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                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

      [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

                                       OR

          [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

          For the transition period from __________ to _______________

                          Commission File No.: 0-27868

                        FIDELITY FINANCIAL OF OHIO, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            OHIO                                             31-1455721
---------------------------------                     ----------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction                           (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                     Identification Number)

      4555 MONTGOMERY ROAD
         CINCINNATI, OHIO                                     45212
---------------------------------                     ----------------------
            (Address)                                       (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 351-6666

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                 NOT APPLICABLE

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act

                     COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE)
                     ---------------------------------------
                                 Title of Class

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes _X_  No ___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

As of March 20, 1998, the aggregate value of the 5,038,828 shares of Common
Stock of the Registrant issued and outstanding on such date, which excludes
556,230 shares held by all directors and officers of the Registrant and the
Registrant's Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") as a group, was
approximately $90.7 million. This figure is based on the last known trade price
of $18.00 per share of the Registrant's Common Stock on March 20, 1998. Although
directors and officers and the ESOP were assumed to be "affiliates" of the
Registrant for purposes of this calculation, the classification is not to be
interpreted as an admission of such status.

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 20, 1998:  5,595,058

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         List hereunder the following documents incorporated by reference and
the Part of the Form 10-K into which the document is incorporated.

(1) Portions of the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December
31, 1997 are incorporated into Part II, Items 5 through 8 of this Form 10-K.

(2) Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders are incorporated into Part III, Items 10 through 13 of this Form
10-K.

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

         Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc. (the "Company") is an Ohio corporation
which is the holding company for Fidelity Federal Savings Bank ("Fidelity" or
the "Savings Bank"). The Company was organized by the Savings Bank for the
purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of the Savings Bank in connection
with the conversion of Fidelity Federal Mutual Holding Company, the former
federally chartered, mutual holding company of the Savings Bank, and the
reorganization of the Savings Bank to the stock holding company form, which was
completed on March 4, 1996 (the "Conversion and Reorganization"). The only
significant assets of the Company are the capital stock of the Savings Bank and
the net proceeds of the Conversion and Reorganization retained by the Company.

         On October 11, 1996, following receipt of all regulatory and
stockholder approvals, the Company completed the acquisition of Circle Financial
Corporation ("CFC") pursuant to the merger of CFC with and into a subsidiary of
the Company, and the subsequent merger of People's Savings Association (the
"Association"), an Ohio-chartered savings association and a wholly owned
subsidiary of CFC, with and into Fidelity (collectively, the "Merger"). The
Merger was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Consequently,
the financial information and data presented herein excludes CFC and the
Association for all periods prior to 1996.

         Fidelity is a federally chartered savings bank which conducts business
through ten full-service offices located in the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan
area. Fidelity is primarily engaged in attracting deposits from the general
public through its offices and using those and other available sources of funds
to originate loans secured by single-family residences located primarily in
southwestern Ohio. Such loans amounted to $341.6 million or 77.1% of Fidelity's
total loan portfolio (including loans held for sale) at December 31, 1997. To a
lesser extent, Fidelity originates loans secured by existing multi-family
residential and nonresidential real estate, which amounted to $26.1 million or
5.9% and $50.6 million or 11.4%, respectively, of the total loan portfolio
(including loans held for sale) at December 31, 1997, as well as construction
loans and consumer loans, which respectively amounted to $15.3 million or 3.5%
and $9.3 million or 2.1% of the total loan portfolio (including loans held for
sale) at such date. Fidelity also invests in U.S. Government and federal agency
obligations and mortgage-backed securities which are insured by federal
agencies.

         Fidelity is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and
examination by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), its primary federal
regulator, and by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), which
insures its deposits up to applicable limits. Such regulation and supervision
establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an association may
engage and is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the
Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") administered by the FDIC. Fidelity
is also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") of Cincinnati, which is
one of the 12 banks which comprise the FHLB System. Fidelity is further subject
to regulations of the


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                                        2

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve Board")
governing reserves required to be maintained against deposits and certain other
matters.

         The Company, as a registered savings and loan holding company, is
subject to the examination and regulation by the OTS and is subject to various
reporting and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"). At December 31, 1997, the Company had $535.1 million of total
consolidated assets, $470.8 million of total consolidated liabilities, including
$432.0 million of deposits, and $64.3 million of total consolidated
stockholders' equity.

LENDING ACTIVITIES

         GENERAL. At December 31, 1997, Fidelity's net loan portfolio (including
loans held for sale) totaled $436.9 million, representing approximately 81.6% of
Fidelity's $535.1 million of total assets at that date. The principal lending
activity of Fidelity is the origination of single-family residential loans and,
to a lesser extent, multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate
loans, construction loans and limited amounts of consumer loans. Substantially
all of Fidelity's loan portfolio consists of conventional loans, which are loans
that are neither insured by the Federal Housing Administration nor partially
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

         As a federally chartered savings institution, Fidelity has general
authority to originate and purchase loans secured by real estate located
throughout the United States. Notwithstanding this nationwide lending authority,
substantially all of the mortgage loans in Fidelity's portfolio are secured by
properties located in Ohio, with the substantial majority of the mortgage loans
in Fidelity's portfolio secured by property located in Fidelity's market area in
southwestern Ohio.

         Federal regulations permit Fidelity to invest without limitation in
residential mortgage loans and up to four times its capital in loans secured by
nonresidential or commercial real estate. Fidelity is also permitted to invest
in secured and unsecured consumer loans in an amount not exceeding 30% of
Fidelity's total assets; however, such 30% limit may be exceeded for certain
types of consumer loans, such as home equity, property improvement and education
loans. In addition, Fidelity is permitted to invest up to 10% of its total
assets in secured and unsecured loans for commercial, corporate, business or
agricultural purposes. To date, Fidelity's lending activities have focused on
residential real estate and, to a lesser extent, multi-family residential and
nonresidential real estate and consumer lending.

         Although Fidelity historically originated loans with lesser dollar
balances than were permitted by federal regulations, current loans-to-one
borrower limitations may restrict its ability to do business with certain
customers. Since the enactment of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery,
and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), a savings association generally may not
make loans to one borrower and related entities in an amount


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                                        3

which exceeds 15% of its unimpaired capital and surplus, although loans in an
amount equal to an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus may be made
to a borrower if the loans are fully secured by readily marketable securities.
At December 31, 1997, Fidelity's limit on loans-to-one borrower was $8.2 million
and its five largest loans or groups of loans-to-one borrower, including related
entities, aggregated $7.4 million, $4.4 million, $4.1 million, $3.9 million and
$3.6 million. All five of Fidelity's largest loans or groups of loans are
secured primarily by multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate
located in Fidelity's primary lending area and were performing in accordance
with their terms at December 31, 1997.


<PAGE>   5

                                        4

         Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the
composition of Fidelity's loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          December 31,
                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1997                1996(1)            1995               1994                 1993
                                  ----------------    ----------------   ---------------    ---------------      ----------------
                                  Amount   Percent    Amount   Percent   Amount  Percent    Amount  Percent      Amount   Percent
                                  ------   -------    ------   -------   ------  -------    ------  -------      ------   -------
                                                                      (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                              <C>          <C>    <C>         <C>    <C>         <C>    <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>
Single-family residential(2)     $341,636     77.1%  $321,701    80.0%  $142,246    75.7%  $134,508   74.6%     $120,902    72.7%
Multi-family residential           26,125      5.9     25,580     6.4     18,833    10.0     15,443    8.6        15,434     9.3
Nonresidential real estate         50,613     11.4     33,055     8.2     20,773    11.1     23,685   13.1        26,378    15.9
Construction                       15,264      3.5     13,839     3.4      4,791     2.6      6,332    3.5         3,340     2.0
                                  -------   ------    -------   -----    -------   -----    -------  -----      --------   -----
    Total real estate loans       433,638     97.9    394,175    98.0    186,643    99.4    179,968   99.8       166,054    99.9
Consumer loans:
  Auto loans                        1,427      0.3      1,149     0.3         --      --         --     --            --      --
  Home improvement/equity           7,142      1.6      6,135     1.5        952     0.5         41     --            42      --
  Other                               697      0.2        566     0.2        251     0.1        300    0.2           168     0.1
                                  -------   ------    -------   -----    -------   -----    -------  -----       -------   -----
    Total consumer loans            9,266      2.1      7,850     2.0      1,203     0.6        341    0.2           210     0.1
                                  -------   ------    -------   -----    -------   -----    -------  -----       -------   -----
      Total loans                 442,904    100.0%   402,025   100.0%   187,846   100.0%   180,309  100.0%      166,264   100.0%
                                  -------   ======    -------   =====    -------   =====    -------  =====       -------   =====
  Loans in process                 (5,127)             (4,055)            (1,305)            (3,424)              (1,927)
  Unamortized yield adjustments       733                 129               (591)              (880)              (1,142)
  Allowance for loan losses        (1,658)             (1,558)              (818)              (783)                (803)
                                  -------             -------            -------            -------              -------
    Net loans                    $436,852            $396,541           $185,132           $175,222             $162,392
                                  =======             =======            =======            =======              =======
</TABLE>

---------------------

(1) The substantial increase in loans at December 31, 1996 as compared to
December 31, 1995 reflects the $189.4 million of net loans acquired by Fidelity
as a result of the Merger.

(2) At December 31, 1997 and 1995, included $438,000 and $646,000 of loans
classified as held for sale, respectively. Fidelity did not have any loans
classified as held for sale at any of the other dates presented.


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                                        5

         CONTRACTUAL PRINCIPAL REPAYMENTS AND INTEREST RATES. The following
table sets forth certain information at December 31, 1997 regarding the dollar
amount of loans maturing in Fidelity's portfolio, based on the contractual terms
to maturity, before giving effect to net items. Demand loans, loans having no
stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity and overdrafts are reported
as due in one year or less.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Due 3-5         Due 5-10      Due 10-15    Due more than
                                                               years after     years after   years after  15 years after
                                 1998      1999       2000      12/31/97        12/31/97      12/31/97       12/31/97        Total
                                 ----      ----       ----      --------        --------      --------       --------        -----
                                                                            (In Thousands)
<S>                             <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>
Single-family residential       $ 7,919   $ 8,538   $ 9,204      $20,621        $ 67,406       $59,742       $168,206      $341,636
Multi-family residential and
 nonresidential real estate       2,760     3,008     3,278        7,465          34,943        20,132          5,152        76,738

Construction                      3,321     1,526     1,838          329           1,108         1,682          5,460        15,264
Consumer                          1,734     1,897     2,075        2,961             599            --             --         9,266
                                -------   -------   -------      -------        --------       -------       --------      --------
     Total                      $15,734   $14,969   $16,395      $31,376        $104,056       $81,556       $178,818      $442,904
                                =======   =======   =======      =======        ========       =======       ========      ========
</TABLE>

         The following table sets forth the dollar amount of all loans, before
net items, due after one year from December 31, 1997 which have fixed interest
rates or which have floating or adjustable interest rates.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Floating or
                                                    Fixed Rates              Adjustable-Rates                Total
                                                    -----------              ----------------                -----
                                                                              (In Thousands)
<S>                                                   <C>                         <C>                      <C>
Single-family residential                             $221,492                    $112,225                 $333,717
Multi-family residential and
  nonresidential real estate                            28,301                      45,677                   73,978
Construction                                             4,097                       7,846                   11,943
Consumer                                                 4,532                       3,000                    7,532
                                                      --------                    --------                 --------
    Total                                             $258,422                    $168,748                 $427,170
                                                      ========                    ========                 ========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   7


                                        6

         Scheduled contractual amortization of loans does not reflect the actual
term of Fidelity's loan portfolio. The average life of loans is substantially
less than their contractual terms because of prepayments and due-on-sale
clauses, which give Fidelity the right to declare a conventional loan
immediately due and payable in the event, among other things, that the borrower
sells the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid. The
average life of mortgage loans tends to increase when current mortgage loan
rates are substantially higher than rates on existing mortgage loans and,
conversely, decrease when current mortgage loan rates are substantially lower
than rates on existing mortgage loans (due to refinancings of adjustable-rate
and fixed-rate loans at lower rates). Under the latter circumstances, the
weighted average yield on loans decreases as higher yielding loans are repaid or
refinanced at lower rates.

