<PAGE>   1



                                  UNITED STATES
                       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 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997

[ ]      TRANSITIONAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
                 For the transition period from _____________ to ______________

                        COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-22201

                             EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.
                             -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         OHIO                                           34-1842953
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

  14092 PEARL ROAD
  STRONGSVILLE, OHIO                                       44136
--------------------                                       -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (440) 238-7311

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:        NONE

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:            COMMON STOCK, WITHOUT PAR VALUE
                                                                       -------------------------------
                                                                       Title of Class
</TABLE>

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed 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]

The registrant's voting stock is authorized for quotation on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System National Market
System under the symbol "EMLD." As of February 28, 1998, the registrant had
5,115,644 shares of common stock, without par value, outstanding. The aggregate
market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, based
on the average of the bid and asked prices of such stock as of February 28,
1998, was $75,166,853.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PARTS II, III and IV of Form 10-K -    Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders


<PAGE>   2


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         PART I                                                                                          PAGE
                                                                                                         ----
<S>                        <C>                                                                            <C>
            Item 1.        Business                                                                        2
            Item 2.        Properties                                                                     35
            Item 3.        Legal Proceedings                                                              36
            Item 4.        Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders                                36

         PART II
            Item 5.        Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related
                                Stockholder Matters                                                       37
            Item 6.        Selected Financial Data                                                        37
            Item 7.        Management's Discussion and Analysis  of Financial
                                Condition and Results of Operations                                       38
            Item 7A        Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                     38
            Item 8.        Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                                    38
            Item 9.        Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on
                                Accounting and Financial Disclosure                                       38

         PART III
            Item 10.       Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant                             39
            Item 11.       Executive Compensation                                                         39
            Item 12.       Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management                 39
            Item 13.       Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                                 39

         PART IV
            Item 14.       Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K               40

         Signatures                                                                                       41
</TABLE>

When used in this Form 10-K or future filings by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, in the Company's press releases or other public or
stockholder communications, or in oral statements made with the approval of an
authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "would be", "estimate", "will
allow", "intends to", "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue",
"is anticipated", "project", or similar expressions are intended to identify
"forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and to advise
readers that various factors, including regional and national economic
conditions, substantial changes in levels of market interest rates, credit and
other risks of lending and investment activities and competitive and regulatory
factors, could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the
Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from those
anticipated or projected.

The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to
update any forward looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated
events or circumstances after the date of such statements.



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<PAGE>   3


 PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
----------------

                                    BUSINESS

GENERAL

Emerald Financial Corp. (Emerald or Company), is an Ohio corporation organized
in 1996 for the purpose of becoming a holding company and owning all the
outstanding common stock of The Strongsville Savings Bank (Strongsville Savings
or Bank). Emerald is a unitary thrift holding company which, under current laws,
has very few restrictions on permissible types of business activities. Emerald
became the holding company of Strongsville Savings in a tax-free exchange of
shares of the Bank for Shares of Emerald on March 6, 1997. As a result Emerald
owns and operates the Bank and its subsidiary on a consolidated basis. In
addition, Emerald formed Emerald Development Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary on
June 3, 1997. The development company was formed to take advantage of
opportunities to develop real estate as well as to enter into joint real estate
development ventures in the future.

Founded in 1961, Strongsville Savings is an Ohio-chartered, federally insured
savings association whose business activities are concentrated in the greater
Cleveland, Ohio area. The Bank offers a wide range of consumer-oriented lending
and deposit products and services and is active in the origination of loans to
developers and builders of residential real estate within its market area. In
conducting the Bank's lending operations, management maintains strict
underwriting criteria and closely monitors the Bank's loan portfolio.

The Bank conducts its business through its home office in Strongsville and its
Community Financial Centers in Berea, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, North
Royalton, Parma Heights, and Westlake (Cuyahoga County); Brunswick, Hinckley and
Medina Township (Medina County); and Avon, Columbia Station, North Ridgeville,
and Wellington (Lorain County).

The Bank's headquarters office is located at 14092 Pearl Road, Strongsville,
Ohio 44136, and the Bank's telephone number at that address is (440) 238-7311.

The Bank began operations in 1961 as an Ohio-chartered stock savings and loan
association and changed its name from The Strongsville Savings and Loan
Association to The Strongsville Savings Bank in 1984. Substantially all of the
Bank's business activities are focused in Cuyahoga, Medina, Lorain, and Summit
Counties. The Bank conducts its lending and deposit-gathering activities through
its headquarters in Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and through its network
of area Community Financial Centers in the suburbs to the south and west of
Cleveland, Ohio.

In the 1980's the Bank's strategy was concentrated on building a well-balanced
branch network in the suburbs to the south and west of Cleveland. In view of
these objectives, the Bank established or acquired offices in Berea, Hinckley,
North Ridgeville, North Royalton, Parma Heights, Wellington and Westlake. This
strategy provided the Bank with a stable, low-cost, consumer-oriented deposit
base in the many established communities of its market area. The Bank's research
and close relationships with area real estate professionals suggested that
several of these communities would


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become residential growth areas. During the late 1980's and early 1990's,
Strongsville, Westlake, Brecksville, Hinckley, North Ridgeville and North
Royalton emerged as growth areas. Management expects these communities to be
among the major growth areas in Cuyahoga and the contiguous counties throughout
the 1990's. According to data provided by the Building Industry Association of
Cleveland and Suburban Counties, the cities with the greatest number of 1997
single family dwelling starts include Strongsville, North Royalton, Westlake,
Broadview Heights, Brunswick, Medina, Avon and North Ridgeville. In 1995 and
1996, the Bank opened offices in Broadview Heights, Columbia Station, Avon and
Brunswick, all current or anticipated future expanding markets for residential
growth. Management will prudently continue to consider opportunities for
expansion of its branch network in growing residential areas of greater
Cleveland.

The Bank is very active in the origination of loans to developers and builders
of residential housing in its market area, including loans to (i) acquire lots
and land for residential subdivision, (ii) to develop raw land by financing the
cost of improvements such as streets, sewers and utilities, and (iii) to
construct houses on such improved property. Expansion of the Bank's franchise
with new Community Financial Centers in Broadview Heights, Columbia Station,
Avon and Brunswick are expected to provide the Bank with a stable source of real
estate construction and mortgage loan originations through 2000 and beyond.

The Bank offers a wide range of consumer-oriented lending and deposit products
and services to the residents in its market area. The Bank currently is a
leading residential real estate construction lender in Cuyahoga, Medina and
Lorain Counties. Central to the Bank's operating philosophy is the development
and maintenance of strong personal relationships with local Realtors, builders,
developers, public officials and other real estate-related professionals.

The Bank is a community-oriented financial institution serving its market area
with a wide selection of residential loans and retail financial services,
emphasizing customer service. The Bank's services include consumer and
commercial checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit,
residential and commercial real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, and
secured and unsecured consumer loans and rental of safe-deposit boxes. The
Company's branch network is comprised of fourteen full-service banking offices,
eleven proprietary ATMs, access to a network of metropolitan, regional and
national ATMs, and electronic fund transfer services. The Bank has historically
concentrated its business activities in the Northeastern Ohio area, primarily
Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, and Summit Counties.

The Bank's business consists primarily of attracting deposits from the general
public and originating and investing in loans secured by first mortgage liens on
residential and other real estate primarily in Northeastern Ohio. The Bank also
invests in certain government obligations and other investments permitted by
federal law and regulations. The principal source of funds for the Bank's
lending activities are increases in deposit accounts, principal and interest
payments of loans and proceeds from the sale of loans. The Bank's principal
source of earnings is interest income from loans and other interest-earning
assets. Its principal expenses are interest paid on deposit accounts and
operating expenses.

Management recognizes that the thrift industry is changing rapidly.
Consumer-oriented services historically provided by banks and thrifts are now
being offered by other entities, such as insurance companies and brokerage
firms. To compete effectively in this environment, the Bank's goal is to



                                       3
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provide its customers with a consumer-oriented institution where a wide range of
financial needs can be met, including a full range of deposit services such as
ATM services, NOW checking accounts, IRA and Keogh investment accounts and
certificates of deposit with terms ranging from seven days to ten years. The
Bank's consumer-oriented products also include mortgage loan, construction
loans, home equity lines of credit, various consumer loan products to finance
automobiles, home improvements, education and VISA(R) and MasterCard(R) credit
cards.

LENDING ACTIVITIES

GENERAL. The Bank's primary lending activity is originating conventional first
mortgage loans for the purchase of residential real property. Conventional loans
are loans which are not insured by the Federal Housing Administration or
partially guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. Within this category, the
largest portion of the Bank's loans are made to home buyers on the security of
single-family dwellings. At December 31, 1997, the Bank's net loans receivable
totaled $469.3 million, representing approximately 78.0% of its total assets. At
that date, 75.6% of total mortgage loans consisted of loans secured by first
mortgage liens on residential properties.

In order to manage interest rate risk in the loan portfolio, the Bank has
implemented a number of measures designed to provide more frequent interest rate
adjustments on interest-earning assets so more interest-earning assets would
respond to increases in interest rates on basis similar to that of
interest-bearing liabilities. These measures were designed to reduce adverse
effects on net interest income during periods of rising interest rates. These
measures include: (i) origination of permanent mortgage loans with adjustable
interest rates on residential properties and other real estate, (ii) origination
of residential construction and development loans with adjustable interest
rates, (iii) origination of nonresidential construction loans with adjustable
interest rates and (iv) purchases of loans with adjustable interest rates which
meet the Bank's underwriting standards. At December 31, 1997, approximately
$217.4 million (45.0% of total mortgage loans) were comprised of loans described
above.

1-TO-4 FAMILY RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE LENDING. The cornerstone of the Bank's
lending program has been the origination of permanent loans, secured by
mortgages on owner-occupied, 1-to-4 family residences. At December 31, 1997,
$327.7 million, or 67.8%, of the Bank's mortgage loans consisted of permanent
loans on 1-to-4 family residences. Substantially all of these loans were secured
by properties located in the Bank's primary market area.

The Bank originates a variety of different types of residential loans including
conventional 15- and 30- year fixed-rate loans, one- and three-year ARM's and,
to a lesser extent, 10- and 20-year fixed rate loans. During recent years, in
order to meet consumer demand and maximize the yield on its residential loan
portfolio, the Bank has originated fixed rate loans which qualify for sale to
the secondary market, primarily the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
("Freddie Mac"). The Bank's fixed-rate residential loans are underwritten and
documented to permit their sale to the secondary market and the Bank has sold
certain qualifying residential loans to Freddie Mac. Loans sold to Freddie Mac
are on a nonrecourse basis. The Bank also originates ARM's, although, in order
to maintain its interest rate spread, the Bank generally does not offer initial
interest rates on ARM's as low as those available from some of its competitors.



                                       4
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The Bank's current 1-to-4 family permanent residential ARM's are fully
amortizing loans with contractual maturities of up to 30 years. The Bank's ARM
products carry interest rates which are reset to a stated margin over an index
based on the one- or three-year U.S. Treasury Constant Maturities Index.
Increases or decreases in the interest rate of the Bank's ARM loans based on the
one- or three-year U.S. Constant Maturities index are generally limited to 2% at
any adjustment period and a maximum of 5% or 6% over the life of the loan,
depending on whether the loan resets at one- or three-year intervals,
respectively. The Bank's ARM's are not convertible into fixed-rate loans, do not
contain prepayment penalties and do not produce negative amortization. The
Bank's ARM's are assumable, providing the assuming borrower meets the same
underwriting criteria as a borrower on a newly originated loan. At December 31,
1997 the total balance of 1-to-4 family permanent residential ARM's was $75.0
million, or 22.9% of the Bank's 1-to-4 family permanent mortgage loan portfolio.

