**Exhibit 99 (a)**

**Citizens Financial Corp.**

**Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350**

I, Robert J. Schoonover, President and Chief Executive Officer ofCitizens Financial Corp. (the “company”) certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 that:

| 1.                           | the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the company for the annual period ended December 31, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof(the “report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
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| 2.                           | the information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the company.                                                                                                                                                   |
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| Date:_____3/12/03___________ | /s/ ROBERT J. SCHOONOVER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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|                         | **President Chief Executive Officer**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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