         ORIGINATIONS, PURCHASES AND SALES OF LOANS. The lending activities of
Fidelity are subject to the written, non-discriminatory, underwriting standards
and loan origination procedures established by Fidelity's Board of Directors and
management. Loan originations are obtained by a variety of sources, including
referrals from real estate brokers, developers, builders, existing customers,
newspaper, radio, periodical advertising and walk-in customers. Loan
applications are taken by lending personnel, and the loan department supervises
the obtainment of credit reports, appraisals and other documentation involved
with a loan. Property valuations are generally performed by independent outside
appraisers approved by Fidelity's Chief Lending Officer. An attorney's opinion
of title and hazard insurance are required on all security property.

         Fidelity's loan approval process is intended to assess the borrower's
ability to repay the loan, the viability of the loan and the adequacy of the
value of the property that will secure the loan. Certain officers of the Savings
Bank have been authorized by the Board of Directors to approve loans up to
certain designated amounts. All nonresidential real estate and multi-family
residential loans exceeding $1.5 million are reported to the Board of Directors
on a monthly basis.

         Traditionally, the Savings Bank has originated substantially all of the
loans in its portfolio and has held them until maturity. During the years ended
December 31, 1995 and 1997, the Savings Bank purchased $3.4 million and $11.4
million, respectively, in loan participations from other financial institutions.
Such loan purchases consisted of multi-family and nonresidential real estate
loans secured by properties located within the Savings Bank's primary market
area. During 1996, the Savings Bank purchased no loan participations, while
acquiring $17.5 million in participations through the merger with Circle
Financial Corp. At December 31, 1997, loans purchased and serviced by others
totaled $25.2 million.

         As a result of the Merger, Fidelity acquired $194.3 million of gross
loans ($189.4 million, net) of which single-family residential loans,
multi-family residential loans, nonresidential real estate and land loans,
construction loans and consumer loans were $159.9 million, $8.4 million, $8.2
million, $12.6 million, and $5.2 million, respectively.


<PAGE>   8

                                        7

         The following table shows total loans originated, purchased, sold and
repaid during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Year Ended December 31,
                                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             1997                    1996                    1995
                                                     -------------------     -------------------     -------------------
                                                                            (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                        <C>                     <C>                      <C>
Loan originations:
  Single-family residential                                $ 83,169                $ 45,800                 $27,785
  Multi-family residential                                    2,796                   3,030                   1,865
  Nonresidential real estate                                  8,186                     869                     572
  Construction                                               19,504                   6,372                   4,308
  Consumer                                                    6,799                   3,394                   2,228
                                                           --------                --------                 -------
    Total loans originated                                  120,454                  59,465                  36,758
Purchases                                                    11,368                      --                   3,409
                                                           --------                --------                 -------
    Total loans originated and
      purchased                                             131,822                  59,465                  40,167
Sales, securitizations and loan
  principal reductions:
  Loans sold                                                  4,422                     547                   1,165
  Loans securitized                                           8,099                      --                      --
  Loan principal reductions                                  79,023                  37,106                  28,923
                                                           --------                --------                 -------
    Total loans sold, securitized and
      principal reductions                                   91,544                  37,653                  30,088

Net loans acquired through Merger                                --                 189,405                      --
Increase (decrease) due to other
  items, net                                                     33                     838                    (169)
                                                           --------                --------                 -------
Net increase in loan portfolio                             $ 40,311                $212,055                 $ 9,910
                                                           ========                ========                 =======
</TABLE>

         SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOANS. The primary lending activity of
Fidelity is the origination of loans secured by first mortgage liens on
single-family residences. At December 31, 1997, $341.6 million or 77.1% of
Fidelity's total loan portfolio (including loans held for sale), before net
items, consisted of single-family residential loans.

         The loan-to-value ratio, maturity and other provisions of the loans
made by Fidelity generally have reflected the policy of making less than the
maximum loan permissible under applicable regulations, in accordance with sound
lending practices, market conditions and underwriting standards established by
Fidelity. Fidelity's lending policies on single-family residential mortgage
loans generally limits the maximum loan-to-value ratio to 95% of the lesser of
the appraised value or purchase price of the property and generally all
single-family residential loans in excess of an 80% loan-to-value ratio require
private mortgage insurance.


<PAGE>   9


                                        8

         Fidelity offers fixed-rate single-family residential loans with terms
of 10 to 30 years. In addition, Fidelity also offers loans that are fixed for
either five or seven years then become one year adjustable rate loans. Such
loans are amortized on a monthly basis with principal and interest due each
month and customarily include "due-on-sale" clauses, which are provisions giving
Fidelity the right to declare a loan immediately due and payable in the event
the borrower sells or otherwise disposes of the real property subject to the
mortgage and the loan is not repaid. Fidelity enforces due-on-sale clauses to
the extent permitted under applicable laws.

         Since the early 1980s, Fidelity has been offering adjustable-rate loans
in order to decrease the vulnerability of its operations to changes in interest
rates. At December 31, 1997, $113.7 million or 33.3% of the single-family
residential loans in Fidelity's loan portfolio, before net items, consisted of
adjustable-rate loans.

         Fidelity's single-family residential adjustable-rate loans are fully
amortizing loans with contractual maturities of up to 30 years. These loans have
interest rates which are scheduled to adjust every one or three years in
accordance with a designated index (The National Average Mortgage Contract
Interest Rate for the Purchase of Previously-Occupied Homes or the weekly
average yield on U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant comparable
maturity). There is a 2% cap on the rate adjustment per period and either a 5%
or 6% cap on the rate adjustment over the life of the loan. Fidelity's
adjustable-rate loans are not convertible into fixed-rate loans, are not
assumable, do not contain prepayment penalties and do not produce negative
amortization.

         The demand for adjustable-rate loans in Fidelity's primary market area
has been a function of several factors, including the level of interest rates,
the expectations of changes in the level of interest rates and the difference
between the interest rates and loan fees offered for fixed-rate loans and
adjustable-rate loans. The relative amount of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate
residential loans that can be originated at any time is largely determined by
the demand for each in a competitive environment.

         Adjustable-rate loans decrease the risks associated with changes in
interest rates but involve other risks, primarily because as interest rates
rise, the payment by the borrower rises to the extent permitted by the terms of
the loan, thereby increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the
marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher
interest rates. Fidelity believes that these risks, which have not had a
material adverse effect on Fidelity to date, generally are less than the risks
associated with holding fixed-rate loans in an increasing interest rate
environment.

         MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, NONRESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION
LOANS. At December 31, 1997, $26.1 million or 5.9% and $50.6 million or 11.4% of
Fidelity's total loan portfolio (including loans held for sale), before net
items, consisted of loans secured by existing multi-family residential and
nonresidential real estate, respectively. Fidelity's multi-family residential
and nonresidential real estate loan portfolio includes, for the most part,

<PAGE>   10

                                        9

232 loans secured by apartment buildings, small office buildings, retail
establishments, nursing homes and other special purpose properties located
within Fidelity's primary lending area. The average amount of Fidelity's
multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate loans was approximately
$331,000 at December 31, 1997.

         Multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate loans have
terms which range up to 30 years. Fidelity offers both ten year and 15 year
fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate loans which generally adjust at either a
one, three or five-year interval in accordance with changes in a designated
index (generally a prime rate or the weekly average yield on U.S. Treasury
securities adjusted to a constant comparable maturity). The maximum adjustment
in any one period is 2% with either a 5% or 6% cap over the life of the loan. In
addition, Fidelity originates fixed-rate multi-family residential and
nonresidential real estate loans with either five, seven or ten year balloon
terms. At December 31, 1997, $47.1 million or 61.4% of the multi-family
residential and nonresidential real estate loan portfolio, before net items,
consisted of adjustable-rate loans.

         Multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate loans are
generally made in amounts up to 75% of the appraised value of the security
property. All appraisals are generally performed by an independent appraiser
designated by Fidelity and are reviewed by management. In originating
multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate loans, Fidelity
considers the quality of the property, the credit of the borrower, cash flow of
the project, location of the real estate and the quality of management involved
with the property.

         Fidelity makes construction loans to individuals for the construction
of their residences and to builders for the construction of single family
residences on a speculative (unsold) basis, based on the builders'
creditworthiness. Fidelity also makes construction loans to borrowers for the
construction of multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate. At
December 31, 1997, construction loans amounted to $15.3 million or 3.5% of
Fidelity's total loan portfolio (including loans held for sale), before net
items. Of this amount, $7.0 million consists of loans for the construction of
single-family residences and $8.3 million consists of loans for the construction
of multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate.

         Construction lending is generally limited to Fidelity's primary lending
area. Construction loans are structured to be converted to permanent loans at
the end of the construction phase, which typically is 12 months. Construction
loans have rates and terms which generally match the non-construction loans then
offered by Fidelity, except that during the construction phase the borrower only
pays interest on the loan. Construction loans are underwritten pursuant to the
same general guidelines used for originating permanent loans.

         Multi-family residential and nonresidential real estate lending is
generally considered to involve a higher degree of risk than single-family
residential lending. Such lending typically involves large loan balances
concentrated in a single borrower or groups of related

<PAGE>   11

                                       10

borrowers. In addition, the payment experience on loans secured by
income-producing properties is typically dependent on the successful operation
of the related real estate project and thus may be subject to a greater extent
to adverse conditions in the real estate market or in the general economy.
Construction financing also is generally considered to involve a higher degree
of risk of loss than long term financing on improved, owner-occupied real estate
because of the uncertainties of construction, including the possibility of costs
exceeding the initial estimates and the need to obtain a tenant or purchaser if
the property will not be owner-occupied. Fidelity generally attempts to mitigate
the risks associated with multi-family residential, nonresidential real estate
and construction lending by, among other things, lending primarily in its market
area and using low loan-to-value ratios in the underwriting process.

         CONSUMER LOANS. At December 31, 1997, consumer loans totaled $9.3
million or 2.1% of the total loan portfolio (including loans held for sale),
before net items, and consisted primarily of home equity loans, automobile loans
and loans secured by deposit accounts.

         LOAN ORIGINATION AND OTHER FEES. In addition to interest earned on
loans, Fidelity receives loan origination fees or "points" for originating
loans. Loan points are a percentage of the principal amount of the mortgage loan
and are charged to the borrower in connection with the origination of the loan.

         In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 91,
which deals with the accounting for non-refundable fees and costs associated
with originating or acquiring loans, Fidelity's loan origination fees and
certain related direct loan origination costs are offset, and the resulting net
amount is deferred and amortized as interest income over the contractual life of
the related loans as an adjustment to the yield of such loans. At December 31,
1997, Fidelity had $671,000 of net loan costs which had been deferred and are
being recognized as an adjustment to income over the estimated maturities of the
related loans.

ASSET QUALITY

         LOAN DELINQUENCIES. When a borrower fails to make a required payment on
a loan, Fidelity attempts to cure the deficiency by contacting the borrower and
seeking payment. Contacts are generally made following the fifteenth day after a
payment is due, at which time a late payment is assessed. In most cases,
deficiencies are cured promptly. If a delinquency extends beyond 15 days, the
loan and payment history is reviewed and efforts are made to collect the loan.
While Fidelity generally prefers to work with borrowers to resolve such
problems, when the account becomes 90 days delinquent, Fidelity does institute
foreclosure or other proceedings, as necessary, to minimize any potential loss.

<PAGE>   12

                                       11

         The following table sets forth information concerning delinquent loans
at December 31, 1997, in dollar amount and as a percentage of Fidelity's total
loan portfolio (before net items). The amounts presented represent the total
outstanding principal balances of the related loans, rather than the actual
payment amounts which are past due.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Single-family       Multi-family     Nonresidential
                       Residential        Residential        Real Estate       Construction         Consumer             Total
                    -----------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------------
                    Amount Percentage  Amount Percentage  Amount Percentage  Amount Percentage  Amount Percentage  Amount Percentage
                    ------ ----------  ------ ----------  ------ ----------  ------ ----------  ------ ----------  ------ ----------
                                                                    (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                 <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>     <C>        <C>
Loans
 delinquent for:
 30 - 59 days       $4,321     1.0%     $--       --%      $146     --%        $--      --%       $8       --%     $4,475     1.0%
 60 - 89 days          907     0.2       --       --         --     --          --      --        --       --         907     0.2
 90 days and over      957     0.2       --       --         --     --          --      --        --       --         957     0.2
                    ------     ---      ---       --       ----     --         ---      --        --       --      ------     ---
  Total
   delinquent
   loans            $6,185     1.4%     $--       --%      $146     --%        $--      --%       $8       --%     $6,339     1.4%
                    ======     ===      ===       ==       ====     ==         ===      ==        ==       ==      ======     ===
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   13

                                       12

         NON-PERFORMING ASSETS. All loans are reviewed on a regular basis and
are placed on non-accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the
collection of additional interest is deemed insufficient to warrant further
accrual. As a matter of policy, Fidelity does not accrue interest on loans past
due 90 days or more except when the estimated value of the collateral and
collection efforts are deemed sufficient to ensure full recovery. Consumer loans
generally are charged-off when the loan becomes over 120 days delinquent.
Interest accrued and unpaid at the time a loan is placed on non-accrual status
is charged against interest income. Subsequent payments are either applied to
the outstanding principal balance or recorded as interest income, depending on
the assessment of the ultimate collectibility of the loan.