The Bank evaluates both the borrower's ability to make principal and interest
payments and the value of the property that will secure the loan. The Bank
originates residential mortgage loans with loan-to-value ratios of up to 95%. On
any mortgage loan exceeding an 80% loan-to-value ratio at the time of
origination, however, the Bank requires private mortgage insurance in an amount
intended to reduce the Bank's exposure to 80% of the appraised value of the
underlying collateral. Property securing real estate loans made by the Bank is
generally appraised by independent fee appraisers selected by the Bank and
subject to review by the management and Board of Directors of the Bank. The Bank
requires evidence of marketable title and lien position on all loans secured by
real property and requires fire and extended coverage casualty insurance in
amounts at least equal to the principal amount of the loan or the value of
improvements on the property, depending on the type of loan. The Bank may also
require flood insurance to protect the property securing its interest.

The Bank's fixed-rate residential mortgage loans customarily include
"due-on-sale" clauses, which are provisions giving the Bank 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. The Bank enforces due-on-sale clauses on fixed-rate mortgage loans to
the extent permitted under applicable laws.

Residential mortgage loan originations come from a number of sources, including
solicitations by the Bank, referrals by builders and real estate brokers,
existing borrowers and depositors and walk-in customers. Loan applications are
accepted at all of the Bank's offices.

The Bank's permanent multi-family and commercial real estate loan portfolio
includes loans secured by small apartment buildings, strip shopping centers,
small office buildings, churches and other business properties, generally
located within the Bank's primary market area.

Permanent multi-family and commercial real estate loans generally have terms of
15 years or less; the maximum term available is 25 years. These loans typically
do not have balloon features. Interest rates on permanent loans generally adjust
(subject, in some cases, to specified interest rate caps) based on the Bank's
prime interest rate or at one- or three-year intervals to specified spreads over
the related U.S. Treasury Constant Maturities Index. Multi-family loans and
commercial real estate loans are generally written in amounts up to 80% and 75%,
respectively, of the appraised value of the property or sale price, whichever is
less.


                                       5
<PAGE>   7



Appraisals on properties securing multi-family and commercial real estate
property loans originated by the Bank are performed by independent fee
appraisers designated by the Bank at the time the loan application is made. All
appraisals on multi-family and commercial real estate loans are reviewed by the
Bank's management. The Bank's underwriting procedures generally require
verification of the borrower's credit history, income, financial statements,
banking relationships, references and income projections of the property. The
Bank generally requires the submission of annual financial statements to the
Bank for the life of the loan. Typically, the Bank requires the owners,
principal shareholders or general partners of business, corporate or partnership
borrowers to be personally liable for multi-family and commercial real estate.

Multi-family and commercial real estate loans generally present a higher level
of risk than loans secured by 1-to-4 family residences. This greater risk is due
to several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number
of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on
income-producing properties and the increased difficulty of evaluating and
monitoring these type loans. Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by
multi-family and commercial real estate is typically dependent upon the
successful operation of the related real estate project. If the cash flow from
the project is reduced (for example, if leases are not obtained or renewed), the
borrower's ability to repay the loan may be impaired.

CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT LENDING. The Bank makes construction loans to
individuals for the construction of their residences as well as to the builders
and developers for the construction of 1-to-4 family residences and the
acquisition and development of 1-to-4 family lots in the Bank's primary market
area.

Construction loans to individuals for their residences are structured to be
converted to permanent loans at the end of the construction phase, which
typically lasts six months. These construction loans have rates and terms
similar to any 1-to-4 family loan then offered by the Bank, except that during
the construction phase, the borrower pays interest only. Residential
construction loans are generally underwritten pursuant to the same guidelines
used for originating permanent residential loans. At December 31, 1997, the Bank
had $10.7 million in construction loans to individuals for construction of their
personal residences.

Construction loans to builders of 1-to-4 family residences require the monthly
payment of interest and typically have terms of up to 12 months, with the
maximum possible term being 24 months. These loans may provide for the payment
of interest and loan fees from loan proceeds and carry interest rates which
adjust primarily with changes in the Bank's prime interest rate. Loan commitment
and origination fees are usually charged. At December 31, 1997, the Bank had
$26.8 million of construction loans to builders of 1-to-4 family residences.

The Bank also makes loans to developers for the purpose of acquiring unimproved
land and developing such land into improved sublots for residential development.
The Bank only makes such residential land acquisition and development loans if
the Bank has received assurances from local planning commissions that the land
will be considered developable and zoned residential. These loans typically have
terms from one to three years (with the maximum term being five years) and
primarily carry interest rates which adjust to maintain a specified spread over
the prime rate and, to a lesser extent, adjust (subject, in some cases, to
interest rate caps) at one, two or three-year


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intervals to specified spreads over the related U.S. Treasury Constant
Maturities Index. Loan commitment and origination fees, in the form of points,
are usually charged. These loans generally provide for the payment of loan fees
from loan proceeds. The principal is typically paid down as improved lots are
sold. At December 31, 1997, The Bank had $56.2 million of residential
development loans.

Construction and development loans are obtained principally through
solicitations of the Bank and through continued business from builders and
developers who have previously borrowed from the Bank as well as referrals of
builders and developers. The application process includes a submission to the
Bank of accurate plans, specifications, and costs of the project to be
constructed or developed, as well as both personal and corporate tax returns,
both personal and corporate financial statements and environmental underwriting
analysis. These items are used as the basis to determine the appraised value of
the subject property and the debt-servicing ability of the borrower. Loans are
based on the lesser of current appraised value or the cost of construction (land
plus building).

Acquisition and development loans to finance the cost of acquiring unimproved
property for future residential subdivision and improving such property are
generally made up to a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 75% based upon an
independent appraisal. Construction loans to finance the costs of building
residential houses are generally made up to a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 80%
based upon an independent appraisal. Construction and development loans to
borrowers other than owner occupants also involve many of the same risks
discussed above regarding multi-family and commercial real estate loans and tend
to be more sensitive to general economic conditions than many other types of
loans.

At December 31, 1997, the Bank had four construction and development loan
borrowers having aggregate loans in an amount greater than $7.0 million (15% of
then tangible capital) which totaled $31.8 million. All construction and
development loans were in compliance with applicable lending limits. The Office
of Thrift Supervision (OTS) made special loans-to-one-borrower lending
authorities available to the Bank on January 2, 1990 which permit the Bank to
lend up to 30% of tangible capital to one borrower for the development of
residential housing. The special loans-to-one-borrower lending authority granted
to the Bank is renewable annually and was most recently renewed in October 1997.
For a discussion of the regulatory requirements incident to the Bank's usage of
the special lending authorities, see "REGULATION - Federal Regulation - Loans to
One Borrower and Aggregate Loan Limits". The Bank expects the 15% limit on loans
to one borrower to represent no significant impediment to its lending function
as its tangible capital continues to grow.

As of December 31, 1997, the Bank had twelve borrowers having aggregate loans
for residential acquisition, development and construction purposes exceeding $1
million. No such loans were nonperforming as of that date.

Construction loans involve greater underwriting and default risks than loans
secured by mortgages on existing properties. These loans can involve large loan
balances concentrated in single borrower or a group of borrowers in the same
industry. Loan funds are advanced upon the security of the project under
construction, which is more difficult to value prior to the completion of
construction. Should a default occur which results in foreclosure, the Bank
could be adversely affected in that it would have to take control of the project
and attempt either to arrange for completion of construction or to dispose of
the unfinished project.


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The Bank's underwriting criteria are designed to evaluate and minimize the risk
of each construction loan. A wide variety of factors are carefully considered
before originating a construction loan, including the availability of permanent
financing or a takeout commitment to the borrower (which may be provided by the
Bank at market rates); the reputation of the borrower and the contractor;
independent valuations and reviews of cost estimates; preconstruction sale
information and cash flow projections of the borrower. At the time of the Bank's
origination of a construction loan to a builder, the builder often has a signed
contract with a purchaser for the sale of the to-be-constructed house, which, by
assuring the builder of a repayment source, reduces the Bank's underwriting
risks on the construction loan. To reduce the risks inherent in construction
lending, the Bank limits the number of properties which can be constructed on a
"speculative" or unsold basis by a builder at any one time to two houses and
requires the borrower or its principals personally to guarantee repayment of the
loan. Moreover, the Bank controls certain of the risks associated with
construction lending by requiring builders to submit itemized bills to the Bank,
whereupon the Bank disburses the builder's loan funds directly to the contractor
and subcontractors, rather than to the builder.

CONSUMER LOANS. Ohio and federal laws and regulations permit an Ohio-chartered,
federally insured savings association such as the Bank to make secured and
unsecured consumer loans, and home improvement loans.

The Bank offers automobile loans, home equity lines of credit, home improvement,
and other secured and unsecured personal loans. These loans generally have fixed
interest rates and terms of five years or less, with the exception of home
equity lines of credit and home improvement loans. Home equity lines of credit
have adjustable rates based on the Bank's prime interest rate and typically have
terms of ten years. Home improvement loans have fixed interest rates and have
terms no longer than fifteen years. These rates are generally higher than the
rates offered on mortgage loans. The Bank also offers VISA(R) and MasterCard(R)
credit cards to its customers as an agent for an Ohio-based commercial bank.
During 1997, the Bank originated approximately $18.7 million of consumer loans
and approximately $4.0 million in 1996. The increase in 1997 is primarily due
the popularity of the Emerald Home Equity Line of Credit (Emerald Line) which
was introduced in December 1996. There were $8.2 million outstanding in Emerald
Line loans at December 31, 1997. The Bank's consumer loan portfolio totaled
$15.5 million at December 31, 1997.

The underwriting standards employed by the Bank for consumer loans include a
determination of the applicant's payment history on other debts and ability to
meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. Although credit
worthiness of the applicant is of primary consideration, the underwriting
process also includes a comparison of the value of the security, if any, in
relation to the proposed loan amount. While consumer loans generally involve a
higher level of credit risk than 1-to-4 family residential loans, consumer loans
are typically made at higher interest rates and for shorter terms or at
adjustable rates, thus improving the interest rate sensitivity of the Bank's
loan portfolio.


