida
financial services industry, have established an alliance to provide clients
with a broad range of insurance and financial programs.

The announcement was made jointly by Bruce Mahon, Chairman of Admiralty Bank,
and Michael Karp, President of USI Florida.

Upon passage of the Gramm-Leach Act on Nov. 12, 1999, banks are now allowed to
provide their customers with insurance products expanding the range of products
offered and proceeding further toward the "one stop" customer service concept.

Admiralty Bank is one of Florida's fastest growing banks with offices in Palm
Beach Gardens, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton and Melbourne. The full- service
financial institution caters to the needs of businesses and individuals.

Admiralty capitalizes on a strong community orientation as it continues to
expand its customer base and portfolio of services.

Admiralty customers can now go to any branch and purchase a broad range of
insurance and other financial services through U.S.I.

"Our philosophy has been always to offer customers the finest financial services
and to respond quickly and efficiently to their needs," said Mahon. "This
strategic partnership with USI Florida enables us to broaden our services."

USI Florida is South Florida's largest insurance brokerage providing
insurance-related services to individuals and businesses, including the
customers of Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. With offices in Boca Raton,
Plantation and Coral Gables, USI Florida is positioned to serve Admiralty Bank
customers throughout the tri-county area.

"This is the perfect alliance," said Karp. "Admiralty's clients can benefit from
the sophisticated financial and insurance services we provide. Likewise, many of
our clients will be introduced to the fine services offered by Admiralty Bank."

Founded in 1994, USI Insurance Services Corp. is one of the fastest growing
distributors of fully integrated financial services to the middle market and one
of the most active consolidators of insurance brokerages in the United States.

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With operations in 21 states and annualized revenues of approximately $350
million, USI is the sixth largest commercial and financial services broker in
the world.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Certain of these statements contained in this release which are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the uncertainties
inherent in the process of auditing and making end-of-year adjustments to a
corporation's financial statements.

By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation
to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this
release.

L.G. Zangani, LLC provides financial public relations service to the Company. As
such, L.G. Zangani, LLC and/or its officers, agents and employees, receives
remuneration for public relations and/or other services performed for the
Company. This remuneration may take the form of cash, capital stock in the
Company, or warrants and/or options to purchase stock in the Company.

Contact:

     Admiralty Bancorp, Inc., Palm Beach Gardens
     Ward Kellogg, 561/624-4701
     Melisa Kratz, 561/624-4701
     Leonardo G. Zangani, Investor Relations, 908/788-9660