         Real estate acquired through foreclosure is carried at the lower of the
loan's unpaid principal balance (cost) or fair value less estimated selling
expenses at the date of acquisition. A loan charge-off is recorded for any
writedown in the loan's carrying value to fair value at the date of acquisition.
Real estate loss provisions are recorded if the properties' fair value
subsequently declines below the value determined at the recording date. In
determining the lower of cost or fair value at acquisition, costs relating to
development and improvement of property are considered. Costs relating to
holding real estate acquired through foreclosure, net of rental income, are
charged against earnings as incurred.

         The following table sets forth the amounts and categories of Fidelity's
non-performing assets at the dates indicated. Fidelity did not have any accruing
loans 90 days or more delinquent or troubled debt restructurings at any of the
dates presented.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  December 31,
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1997            1996             1995           1994           1993
                                                   --------        --------         --------       --------       --------
                                                                             (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>              <C>              <C>           <C>
Non-accruing loans:
  Single-family residential                          $957           $  924           $  949           $652          $  955
  Multi-family residential and
    nonresidential real estate                         --              206               58            187             513
                                                     ----           ------           ------           ----          ------
  Total non-performing loans                          957            1,130            1,007            839           1,468
Real estate owned:
  Single-family residential real
    estate                                             --               --               --             85              65
  Multi-family residential and
    nonresidential real estate                         --               --               --             --              39
                                                     ----           ------           ------           ----          ------
  Total real estate owned                              --               --               --             85             104
                                                     ----           ------           ------           ----          ------
  Total non-performing assets                        $957           $1,130           $1,007           $924          $1,572
                                                     ====           ======           ======           ====          ======
  Total non-performing loans
    as a percentage of total loans                    .22%             .28%             .54%           .47%            .88%
                                                     ====           ======           ======           ====          ======
  Total non-performing assets as
    a percentage of total assets                      .18%             .23%             .44%           .43%            .77%
                                                     ====           ======           ======           ====          ======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   14

                                       13

         The interest income that would have been recorded during the years
ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 if Fidelity's non-performing
loans at the end of such periods had been current in accordance with their terms
during such periods was $25,000, $59,000, $12,000, $51,000 and $42,000,
respectively. The amount of interest income that was actually received during
the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 with respect to
such non-performing loans amounted to approximately $57,000, $74,000, $65,000,
$42,000 and $106,000, respectively.

         CLASSIFIED ASSETS. Federal regulations require that each insured
savings association classify its assets on a regular basis. In addition, in
connection with examinations of insured institutions, federal examiners have
authority to identify problem assets and, if appropriate, classify them. There
are three classifications for problem assets: "substandard," "doubtful" and
"loss." Substandard assets have one or more defined weaknesses and are
characterized by the distinct possibility that the insured institution will
sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Doubtful assets have
the weaknesses of substandard assets with the additional characteristic that the
weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full on the basis of currently
existing facts, conditions and values questionable, and there is a high
possibility of loss. An asset classified loss is considered uncollectible and of
such little value that continuance as an asset of the institution is not
warranted. Another category designated "special mention" also must be
established and maintained for assets which do not currently expose an insured
institution to a sufficient degree of risk to warrant classification as
substandard, doubtful or loss. Assets classified as substandard or doubtful
require the institution to establish general allowances for loan losses. If an
asset or portion thereof is classified loss, the insured institution must either
establish specific allowances for loan losses in the amount of 100% of the
portion of the asset classified loss, or charge-off such amount. General loss
allowances established to cover possible losses related to assets classified
substandard or doubtful may be included in determining an institution's
regulatory capital, while specific valuation allowances for loan losses do not
qualify as regulatory capital. Federal examiners may disagree with an insured
institution's classifications and amounts reserved.

         Exclusive of assets classified loss and which have been fully reserved
or charged-off, Fidelity's classified assets at December 31, 1997 consisted of
$1.5 million of loans classified as special mention, $1.8 million of loans
classified as substandard, and $501,000 of loans classified as doubtful.

         ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES. It is management's policy to maintain an
allowance for estimated losses on loans based upon an assessment of prior loss
experience, the volume and type of lending conducted by Fidelity, industry
standards, past due loans, general economic conditions and other factors related
to the collectibility of the loan portfolio. Although management believes that
it uses the best information available to make such determinations, future
adjustments to allowances may be necessary, and net earnings could be
significantly affected, if circumstances differ substantially from the
assumptions used in making the initial determinations.

<PAGE>   15

                                       14

         Effective December 21, 1993, the OTS, in conjunction with the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board, issued
an Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
("Policy Statement"). The Policy Statement includes guidance (i) on the
responsibilities of management for the assessment and establishment of an
adequate allowance and (ii) for the agencies' examiners to use in evaluating the
adequacy of such allowance and the policies utilized to determine such
allowance. The Policy Statement also sets forth quantitative measures for the
allowance with respect to assets classified substandard and doubtful and with
respect to the remaining portion of an institution's loan portfolio.
Specifically, the Policy Statement sets forth the following quantitative
measures which examiners may use to determine the reasonableness of an
allowance: (i) 50% of the portfolio that is classified doubtful; (ii) 15% of the
portfolio that is classified substandard and (iii) for the portions of the
portfolio that have not been classified (including loans designated special
mention), estimated credit losses over the upcoming twelve months based on facts
and circumstances available on the evaluation date. While the Policy Statement
sets forth this quantitative measure, such guidance is not intended as a "floor"
or "ceiling".

         At December 31, 1997, Fidelity's allowance for loan losses amounted to
$1.7 million, of which $1.65 million was general in nature and $8,000 was
specific in nature.

         The following table sets forth an analysis of Fidelity's allowance for
loan losses during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year Ended December 31,
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1997            1996            1995             1994            1993
                                                       ----            ----            ----             ----            ----
                                                                              (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>
Total loans outstanding                               $442,904         $402,025        $187,846         $180,309       $166,264
                                                      ========         ========        ========         ========       ========
Average loans outstanding, net                        $427,912         $234,133        $180,935         $170,340       $157,510
                                                      ========         ========        ========         ========       ========
Balance at beginning of period                        $  1,558         $    818        $    783         $    803       $    756
Charge-offs:

  Single-family residential                                  1               29              36               23              5
  Non-residential                                           --               --              --               41             --
                                                      --------         --------        --------         --------       --------
    Total charge-offs                                        1               29              36               64              5
Recoveries                                                  --               --              --               --             --
                                                      --------         --------        --------         --------       --------
Net charge-offs                                              1               29              36               64              5
Provision for losses on loans                              101              129              71               44             52
Increase attributable to Merger                             --              640              --               --             --
                                                      --------         --------        --------         --------       --------
Balance at end of period                              $  1,658         $  1,558        $    818         $    783       $    803
                                                      ========         ========        ========         ========       ========
Allowance for loan losses as a
  percent of total loans
  outstanding                                             .37%             .39%            .44%             .43%           .48%
                                                          ===              ===             ===              ===            ===
Ratio of net charge-offs to
  average loans outstanding                                --              .01%            .02%             .04%            --%
                                                          ===              ===             ===              ===            ===
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   16


                                       15

         The following table sets forth information concerning the allocation of
Fidelity's allowance for loan losses by loan categories at the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            December 31,
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                1996               1995               1994               1993
                                    -----------------   -----------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------------
                                           Percent of          Percent of         Percent of         Percent of         Percent of
                                              Total               Total              Total              Total              Total
                                            Loans by            Loans by           Loans by           Loans by           Loans by
                                    Amount  Category    Amount  Category   Amount  Category   Amount  Category   Amount  Category
                                    ------  --------    ------  --------   ------  --------   ------  --------   ------  --------
                                                                        (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>     <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
Single-family residential loans    $  530     77.1%     $1,246     80.0%    $525     75.7%     $346     74.6 %    $418     72.7 %
Multi-family residential loans        153      5.9         100      6.4      106     10.0       133      8.6        97      9.3
Nonresidential real estate loans      709     11.4         128      8.2      162     11.1       272     13.1       268     15.9
Construction loans                     79      3.5          53      3.4       22      2.6        32      3.5        20      2.0
Consumer loans                        187      2.1          31      2.0        3      0.6        --      0.2        --      0.1
                                   ------    -----      ------    -----     ----    -----      ----    ------     ----    ------
     Total                         $1,658    100.0%     $1,558    100.0%    $818    100.0%     $783    100.00%    $803    100.00%
                                   ======    =====      ======    =====     ====    =====      ====    ======     ====    ======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   17

                                       16

         Management of Fidelity believes that the reserves it has established
are adequate to cover any potential losses in Fidelity's loan portfolio.
However, future adjustments to these reserves may be necessary, and Fidelity's
results of operations could be adversely affected if circumstances differ
substantially from the assumptions used by management in making its
determinations in this regard.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

         GENERAL. Fidelity's mortgage-backed and investment securities portfolio
is managed in accordance with a written investment policy adopted by the Board
of Directors and administered by the Savings Bank's Asset/Liability Committee.
All transactions must be approved by the Asset/Liability Committee and reported
to the Board of Directors.

         Fidelity accounts for investment and mortgage-backed securities in
accordance with SFAS No. 115 "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and
Equity Securities" (the "Statement"). The Statement requires that investments be
categorized as held-to-maturity, trading or available for sale. Securities
classified as held to maturity are carried at cost only if the Savings Bank has
the positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Trading
securities and securities available for sale are carried at fair value with
resulting unrealized gains or losses charged to operations or stockholders'
equity, respectively. The Savings Bank adopted the Statement as of January 1,
1994. At December 31, 1997, the Company's equity accounts reflected a net
unrealized gain of $117,000 with respect to securities classified as available
for sale.

         MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-backed securities represent a
participation interest in a pool of single-family or multi-family mortgage
loans, the principle and interest payments on which, in general, are passed from
the mortgage originators, through intermediaries that pool and repackage the
participation interests in the form of securities, to investors such as the
Savings Bank. Such intermediaries may be private issuers, or agencies including
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), Federal National Mortgage
Association ("FNMA") and the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA")
that guarantee the payment of principal and interest to investors.

         Mortgage-backed securities typically are issued with stated principal
amounts, and the securities are backed by pools of mortgages that have loans
with interest rates that are within a range and have varying maturities. The
underlying pool of mortgages can be composed of either fixed- or adjustable-rate
mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are generally referred to as mortgage
participation certificates or pass-through certificates. As a result, the
interest rate risk characteristics of the underlying pool of mortgages (e.g.,
fixed-rate or adjustable-rate) as well as prepayment, default and other risks
associated with the underlying mortgages are passed on to the certificate
holder. The life of a mortgage-backed pass-through security is equal to the life
of the underlying mortgages.

<PAGE>   18

                                       17

         Fidelity has invested in a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities
which are insured or guaranteed by the FHLMC, the GNMA or FNMA. Mortgage-backed
securities increase the quality of Fidelity's assets by virtue of the guarantees
that back them, are more liquid than individual mortgage loans and may be used
to collateralize borrowings or other obligations of Fidelity.