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<PAGE>   10


LOAN PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION. Table I sets forth the composition of the Bank's
loan portfolio, in dollar amounts and in percentages for the last five years,
along with a reconciliation to loans receivable, net.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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TABLE I                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1997               1996                1995                1994                1993
                                        ----               ----                ----                ----                ----
                                  AMOUNT       %     AMOUNT        %    AMOUNT        %     AMOUNT         %    AMOUNT         %
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      (Dollars In Thousands)
<S>                              <C>         <C>    <C>          <C>    <C>         <C>    <C>           <C>    <C>         <C>
REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE LOANS
  PERMANENT FIRST MORTGAGE
     One-to-four family
          Held for portfolio     $319,796    68.15% $301,284     70.75% $220,490    65.55% $194,629      69.06% $114,848    47.38%
          Held for sale             7,916     1.69%      806      0.19%    5,396     1.60%        -       0.00%   49,957    20.61%
     Multi-family                     924     0.20%    1,049      0.25%    1,183     0.35%    1,294       0.46%    1,101     0.46%
     Commercial real estate        52,499    11.19%   46,883     11.01%   42,098    12.52%   38,109      13.52%   39,856    16.44%
     Land                             553     0.12%      195      0.04%      358     0.11%      427       0.15%      638     0.26%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal                381,688    81.35%  350,217     82.24%  269,525    80.13%  234,459      83.19%  206,400    85.15%

  CONSTRUCTION FIRST MORTGAGE
     Residential acquisition
          & development            56,217    11.98%   54,670     12.84%   48,538    14.43%   29,107      10.33%   23,984     9.90%
     One-to-four family            37,413     7.97%   37,049      8.70%   26,960     8.02%   29,818      10.58%   21,032     8.68%
     Multi-family                   1,050     0.22%      240      0.05%    2,660     0.79%    1,400       0.50%    3,041     1.25%
     Commercial real estate         6,879     1.47%    2,376      0.56%    4,233     1.26%    3,163       1.12%    2,442     1.01%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal                101,559    21.64%   94,335     22.15%   82,391    24.50%   63,488      22.53%   50,499    20.84%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL MORTGAGE LOANS              483,247   102.99%  444,552    104.39%  351,916   104.63%  297,947     105.72%  256,899   105.99%

OTHER LOANS
  Commercial                        5,736     1.22%    4,250      1.00%    3,955     1.18%    1,584       0.56%    1,938     0.80%
  Consumer                         15,460     3.29%    9,117      2.14%    8,895     2.64%    7,390       2.62%    4,527     1.87%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal                 21,196     4.51%   13,367      3.14%   12,850     3.82%    8,974       3.18%    6,465     2.67%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LOANS                       504,443   107.50%  457,919    107.53%  364,766   108.45%  306,921     108.90%  263,364   108.66%

LESS
  Undisbursed loans in process     30,015     6.40%   26,676      6.27%   23,639     7.03%   20,134       7.14%   16,333     6.74%
  Allowance for loan losses         1,625     0.35%    1,423      0.33%    1,168     0.35%      948       0.34%      840     0.35%
  Deferred yield adjustments        3,523     0.75%    3,965      0.93%    3,608     1.07%    3,996       1.42%    3,796     1.57%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal                 35,163     7.50%   32,064      7.53%   28,415     8.45%   25,078       8.90%   20,969     8.66%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET      $469,280   100.00% $425,855    100.00% $336,351   100.00% $281,843     100.00% $242,395   100.00%
===================================================================================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       9
<PAGE>   11



Table II sets forth the amount of the Bank's real estate loan portfolio having
fixed rates and the amount having adjustable rates. These loans are presented
before any deductions for loans-in-process, allowance for loan losses and
deferred yield items.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE II                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1997               1996                 1995               1994                 1993
                                                                                ----               ----                 ----
                                  AMOUNT      %       AMOUNT      %       AMOUNT      %       AMOUNT       %       AMOUNT     %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Dollars In Thousands)
<S>                              <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>       <C>
ADJUSTABLE RATE LOANS
     One-to-four family          $103,686   21.45%   $ 87,794   19.75%   $ 72,644   20.64%   $ 60,754    20.39%   $ 52,699  20.52%
     Multi-family                   1,974    0.41%      1,289    0.29%      3,843    1.09%      2,694     0.91%      4,142   1.61%
     Commercial real estate        55,143   11.41%     44,261    9.96%     41,123   11.69%     37,482    12.58%     39,106  15.22%
     Land & development            56,621   11.72%     54,865   12.34%     48,896   13.90%     29,534     9.91%     23,382   9.10%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total adjustable rate loans  217,424   44.99%    188,209   42.34%    166,506   47.32%    130,464    43.79%    119,329  46.45%

FIXED RATE LOANS
     One-to-four family
          Held for portfolio      253,523   52.46%    250,539   56.36%    174,806   49.67%    163,693    54.94%     83,181  32.38%
          Held for sale             7,916    1.64%        806    0.18%      5,396    1.53%          -     0.00%     49,957  19.45%
     Multi-family                       -    0.00%          -    0.00%          -    0.00%          -     0.00%          -   0.00%
     Commercial real estate         4,235    0.88%      4,998    1.12%      5,208    1.48%      3,790     1.27%      3,192   1.24%
     Land & development               149    0.03%          -    0.00%          -    0.00%          -     0.00%      1,240   0.48%
                                                                                                                           ------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total fixed rate loans       265,823   55.01%    256,343   57.66%    185,410   52.68%    167,483    56.21%    137,570  53.55%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           ------

TOTAL MORTGAGE LOANS             $483,247  100.00%   $444,552  100.00%   $351,916  100.00%   $297,947   100.00%   $256,899 100.00%
==================================================================================================================================

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Table III shows the contractual maturities of the Bank's loan portfolio at
December 31, 1997. The table does not include prepayments and scheduled
principal repayments.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE III
                                OUTSTANDING     1 YEAR OR                                               10 TO 15      AFTER 15
                                  12/31/97          LESS     1 TO 3 YEARS  3 TO 5 YEARS 5 TO 10 YEARS     YEARS         YEARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      (In Thousands)
<S>                              <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
Permanent Loans:
     Residential                 $ 327,712       $     14         $ 268      $ 3,184      $ 30,039      $ 115,338     $ 178,869
     Commercial                     53,423            910           728        1,437        17,502         24,231         8,615
Construction                        45,342         15,880        14,848          120           292          4,657         9,545
Land & development                  56,770         10,147        46,623            -             -              -             -
Other                               21,196          4,249         2,383        2,906        11,487            171             -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     TOTAL                       $ 504,443       $ 31,200      $ 64,850      $ 7,647      $ 59,320      $ 144,397     $ 197,029
================================================================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Table IV shows the contractual maturities of the Bank's loan portfolio by fixed-
and adjustable-rate loans. It does not reflect actual repayments because of loan
refinancings, principal payments and enforcement of due-on-sale clauses, which
give the Bank the right to declare a conventional loan immediately due and
payable in the event, among other things, that the borrower sells the real
estate subject to the mortgage.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE IV
                                OUTSTANDING     1 YEAR OR                                               10 TO 15       AFTER 15
                                  12/31/97         LESS     1 TO 3 YEARS  3 TO 5 YEARS 5 TO 10 YEARS       YEARS         YEARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      (In Thousands)
<S>                              <C>              <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
Fixed interest rates             $ 273,241        $ 1,336       $ 1,626      $ 4,994      $ 32,680      $ 114,400     $ 118,205
Adjustable interest rates          231,202         29,862        62,663        2,653        26,783         30,434        78,807
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     TOTAL                       $ 504,443       $ 31,198      $ 64,289      $ 7,647      $ 59,463      $ 144,834     $ 197,012
================================================================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       10
<PAGE>   12



PURCHASE AND SALE OF LOANS. Management believes that purchases of loans and loan
participations can be desirable and evaluates potential purchases as
opportunities arise and the Bank's needs dictate. Such purchases can enable the
Bank to take advantage of favorable lending opportunities, diversify its
portfolio and limit origination expenses. For loan purchases, the Bank uses the
same criteria for investment as if it had originated the loans using its own
underwriting standards. At December 31, 1997 approximately $1.0 million of the
Bank's residential loan portfolio and $7.2 million of the Bank's multi-family
and non-residential real estate loan portfolios were serviced by other
institutions.

When loans or loan participations are sold by the Bank, The Bank retains the
responsibility for servicing the loans. The Bank receives a fee for servicing
these loans. The amount of mortgage loans the Bank serviced for others amounted
to approximately $225.3 million at December 31, 1997.

Table V shows total loan origination, purchase, sale and repayment for the
periods indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE V
                                LOAN ORIGINATIONS

                                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   1997                 1996             1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   (In thousands)
<S>                                                           <C>                  <C>               <C>
PERMANENT MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATIONS
      1-4 family                                              $ 104,097            $ 154,482         $ 85,892
      Multi-family                                                    -                    -                -
      Commercial real estate                                      4,694                7,508            4,941
      Land                                                          573                1,116              241
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                109,364              163,106           91,074

CONSTRUCTION FIRST MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATIONS
      Residential development                                    43,081               39,885           43,250
      1-4 family                                                 46,926               47,990           37,071
      Multi-family                                                  670                    -            2,660
      Commercial real estate                                      8,086                2,478            3,930
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 98,763               90,353           86,911

NONMORTGAGE LOANS
   Commercial                                                     3,513                3,212            4,348
   Consumer                                                      18,667                4,003            4,528
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 22,180                7,215            8,876
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LOAN ORIGINATIONS                                         230,307              260,674          186,861
                                                                                                            -
PURCHASED LOANS
      Commercial real estate                                      4,922                2,250              700
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL NEW LOANS                                               $ 235,229            $ 262,924        $ 187,561

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS
     Principal repayments                                       140,125              110,693           86,342
     Loan sales                                                  55,690               54,692           43,374
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                195,815              165,385          129,716
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCREASE IN LOANS                                          $ 39,414             $ 97,539         $ 57,845
==============================================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       11
<PAGE>   13



CHANGES IN LENDING ACTIVITIES. Loan originations in 1997 were impressive at
$230.3 million, a decrease of $30.4 million from 1996 originations of $260.7
million. Mortgage refinances were $47.9 million in 1997, $63.3 million in 1996
and $28.5 million in 1995. Loan originations (excluding mortgage refinancing)
were $ 182.4 million in 1996, $197.4 million in 1996 and $158.4 million in 1995.

INCOME FROM LENDING ACTIVITIES. The Bank earns interest and fee income from its
lending activities. The Bank earns income from fees for originating loans and
for making commitments to originate loans and purchase loans and loan
participations. Certain of these fees net of origination costs are amortized
over the life of the respective loan. The Bank also receives loan fees related
to existing loans, which include prepayment charges, late charges, assumption
fees and servicing fees. Income from loan origination and commitment fees and
discounts varies with the volume and type of loans and commitments made and
purchased and with competitive and economic conditions.

NONPERFORMING LOANS AND OTHER ASSETS

GENERAL. Late payment fees are assessed by the Bank if a payment is not received
by the 15th day following its due date. Any borrower whose payment was not
received by this time is mailed a past due notice. If the loan is still
delinquent after a second past due notice is mailed, a loan department employee
will attempt to contact the customer to resolve any problem that might exist.

When an advanced stage of delinquency approaches (generally 90 days past due)
and if repayment cannot be expected within a reasonable amount of time or a
repayment agreement has not been entered into, the Bank will contact an attorney
to request that the required 30-day prior notice of foreclosure proceedings be
prepared and delivered to the borrower so that, if necessary, foreclosure
proceedings may be initiated shortly after the loan is 90 days delinquent. This
procedure has historically aided in achieving a low level of nonperforming loans
and, as of December 31, 1997 only $2,144,000 or 0.46% of the Bank's total loan
portfolio was nonperforming. As of December 31, 1997 the Bank's level of
nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.58%.

On December 31, 1997 the Bank held three real estate properties totaling
$648,000 acquired as a result of foreclosure, voluntary deed, or other means.
When the Bank has such real estate, it is classified as "real estate owned"
(REO) until it is sold. When property is so acquired, it is recorded at the
lower of cost (the unpaid principal balance at the date of acquisition plus
foreclosure and other related costs) or fair value less estimated selling costs.
For collateral-dependent loans, the fair value is determined by obtaining an
appraisal from an independent fee appraiser. For loans which are not collateral
dependent, the fair value is determined based on the present value of expected
cash flows. Any reduction to record the property at its fair value is charged to
expense. Generally, unless the property is 1-to-4 family and well
collateralized, interest accrual ceases after 90 days of delinquency, but not
later than the date of acquisition. Costs incurred to maintain REO property are
charged to expense. The Bank has not had to foreclose on an acquisition and
development loan in the last 5 years.

On December 31, 1997 the Bank held four investments in auto loan backed
securities totaling $683,000 which were classified as non-accruing. The issuer
has experienced difficulty with a subservicer in meeting certain terms of their
agreement relating to reserve requirements. The Bank has recorded a charge to
earnings of $162,000 for possible credit losses related to these investments.


