CHICAGO, April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marquette National Corporation ("Marquette") today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. ("Hemlock"), the parent company of Hemlock Federal Bank. Founded in 1904, Hemlock Federal Bank has banking locations in Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Lemont, Bolingbrook and two offices in Chicago (Back of the Yards and Little Village communities). Marquette is an Illinois-based bank holding company. Marquette's banking subsidiary, Marquette Bank, was started in 1945 and currently operates 19 retail offices located in communities in southwestern Chicagoland. The two companies had previously announced a definitive agreement on December 29, 2005. The transaction was approved by Hemlock shareholders on March 22, 2006. Under the terms of the agreement, Hemlock shareholders will receive $55.50 per share in cash. "We welcome the employees and customers of Hemlock to the Marquette family," said Paul M. McCarthy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marquette. "The merger of our contiguous branch networks will provide greater convenience for both Hemlock and Marquette customers." McCarthy also emphasized that customers of Hemlock will continue to be serviced at their current branch by the same employees they have come to know throughout their banking relationship with Hemlock. In the fourth quarter of 2006, Hemlock Federal Bank branches will become offices of Marquette Bank, bringing the total number of Marquette banking offices to 25. Hemlock currently has assets of $290 million and on a combined company basis Marquette's total assets will exceed $1.7 billion. Marquette National Corp. is the holding company for Marquette Bank. Marquette Bank is a full-service, customer-focused community bank that serves the financial needs of communities in southwestern Chicagoland. The Bank offers an extensive line of financial products including retail banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, trust and business banking to consumers and commercial customers. The Bank has 19 retail offices located in Chicago, Aurora, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Romeoville and Summit, Illinois. Additional information on Marquette may be found on its web site: http://www.emarquettebank.com/ . Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forwarding-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by Marquette National Corporation from time to time. Marquette Financial Corporation does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to publicly release results of any revisions that may be made to any forward- looking statements. DATASOURCE: Marquette National Corporation CONTACT: Paul M. McCarthy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marquette National Corporation, +1-708-364-9002 Web site: http://www.hemlockbank.com/ http://www.emarquettebank.com/

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