         The following table sets forth information relating to the amortized
cost and market value of Fidelity's mortgage-backed securities at December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 (including those designated as available for sale):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               At December 31,
                                          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1997                            1996                            1995
                                          ---------------------------     --------------------------      --------------------------
                                            Amortized        Market        Amortized         Market        Amortized        Market
                                              Cost            Value           Cost           Value            Cost           Value
                                          ------------      ---------     ------------     ---------      ------------     ---------
                                                                                 (In Thousands)
<S>                                          <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
Held to maturity:
   FHLMC participation certificates          $   574         $  575         $   696         $   689         $    --        $    --
   GNMA participation certificates            11,632         11,797           8,354           8,434              --             --
   FNMA participation certificates               236            246             306             319              --             --
   Collateralized mortgage obligations         1,085          1,088           1,388           1,389              --             --
                                             -------        -------         -------         -------         -------        -------
      Total mortgage-backed securities
        held to maturity                      13,527         13,706          10,744          10,831              --             --
Available for sale:
   FHLMC Participation Certificates           12,610         12,683          19,767          19,926          14,346         14,296
   GNMA Participation Certificates             4,707          4,752           6,028           6,062           4,958          4,977
   FNMA Participation Certificates             7,160          7,146           4,776           4,772           8,456          8,406
   Collateralized mortgage obligations         1,240          1,246              --              --           1,732          1,699
                                             -------        -------         -------         -------         -------        -------
      Total mortgage-backed securities
        designated as available for sale      25,717         25,827          30,571          30,760          29,492         29,378
                                             -------        -------         -------         -------         -------        -------
Total mortgage-backed securities             $39,244        $39,533         $41,315         $41,591         $29,492        $29,378
                                             =======        =======         =======         =======         =======        =======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   19

                                       18

         The following table sets forth the activity in Fidelity's
mortgage-backed securities portfolio during the periods indicated (including
those designated as available for sale):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   At or For the Year Ended December 31,
                                                             ----------------------------------------------------
                                                             1997                    1996                    1995
                                                             ----                    ----                    ----
                                                                          (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                         <C>                      <C>                     <C>
Mortgage-backed securities at
  beginning of period                                       $41,504                  $29,378                 $27,072
Purchases                                                    19,173                    3,173                   6,587
Mortgage-backed securities received through loan              8,099                       --                      --
  securitization
Acquisition of mortgage-backed securities
  through Merger                                                 --                   44,435                      --
Sales of mortgage-backed securities                         (22,434)                 (29,232)                     --
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities designated as
  available for sale                                            (79)                     334                     234

Repayments                                                   (6,845)                  (6,526)                 (4,487)
Premium amortization                                            (64)                     (58)                    (28)
                                                            -------                  -------                 -------
Mortgage-backed securities at end
  of period                                                 $39,354                  $41,504                 $29,378
                                                            =======                  =======                 =======
Weighted average yield at end of
  period                                                       6.83%                    7.29%                   6.63%
</TABLE>

         At December 31, 1997, of the $39.4 million portfolio, $4.0 million was
scheduled to mature in one year or less, $13.7 million was scheduled to mature
in between one and five years, $2.8 million was scheduled to mature in between
five and ten years, and $18.9 million was scheduled to mature after ten years.
Due to repayments of the underlying loans, the actual maturities of
mortgage-backed securities generally are substantially less than the scheduled
maturities.

         Of the $39.4 million of mortgage-backed securities at December 31,
1997, $15.7 million had fixed interest rates and had a final maturity of five
years or less and $23.7 million consisted of adjustable-rate securities. Of
Fidelity's total investment in mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 1997,
$16.4 million consisted of GNMA certificates, $7.4 million consisted of FNMA
certificates, $13.3 million consisted of FHLMC certificates, and $2.3 million
consisted of other collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs").

         INVESTMENT SECURITIES. The Savings Bank invests in various types of
liquid assets that are permissible investments for federally chartered savings
banks, including United States Treasury and securities of various federal
agencies. The Savings Bank's current investment policy only permits purchases of
securities in one of the three highest grades by a nationally recognized rating
agency and does not permit purchases of securities of noninvestment grade
quality.

<PAGE>   20

                                       19

         The following table sets forth information relating to the amortized
cost and market value of Fidelity's investment securities at the dates
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       December 31,
                               ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1997                          1996(1)                             1995
                               -------------------------      ---------------------------      ------------------------------
                                 Amortized       Market         Amortized         Market          Amortized          Market
                                    Cost          Value            Cost            Value             Cost             Value
                                    ----          -----            ----            -----             ----             -----
                                                                 (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                               <C>           <C>              <C>            <C>                  <C>            <C>
U.S. Government
  agency obligations(2)           $5,869        $5,908           $ 8,502        $ 8,530              $5,016         $5,025
U.S. Treasury notes(2)                --            --             7,482          7,500                 999          1,019
Corporate equity
  securities                          84           112                64             90                  --             --
                                   -----        ------           -------        -------              ------         ------
                                  $5,953        $6,020           $16,048        $16,120              $6,015         $6,044
                                  ======        ======           =======        =======              ======         ======
Weighted average yield
  at end of period                 6.92%                           6.50%                              6.55%
                                   ====                           =====                               ====
</TABLE>

--------------------------

(1) The substantial increase in investment securities at December 31, 1996 as
compared to December 31, 1995 reflects the $7.6 million of U.S. Government
agency obligations acquired by Fidelity as a result of the Merger.

(2) At December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, all investment securities were
classified as available for sale.


<PAGE>   21

                                       20

         The following table sets forth amortized cost and market value of
investment securities, excluding corporate equity securities, by contractual
terms to maturity at December 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            Less Than              One to                Five to              More Than
                            One Year             Five Years             Ten Years             Ten Years                Total
                      -------------------   -------------------    ------------------     ------------------    ------------------
                      Amortized    Market   Amortized    Market    Amortized   Market     Amortized   Market    Amortized   Market
                        Cost       Value      Cost       Value       Cost      Value        Cost      Value       Cost      Value
                        ----       -----      ----       -----       ----      -----        ----      -----       ----      -----
<S>                      <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
U.S. Government
  agency obligations     $--        $--      $1,998     $1,999      $2,997     $3,027       $874      $882       $5,869    $5,908
U.S. Treasury notes       --         --          --         --          --         --         --        --           --        --
                         ---        ---      ------     ------     -------     ------       ----      ----       ------    ------
  Total                  $--        $--      $1,998     $1,999     $ 2,997     $3,027       $874      $882       $5,869    $5,908
                         ===        ===      ======     ======     =======     ======       ====      ====       ======    ======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   22

                                       21

SOURCES OF FUNDS

         GENERAL. Deposits are the primary source of Fidelity's funds for
lending and other investment purposes. In addition to deposits, Fidelity derives
funds from loan principal repayments and advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati.
Loan repayments are a relatively stable source of funds, while deposit inflows
and outflows are significantly influenced by general interest rates and money
market conditions. Borrowings may be used on a short-term basis to compensate
for reductions in the availability of funds from other sources. They may also be
used on a longer term basis for general business purposes.

         DEPOSITS. Fidelity's deposits are attracted principally from within
Fidelity's primary market area through the offering of a broad selection of
deposit instruments, including NOW accounts, money market accounts, regular
savings accounts, and term certificate accounts. Included among these deposit
products are individual retirement account certificates of approximately $61.4
million at December 31, 1997. Deposit account terms vary, with the principal
differences being the minimum balance required, the time periods the funds must
remain on deposit and the interest rate.

         Interest rates paid, maturity terms, service fees and withdrawal
penalties are established by Fidelity on a periodic basis. Determination of
rates and terms are predicated on funds acquisition and liquidity requirements,
rates paid by competitors, growth goals and federal regulations.

         Fidelity does not advertise for deposits outside its local market area
or utilize the services of deposit brokers.

         The following table sets forth the dollar amount of deposits in the
various types of deposit programs offered by Fidelity at the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               December 31,
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1997                           1996                            1995
                                           ----------------------         -----------------------         ----------------------
                                           Amount         Percent         Amount          Percent         Amount         Percent
                                           ------         -------         ------          -------         ------         -------
                                                                          (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>         <C>                <C>         <C>                 <C>
Certificate accounts:
  3.00 - 4.00%                            $  2,067            0.48%       $     --              --%      $     89            0.05%
  4.01 - 6.00%                             176,776           40.92         234,757           57.52         72,137           39.92
  6.01 - 8.00%                             157,898           36.55          77,835           19.07         66,094           36.58
  8.01 - 10.00%                              3,883            0.89           3,177            0.78          3,510            1.95
                                          --------          ------        --------          ------       --------          ------
     Total certificate accounts            340,624           78.84         315,769           77.37        141,830           78.50
                                          --------          ------        --------          ------       --------          ------
Transaction accounts:
  Passbook accounts                         40,374            9.34          44,798           10.97         15,753            8.71
  Money market accounts                     25,730            5.96          24,721            6.06         12,800            7.08
  NOW accounts                              25,296            5.86          22,871            5.60         10,314            5.71
                                          --------          ------        --------          ------       --------          ------
     Total transaction accounts             91,400           21.16          92,390           22.63         38,867           21.50
                                          --------          ------        --------          ------       --------          ------
     Total deposits                       $432,024          100.00%       $408,159          100.00%      $180,697          100.00%
                                          ========          ======        ========          ======       ========          ======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   23

                                       22

         The following table sets forth the savings activities of Fidelity
during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
                                                               ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                 1997                    1996                    1995
                                                                 ----                    ----                    ----
                                                                                  (In Thousands)
<S>                                                            <C>                     <C>                    <C>
Deposits(1)                                                    $982,826                $684,220               $135,109
Withdrawals                                                    (979,976)               (467,465)              (135,222)
                                                               --------                --------               --------
  Net increase (decrease) before interest
    credited and other                                            2,850                 216,755                   (113)
Interest credited and other                                      21,015                  10,707                  7,612
                                                               --------                --------               --------
  Net increase in deposits                                     $ 23,865                $227,462               $  7,499
                                                               ========                ========               ========
</TABLE>

--------------------

(1) The substantial increase in deposits at December 31, 1996 as compared to
December 31, 1995 reflects the $207.8 million of deposits acquired by Fidelity
as a result of the Merger.

         The following table shows the interest rate and maturity information
for Fidelity's certificates of deposit at December 31, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Maturity Date
                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Interest Rate       One Year or Less       Over 1-2 Years        Over 2-3 Years         Over 3 Years              Total
-----------------     -----------------     -----------------     -----------------     -----------------     -----------------
                                                                    (In Thousands)
<S>                        <C>                    <C>                   <C>                    <C>                 <C>
3.00 - 4.00%               $  2,067               $   --                $    --                $   --              $  2,067
4.01 - 6.00%                140,318               30,267                  3,097                 3,094               176,776
6.01 - 8.00%                107,419               39,526                  8,848                 2,105               157,898
8.01 - 10.00%                 1,450                  887                    992                   554                 3,883
                           --------              -------                -------                ------              --------
  Total                    $251,254              $70,680                $12,937                $5,753              $340,624
                           ========              =======                =======                ======              ========
</TABLE>

         The following table sets forth the maturities of Fidelity's
certificates of deposit having principal amounts of $100,000 or more at December
31, 1997.

               Certificates of deposit maturing in quarter ending:
               ---------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        (In Thousands)
<S>                                                                         <C>
March 31, 1998                                                              $ 5,782
June 30, 1998                                                                 8,926
September 30, 1998                                                            5,377
December 31, 1998                                                            10,235
After December 31, 1998                                                      13,761
                                                                            -------
  Total certificates of deposit with
   balances of $100,000 or more                                             $44,081
                                                                            =======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   24


                                       23

         BORROWINGS. Fidelity may obtain advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati
upon the security of the common stock it owns in that bank and certain of its
residential mortgage loans, provided certain standards related to
creditworthiness have been met. Such advances are made pursuant to several
credit programs, each of which has its own interest rate and range of
maturities. Such advances are generally available to meet seasonal and other
withdrawals of deposit accounts and to permit increased lending. See
"Regulation-Federal Home Loan Bank System." At December 31, 1997, Fidelity had
$34.2 million of advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati.

         The following table sets forth the maximum month-end balance and
average balance of Fidelity's FHLB advances during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Year Ended December 31,
                                                       --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              1997                   1996                  1995
                                                       ------------------     ------------------     ----------------
                                                                           (Dollars In Thousands)
<S>                                                          <C>                    <C>                  <C>
Maximum Balance                                              $34,478                $29,672              $17,653
Average Balance                                               26,208                 17,794               13,811
Weighted average interest rate of
  FHLB advances                                                 6.25%                  6.19%                6.28%
</TABLE>



         The following table sets forth certain information as to Fidelity's
FHLB advances at the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            December 31,
                                                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                           1997                  1996                 1995
                                                    ----------------      ----------------     ----------------
                                                                       (Dollars In Thousands)
<S>                                                       <C>                  <C>                   <C>
FHLB advances(1)                                          $34,233              $20,186               $17,653
Weighted average interest rate
  of FHLB advances                                           6.21%                6.22%                 6.16%
</TABLE>

-------------------

(1) Fidelity acquired $27.4 million of FHLB advances as a result of the Merger,
of which $2.5 million remained at December 31, 1996.