                                       12
<PAGE>   14



If a credit card account becomes 10 days delinquent, a notice is sent to the
account holder demanding that the payment be made so that the card is current.
Another notice is sent to the cardholder if the account becomes 20 days
delinquent. If payment is not received within 30 days, authorization requests
are denied, a message appears on the cardholder's account statement and a
follow-up telephone call is made. These telephone collection efforts and
statement messages continue until the account is deemed uncollectible, usually
between 120 to 150 days delinquent at which time it is turned over to a
collection agency for intensive collection efforts and legal action if
appropriate.

Not categorized as nonperforming loans are certain potential problem loans that
management believes are adequately secured and for which no material loss is
expected, but as to which certain circumstances may cause the borrowers to be
unable to comply with the present loan repayment terms at some future date. At
December 31, 1997 there were approximately $0.5 million of such potential
problem loans.



                                       13
<PAGE>   15


Table VI below sets forth information regarding delinquent loans. It is the
Bank's policy that past-due conventional loans be reviewed monthly to determine
whether any due but uncollected portion thereof should be classified as
uncollectible.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE VI
                              NON-PERFORMING ASSETS


                                                             1997            1996             1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 (Dollars In thousands)
<S>                                                       <C>             <C>              <C>
NON-ACCRUING LOANS
   1-4 family - permanent                                   $ 156           $ 599             $ 52
   1-4 family - construction                                  692               -                -
   Multi-family and Commercial
       real estate                                              -               -                -
   Land and development                                       181               -                -
   Commercial non-real estate                                 370               -               70
   Consumer and other                                          29               5               24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                       1,428             604              146

LOANS DELINQUENT 90 DAYS OR MORE
   AND STILL ACCRUING
   1-4 family - permanent                                     716             683            1,906
   1-4 family - construction                                    -             412                -
   Multi-family and Commercial
       real estate                                              -               -                -
   Land and development                                         -               -                -
   Commercial non-real estate                                   -               -                -
   Consumer and other                                           -               -                -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                         716           1,095            1,906

Total non-performing loans                                  2,144           1,699            2,052

Investments                                                   683               -                -
Real estate owned                                             648               -                -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total non-performing assets                               $ 3,475         $ 1,699          $ 2,052
=======================================================================================================

Allowances for loan losses                                $ 1,625         $ 1,423          $ 1,168
=======================================================================================================

Non-performing loans to total loans-net                      0.45%           0.40%            0.61%
Non-performing assets to total assets                        0.57%           0.30%            0.42%
Allowance for loan losses to ending
   loan balance (before allowance)                           0.35%           0.33%            0.35%
Allowance for loan losses to
   non-performing loans                                     75.80%          83.76%           56.91%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       14
<PAGE>   16


       Interest income that would have been recorded under the original terms of
all nonaccrual loans during each period and the interest income actually
recognized for each period are summarized below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Years Ended December 31
                                                             -------------------------------------------------
                                                                  1996             1996            1995
                                                             ---------------- --------------- ----------------
                                                                              (In Thousands)
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>              <C>
Interest income that would have been recorded                     $ 119           $ 101            $ 49
Interest income recognized                                          112               9              37
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- --------------- ----------------

Interest income foregone                                           $ 7             $ 92            $ 12
============================================================ ================ =============== ================
</TABLE>


ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES. The amount of the allowance for loan losses is based
on management's analysis of risks inherent in the various segments of the loan
portfolio, management's assessment of known or potential problem credits which
have come to management's attention during the ongoing analysis of credit
quality, historical loss experience, current economic conditions and other
factors. If actual circumstances and losses differ substantially from
management's assumptions and estimates, such allowance for loan losses may not
be sufficient to absorb all future losses, and net earnings could be adversely
affected. Loan loss estimates are reviewed periodically, and adjustments, if
any, are reported in earnings in the period in which they become known. In
addition, the Bank maintains a portion of the allowance to cover potential
losses inherent in the portfolio which have not been specifically identified.

Although management believes that it uses the best information available to make
such determinations and that the allowance for loan losses was adequate at
December 31, 1997, future adjustments to reserves may be necessary, and net
income could be affected, if circumstances and/or economic conditions differ
substantially from the assumptions used in making the initial determinations. A
downturn in the Northeastern Ohio real estate market could result in the Bank
experiencing increased levels of nonperforming assets and charge-offs, increased
provisions for loan losses and reductions in income. Additionally, various
regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process,
periodically review the Bank's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may
require the recognition of additions to the allowance based on their judgment of
information available to them at the time of their examination.

Substantially all the delinquent loans are well collateralized residential real
estate loans. Accruing loans delinquent 90 days or more included eight
residential mortgage loans totaling $716,000 at December 31, 1997. The appraised
values of the residences securing these loans was deemed sufficient to cover the
outstanding debt. The Bank's collection procedures generally begin within 30
days of delinquency and, combined with the Bank's underwriting standards, have
minimized delinquencies in the loan portfolio.


                                       15
<PAGE>   17


Table VII presents the allocation of the allowances for loan losses by the Bank
to the related outstanding loan balances at each of the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE VII                                                             DECEMBER 31,
                                                                      ------------
                                 1997                 1996                 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>
Real estate loans          $1,165     71.69%    $1,264     88.83%    $1,000     85.62%    $  818     86.29%    $  744     88.57%
Consumer and commercial
   loans (non-mortgage)       460     28.31%       159     11.17%       168     14.38%       130     13.71%        96     11.43%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                      $1,625    100.00%    $1,423    100.00%    $1,168    100.00%    $  948    100.00%    $  840    100.00%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Table VIII presents information concerning activity in the Bank's allowance for
loan losses during the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE VIII
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

                                                 1997      1996         1995       1994       1993
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                             <C>      <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>
Allowance at the beginning of the year          $1,423   $ 1,168       $ 948      $ 840       $ 717
Provision charged to expense                       215       305         238         92          77

CHARGE-OFFS:
   1-4 family - permanent                            -         -           -          -           -
   1-4 family - construction                         -         -           -          -           -
   Multi-family and Commercial
       real estate                                   -         -           -          -           -
   Land and development                              -         -           -          -           -
   Commercial non-real estate                        -        10           -          -           -
   Consumer and other                               19        50          21         13           6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    19        60          21         13           6
RECOVERIES
   1-4 family - permanent                            -         -           -          -          28
   1-4 family - construction                         -         -           -          -           -
   Multi-family and Commercial
       real estate                                   -         -           -          -           -
   Land and development                              -         -           -          -          20
   Commercial non-real estate                        -         -           -         25           -
   Consumer and other                                6        10           3          4           4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     6        10           3         29          52
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net recoveries (charge-offs)                       (13)      (50)        (18)        16          46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allowance at the end of the year                $1,625   $ 1,423     $ 1,168      $ 948       $ 840
====================================================================================================

Net charge-offs during the year to
average loans outstanding during the
year (Annualized)                                 0.00%     0.01%       0.01%     -0.01%      -0.02%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       16
<PAGE>   18


CLASSIFIED ASSETS. The OTS regulations on classification of assets require
savings associations to classify their own assets and to establish appropriate
general and specific allowances for losses, subject to OTS review. These
regulations are designed to encourage management to evaluate assets on a
case-by-case basis and to discourage automatic classifications. Assets
classified as substandard or doubtful must be evaluated by management to
determine a reasonable general loss reserve which is included in total capital
for purposes of the association's risk-based capital requirement, but which is
not included in core capital or tangible capital or in capital under generally
accepted accounting principles. Assets classified as loss must either be written
off or reserved for by a specific allowance which is not included in capital for
purposes of any of the regulatory capital requirements.

INVESTMENTS

Investment securities primarily satisfy the Bank's liquidity needs and provide a
return on residual funds after lending activities. Investments may be in bonds
and mortgage-backed securities, provided that they are all of qualified bank
investment grade pursuant to the Bank's written investment policy. The Bank does
not make any investments in securities which are rated less than investment
grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. A goal of the
Bank's investment policy is to contain interest rate risk wherever possible.

All securities-related activity is reported to the Executive Committee of the
Board. General changes in investment strategy are required to be reviewed and
approved by the Board. The Bank's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer are authorized to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Bank in
accordance with the Bank's stated investment policy.

Table IX sets forth the carrying value of the Bank's investment portfolio at the
dates indicated and includes investments available for sale.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE IX                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                   1997        1996         1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           (In thousands)
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS
  Interest-earning deposits                         $ 3,033     $ 4,406     $ 11,935

INVESTMENT SECURITIES
  HELD TO MATURITY
    Corporate bonds                                   5,816      26,829       44,233
     U.S. Government and
       agency obligations                             7,750      19,301        1,200
     Other                                              665       1,554        3,921
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     14,231      47,684       49,354
  AVAILABLE FOR SALE
    Corporate bonds                                  20,633       5,113          999
     U.S. Government and
       agency obligations                            10,847      16,883       25,596
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     31,480      21,996       26,595
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $ 48,744    $ 74,086     $ 87,884
=====================================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       17
<PAGE>   19



There were no investment securities in the Bank's portfolio which had an
aggregate carrying value in excess of ten percent of the Bank's shareholders'
equity as of December 31, 1997.

Table X sets forth the carrying value of the Bank's mortgage-backed securities
portfolio at the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE X                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                     1997        1996         1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           (In thousands)
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>          <C>
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
  HELD TO MATURITY
    Federal National Mortgage Association           $ 7,179     $ 7,472      $ 6,652
    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.                  6,001       7,593        7,913
    Government National Mortgage Assoc.               4,883       6,109        7,194
    Other                                             7,762      11,362       15,497
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     25,825      32,536       37,256
  AVAILABLE FOR SALE
    Federal National Mortgage Association            13,527       5,236        7,136
    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.                 13,455      14,408        7,613
    Other                                               330           -            -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     27,312      19,644       14,749
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $ 53,137    $ 52,180     $ 52,005
=====================================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Table XI sets forth the amount of the Bank's mortgage-backed securities
portfolio having fixed rates and the amount having adjustable rates at the dates
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE XI                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                         1997                     1996                    1995
                                                  AMOUNT      PERCENT      AMOUNT      PERCENT     AMOUNT      PERCENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         (Dollars in thousands)
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

<S>                                               <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
Fixed interest rates                              10,050      18.91%      13,943        26.72%     24,027        46.20%
Adjustable rates                                  43,087      81.09%      38,237        73.28%     27,978        53.80%
==========================================================================================================================
                                                  53,137     100.00%      52,180       100.00%     52,005       100.00%
==========================================================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



                                       18
<PAGE>   20


The following table reflects the contractual maturities and repricing of the
Bank's mortgage-backed securities and investment portfolios at the dates
indicated. Expected maturities of the mortgage-backed securities will differ
from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or
prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE XII                                                                                                      WEIGHTED AVERAGE
                                                                                                               REMAINING TERM IN
                                                                                                                    MONTHS
                                                                                                            ----------------------
                              OUTSTANDING                                                       2008 AND        TO         TO
                               12/31/97        1998     1999-2000    2001-2002     2003-2007   THEREAFTER    REPRICING  MATURITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           (Dollars in Thousands)
<S>                            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Mortgage-backed securities     $ 53,137     $  2,012     $  1,466     $      -     $  2,205       47,454           37          280
Interest earning deposits         3,033        3,033            -            -            -            -            1            1
Corporate bonds                  26,449        9,609       11,706          518        3,090        1,526           40           40
U.S. Government and agency
     obligations                 18,597       10,305        6,291        2,001            -            -           18           18
Other                               665          487            -          178            -            -           12           12
==================================================================================================================================
     TOTAL                     $101,881     $ 25,446     $ 19,463     $  2,697     $  5,295     $ 48,980     $     33     $    160
==================================================================================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


SOURCES OF FUNDS

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. Savings deposits are a major source of the Bank's funds. The
Bank offers a number of alternatives for depositors designed to attract both
short-term and long-term savings, including regular and money market savings
accounts, NOW accounts, and a variety of fixed-maturity, fixed-rate certificates
with maturities ranging from seven days to 120 months. The Bank also provides
travelers checks, cashier's checks, money orders, U.S. Savings Bonds, ATM
services and IRA and Keogh accounts.


