Vist Financial Corp – ‘8-K’ for 9/17/98 – EX-99

As of:  Tuesday, 12/15/98   ·   For:  9/17/98   ·   Accession #:  950165-98-111   ·   File #:  0-14555

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Current Report   —   Form 8-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 8-K         Form 8-K Re: Leesport Acquisition                      5     14K 
 2: EX-99       Press Release                                          3     11K 

EX-99   —   Press Release

EX-99
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EXHIBIT 99

 PRESS RELEASE

EX-99
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 PRESS RELEASE

 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF LEESPORT
 133 North Centre Avenue
Leesport, PA 19533
 Phone: (610) 926-9673
 Fax: (610) 916-3024

For Additional Information, Please Contact Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.,             
President and Chief Executive Officer, at (610) 926-2161            

 For Immediate Release - December 11, 1998
 -----------------------------------------

 LEESPORT BANK COMPLETES
ACQUISITION OF ESSICK & BARR

In a joint announcement,  Raymond H. Melcher, Jr., President and Chief Executive
Officer of First  Leesport  Bancorp,  Inc. and its wholly owned  subsidiary  The
First National Bank of Leesport,  and Charles J. Hopkins,  President of Essick &
Barr  Insurance,  have announced that the merger of Essick & Barr,  Inc., a full
service insurance agency, into the First National Bank of Leesport was completed
on Monday,  December 7, 1998. Under the terms of the previously announced merger
agreement,  Essick & Barr will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of The First
National Bank of Leesport  under the direction of Charles J. Hopkins,  President
and Michael D. Hughes, Senior Vice President.  Other principals of Essick & Barr
are Jeffrey Power, David Grief and Mark Kunkle.                                 

According to Raymond H. Melcher,  Jr.,  President and Chief Executive Officer of
First Leesport  Bancorp,  Inc.,  "The  combination of Essick & Barr and Leesport
Bank presents powerful combination of prominent financial service providers able
to deliver a diverse  number of  financial  services to the  residents  of Berks
County and surrounding communities well into the millennium."                   

"The  acquisition of Essick & Barr  Insurance  allows us to more fully serve our
customers,"  continued  Melcher.  "We believe that this is only the beginning of
more  product  and  service  diversification  for  Leesport  Bank to benefit our
customers, employees and shareholders."                                         

According to Charles J. Hopkins,  President of Essick & Barr, Insurance,  "We at
Essick & Barr believe  strongly that the benefits we can bring to our clients by
joining forces with a top quality  community bank like Leesport makes tremendous
sense. Because of Leesport Bank's clear vision of bundling financial services to
better serve the market in the future,  the combination of Essick & Barr and the
Bank  presents  unlimited  opportunities  for growth  and  service to all of our
customers and client constituencies."                                           

Essick & Barr Insurance is a 104-year old Berks  County-based  general insurance
firm located at 108 South Fifth Street, Reading. Essick & Bar offers a full line
of personal and commercial  property and casualty insurance  programs.  The firm
also provides group  insurance for businesses,  employee  benefits plans and all
forms of life insurance. Essick & Barr employs a staff of thirty-two.           

EX-99
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The First  National Bank of Leesport was founded in 1909 and currently  operates
full service community banking offices in Leesport,  Blandon,  Wyomissing Hills,
Rockland  Plaza and  Hamburg,  with a seventh  facility  planned to open in Bern
Township in early 1999.  The Bank also operates a limited  service  facility for
the residents and staff at Phoebe Berks  Village,  Wernersville.  First Leesport
Bancorp,  Inc. has total  assets of $222 million as of November 30, 1998.  First
Leesport Bancorp, Inc., is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol FLPB.     
Counties.                                                                       

According to Raymond H. Melcher, Jr., President of First Leesport Bancorp, Inc.,
"The  combination  of Essick & Barr and The First National Bank of Leesport is a
powerful  combination  of financial  service  providers with a long tradition of
assisting  the  residents  and  business  owners  in Berks  and the  surrounding
communities to reach their financial goals."                                    

"We  believe  our  customers  are  increasingly   demanding  one-stop  financial
shopping,"  Mr.  Melcher  continued.  "We are  regularly  asked for referrals to
insurance agents and other financial service providers. The addition of Essick &
Barr Insurance to our banking  company is a logical way to provide our customers
with  professional  consultation and property,  casualty,  and financial service
products."                                                                      

"This is the  beginning  of more product and service  diversification  for First
Leesport Bancorp, Inc. that will benefit customers, employees and shareholders,"
Mr. Melcher concluded.                                                          

According  to Charles J.  Hopkins,  President  of Essick & Barr  Insurance,  "We
believe  strongly  that the benefits that we can bring to our clients by joining
with a top quality  community bank makes  tremendous  sense.  The First National
Bank  of  Leesport  has  a  clear  vision  and a  well  developed  plan  to be a
prosperous, diversified financial services company into the new millennium."    

Mr.  Hopkins  stated,  "Ray  Melcher's  desire  to expand  Leesport's  financial
services menu to better serve the market presents a very  compelling  reason for
us to join forces with The First  National  Bank of Leesport and First  Leesport
Bancorp,  Inc. The combined growth platform that Essick & Barr and the Bank will
have offers more  opportunities  for growth and service for all of our  customer
and client constituencies."                                                     

Both Mr. Melcher and Mr. Hopkins noted that the consolidation of their companies
represents the first of its kind in Berks County.                               

The  affiliation of the companies,  as previously  indicated,  is expected to be
finalized during the fourth quarter, 1998, subject to regulatory approval.      

First  Leesport  Bancorp,  Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Small Capital  Market as
"FLPB".  The First  National Bank of Leesport is a  $211,000,000  community bank
with full services offices in Leesport, Blandon, Breezy Corner, Hamburg, Reading
and Wyomissing  Hills,  and a limited service  facility in Phoebe Berks Village,
Wernersville, Berks County.                                                     

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

				Referenced-On Page
This ‘8-K’ Filing		Date		First		Last			Other Filings
Filed on:		12/15/98
		12/11/98		2
		12/7/98		2
		11/30/98		3
For Period End:		9/17/98							8-K
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