         EMPLOYEES. Fidelity had 101 full-time employees and 16 part-time
employees at December 31, 1997. None of these employees is represented by a
collective bargaining agreement, and Fidelity believes that it enjoys good
relations with its personnel.


<PAGE>   25

                                       24

COMPETITION

         Fidelity faces strong competition both in attracting deposits and
making real estate loans. Its most direct competition for deposits has
historically come from other savings associations, credit unions and commercial
banks located in the greater Cincinnati area, including many large financial
institutions which have greater financial and marketing resources available to
them. In addition, during times of high interest rates, Fidelity has faced
additional significant competition for investors' funds from short-term money
market securities and other corporate and government securities. The ability of
Fidelity to attract and retain savings deposits depends on its ability to
generally provide a rate of return, liquidity and risk comparable to that
offered by competing investment opportunities.

         Fidelity experiences strong competition for real estate loans
principally from other savings associations, commercial banks, and mortgage
banking companies. Fidelity competes for loans principally through the interest
rates and loan fees it charges and the efficiency and quality of services it
provides borrowers. Competition may increase as a result of the continuing
reduction of restrictions on the interstate operations of financial
institutions.

                                   REGULATION

         Set forth below is a brief description of certain laws and regulations
which currently relate to the regulation of the Company and Fidelity. The
description of these laws and regulations, as well as descriptions of laws and
regulations contained elsewhere herein, does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable laws and regulations.

THE COMPANY

         GENERAL. The Company, as a savings and loan holding company within the
meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act ("HOLA"), has registered with the OTS and
is subject to OTS regulations, examinations, supervision and reporting
requirements. As a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, the Savings
Bank is subject to certain restrictions in its dealings with the Company and
affiliates thereof.

         ACTIVITIES RESTRICTIONS. There are generally no restrictions on the
activities of a savings and loan holding company which holds only one subsidiary
savings institution. However, if the Director of the OTS determines that there
is reasonable cause to believe that the continuation by a savings and loan
holding company of an activity constitutes a serious risk to the financial
safety, soundness or stability of its subsidiary savings institution, the
Director may impose such restrictions as deemed necessary to address such risk,
including limiting (i) payment of dividends by the savings institution; (ii)
transactions between the savings institution and its affiliates; and (iii) any
activities of the savings institution that might create a serious risk that the
liabilities of the holding company and its


<PAGE>   26

                                       25

affiliates may be imposed on the savings institution. Notwithstanding the above
rules as to permissible business activities of unitary savings and loan holding
companies, if the savings institution subsidiary of such a holding company fails
to meet a qualified thrift lender ("QTL") test, then such unitary holding
company also shall become subject to the activities restrictions applicable to
multiple savings and loan holding companies and, unless the savings institution
requalifies as a QTL within one year thereafter, shall register as, and become
subject to the restrictions applicable to, a bank holding company. See "- The
Savings Bank - Qualified Thrift Lender Test."

         If the Company were to acquire control of another savings institution,
other than through merger or other business combination with the Savings Bank,
the Company would thereupon become a multiple savings and loan holding company.
Except where such acquisition is pursuant to the authority to approve emergency
thrift acquisitions and where each subsidiary savings institution meets the QTL
test, as set forth below, the activities of the Company and any of its
subsidiaries (other than the Savings Bank or other subsidiary savings
institutions) would thereafter be subject to further restrictions. Among other
things, no multiple savings and loan holding company or subsidiary thereof which
is not a savings institution shall commence or continue for a limited period of
time after becoming a multiple savings and loan holding company or subsidiary
thereof any business activity, upon prior notice to, and no objection by the
OTS, other than: (i) furnishing or performing management services for a
subsidiary savings institution; (ii) conducting an insurance agency or escrow
business; (iii) holding, managing, or liquidating assets owned by or acquired
from a subsidiary savings institution; (iv) holding or managing properties used
or occupied by a subsidiary savings institution; (v) acting as trustee under
deeds of trust; (vi) those activities authorized by regulation as of March 5,
1987 to be engaged in by multiple savings and loan holding companies; or (vii)
unless the Director of the OTS by regulation prohibits or limits such activities
for savings and loan holding companies, those activities authorized by the
Federal Reserve Board as permissible for bank holding companies. Those
activities described in (vii) above also must be approved by the Director of the
OTS prior to being engaged in by a multiple savings and loan holding company.

         LIMITATIONS ON TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Transactions between
savings institutions and any affiliate are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of
the Federal Reserve Act. An affiliate of a savings institution is any company or
entity which controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the
savings institution. In a holding company context, the parent holding company of
a savings institution (such as the Company) and any companies which are
controlled by such parent holding company are affiliates of the savings
institution. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B (i) limit the extent to which the
savings institution or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions"
with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of such institution's capital
stock and surplus, and contain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with
all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus and
(ii) require that all such transactions be on terms substantially the same, or
at least as favorable, to the institution or subsidiary as those provided to a
non-affiliate. The term "covered transaction" includes the making of loans,
purchase of assets, issuance of a


<PAGE>   27

                                       26

guarantee and similar other types of transactions. In addition to the
restrictions imposed by Sections 23A and 23B, no savings institution may (i)
loan or otherwise extend credit to an affiliate, except for any affiliate which
engages only in activities which are permissible for bank holding companies, or
(ii) purchase or invest in any stocks, bonds, debentures, notes or similar
obligations of any affiliate, except for affiliates which are subsidiaries of
the savings institution.

         In addition, Sections 22(h) and (g) of the Federal Reserve Act places
restrictions on loans to executive officers, directors and principal
stockholders. Under Section 22(h), loans to a director, an executive officer and
to a greater than 10% stockholder of a savings institution, and certain
affiliated interests of either, may not exceed, together with all other
outstanding loans to such person and affiliated interests, the institution's
loans to one borrower limit (generally equal to 15% of the institution's
unimpaired capital and surplus). Section 22(h) also requires that loans to
directors, executive officers and principal stockholders be made on terms
substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to other persons
unless the loans are made pursuant to a benefit or compensation program that (i)
is widely available to employees of the institution and (ii) does not give
preference to any director, executive officer or principal stockholder, or
certain affiliated interests of either, over other employees of the savings
institution. Section 22(h) also requires prior board approval for certain loans.
In addition, the aggregate amount of extensions of credit by a savings
institution to all insiders cannot exceed the institution's unimpaired capital
and surplus. Furthermore, Section 22(g) places additional restrictions on loans
to executive officers. At December 31, 1997, the Savings Bank was in compliance
with the above restrictions.

         RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITIONS. Except under limited circumstances,
savings and loan holding companies are prohibited from acquiring, without prior
approval of the Director of the OTS, (i) control of any other savings
institution or savings and loan holding company or substantially all the assets
thereof or (ii) more than 5% of the voting shares of a savings institution or
holding company thereof which is not a subsidiary. Except with the prior
approval of the Director of the OTS, no director or officer of a savings and
loan holding company or person owning or controlling by proxy or otherwise more
than 25% of such company's stock, may acquire control of any savings
institution, other than a subsidiary savings institution, or of any other
savings and loan holding company.

         The Director of the OTS may only approve acquisitions resulting in the
formation of a multiple savings and loan holding company which controls savings
institutions in more than one state if (i) the multiple savings and loan holding
company involved controls a savings institution which operated a home or branch
office located in the state of the institution to be acquired as of March 5,
1987; (ii) the acquiror is authorized to acquire control of the savings
institution pursuant to the emergency acquisition provisions of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA"); or (iii) the statutes of the state in which the
institution to be acquired is located specifically permit institutions to be
acquired by the state-chartered institutions or savings and loan holding
companies located in the state where


<PAGE>   28

                                       27

the acquiring entity is located (or by a holding company that controls such
state-chartered savings institutions).

         FIRREA amended provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to
specifically authorize the Federal Reserve Board to approve an application by a
bank holding company to acquire control of a savings institution. FIRREA also
authorized a bank holding company that controls a savings institution to merge
or consolidate the assets and liabilities of the savings institution with, or
transfer assets and liabilities to, any subsidiary bank which is a member of the
BIF with the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency and the Federal
Reserve Board. As a result of these provisions, there have been a number of
acquisitions of savings institutions by bank holding companies in recent years.

THE SAVINGS BANK

         GENERAL. The OTS has extensive authority over the operations of
federally chartered savings institutions. As part of this authority, savings
institutions are required to file periodic reports with the OTS and are subject
to periodic examinations by the OTS and the FDIC. The investment and lending
authority of savings institutions are prescribed by federal laws and
regulations, and such institutions are prohibited from engaging in any
activities not permitted by such laws and regulations. Those laws and
regulations generally are applicable to all federally chartered savings
institutions and may also apply to state-chartered savings institutions. Such
regulation and supervision is primarily intended for the protection of
depositors.

         The OTS' enforcement authority over all savings institutions was
substantially enhanced by FIRREA. This enforcement authority includes, among
other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and
desist or removal orders and to initiate injunctive actions. In general, these
enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and
unsafe or unsound practices. Other actions or inactions may provide the basis
for enforcement action, including misleading or untimely reports filed with the
OTS. FIRREA significantly increased the amount of and grounds for civil money
penalties.

         On December 19, 1991, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA") was enacted into law. The FDICIA provides
for, among other things, the recapitalization of the BIF; the authorization of
the FDIC to make emergency special assessments under certain circumstances
against BIF members and members of the SAIF; the establishment of risk-based
deposit insurance premiums; and improved examinations and reporting
requirements. The FDICIA also provides for enhanced federal supervision of
depository institutions based on, among other things, an institution's capital
level. See "-- Prompt Corrective Action."


<PAGE>   29

                                       28

         INSURANCE OF ACCOUNTS. The deposits of the Savings Bank are currently
insured by the SAIF of the FDIC. Both the SAIF and the Bank Insurance Fund
("BIF"), the federal deposit insurance fund that covers commercial bank
deposits, are required by law to attain and thereafter maintain a reserve ratio
of 1.25% of insured deposits.

         The BIF fund met its target reserve level in September 1995, but the
SAIF was not expected to meet its target reserve level until at least 2002.
Consequently, in late 1995, the FDIC approved a final rule regarding deposit
insurance premiums which, effective with respect to the semiannual premium
assessment beginning January 1, 1996, reduced deposit insurance premiums for BIF
member institutions to zero basis points (subject to an annual minimum of
$2,000) for institutions in the lowest risk category. Deposit insurance premiums
for SAIF members were maintained at their existing levels (23 basis points for
institutions in the lowest risk category).

         On September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed into law legislation
which eliminated the premium differential between SAIF-insured institutions and
BIF-insured institutions by recapitalizing the SAIF's reserves to the required
ratio. The legislation required all SAIF member institutions to pay a one-time
special assessment to recapitalize the SAIF, with the aggregate amount to be
sufficient to bring the reserve ratio in the SAIF to 1.25% of insured deposits.
The legislation also provides for the merger of the BIF and the SAIF, with such
merger being conditioned upon the prior elimination of the thrift charter.

         Implementing FDIC regulations imposed a one-time special assessment
equal to 65.7 basis points for all SAIF-assessable deposits as of March 31,
1995, which was accrued as an expense on September 30, 1996. The Savings Bank's
one-time special assessment amounted to $1.1 million. Net of related tax
benefits, the one-time special assessment amounted to $749,000. The payment of
such special assessment had the effect of immediately reducing the Savings
Bank's capital by such amount.

         In the fourth quarter of 1996, the FDIC lowered the assessment rates
for SAIF members to reduce the disparity in the assessment rates paid by BIF and
SAIF members. Beginning October 1, 1996, effective SAIF rates generally range
from zero basis points to 27 basis points, except that during the fourth quarter
of 1996, the rates for SAIF members ranged from 18 basis points to 27 basis
points in order to include assessments paid to the Financing Corporation
("FICO"). From 1997 through 1999, SAIF members will pay 6.4 basis points to fund
the FICO, while BIF member institutions will pay approximately 1.3 basis points.
The Savings Bank's insurance premiums, which had amounted to 23 basis points,
were thus reduced to 6.4 basis points effective January 1, 1997.