                                       19
<PAGE>   21


Table XIII shows the distribution of the Bank's deposits by type at the dates
indicated, along with the amount of time deposits by interest rate category.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                       DEPOSIT COMPOSITION

                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      DECEMBER 31, 1997                  DECEMBER 31, 1996                  DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                  WTD AVG                          WTD AVG                          WTD AVG
                                   COST     AMOUNT      PERCENT     COST    AMOUNT      PERCENT      COST     AMOUNT     PERCENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                <C>    <C>          <C>          <C>    <C>          <C>          <C>    <C>          <C>
PASSBOOK ACCOUNTS                  2.93%  $ 51,629       9.91%      2.90%  $ 46,034       9.33%      2.88%  $ 47,423      10.96%
NOW ACCOUNTS                       2.02%    33,976       6.52%      2.02%    29,661       6.01%      2.02%    26,025       6.02%
MONEY MARKET DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS      2.53%    15,506       2.98%      2.53%    17,882       3.62%      2.53%    23,014       5.32%
COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS                0.00%    12,992       2.50%      0.00%    11,535       2.34%      0.00%    11,728       2.71%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   2.27%   114,103      21.91%      2.27%   105,112      21.30%      2.29%   108,190      25.01%
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:
     4.50% and less                4.01%    26,391       5.07%      2.54%     1,849       0.37%      3.03%     4,454       1.03%
     4.51% to 5.50%                5.38%    52,424      10.07%      5.34%   116,857      23.68%      5.27%    77,802      17.99%
     5.51% to 6.50%                6.04%   264,388      50.78%      6.03%   187,013      37.90%      6.03%   120,175      27.78%
     6.51% to 7.50%                7.36%    55,516      10.66%      7.32%    73,823      14.96%      7.22%   108,282      25.03%
     7.51% and greater             8.92%     7,868       1.51%      8.85%     8,817       1.79%      9.01%    13,660       3.16%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   6.06%   406,587      78.09%      6.11%   388,359      78.70%      6.33%   324,373      74.99%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL DEPOSITS                     5.23%  $520,690     100.00%      5.29%  $493,471     100.00%      5.32%  $432,563     100.00%
=================================================================================================================================

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


The following table presents, by various interest rate categories, certain
information concerning maturities of the Bank's certificates of deposit as of
December 31, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE XIV                                                    MATURING IN:
                                                                               TWO TO
                                       BALANCES AT                ONE TO        THREE   AFTER THREE
                                        12/31/97     ONE YEAR    TWO YEARS      YEARS      YEARS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            (In Thousands)
<S>                                     <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
  4.50% and less                           26,391     $ 26,382         $ -         $ -         $ 9
  4.51% to 5.50%                           52,424       50,770         616         529         509
  5.51% to 6.50%                          264,388      175,784      47,167      23,280      18,157
  6.51% to 7.50%                           55,516        5,612      16,500       8,674      24,730
  7.51% and higher                          7,868          919       4,505       1,583         861
===================================================================================================
     TOTAL                              $ 406,587    $ 259,467    $ 68,788    $ 34,066    $ 44,266
===================================================================================================

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       20
<PAGE>   22


The following table sets forth the amount of the Bank's certificates of deposit
that are $100,000 or greater by time remaining until maturity as of December 31,
1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Maturity Period
---------------
(In Thousands)

<S>                                    <C>
Three months or less                   $    21,161
Over three through six months               10,804
Over six through twelve months              23,640
Over twelve months                          26,701
--------------------------------------------------

  Total                                $    82,306
==================================================
</TABLE>


CHECKING ACCOUNT SERVICES. The Bank offers commercial and NOW accounts and
interest-bearing money market accounts in order to attract funds. At December
31, 1997, the Bank's commercial checking accounts totaled $13.0 million; NOW
accounts totaled $34.0 million and money market accounts totaled $15.5 million.

BORROWINGS. Deposits, payments of loan principal and interest, and proceeds from
the sale of loans are the primary source of funds for a thrift's lending
activities and other general business purposes. The Bank can also obtain funds
through loans (advances) from the FHLB of Cincinnati. Advances from the FHLB may
be on a secured or unsecured basis depending upon a number of factors, including
the purpose for which the funds are being borrowed and existing advances
outstanding. See "REGULATION - Federal Regulation - Federal Home Loan Banks." At
December 31, 1997, the Bank had $28.1 million in advances outstanding from FHLB
of Cincinnati.


COMPETITION

The principal competitors of the Bank within its market area are other thrifts
and commercial banks. In recent years, however, competition has also come from
mortgage banking companies, insurance companies, securities firms and other
non-FDIC-insured financial institutions. The Bank faces competition from the
significant market influence of one large local thrift that offers long-term,
fixed-rate residential mortgage loans. Additionally, consolidation of the
financial institutions industry in the Midwest in recent years has increased the
level of competition.

The Bank competes against larger institutions for deposits principally by
offering a variety of banking services, attractive rates and strategically
located banking facilities. The Bank has strong ties with the local community,
particularly with residential builders and developers, and seeks to provide high
quality personal banking services to professionals, small businesses, and
individuals, emphasizing quick and flexible responses to consumer preferences
and market demands.

                                       21
<PAGE>   23


PERSONNEL

As of December 31, 1997 the Bank employed 122 full time-equivalent employees.
None of the Bank's employees are represented by any collective bargaining group,
and management considers its relations with employees to be satisfactory.

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

For each of the 1997 and 1996 fiscal years, the Board established an incentive
program for mortgage loan officers. The incentive lending program provided
financial remuneration to loan officers for generating mortgage and other loan
originations. The Board also established an incentive program for 1998 which
includes Office managers as well as mortgage loan officers. Mr. Perciak does not
participate in the incentive programs above.

COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO PLAN

INSURANCE PLANS. The Bank's full-time officers and employees are provided with
hospitalization, major medical, medical, prescription, long-term disability, and
term life insurance under group plans which are available generally and on the
same basis to all full-time employees with the majority of the contribution paid
by the Bank. Additionally, full-time officers and employees are provided with
major dental benefits through a group plan sponsored by the Bank, with officers
and employees paying for most of the cost of such coverage.

PROFIT-SHARING PLAN. The Bank has a trusteed profit-sharing retirement plan (the
"Profit-Sharing Plan") covering substantially all salaried employees. Under the
terms of the Profit-Sharing Plan, the Bank's annual contribution is
discretionary and the Bank may terminate the Profit-Sharing Plan at any time.

The Profit-Sharing Plan is a tax-qualified employee benefit plan under Section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The
purpose of the Profit-Sharing Plan is to provide a qualified retirement program
for eligible employees of the Bank. A fund has been created as part of the
Profit-Sharing Plan to receive contributions made to the Profit-Sharing plan by
the Bank and the plan's participants, and to invest and disburse the fund's
assets for the benefit of the plan's participants and beneficiaries.

Employees of the Bank are eligible to participate in the Profit Sharing Plan on
the first day of January following the employees completion of one year of
service for the Bank. Bank contributions are allocated to each participant in
accordance to his or her compensation as a percentage of the compensation of all
participants. Employees are vested over a six-year period with respect to
employer contributions, with 20% of the account balance becoming vested each
year after two years. Employees are always 100% vested in their own
contributions made to the Profit-Sharing Plan. Other than rollover from other
qualified plans, ordinarily there are no employee contributions to the
Profit-Sharing Plan. Participants or their beneficiaries receive a distribution
of benefits from their Profit-Sharing Plan accounts upon reaching early or
normal retirement age, death or disability.


                                       22
<PAGE>   24



The administrators of the Profit-Sharing Plan are Messrs. Perciak and Ziegler.
They direct the investment objectives of the Profit-Sharing Plan. A
Cleveland-based securities firm, the Custodian of the Profit-Sharing Plan, is
responsible for holding the assets comprising the fund. Participants accrue
benefits only to the extent of the fund's assets.

401(k) PLAN. In January 1990, the Bank adopted a qualified, tax-exempt
profit-sharing plan with a cash or deferred feature qualifying under Section
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "401(k) Plan"). All employees age 20
1/2 or older are eligible to participate at the next plan entrance date provided
they have completed six months of service. Participants are permitted to make
salary reduction contributions to the 401(k) Plan in amounts of up to 15% of
their salary. The participant's salary reduction contribution is matched by Bank
contributions in an amount equal to 60% of the participant's contributions up to
a limit of 5% of the participant's salary. If the employee contributes more than
5 % of his salary, the Bank will make no matching contributions on the amount
over 5%.

Employees direct the investment options of their salary reduction contributions
to their accounts. Prior to January 1, 1995, employees also directed the
investment options of the Bank's matching contributions to their accounts.
During 1996 the Bank's matching contribution was invested in the common stock of
the Company. In 1997 the plan offered Company stock as an investment option for
the employee salary reduction contributions and for employer matching
contributions. Salary reduction contributions by employees and the earnings
thereon are fully vested immediately. The Bank's employer contributions and
earnings thereon under the 401(k) Plan are vested over a six-year period, with
20% of the account balance becoming vested each year after two years of service.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN. Effective January 1, 1995, the Bank
adopted a nonqualified, unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)
that provides certain officers, classified as Vice President or above,
retirement benefits. The SERP provides for payments in the event of retirement,
disability, death or a change in control of the Bank. The plan was designed to
build and retain a competent management team. Under the plan, each executive has
been given retirement benefits intended to provide reasonable assurance that
such executive will remain with the Bank. If the executive's employment is
terminated for cause or the executive voluntarily resigns other than as a
constructive termination (other than for "good reason") following a change in
control, the Bank is released from all payment obligations to such executive.


                                       23
<PAGE>   25


                                   REGULATION

         SET FORTH BELOW IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF CERTAIN STATUTES AND REGULATIONS
         AFFECTING EMERALD AND STRONGSVILLE SAVINGS. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY, LIKE
         THE DISCUSSION OF STATUTES AND REGULATIONS CONTAINED ELSEWHERE HEREIN,
         DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
         REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS.

Emerald is a thrift holding company and, as such, is subject to regulation by
the OTS. The Bank is an Ohio chartered savings and loan association and is a
member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Banks deposits are insured by
the FDIC through the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF). The lending
activities of Strongsville Savings must comply with various state and federal
regulatory requirements. The OTS, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions
and the FDIC periodically examine the Bank for compliance with various
regulatory requirements. The Bank must file reports with the OTS describing its
activities and financial condition. This supervision and regulation is intended
principally for the protection of depositors.

Savings and Loan Holding Companies. Savings and loan holding companies are
required by the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) to register with the OTS. Savings
and loan holding companies that own one and only one savings institution are
commonly referred to as "unitary savings and loan holding companies." In marked
contrast to other forms of savings and loan holding companies and bank holding
companies, there are generally no restrictions under HOLA on the activities of a
unitary savings and loan holding company. Emerald is considered a unitary
savings and loan holding company.

Nevertheless, if the Director of the OTS determines that there is reasonable
cause to believe that the continuation by any savings and loan holding company
(including a unitary savings and loan holding company) of an activity
constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of
its subsidiary savings institution, Section 10(p) of HOLA authorizes the
Director to impose restrictions such as (i) limiting payment of dividends by the
savings institution; (ii) limiting transactions between the savings institution
and its affiliates; and (iii) limiting any activities of the savings institution
that might create a serious risk that the liabilities of the holding company and
its affiliates may be imposed on the savings institution.