         The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository
institution, including the Savings Bank, if it determines after a hearing that
the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in
an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any
applicable law, regulation, order or any condition


<PAGE>   30

                                       29

imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. It also may suspend deposit insurance
temporarily during the hearing process for the permanent termination of
insurance, if the institution has no tangible capital. If insurance of accounts
is terminated, the accounts at the institution at the time of the termination,
less subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured for a period of six
months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. There are no pending proceedings
to terminate the deposit insurance of the Savings Bank.

         REGULATORY CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. Federally insured savings institutions
are required to maintain minimum levels of regulatory capital. Pursuant to
FIRREA, the OTS has established capital standards applicable to all savings
institutions. These standards generally must be as stringent as the comparable
capital requirements imposed on national banks. The OTS also is authorized to
impose capital requirements in excess of these standards on individual
institutions on a case-by-case basis.

         Current OTS capital standards require savings institutions to satisfy
three different capital requirements. Under these standards, savings
institutions must maintain "tangible" capital equal to at least 1.5% of adjusted
total assets, "core" capital equal to at least 3.0% of adjusted total assets and
"total" capital (a combination of core and "supplementary" capital) equal to at
least 8.0% of "risk-weighted" assets. For purposes of the regulation, core
capital generally consists of common stockholders' equity (including retained
earnings), noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus, minority
interests in the equity accounts of fully consolidated subsidiaries, certain
nonwithdrawable accounts and pledged deposits and "qualifying supervisory
goodwill." Tangible capital is given the same definition as core capital but
does not include qualifying supervisory goodwill and is reduced by the amount of
all the savings institution's intangible assets, with only a limited exception
for purchased mortgage servicing rights. The Savings Bank had no goodwill or
other intangible assets at December 31, 1997. Both core and tangible capital are
further reduced by an amount equal to a savings institution's debt and equity
investments in subsidiaries engaged in activities not permissible to national
banks (other than subsidiaries engaged in activities undertaken as agent for
customers or in mortgage banking activities and subsidiary depository
institutions or their holding companies). These adjustments do not affect the
Savings Bank's regulatory capital. Supplementary capital generally consists of
hybrid capital instruments; perpetual preferred stock which is not eligible to
be included as core capital; subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred
stock; and general allowances for loan losses up to a maximum of 1.25% of
risk-weighted assets.

         In determining compliance with the risk-based capital requirement, a
savings institution is allowed to include both core capital and supplementary
capital in its total capital, provided that the amount of supplementary capital
included does not exceed the savings institution's core capital. In determining
the required amount of risk-based capital, total assets, including certain
off-balance sheet items, are multiplied by a risk weight based on the risks
inherent in the type of assets. The risk weights assigned by the OTS for
principal categories of assets are (i) 0% for cash and securities issued by the
U.S. Government or unconditionally backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government;


<PAGE>   31

                                       30

(ii) 20% for securities (other than equity securities) issued by U.S.
Government-sponsored agencies and mortgage-backed securities issued by, or fully
guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the FNMA or the FHLMC, except for
those classes with residual characteristics or stripped mortgage-related
securities; (iii) 50% for prudently underwritten permanent one-to four-family
first lien mortgage loans not more than 90 days delinquent and having a
loan-to-value ratio of not more than 80% at origination unless insured to such
ratio by an insurer approved by the FNMA or the FHLMC, qualifying residential
bridge loans made directly for the construction of one- to four-family
residences and qualifying multi-family residential loans; and (iv) 100% for all
other loans and investments, including consumer loans, commercial loans, and
single-family residential real estate loans more than 90 days delinquent, and
for repossessed assets.

         The following table sets forth Fidelity's compliance with each of the
above-described capital requirements at December 31, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Tangible                 Core                 Risk-Based
                                                                  Capital              Capital(1)              Capital(2)
                                                                  -------              ----------              ----------
                                                                                (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                                                               <C>                   <C>                      <C>
Regulatory capital                                                $53,194               $53,194                  $54,844
Minimum required regulatory capital                                 7,887                15,773                   22,701
                                                                  -------               -------                  -------
Regulatory capital excess                                         $45,307               $37,421                  $32,143
                                                                  =======               =======                  =======
Regulatory capital as a
  percentage(3)                                                      10.1%                 10.1%                    19.3%
Minimum capital required as a
  percentage                                                          1.5                   3.0                      8.0
                                                                     ----                  ----                     ----
Regulatory capital as a percentage
 in excess of requirements                                            8.6%                  7.1%                    11.3%
                                                                     ====                  ====                     ====
</TABLE>

                                                   (Footnotes on following page)

<PAGE>   32

                                       31

---------------

(1) Does not reflect proposed amendments or the 4% requirement to be met in
    order for an institution to be "adequately capitalized" under applicable
    laws and regulations, as discussed below.

(2) Does not reflect amendments to the risk-based capital requirement which were
    adopted by the OTS in August 1993, the effective date of which has been
    postponed, as discussed below.

(3) Tangible and core capital are computed as a percentage of adjusted total
    assets of $525.8 million. Risk-based capital is computed as a percentage of
    total risk-weighted assets of $283.8 million.

         In April 1991, the OTS proposed to modify the 3% of adjusted total
assets core capital requirement in the same manner as was recently done by the
Comptroller of the Currency for national banks. Under the OTS proposal, only
savings associations rated composite 1 under the OTS CAMEL rating system will be
permitted to operate at the regulatory minimum core capital ratio of 3%. For all
other savings associations, the minimum core capital ratio will be 3% plus at
least an additional 100 to 200 basis points, which thus will increase the core
capital ratio requirement to at least 4% of adjusted total assets or more. In
determining the amount of additional capital, the OTS will assess both the
quality of risk management systems and the level of overall risk in each
individual savings association through the supervisory process on a case-by-case
basis.

         A savings institution which is not in capital compliance or which is
otherwise deemed to require more than normal supervision is subject to
restrictions on its ability to grow pursuant to Regulatory Bulletin 3a-1. In
addition, a provision of HOLA generally provides that the Director of OTS must
restrict the asset growth of savings institutions not in regulatory capital
compliance, subject to a limited exception for growth not exceeding interest
credited.

         A savings institution which is not in capital compliance is also
automatically subject to the following: (i) new directors and senior executive
officers and employment contracts for senior executive officers must be approved
by the OTS in advance; (ii) the savings institution may not accept or renew any
brokered deposits; (iii) the savings institution is subject to higher OTS
assessments as a capital-deficient institution; and (iv) the savings institution
may not make any capital distributions without prior written approval.

         Any savings institution that fails any of the capital requirements is
subject to possible enforcement actions by the OTS or the FDIC. Such actions
could include a capital directive, a cease and desist order, civil money
penalties, the establishment of restrictions on the institution's operations,
termination of federal deposit insurance and the appointment of a conservator or
receiver. The OTS' capital regulation provides that such actions,

<PAGE>   33

                                       32

through enforcement proceedings or otherwise, could require one or more of a
variety of corrective actions.

         In August 1993, the OTS adopted a final rule incorporating an
interest-rate risk component into the risk-based capital regulation. Under the
rule, an institution with a greater than "normal" level of interest rate risk is
subject to a deduction of its interest rate risk component from total capital
for purposes of calculating its risk-based capital. As a result, such an
institution is required to maintain additional capital in order to comply with
the risk-based capital requirement. An institution with a greater than "normal"
interest rate risk is defined as an institution that would suffer a loss of net
portfolio value exceeding 2.0% of the estimated economic value of its assets in
the event of a 200 basis point increase or decrease (with certain minor
exceptions) in interest rates. The interest rate risk component is calculated,
on a quarterly basis, as one-half of the difference between an institution's
measured interest rate risk and 2.0%, multiplied by the economic value of its
assets. The rule also authorizes the Director of the OTS, or his designee, to
waive or defer an institution's interest rate risk component on a case-by-case
basis. The final rule was originally to be effective as of January 1, 1994,
subject however to a three quarter "lag" time between the reporting date of the
data used to calculate an institution's interest rate risk and the effective
date of each quarter's interest rate risk component. However, in October 1994,
the Director of the OTS indicated that it would waive the capital deduction for
institutions with greater than "normal" interest rate risk until the OTS
publishes an appeals process. The OTS has recently indicated that no savings
institution will be required to deduct capital for interest rate risk until
further notice. In any event, management of the Savings Bank does not believe
that the OTS' adoption of an interest rate risk component to the risk-based
capital requirement will adversely affect the Savings Bank's regulatory capital
position.

         PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION. Under Section 38 of the FDIA, as added by the
FDICIA, each federal banking agency was required to implement a system of prompt
corrective action for institutions which it regulates. The federal banking
agencies, including the OTS, adopted substantially similar regulations to
implement Section 38 of the FDIA, effective as of December 19, 1992. Under the
regulations, an institution is deemed to be (i) "well capitalized" if it has
total risk-based capital of 10.0% or more, has a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
of 6.0% or more, has a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or more and is not
subject to any order or final capital directive to meet and maintain a specific
capital level for any capital measure, (ii) "adequately capitalized" if it has a
total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or more, a Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratio of 4.0% or more and a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4.0% or more (3.0%
under certain circumstances) and does not meet the definition of "well
capitalized," (iii) "undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital
ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio that is less
than 4.0% or a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio that is less than 4.0% (3.0% under
certain circumstances), (iv) "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total
risk-based capital ratio that is less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratio that is less than 3.0% or a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio that is less
than 3.0%, and (v) "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible
equity to total assets

<PAGE>   34

                                       33

that is equal to or less than 2.0%. Section 38 of the FDIA and the regulations
promulgated thereunder also specify circumstances under which a federal banking
agency may reclassify a well capitalized institution as adequately capitalized
and may require an adequately capitalized institution or an undercapitalized
institution to comply with supervisory actions as if it were in the next lower
category (except that the FDIC may not reclassify a significantly
undercapitalized institution as critically undercapitalized).

         An institution generally must file a written capital restoration plan
which meets specified requirements with an appropriate federal banking agency
within 45 days of the date that the institution receives notice or is deemed to
have notice that it is undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or
critically undercapitalized. A federal banking agency must provide the
institution with written notice of approval or disapproval within 60 days after
receiving a capital restoration plan, subject to extensions by the agency.

         An institution which is required to submit a capital restoration plan
must concurrently submit a performance guaranty by each company that controls
the institution. Such guaranty shall be limited to the lesser of (i) an amount
equal to 5.0% of the institution's total assets at the time the institution was
notified or deemed to have notice that it was undercapitalized or (ii) the
amount necessary to restore the relevant capital measures of the institution to
the levels required for the institution to be classified as adequately
capitalized. Such a guarantee shall expire after the federal banking agency
notifies the institution that it has remained adequately capitalized for each of
four consecutive calendar quarters. An institution which fails to submit a
written capital restoration plan within the requisite period, including any
required performance guarantee(s), or fails in any material respect to implement
a capital restoration plan, shall be subject to the restrictions in Section 38
of the FDIA which are applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions.

         Immediately upon becoming undercapitalized, an institution shall become
subject to the provisions of Section 38 of the FDIA (i) restricting payment of
capital distributions and management fees, (ii) requiring that the appropriate
federal banking agency monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts
to restore its capital, (iii) requiring submission of a capital restoration
plan, (iv) restricting the growth of the institution's assets and (v) requiring
prior approval of certain expansion proposals. The appropriate federal banking
agency for an undercapitalized institution also may take any number of
discretionary supervisory actions if the agency determines that any of these
actions is necessary to resolve the problems of the institution at the least
possible long-term cost to the deposit insurance fund, subject in certain cases
to specified procedures. These discretionary supervisory actions include
requiring the institution to raise additional capital; restricting transactions
with affiliates; restricting interest rates paid by the institution on deposits;
requiring replacement of senior executive officers and directors; restricting
the activities of the institution and its affiliates; requiring divestiture of
the institution or the sale of the institution to a willing purchaser; and any
other supervisory action that the agency deems appropriate. These and additional
mandatory and permissive supervisory actions may be

<PAGE>   35

                                       34

taken with respect to significantly undercapitalized and critically
undercapitalized institutions.

         At December 31, 1997, the Savings Bank was deemed a "well capitalized"
institution for purposes of the above regulations and as such was not subject to
the above mentioned restrictions.

         SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS. FDICIA requires each federal banking regulatory
agency to prescribe, by regulation or guideline, standards for all insured
depository institutions and depository institution holding companies relating to
(i) internal controls, information systems and audit systems; (ii) loan
documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv) interest rate risk exposure; (v)
asset growth; (vi) compensation, fees and benefits; and (vii) such other
operational and managerial standards as the agency determines to be appropriate.
The compensation standards would prohibit employment contracts or other
compensatory arrangements that provide excess compensation, fees or benefits or
could lead to material financial loss. In addition, each federal banking
regulatory agency must prescribe, by regulation or guideline, standards relating
to asset quality, earnings and stock valuation as the agency determines to be
appropriate. Effective August 9, 1995, the federal banking agencies, including
the OTS, implemented final rules and guidelines concerning standards for safety
and soundness required to be prescribed by regulation pursuant to Section 39 of
the FDIA. In general, the standards relate to (1) operational and managerial
matters; (2) asset quality and earnings; and (3) compensation. The operational
and managerial standards cover (a) internal controls and information systems,
(b) internal audit systems, (c) loan documentation, (d) credit underwriting, (e)
interest rate exposure, (f) asset growth, and (g) compensation, fees and
benefits. Under the asset quality and earnings standards, the Savings Bank would
be required to establish and maintain systems to (i) identify problem assets and
prevent deterioration in those assets, and (ii) evaluate and monitor earnings
and ensure that earnings are sufficient to maintain adequate capital reserves.
Finally, the compensation standard states that compensation will be considered
excessive if it is unreasonable or disproportionate to the services actually
performed by the individual being compensated. Effective October 1, 1996, the
federal banking agencies also adopted asset quality and earnings standards. If a
savings institution fails to meet any of the standards promulgated by
regulation, then such institution will be required to submit a plan within 30
days to the OTS specifying the steps it will take to correct the deficiency. In
the event that a savings institution fails to submit or fails in any material
respect to implement a compliance plan within the time allowed by the federal
banking agency, Section 39 of the FDIA provides that the OTS must order the
institution to correct the deficiency and may (1) restrict asset growth; (2)
require the savings institution to increase its ratio of tangible equity to
assets; (3) restrict the rates of interest that the savings institution may pay;
or (4) take any other action that would better carry out the purpose of prompt
corrective action. The Savings Bank believes that it has been and will continue
to be in compliance with each of the standards as they have been adopted by the
OTS.


<PAGE>   36

                                       35

         LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENTS. All savings institutions are required to
maintain an average daily balance of liquid assets equal to a certain percentage
of the sum of its average daily balance of net withdrawable deposit accounts and
borrowings payable in one year or less. The liquidity requirement may vary from
time to time (between 4% and 10%) depending upon economic conditions and savings
flows of all savings institutions. At the present time, the required minimum
liquid asset ratio is 4%. At December 31, 1997, the Savings Bank's liquidity
ratio was 23.1%.

         CAPITAL DISTRIBUTIONS. OTS regulations govern capital distributions by
savings institutions, which include cash dividends, stock redemptions or
repurchases, cash-out mergers, interest payments on certain convertible debt and
other transactions charged to the capital account of a savings institution to
make capital distributions. Generally, the regulation creates a safe harbor for
specified levels of capital distributions from institutions meeting at least
their minimum capital requirements, so long as such institutions notify the OTS
and receive no objection to the distribution from the OTS. Savings institutions
and distributions that do not qualify for the safe harbor are required to obtain
prior OTS approval before making any capital distributions.

         Generally, a savings institution that before and after the proposed
distribution meets or exceeds its fully phased-in capital requirements (Tier 1
institutions) may make capital distributions during any calendar year equal to
the higher of (i) 100% of net income for the calendar year-to-date plus 50% of
its "surplus capital ratio" at the beginning of the calendar year or (ii) 75% of
net income over the most recent four-quarter period. The "surplus capital ratio"
is defined to mean the percentage by which the institution's ratio of total
capital to assets exceeds the ratio of its fully phased-in capital requirement
to assets. "Fully phased-in capital requirement" is defined to mean an
institution's capital requirement under the statutory and regulatory standards
to be applicable on December 31, 1994, as modified to reflect any applicable
individual minimum capital requirement imposed upon the institution. Failure to
meet fully phased-in or minimum capital requirements will result in further
restrictions on capital distributions, including possible prohibition without
explicit OTS approval. See "- Regulatory Capital Requirements."

         Tier 2 institutions, which are institutions that before and after the
proposed distribution meet or exceed their minimum capital requirements, may
make capital distributions up to 75% of their net income over the most recent
four quarter period.

         In order to make distributions under these safe harbors, Tier 1 and
Tier 2 institutions must submit 30 days written notice to the OTS prior to
making the distribution. The OTS may object to the distribution during that
30-day period based on safety and soundness concerns. In addition, a Tier 1
institution deemed to be in need of more than normal supervision by the OTS may
be downgraded to a Tier 2 or Tier 3 institution as a result of such a
determination.


<PAGE>   37

                                       36

         Tier 3 institutions, which are institutions that do not meet current
minimum capital requirements, or that have capital in excess of either their
fully phased-in capital requirement or minimum capital requirement but which
have been notified by the OTS that it will be treated as a Tier 3 institution
because they are in need of more than normal supervision, cannot make any
capital distribution without obtaining OTS approval prior to making such
distributions.

         At December 31, 1997, the Savings Bank was a Tier 1 institution for
purposes of this regulation.

         On January 7, 1998, the OTS published a notice of proposed rulemaking
to amend its capital distribution regulation. Under the proposal, a savings
institution that would remain at least "adequately capitalized" following the
capital distribution and that meets other specified requirements, would not be
required to provide any notice or application to the OTS for cash dividends
below a specified amount. A savings institution is "adequately capitalized" if
it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or more, a Tier 1 risk-based
capital ratio of 4.0% or more, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4.0% or more
(or 3% or more if the savings institution is assigned a composite rating of 1),
and does not meet the definition of "well capitalized." Because the Savings Bank
is a subsidiary of the Company, the proposal, however, would require the Savings
Bank to provide notice to the OTS of its intent to make a capital distribution,
unless an application is otherwise required. The Savings Bank does not believe
that the proposal will adversely affect its ability to make capital
distributions if it is adopted substantially as proposed.

         LOANS TO ONE BORROWER. FIRREA imposed limitations on the aggregate
amount of loans that a savings institution could make to any one borrower,
including related entities. Under FIRREA, the permissible amount of loans-to-one
borrower now follows the national bank standard for all loans made by savings
institutions, as compared to the pre-FIRREA rule that applied that standard only
to commercial loans made by federally chartered savings institutions. The
regulations promulgated pursuant to FIRREA generally do not permit loans-to-one
borrower to exceed the greater of $500,000 or 15% of unimpaired capital and
surplus. Loans in an amount equal to an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and
surplus also may be made to a borrower if the loans are fully secured by readily
marketable securities.

         BRANCHING BY FEDERAL SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. Effective May 11, 1992, the
OTS amended its Policy Statement on Branching by Federal Savings Institutions to
permit interstate branching to the full extent permitted by statute (which is
essentially unlimited). Prior policy permitted interstate branching for federal
savings institutions only to the extent allowed for state-chartered institutions
in the states where the institution's home office is located and where the
branch is sought. Prior policy also permitted healthy out-of-state federal
institutions to branch into another state, regardless of the law in that state,
provided the branch office was the result of a purchase of an institution that
was in danger of default.


<PAGE>   38

                                       37

          Generally, federal law prohibits federal savings institutions from
establishing, retaining or operating a branch outside the state in which the
federal institution has its home office unless the institution meets the IRS's
domestic building and loan test (generally, 60% of a thrift's assets must be
housing-related) ("IRS Test"). The IRS Test requirement does not apply if: (i)
the branch(es) result(s) from an emergency acquisition of a troubled savings
institution (however, if the troubled savings institution is acquired by a bank
holding company, does not have its home office in the state of the bank holding
company bank subsidiary and does not qualify under the IRS Test, its branching
is limited to the branching laws for state-chartered banks in the state where
the savings institution is located); (ii) the law of the state where the branch
would be located would permit the branch to be established if the federal
savings institution were chartered by the state in which its home office is
located; or (iii) the branch was operated lawfully as a branch under state law
prior to the savings institution's conversion to a federal charter.

         Furthermore, the OTS will evaluate a branching applicant's record of
compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA"). An
unsatisfactory CRA record may be the basis for denial of a branching
application.

         QUALIFIED THRIFT LENDER TEST. Under Section 2303 of the Economic Growth
and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996, a savings association can comply
with the QTL test by either meeting the QTL test set forth in the HOLA and
implementing regulations or qualifying as a domestic building and loan
association as defined in Section 7701(a)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended ("Code"). The QTL test set forth in the HOLA requires a thrift
institution to maintain 65% of portfolio assets in Qualified Thrift Investments
("QTIs"). Portfolio assets are defined as total assets less intangibles,
property used by a savings institution in its business and liquidity investments
in an amount not exceeding 20% of assets. Generally, QTIs are residential
housing related assets. At December 31, 1997, the amount of the Savings Bank's
assets which were invested in QTIs was 91.9%, which exceeded the percentage
required to qualify the Savings Bank under the QTL test. A savings institution
that does not meet the QTL test must either convert to a bank charter or comply
with the following restrictions on its operations: (i) the institution may not
engage in any new activity or make any new investment, directly or indirectly,
unless such activity or investment is permissible for a national bank; (ii) the
branching powers of the institution shall be restricted to those of a national
bank; (iii) the institution shall not be eligible to obtain any advances from
its FHLB; and (iv) payment of dividends by the institution shall be subject to
the rules regarding payment of dividends by a national bank. Upon the expiration
of three years from the date the institution ceases to be a QTL, it must cease
any activity and not retain any investment not permissible for a national bank
and immediately repay any outstanding FHLB advances (subject to safety and
soundness considerations).

         FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK SYSTEM. The Savings Bank is a member of the FHLB
of Cincinnati, which is one of 12 regional FHLBs that administers the home
financing credit function of savings institutions. Each FHLB serves as a reserve
or central bank for its

<PAGE>   39

                                       38

members within its assigned region. It is funded primarily from proceeds derived
from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB System. It makes loans to
members (i.e., advances) in accordance with policies and procedures established
by the Board of Directors of the FHLB.

         As a member, the Savings Bank is required to purchase and maintain
stock in the FHLB of Cincinnati in an amount equal to at least 1% of its
aggregate unpaid residential mortgage loans, home purchase contracts or similar
obligations at the beginning of each year. At December 31, 1997, the Savings
Bank had $4.2 million in FHLB stock, which was in compliance with this
requirement.

         As a result of FIRREA, the FHLBs are required to provide funds for the
resolution of troubled savings institutions and to contribute to affordable
housing programs through direct loans or interest subsidies on advances targeted
for community investment and low-and moderate-income housing projects. These
contributions have adversely affected the level of FHLB dividends paid and could
continue to do so in the future. These contributions also could have an adverse
effect on the value of FHLB stock in the future. For the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, dividends paid by the FHLB of Cincinnati to the Savings
Bank amounted to $283,000, $165,000 and $120,000, respectively.

         FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. The Federal Reserve Board requires all
depository institutions to maintain reserves against their transaction accounts
(primarily NOW and Super NOW checking accounts). As of December 31, 1997, no
reserves were required to be maintained on the first $4.4 million of transaction
accounts, reserves of 3% were required to be maintained against the next $44.9
million of net transaction accounts (with such dollar amounts subject to
adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board), and a reserve of 10% against all
remaining net transaction accounts. Because required reserves must be maintained
in the form of vault cash or a noninterest-bearing account at a Federal Reserve
Bank, the effect of this reserve requirement is to reduce an institution's
earning assets.

                                    TAXATION

FEDERAL TAXATION

         GENERAL. The Company and the Savings Bank are subject to the generally
applicable corporate tax provisions of the Code, and the Savings Bank is subject
to certain additional provisions of the Code which apply to thrifts and other
types of financial institutions. The following discussion of federal taxation is
intended only to summarize certain pertinent federal income tax matters and is
not a comprehensive discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Savings Bank.

         FISCAL YEAR. The Company and the Savings Bank file federal income tax
returns on the basis of a calendar year ending on December 31.