If Emerald were to acquire control of another savings institution (other than
through merger or other business combination with Strongsville Savings), Emerald
would become a multiple savings and loan holding company, losing its status as a
unitary institution and becoming subject to activities restrictions as a result.
In very general terms, no multiple savings and loan holding company or
subsidiary thereof that is not a savings institution may commence or continue
any business activity 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) activities authorized by regulation as of
March 5, 1987 to be engaged in by multiple savings and loan holding


                                       24
<PAGE>   26



companies; or (vii) activities authorized by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as permissible for bank holding companies, unless the
Director of the OTS by regulation prohibits or limits such activities for
savings and loan holding companies. Activities described in clause (vii) also
must be approved in advance by the Director of the OTS.

Moreover, if the savings institution subsidiary of a unitary holding company
fails to satisfy the qualified thrift lender test discussed hereinafter, then
the unitary holding company becomes subject to the activities restrictions
applicable under HOLA to multiple savings and loan holding companies. Unless the
savings institution requalifies under the qualified thrift lender test within
one year, the holding company must register as a bank holding company. The
activities restrictions applicable to bank holding companies under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 are generally more confining than the activities
restrictions applicable under HOLA to multiple savings and loan holding
companies.

Lastly, Congress is considering legislation that would limit unitary savings and
loan holding companies to the same activities as other financial institution
holding companies and permit certain bank holding companies to engage in
commercial activities and expanded securities and insurance activities. Emerald
cannot predict whether or in what form these legislative initiatives may become
law. See "- Recent Legislative Developments."

Qualified Thrift Lender. All savings institutions are required to satisfy a
qualified thrift lender test (QTL Test) set forth in Section 10(m) of HOLA and
regulations of the OTS in order to avoid certain restrictions on their
operations. A savings institution that does not meet the QTL test set forth in
HOLA and in OTS implementing regulations 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 become restricted to those of
a national bank; (iii) the institution becomes ineligible to obtain any new
advances from its Federal Home Loan Bank; and (iv) payment of dividends by the
institution becomes subject to the rules regarding payment of dividends by a
national bank. Upon the expiration of three years from the date the savings
institution ceased to be a qualified thrift lender, the institution must cease
any activity and dispose of any investment not permissible for a national bank
and immediately repay any outstanding Federal Home Loan Bank advances (subject
to safety and soundness considerations).

Under the QTL Test that existed prior to amendment of HOLA Section 10(m) on
September 30, 1996 and that continues to be effective, 65% of an institution's
portfolio assets must consist of certain housing and consumer-related assets on
a monthly average basis in nine out of every 12 months. This QTL Test remains
effective after September 30, 1996, but it is no longer the exclusive QTL Test.
Assets that qualify without limit for inclusion as part of the 65% requirement
include loans made to purchase, refinance, construct, improve or repair
residential housing and manufactured housing; home equity loans; mortgage-backed
securities (where the mortgages are secured by domestic residential housing or
manufactured housing); shares of stock in a Federal Home Loan Bank; and loans
for educational purposes, loans to small businesses and loans made through
credit cards or credit card accounts. Other assets also qualify for purposes of
the QTL Test, subject to limitations. At December 31, 1997, the qualified thrift
investments of Strongsville Savings were approximately 82.55% of its portfolio
assets.



                                       25
<PAGE>   27



With the enactment on September 30, 1996 of the Economic Growth and Regulatory
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (the "Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act"),
including the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 set forth in Subtitle G
thereof (the "Deposit Insurance Funds Act"), Congress created an alternative QTL
Test, pursuant to which a savings association may also be treated as a qualified
thrift lender if the association qualifies as a "domestic building and loan
association" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
That is, at least 60% of the institution's assets (on a tax basis) must consist
of specified assets (generally loans secured by residential real estate or
deposits, educational loans, cash and certain governmental obligations).

Related to the QTL Test is a requirement that a thrift institution may not
invest more than a certain percentage of its assets in such things as
commercial, corporate, business, agricultural, education and consumer loans. The
Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act increased thrift institutions' authority to
invest in loans of these types.

Transactions with Insiders and Affiliates. Transactions between a savings
institution 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 that 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 Emerald) and any companies that are controlled by
the parent holding company are affiliates of the savings institution. In
general, Sections 23A and 23B (i) limit the extent to which a 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, with an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates of
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 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
engaging only in those activities that 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 that are
subsidiaries of the savings institution.

In addition, Sections 22(h) and (g) of the Federal Reserve Act impose
restrictions on loans to executive officers, directors and principal
stockholders. Under Section 22(h), loans to a director, an executive officer or
to a holder of more than 10% of a savings institution's stock, as well as loans
to certain affiliated interests, may not (together with all other outstanding
loans to such person and affiliated interests) exceed 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
and 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, Strongsville Savings was in compliance with
these restrictions.

Restrictions on Acquisitions. Without prior approval of the Director of the OTS,
savings and loan holding companies generally are prohibited from acquiring (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


                                       26
<PAGE>   28



voting shares of a savings institution or holding company thereof that is not a
subsidiary. Without 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 approve an acquisition resulting in the formation of
a multiple savings and loan holding company controlling savings institutions in
more than one state if and only if (i) the multiple savings and loan holding
company involved controls a savings institution that operated a home or branch
office located in the state of the institution to be acquired as of March 5,
1987; (ii) the acquirer 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 the acquiring entity is located (or by a
holding company that controls such state-chartered savings institutions).

Capital Requirements. Regulatory capital standards for savings institutions
consist of three components: a core capital requirement, a tangible capital
requirement and a risk-based capital requirement. All three components are
required to be no less stringent than the corresponding requirements applicable
to national banks.

All savings institutions must have core capital of at least 3.00% of adjusted
total assets. The Bank's core capital equals shareholders' equity adjusted for
net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale less goodwill.
Strongsville Saving's core capital ratio was 7.74% at December 31, 1997.

Savings institutions have a statutory requirement to maintain tangible capital
of at least 1.5% of adjusted total assets. For purposes of this requirement, the
Bank's tangible capital is equal to its core capital. At December 31, 1997,
Strongsville Savings' tangible capital ratio was 7.74%.

The risk-based capital standard adopted by the OTS currently requires savings
institutions to maintain a minimum ratio of total capital (core capital plus
supplementary capital) to risk-weighted assets of 8.00%. At the end of 1997, the
Bank's supplementary capital consisted of general valuation allowances.
Supplementary capital may be used to satisfy the risk-based capital requirement
only up to an amount equal to core capital. In determining the amount of
risk-weighted assets, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet items, are
multiplied by a specific risk weight based on the risks which the OTS deems are
inherent in each type of asset. Strongsville Savings' risk-based capital ratio
was 12.85% at December 31, 1997.

In August 1995, the OTS and other federal banking agencies published a final
rule modifying their existing risk-based capital standards to provide for
consideration of interest rate risk when assessing the capital adequacy of a
bank. Under the final rule, the OTS must explicitly include a bank's exposure to
declines in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates
as a factor in evaluating a bank's capital adequacy. In addition, in August
1995, the OTS and the other federal banking agencies published a joint policy
statement for public comment that describes the process the banking agencies
will use to measure and assess the exposure of a bank's net economic value to
changes in


                                       27
<PAGE>   29



interest rates. Under the policy statement, the OTS will consider results of
supervisory and internal interest rate risk models as one factor in evaluating
capital adequacy. The OTS intends, at a future date, to incorporate explicit
minimum requirements for interest rate risk in its risk-based capital standards
through the use of a model developed from the policy statement, a future
proposed rule and the public comments received therefrom.

In addition, the federal banking agencies recently adopted a revision to their
uniform financial institution rating system (UFIRS) for the purpose of
incorporating a risk sensitivity component. UFIRS is a supervisory rating system
used by the OTS and other banking agencies to evaluate the soundness of
depository institutions on a uniform basis. The federal banking agencies have
implemented the UFIRS through a so-called "CAMEL" rating system, which is
applied in connection with routine bank and thrift examinations. CAMEL is an
acronym that stands for Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings
and Liquidity. Routine bank and thrift examinations are undertaken in order to
analyze each of these factors for each institution examined, and the institution
is assigned component scores for each factor and an aggregate score, or rating,
based on analysis of all of such factors. Effective February 26, 1997, the OTS
and other federal banking agencies added a sixth component, Sensitivity to
Market Risk. Accordingly, examinations of all depository institutions now
analyze an institutions Sensitivity to Market Risk, meaning principally an
assessment of the market risks to which each institution is subject and
management's ability to manage market risks. For many thrift institutions,
market risk is represented almost exclusively by interest rate risk, but for
larger institutions with complex operations, such as foreign exchange,
commodities and trading operations, market risk can encompass other types of
risk as well.

A savings institution that is not in capital compliance is subject automatically
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. Enforcement 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, through enforcement
proceedings or otherwise, could require one or more of a variety of corrective
actions.

See Note 12 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" for a discussion
of the Bank's capital calculation and its compliance with various minimum
regulatory capital requirements at December 31, 1997.

Prompt Corrective Action. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement
Act of 1991 ("FDICIA") added to the FDIA a new Section 38, providing that each
federal banking agency must implement a system of prompt corrective action for
institutions that 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.


                                       28
<PAGE>   30



Under the prompt corrective action regulations, an institution is deemed to be
(i) "well capitalized" if it has total risk-based capital of 10% or more, has a
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% or more, has a Tier 1 leverage capital
ratio of 5% 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% or
more, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4% or more and a Tier 1 leverage
capital ratio of 4% or more (3% 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%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
that is less than 4% or a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio that is less than 4% (3%
under certain circumstances), (iv) "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a
total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 6%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratio that is less than 3% or a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio that is less than
3%, and (v) "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible equity
to total assets that is equal to or less than 2%. 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 such
institution were in the next lower category (except that the FDIC may not
reclassify a significantly undercapitalized institution as critically
undercapitalized).

Within 45 days after an institution receives notice that it is undercapitalized,
significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized, the institution
must file with the appropriate federal banking agency a written capital
restoration plan meeting regulatory requirements. The federal banking agency
must provide the institution with written notice of approval or disapproval
within 60 days after receiving a capital restoration plan.

An institution that is required to submit a capital restoration plan must
concurrently submit a performance guarantee executed by each company that
controls the institution. The guarantee would be limited to the lesser of (i) an
amount equal to 5% 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. The guarantee would expire after the federal banking agency
notifies the institution that it has remained adequately capitalized for each of
four consecutive calendar quarters. An institution that fails to submit a
written capital restoration plan in a timely fashion, including any required
performance guarantee(s), or fails in any material respect to implement a
capital restoration plan, would become subject to the restrictions in Section 38
of the FDIA that are applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions.

Immediately upon becoming undercapitalized, an institution becomes 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. 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



                                       29
<PAGE>   31



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 other supervisory actions may be
taken with respect to significantly undercapitalized and critically
undercapitalized institutions.

At December 31, 1997, Strongsville Savings' Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was
12.42% and, as previously discussed, its risk-based and core capital ratios were
12.85% and 7.74%, respectively. As a result, Strongsville Savings was deemed to
be a "well capitalized" institution for purposes of the above regulations at the
end of 1997 and as such was not subject to the foregoing restrictions.

Capital Distributions Regulation. The OTS regulation on capital distributions
imposes limits on all capital distributions by savings institutions. Since this
regulation applies to the Bank, it will affect the Bank's ability to pay
dividends to its parent, Emerald, which in turn pays dividends to its
shareholders. The regulation establishes a three-tiered system of regulation,
with the greatest flexibility being afforded to well-capitalized institutions.
An institution that has regulatory capital which is at least equal to its fully
phased-in capital requirement, and has not been notified that is "is in need of
more than normal supervision," is a Tier 1 institution. Strongsville Savings was
a Tier 1 institution at the end of 1997. A Tier 1 institution is permitted to
make capital distributions during a calendar year up to the greater of (i) 100%
of its net income to date during the calendar year plus the amount that would
reduce by one-half its surplus capital ratio at the beginning of the calendar
year, or (ii) 75% of its net income over the most recent four-quarter period. In
December 1994, the OTS proposed revisions to its capital distribution
regulations to conform with the capital adequacy classification adopted under
FDICIA. Under the proposal, savings associations generally would be authorized
to make capital distributions so long as they are not deemed in troubled
condition and would remain classified as at least adequately capitalized
following a proposed distribution. Savings associations held by savings and loan
holding companies would still be required to submit prior written notification
to the OTS.

Deposit Insurance. The Bank's deposits are insured up to $100,000 by the FDIC
through the SAIF and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Government. The Bank is charged an annual premium for this insurance. The rate
assessed is based on the capital adequacy and supervisory rating of the
institution and is assigned by the FDIC.

The FDIC is authorized to establish separate annual assessment rates for deposit
insurance for members of the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) and the SAIF. The FDIC
may increase assessment rates for either fund if necessary to restore the fund's
ratio of reserves to insured deposits to its target level within a reasonable
time.

The FDIC has established a risk-based assessment system for both SAIF and BIF
members. On September 30, 1996, the President signed into law an omnibus
appropriations act for fiscal year 1997 that included, among other things, the
recapitalization of the SAIF in a section entitled the Deposit Insurance Funds
Act of 1996. The Act included a provision whereby all insured depository
institutions were charged a one-time special assessment based upon their SAIF
assessable deposits as of March 31, 1995. The Bank recorded a pre-tax charge of
$2,481,000, which represented 65.7 basis points of the March 31, 1995 assessable
deposits. The Deposit insurance rate for the Bank dropped to 6.28 basis points
of assessable deposits in 1997 from 23 basis points in most of 1996.


                                       30
<PAGE>   32



The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository
institution if the FDIC 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 imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. The
FDIC may also 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, would 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
Strongsville Savings.


Classification of Assets. Federal regulations require savings institutions to
review their assets on a regular basis and to classify them as "substandard,"
"doubtful" or "loss," if warranted. General valuation allowances for loan losses
are required to be established, as needed, for assets classified as substandard
or doubtful. If an asset is classified as a loss, the institution must either
establish a specific valuation allowance equal to the amount classified as a
loss or charge off such amount. The institution's OTS Regional Director has the
authority to approve, disapprove or modify any asset classification, or the
amounts established as allowances for loan losses. Management believes that
following these procedures results in a level of valuation allowances that is
consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.

Loans to One Borrower and Aggregate Loan Limits. The aggregate amount of loans
which a savings association can make to one borrower is limited to an amount
equal to 15% of the thrift's unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. Because
unimpaired capital and surplus is generally synonymous with tangible capital,
loan limits are hereafter referred to in terms of tangible capital. A savings
association may loan to one borrower an additional amount not to exceed 10% of
the association's tangible capital if the additional amount is fully secured by
certain forms of "readily marketable collateral." Real estate-secured loans are
not considered "readily marketable collateral."

Savings associations are also authorized to make loans to one borrower, by order
of the Director of the OTS, in an amount not to exceed the lesser of $30 million
or 30% of tangible capital to develop residential housing, provided (i) the
purchase price of each single-family dwelling in the development does not exceed
$500,000, (ii) the savings association is in compliance with the fully phased-in
capital standards of FIRREA, (iii) the loans comply with applicable
loan-to-value requirements and (iv) the aggregate amount of loans made under
this authority does not exceed 150% of tangible capital. The Bank applied for
permission to use the lending authority described above to service the loan
demands of its largest residential builders and on January 2, 1990, became the
first thrift in the nation to receive the approval of the Director of the OTS.
Pursuant to subsequent applications, the Bank has since annually received
permission from the OTS to use the aforementioned lending authority. For a
discussion of the Bank's usage of this special lending authority and the revised
loans-to-one-borrower regulations of the OTS described below, see " - Lending
Activities - Construction and Development Lending."

Consumer Laws, Fair Lending and Community Reinvestment Act. Federally chartered
savings associations are subject to regulatory oversight by the OTS under
various consumer protection and fair lending laws. These laws govern, among
other things, truth-in-lending disclosure, equal credit opportunity, fair credit
reporting and community reinvestment. Failure to abide by federal laws and


                                       31
<PAGE>   33



regulations governing community reinvestment could limit the ability of an
association to open a new branch or engage in a merger transaction. The OTS has
recently revised regulations governing community reinvestment to evaluate actual
lending and investment within an association's designated service area, with
particular emphasis on low-to-moderate income areas and borrowers. These new
regulations also evaluate an association's service to low and moderate-income
areas in terms of branch locations. The Bank does not anticipate a significant
impact on its operations as a result of these revised regulations.

Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Federal Home Loan Banks, currently twelve in
number, are under the regulatory oversight of the Federal Housing Financing
Board. Each Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") provides credit to members in the
form of advances. Strongsville Savings is a member of the FHLB of Cincinnati and
must maintain an investment in the capital stock of that FHLB in an amount at
least equal to 1% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Strongsville
Saving's residential mortgage loans, home purchase contracts and similar
obligations at the beginning of each year. Strongsville Savings is in compliance
with this requirement with an investment in FHLB of Cincinnati stock of $3.5
million at December 31, 1997.

Each FHLB is required to establish standards of community investment or service
that its members must maintain for continued access to long-term advances from
the FHLBs. The standards take into account a member's performance under the
Community Reinvestment Act and its record of lending to first-time home buyers.
Long-term advances by a FHLB may be made solely for the purpose of providing
funds for residential housing finance.

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). The reserve requirement for transaction
accounts is 3% of transaction accounts up to $49.3 million, and $1,479,000 plus
10% of transaction accounts in excess of $49.3 million. Because required
reserves are generally maintained in the form of vault cash or in a
noninterest-bearing account (or a pass-through account) at a Federal Reserve
Bank, the effect of this reserve requirement is to reduce an institution's
earning assets.

Recent Legislative Developments. With enactment in late 1994 of the Riegle-Neal
Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the "Interstate
Branching Act"), Strongsville Savings may face additional competition from
financial institutions headquartered outside of the State of Ohio. The
Interstate Branching Act will allow banks and their holding companies
headquartered outside of Ohio to enter Strongsville Savings' market through
acquisition, merger or de novo branching.

On September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Regulatory
Paperwork Reduction Act, including the Deposit Insurance Funds Act in Subtitle G
thereof. This legislation eliminated the premium differential between
SAIF-insured institutions and BIF-insured institutions by recapitalizing the
SAIF's reserves to the required ratio, principally through a one-time special
assessment at the end of 1996. The new legislation also provides for the merger
of the BIF and the SAIF effective January 1, 1999, with merger of the separate
deposit insurance funds being contingent on prior elimination of the thrift
charter.

State Regulation. As an Ohio-chartered savings institution, Strongsville Savings
is subject to regulation and supervision by the Ohio Division of Financial
Institutions (the "Division") as well.


                                       32
<PAGE>   34



Strongsville Savings is subject to examination at least once within every
18-month period by the Division. The lending and investment authority of
Strongsville Savings is prescribed by Ohio laws and regulations, as well as
applicable federal laws and regulations, and Strongsville Savings is prohibited
from engaging in any activities not permitted by such laws and regulations.

Strongsville Savings is required by Ohio law and regulations to comply with
certain reserve and net worth requirements. Currently, Ohio-chartered savings
institutions are required to establish and maintain a reserve for the absorption
of bad debts and other losses in an amount at least equal to 3% of the
institution's savings account balance. For purposes of complying with this
reserve requirement, such savings institutions are able to include the amount of
any permanent stock issued and outstanding, contributed surplus, undivided
profits, specific loss or valuation reserves and any other nonwithdrawable
accounts. In addition, Ohio-chartered savings institutions that are rated a
"composite one" (the highest rating under the UFIRS system, discussed above) are
required to establish and maintain a ratio of net worth to total assets of not
less than 3%. All other Ohio-chartered savings institutions are required to have
a ratio of net worth to total assets of not less than 4%. Net worth consists of
common stockholders' equity, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock (including
any related surplus), minority interests in the equity capital accounts of
consolidated subsidiaries and subordinated debentures (in varying amounts and
percentages). At December 31, 1997, Strongsville Savings was in compliance with
applicable reserve and net worth requirements.

In addition, Ohio law restricts the ability of Ohio-chartered savings
institutions to invest in, among other things, (i) commercial real estate loans
(including commercial construction real estate loans) up to 20% of total assets;
(ii) land acquisition and development loans up to 2% of total assets; (iii)
consumer loans, commercial paper and corporate debt securities up to 20% of
total assets; (iv) commercial business loans up to 10% of total assets; and (v)
capital stock, obligations and other securities of service corporations up to
15% of total assets. Ohio law also sets forth the maximum loan-to-value ratios
with respect to various types of loans.

The investment authority of Ohio-chartered savings institutions is broader in
many respects than that of federally chartered savings institutions. However,
since the enactment of FIRREA, state-chartered savings institutions, such as
Strongsville Savings, are generally prohibited from acquiring or retaining any
equity investment, other than certain investments in service corporations, of a
type or in an amount that is not permitted for a federally chartered savings and
loan association. This prohibition applies to equity investments in real estate,
investments in equity securities and any other investment or transaction that is
in substance an equity investment, even if the transaction is nominally a loan
or other permissible transaction. At December 31, 1997, Strongsville Savings had
no investments subject to the foregoing prohibition.

Furthermore, a state-chartered savings institution may not engage as principal
in any activity not permitted for federal institutions unless the FDIC has
determined that such activity would pose no significant risk to the affected
deposit insurance fund and the institution is in compliance with the capital
standards prescribed under FIRREA. When certain activities are permissible for a
federal institution, the state institution may engage in the activity in a
higher amount if the FDIC has not determined that such activity would pose a
significant risk of loss to the affected deposit insurance fund and the
association meets its capital requirements. This increased investment authority
does not apply to investments in nonresidential real estate loans. At December
31, 1997, Strongsville Savings had no investments that were affected by the
foregoing limitations.


                                       33
<PAGE>   35



Under Ohio law, an out-of-state savings institution or holding company may
charter or otherwise acquire an Ohio-chartered savings institution or holding
company if the Division determines that the laws of such other state permit an
Ohio-chartered savings institution or holding company to charter or otherwise
acquire an in-state savings institution or holding company on terms that are, on
the whole, substantially no more restrictive than Ohio law. Any such acquisition
would require the out-of-state entity to apply to the Division and receive
Division approval.


FEDERAL AND STATE TAXATION

Federal Taxation. Emerald Financial is subject to the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), which subject corporations to an
income tax generally calculated at 34% of taxable income. The Company and its
subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.

The Bank's tax bad-debt deduction prior to 1996 was determined under Section 593
of the Internal Revenue Code, and was the greater of the amounts using the
percentage-of-taxable income accounting method or the specific charge-off
accounting method. During 1996, legislation was passed that repealed Section 593
of the Internal Revenue Code, thereby eliminating the percentage-of-taxable
income accounting method after 1995. The excess reserves between 1988 and 1995
are required to be recaptured into taxable income over a six year period
beginning in 1996. This recapture may be delayed for a one or two year period
subject to meeting certain residential loan requirements. Management estimates
that recapture of this amount will begin in 1998 because they expect to meet the
residential loan tests required for deferral. The amounts to be recaptured have
been accrued for under SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The recapture
amount of $3.3 million will result in tax payments of approximately $1.1
million. The pre-1988 reserve provisions are subject to recapture requirements
only in the case of certain excess distributions to, and redemptions of
shareholders or if the Bank no longer qualifies as a "bank." Tax bad debt
deductions accumulated prior to 1988 by the Bank are approximately $2.4 million.
No deferred income taxes have been provided on these bad debt deductions and no
recapture of these amounts is anticipated.