<PAGE>   40

                                       39

         BAD DEBT RESERVES. Prior to the enactment, on August 20, 1996, of the
Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (the "Small Business Act"), for
federal income tax purposes, thrift institutions such as the Savings Bank, which
met certain definitional tests primarily relating to their assets and the nature
of their business, were permitted to establish tax reserves for bad debts and to
make annual additions thereto, which additions could, within specified
limitations, be deducted in arriving at their taxable income. The Savings Bank's
deduction with respect to "qualifying loans," which are generally loans secured
by certain interests in real property, could be computed using an amount based
on a six-year moving average of the Savings Bank's actual loss experience (the
"Experience Method"), or a percentage equal to 8.0% of the Savings Bank's
taxable income (the "PTI Method"), computed without regard to this deduction and
with additional modifications and reduced by the amount of any permitted
addition to the non-qualifying reserve.

         Under the Small Business Act, the PTI Method was repealed and the
Savings Bank will be required to use the Experience Method of computing
additions to its bad debt reserve for taxable years beginning with the Savings
Bank's taxable year beginning January 1, 1996. In addition, the Savings Bank
will be required to recapture (i.e., take into taxable income) over a six-year
period, beginning with the Savings Bank's taxable year beginning January 1,
1996, the excess of the balance of its bad debt reserves (other than the
supplemental reserve) as of December 31, 1995 over (a) the greater of the
balance of such reserves as of December 31, 1987 or (b) an amount that would
have been the balance of such reserves as of December 31, 1995 had the Savings
Bank always computed the additions to its reserves using the Experience Method.
However, under the Small Business Act such recapture requirements will be
suspended for each of the two successive taxable years beginning January 1, 1996
in which the Savings Bank originates a minimum amount of certain residential
loans during such years that is not less than the average of the principal
amounts of such loans made by the Savings Bank during its six taxable years
preceding January 1, 1996.

         At December 31, 1997, the federal income tax reserves of the Savings
Bank included $14.2 million for which no federal income tax has been provided,
of this amount, $11.5 million and $2.7 million are attributable to pre-1987 and
post-1987 bad debt reserves, respectively. The Savings Bank will recapture into
income approximately $450,000 per year over the six year period beginning
January 1, 1996, subject to suspension for two years in the event the
residential loan exemption is met as discussed above. The Savings Bank has
previously accounted for this tax liability under FASB 109 and, therefore,
recognition of these amounts will not impact the Savings Bank's profit and loss
statement.

         DISTRIBUTIONS. If the Savings Bank distributes cash or property to its
stockholders, and the distribution is treated as being from its pre-1987 bad
debt reserves, the distribution will cause the Savings Bank to have additional
taxable income. A distribution is deemed to have been made from pre-1987 bad
debt reserves to the extent that (a) the reserves exceed the amount that would
have been accumulated on the basis of actual loss experience, and (b) the
distribution is a "non-qualified distribution." A distribution with respect to
stock


<PAGE>   41

                                       40

is a non-dividend distribution to the extent that, for federal income tax
purposes, (i) it is in redemption of shares, (ii) it is pursuant to a
liquidation of the institution, or (iii) in the case of a current distribution,
together with all other such distributions during the taxable year, it exceeds
the institution's current and post-1951 accumulated earnings and profits. The
amount of additional taxable income created by a non-dividend distribution is an
amount that when reduced by the tax attributable to it is equal to the amount of
the distribution.

         MINIMUM TAX. The Code imposes an alternative minimum tax at a rate of
20%. The alternative minimum tax generally applies to a base of regular taxable
income plus certain tax preferences ("alternative minimum taxable income" or
"AMTI") and is payable to the extent such AMTI is in excess of an exemption
amount. The Code provides that an item of tax preference is the excess of the
bad debt deduction allowable for a taxable year pursuant to the percentage of
taxable income method over the amount allowable under the experience method.
Other items of tax preference that constitute AMTI include (a) tax-exempt
interest on newly issued (generally, issued on or after August 8, 1986) private
activity bonds other than certain qualified bonds and (b) 75% of the excess (if
any) of (i) adjusted current earnings as defined in the Code, over (ii) AMTI
(determined without regard to this preference and prior to reduction by net
operating losses).

         NET OPERATING LOSS CARRYOVERS. A financial institution may carry back
net operating losses ("NOLs") to the preceding two taxable years and forward to
the succeeding 20 taxable years. This provision applies to losses incurred in
taxable years beginning after August 5, 1997. At December 31, 1997, the Company
had no NOL carryforwards for federal income tax purposes.

         CAPITAL GAINS AND CORPORATE DIVIDENDS-RECEIVED DEDUCTION. Corporate net
capital gains are taxed at a maximum rate of 34%. The corporate
dividends-received deduction is 80% in the case of dividends received from
corporations with which a corporate recipient does not file a consolidated tax
return, and corporations which own less than 20% of the stock of a corporation
distributing a dividend may deduct only 70% of dividends received or accrued on
their behalf. However, a corporation may deduct 100% of dividends from a member
of the same affiliated group of corporations.

         OTHER MATTERS. Federal legislation is introduced from time to time that
would limit the ability of individuals to deduct interest paid on mortgage
loans. Individuals are currently not permitted to deduct interest on consumer
loans. Significant increases in tax rates or further restrictions on the
deductibility of mortgage interest could adversely affect the Savings Bank.

         The Savings Bank's federal income tax returns have not been audited by
the IRS in recent years and its federal income tax returns for the tax years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 are open under the statute of limitations
and are subject to review by the IRS.


<PAGE>   42

                                       41

STATE TAXATION

         The Company is subject to an Ohio tax based on the greater of its tax
liability as determined under separate net worth and net income computations.
The Company will exclude its investment in Fidelity in determining its tax
liability under the net worth computation. The tax liability under the net worth
computation will be computed at .596% of the Company's net taxable value. The
tax liability under the net income method will be computed at a graduated rate
not exceeding 9.12% of the Company's Ohio taxable income.

         The Savings Bank is subject to an Ohio franchise tax based on its
equity capital plus certain reserve amounts. Total capital for this purpose is
reduced by certain exempted assets. The resultant net taxable value was taxed at
a rate of 1.5% for 1997.


<PAGE>   43

                                       42

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

         At December 31, 1997, the Company conducted its business from its main
office at 4555 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio and other full service branches
in Cincinnati, Ohio.

         The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
offices and other properties at December 31, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Net Book Value
      Description/Address                          Leased/Owned                   of Property                    Deposits
      -------------------                          ------------                   -----------                    --------
                                                                                                 (In Thousands)
<S>                                                    <C>                           <C>                         <C>
Main Office                                            Owned                         $1,088                      $126,857
4555 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  45212 (1)

Branch Office                                          Owned                            457                        42,297
8434 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio  45216 (1)

Branch Office                                          Owned                            634                        31,693
7136 Miami Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45243

Branch Office                                          Owned                          1,286                        58,266
11100 Reading Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  45241

Branch Office                                          Leased                            80                        28,724
11700 Princeton Pike
Cincinnati, Ohio  45248 (2)

Branch Office                                          Owned                            467                        24,667
4144 Hunt Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  45238

Branch Office                                          Owned                            511                        33,503
5030 Delhi Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45238

Branch Office                                          Owned                            331                        44,961
3316 Glenmore Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45211

Branch Office                                          Owned                            218                        20,493
3777 Hamilton Cleves Road
Ross, Ohio  45013
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   44

                                       43

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Net Book Value
      Description/Address                          Leased/Owned                   of Property                    Deposits
      -------------------                          ------------                   -----------                    --------
                                                                                                 (In Thousands)
<S>                                                    <C>                           <C>                         <C>

Branch Office                                          Owned                       $    208                      $ 13,306
8045 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45239

Branch Office                                          Owned                            400                         4,320
10640 Loveland -
Madeira Road
Loveland, Ohio  45140

Branch Office                                          Leased                             2                         2,937
7944 Beechmont Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45255 (3)

Other property                                         Owned                             48                            --
4541 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  45212 (4)

Other property                                         Owned                              7                            --
17 Hillsdale
Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 (5)

Other property                                         Owned                             74                            --
16 Hereford Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio  45216 (6)
</TABLE>
                                                   (Footnotes on following page)


<PAGE>   45

                                       44

(1) Fidelity leases a portion of its premises at these offices to various
    commercial tenants.

(2) Lease expiration date is September 30, 2000.

(3) Lease expiration date is September 30, 2002.

(4) Fidelity leases substantially all of its premises at this property to
    various commercial tenants.

(5) Consists of a single-family home which is currently being leased on a
    month-to-month basis.

(6) Consists of a multi-family home which is currently being leased on a
    month-to-month basis.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

         The Company is involved in routine legal proceedings occurring in the
ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are believed by management
to be immaterial to the financial condition of the Company.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

         Not applicable.

PART II.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from page
three of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is included
herein as Exhibit 13 ("Annual Report").

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from pages
four and five of the Annual Report.


<PAGE>   46

                                       45

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        OF OPERATIONS.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from pages
six to 15 of the Annual Report.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from pages
six and seven of the Annual Report.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from pages
16 to 39 of the Annual Report.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
        FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

         Not applicable.

PART III.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from the
definitive proxy statement of the Company for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on April 28, 1998 ("Definitive Proxy Statement").

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from the
Definitive Proxy Statement.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from the
Definitive Proxy Statement.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

         The information required herein is incorporated by reference from the
Definitive Proxy Statement.


<PAGE>   47

                                       46

PART IV.

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

        (a) Documents filed as part of this Report

                 (1) The following financial statements are incorporated by
        reference from Item 8 hereof (see Exhibit 13 attached hereto):

                 Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants

                 Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31,
                 1997 and 1996

                 Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended
                 December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

                 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for
                 the Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
                 December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                 (2) All schedules for which provision is made in the
        applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are omitted because of the
        absence of conditions under which they are required or because the
        required information is included in the financial statements and
        related notes thereto.

                 (3) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Form 10-K
        and this list includes the Exhibit Index.


   No.                           Exhibits
 ------  ---------------------------------------------------------------

   2.1   Plan of Conversion and Agreement and Plan of Reorganization*

   3.1   Articles of Incorporation of Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.*

   3.2   Code of Regulations of Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.*

   3.3   Bylaws of Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.*

   4.1   Specimen Stock Certificate of Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.**

  10.1   1992 Stock Incentive Plan*(1)/

  10.2   1992 Directors' Stock Option Plan*(1)/

<PAGE>   48

                                       47

    No.                           Exhibits
   -----  ---------------------------------------------------------------

    10.3  Management Recognition Plan*(1)/

    10.4  Employee Stock Ownership Plan*(1)/

    10.5  Employment Agreements between Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.,
          Fidelity Federal Savings Bank and John R. Reusing and Paul D.
          Staubach**(1)/

    10.6  Employment Agreement between Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.,
          Fidelity Federal Savings Bank and Joseph D. Hughes***(1)/

    10.7  Form of Severance Agreement between Fidelity Financial of Ohio, Inc.,
          Fidelity Federal Savings Bank and certain officers of Fidelity
          Financial of Ohio, Inc. and Fidelity Federal Savings Bank**(1)/

    10.8  1997 Stock Option Plan(1)/

    10.9  1997 Management Recognition Plan and Trust(1)/

    13.0  1997 Annual Report to Stockholders

    23.0  Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

    27.0  Financial Data Schedule
--------

*   Incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Registration Statement
    on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on November 14, 1995.

**  Incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Form 10-K filed with the
    SEC on April 1, 1996.

*** Incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Form 10-K filed with the
    SEC on March 28, 1997.

(1)/ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

         (b) None.

         (c) See (a)(3) above for all exhibits filed herewith and the Exhibit
Index.

         (d) There are no other financial statements and financial statement
schedules which were excluded from Item 8 which are required to be included
herein.


<PAGE>   49

                                       48

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                   FIDELITY FINANCIAL OF OHIO, INC.

March 24, 1998                     By: /s/ JOHN R. REUSING
                                      ---------------------
                                       John R. Reusing
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ JOHN R. REUSING                                           March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
John R. Reusing, President,
 Chief Executive Officer and Director
 (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ MICHAEL W. JORDAN                                         March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Michael W. Jordan, Director

/s/ DAVID A. LUECKE                                           March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
David A. Luecke, Director

/s/ CONSTANTINE N. PAPADAKIS                                  March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Constantine N. Papadakis, Director


<PAGE>   50

                                       49

/s/ PAUL D. STAUBACH                                          March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Paul D. Staubach, Senior Vice President,
 Chief Financial Officer and Director
 (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ ROBERT W. ZUMBIEL                                         March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Robert W. Zumbiel, Director

/s/ JOSEPH D. HUGHES                                          March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Joseph D. Hughes, Executive Vice
  President and Director

/s/ THOMAS N. SPAETH                                          March 24, 1998
------------------------------------------------
Thomas N. Spaeth, Director