Audits of tax returns have been completed by the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to tax returns through 1993 for the Bank.

See Note 1 and Note 8 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" for
further information concerning the financial statement reporting of federal
income taxes of the Bank.

State Taxation. Strongsville Savings is subject to the Ohio franchise tax on
financial institutions of 1.5% of its net worth plus certain reserve amounts.
Total net worth for this purpose is reduced by certain exempt assets.


                                       34
<PAGE>   36


ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
-------  ----------

The Bank owns its headquarters building in Strongsville, Ohio. The following
table indicates the location of each branch office, whether the same is owned or
leased and, if leased, the expiration date of the lease.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Lease
         Location                           Owned/Leased               Expiration Date
         --------                           ------------               ---------------

<S>                                             <C>                             <C>
         Strongsville Main Office               Owned
         14092 Pearl Road
         Strongsville,  Ohio  44136

         Branches

         Hinckley Office                        Owned
         1585 Center Road
         Hinckley,  Ohio  44233

         Berea Plaza Office                     Leased                          2000
         404 West Bagley Road
         Berea,  Ohio  44017

         Avon Office                            Leased                          2005
         36839 Detroit Road
         Avon,  Ohio  44011

         Medina Township Office                 Leased                          2004
         3455 Medina Road
         Medina Township,  Ohio  44256

         North Royalton Office                  Leased                          1999
         13901 Ridge Road
         North Royalton,  Ohio  44133

         Wellington Office                      Owned
         161 East Herrick Avenue
         Wellington,  Ohio  44090

         Southland Office                       Owned
         6809 West 130th Street
         Parma Heights,  Ohio  44130

         Westlake Office                        Owned
         25151 Detroit Avenue
         Westlake,  Ohio  44145

         North Ridgeville Office                Leased                          2004
         32800 Center Ridge Road
         North Ridgeville,  Ohio  44039
</TABLE>


                                       35
<PAGE>   37



<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>                             <C>
         Brecksville Office                     Leased                          2010
         8801 Brecksville Road
         Brecksville,  Ohio  44141

         Broadview Heights Office               Leased                          2005
         7976 Broadview Road
         Broadview Heights,  Ohio  44147

         Brunswick Office                       Leased                          2006
         1136 Pearl Road
         Brunswick,  Ohio  44212

         Columbia Station                       Owned
         26700 Royalton Road
         Columbia Station,  Ohio  44020
</TABLE>

The Bank owns and operates eleven ATMs at various Community Financial Centers
and is a member of the following ATM networks: MAC (formerly Green Machine in
Ohio), Money Station and Plus System, all of which are ATM networks with members
nationwide.

At December 31, 1997, the net book value of the Bank's investment in premises
and equipment totaled $4.3 million.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
--------------------------

The Bank and its subsidiary are involved as plaintiff or defendant in various
legal proceedings incident to their business. In the opinion of management,
these proceedings are not, either individually or in the aggregate, material to
the Bank and its subsidiary.

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

There were no matters subject to a vote of security holders during the quarter
ended December 31, 1997.


                                       36
<PAGE>   38


                                     PART II

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

The capital stock of Emerald Financial Corp. began trading under the symbol
"EMLD" on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (NASDAQ) National Market System on March 7, 1997. Prior to March 7, 1997,
the Company's stock was traded under the symbol "SSBK" on the NASDAQ small cap
market. As of January 31, 1998, there were approximately 442 holders of the
Company's capital stock. Emerald offers a Dividend Reinvestment Program to
shareholders of record.

The following table sets forth the high and low prices of the Company's capital
stock and cash dividends per share for the periods shown. The prices reflect
inter-dealer quotations without retail markup, markdown or commissions, and do
not necessarily represent actual transactions.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      YEAR               PERIOD                            HIGH                    LOW             DIVIDENDS PAID PER
                                                                                                         SHARE
------------------ ------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------- -----------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                    <C>                      <C>
1995               First Quarter                          $ 9.00                 $ 8.50                   4.5(cent)
                   Second Quarter                           9.50                   8.50                   4.5
                   Third Quarter                            9.75                   9.00                   5.5
                   Fourth Quarter                           9.75                   9.00                   5.5
1996               First Quarter                           10.00                   9.25                   5.5
                   Second Quarter                          10.875                  9.75                   6.0
                   Third Quarter                           11.25                  10.25                   6.0
                   Fourth Quarter                          11.25                  10.50                   6.0
1997               First Quarter                           12.25                  10.625                  6.0
                   Second Quarter                          15.00                  11.375                  6.0
                   Third Quarter                           16.25                  13.25                   6.0
                   Fourth Quarter                          22.125                 15.75                   6.0
</TABLE>


Information contained in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements on pages F1 through F25 of the Company's definitive proxy statement
for the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Proxy Statement) is
also incorporated herein by reference. For additional information concerning
restrictions on the payment of dividends see "Item 1. Business - Regulation -
Capital Distribution Regulation."

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
-------------------------------

The information under the caption "Selected Financial Information" in the Proxy
Statement, pages 24 and 25, is incorporated herein by reference.


                                       37
<PAGE>   39


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

The information under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in the
Proxy Statement, pages 26 through 37, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7(a). QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The information under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis -- Asset
and Liability Management" in the Proxy Statement, pages 34 through 36, is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
---------------------------------------------------

The consolidated financial statements of the Bank that are contained on pages F1
through F25 of the Proxy Statement, are incorporated herein by reference.

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

         The information required by Item 304 of Regulation S-K was previously
filed as part of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K reporting the event of
September 17, 1997 filed on September 23, 1997, as amended on Form 8-K/A filed
on October 3, 1997.


                                       38
<PAGE>   40


                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
-----------------------------------------------------------

Information concerning executive officers of the Bank who are not also directors
is contained in "Item 1. Business Other - Executive Officers of the Company Who
Are Not Directors." The information concerning directors of the Company,
including certain executive officers, contained under the caption "Proposal I -
Election of Directors" in the Company's definitive proxy statement for the
Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is incorporated herein by
reference.

Presented below is certain information regarding the executive officers of the
Company who are not directors.

         Cynthia W. Gannon (age 40), Vice President and Treasurer - Ms. Gannon
was elected Vice President in April 1994 and has served as the Bank's Treasurer
since January 30, 1992. She served as the Bank's Controller from January 1988
through January 1992 and is a certified public accountant. Since October 1996,
Mrs. Gannon has also served as Vice President and Treasurer of Emerald Financial
Corp.

         Paula M. Dewey (age 53), Vice President and Secretary - Ms. Dewey has
been employed by the Bank since 1978 and has been Secretary of the Bank since
January 1991. She was elected Vice President responsible for construction
lending in January 1992; she has been in charge of construction lending since
1987 and served as Assistant Vice President from 1987 until January 1992. Since
October 1996, Mrs. Dewey has also served as Vice President and Secretary of
Emerald Financial Corp.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
-------------------------------

The information contained under the caption "Proposal I - Election of Directors
- Executive Compensation" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by
reference. Under no circumstance shall any item of this Part III of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1997
be deemed to incorporate by reference the information in the Proxy Statement
under the caption "Proposal I - Election of Directors Compensation Committee
Report" or "Proposal I - Election of Directors - Performance Graph," anything to
the contrary herein notwithstanding.

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

Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the
caption "Proposal I - Election of Directors" and "Voting Securities and
Principal Holders Thereof" in the Proxy Statement. Management knows of no
arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the
Company.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
-------------------------------------------------------

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the
caption "Transactions with Certain Related Persons" in the Proxy Statement.


                                       39
<PAGE>   41


                                     PART IV

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

(a)      1.       Independent Auditors' Report (incorporated by reference to
                  pages F1 through F25 the Proxy Statement)

                  Consolidated Financial Statements (incorporated by reference
                  to pages F1 through F25 of the Proxy Statement)


                  (a) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of
                  December 31, 1997 and 1996

                  (b) Consolidated Statements of Income for Each of the Three
                  Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1997

                  (c) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Each of the
                  Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1997

                  (d) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for Each
                  of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1997

                  (e) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

         2.       All schedules have been omitted as the required information is
                  either inapplicable or included in the Notes to the
                  Consolidated Financial Statements.

         3.       Exhibits and Index to Exhibits



                                       40
<PAGE>   42

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 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.


                                    EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.


                                    By:  /S/   THOMAS P. PERCIAK
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Thomas P. Perciak
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
                                         Date:    March 26, 1998


         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\ Thomas P. Perciak                                         March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
Thomas P. Perciak
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)


 \s\ John F. Ziegler                                           March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
John F. Ziegler
Director, Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(principal accounting and financial officer)

 \s\ Mike Kalinich                                             March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
Mike Kalinich
Director,  Chairman of the Board


 \s\ Kenneth J. Piechowski                                     March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
Kenneth J. Piechowski
Director

 \s\ Joan M. Dzurilla                                          March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
Joan M. Dzurilla
Director


                                       41
<PAGE>   43




 \s\ William A. Fraunfelder, Jr.                               March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
William A. Fraunfelder,  Jr.
Director


 \s\ Glenn W. Goist                                            March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
Glenn W. Goist
Director


 \s\ John J. Plucinsky                                         March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
John J. Plucinsky
Director


 \s\ George P. Bohnert, Jr.                                    March 26, 1998
-------------------------------------------------
George P. Bohnert, Jr.
Director


                                       42
<PAGE>   44


The following exhibits are either attached to or incorporated by reference in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         Exhibit
         Number     Description                                                 Attachment Number
       ----------   --------------                                            --------------------
<S>                        <C>                                                          <C>
         (3)(i)            Articles of Incorporation, as amended                        *
         (3)(ii)           Code of Regulations                                          *
         (10)(a)           Amendment to Employment Agreement
                           (Thomas P. Perciak)                                          ***
         (10)(b)           Amendment to Employment Agreement
                           (John F. Ziegler)                                            ***
         (10)(c)           The Strongsville Savings Bank 1994 Long-Term
                           Incentive Plan                                               **
         (10)(d)           Severance Agreement (Dean R. Anaya)                          **
         (10)(e)           Amended Severance Agreement (Paula M. Dewey)                 ***
         (10)(f)           Amended Severance Agreement (Cynthia W. Gannon)              ***
         (10)(g)           Amended Severance Agreement (William J. Harr, Jr.)           ***
         (10)(h)           Amendment to Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (Thomas P. Perciak)                                          ***
         (10)(i)           Amendment to Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (John F. Ziegler)                                            ***
         (10)(j)           Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (Dean R. Anaya)                                              **
         (10)(k)           Amended Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (Paula M. Dewey)                                             ***
         (10)(l)           Amended Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (Cynthia W. Gannon)                                          ***
         (10)(m)           Amended Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (William J. Harr, Jr.)                                       ***
         (10)(n)           Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement
                           (Deborah A. Perciak)                                         **
         (10)(o)           Split Dollar Life Insurance Agreement                        ***
                           (Thomas P. Perciak)
         (10)(p)           Split Dollar Life Insurance Agreement                        ***
                           (John F. Ziegler)
         (10)(q)           Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement                     ***
                           (Thomas P. Perciak)
         (10)(r)           Executive Supplemental Benefit Agreement                     ***
                           (John F. Ziegler)
         (11)              Computation of earnings per share                            11
         (21)              Subsidiaries                                                 21
         (23)(a)           Consent KPMG Peat Marwick LLP                                23 (a)
         (23)(b)           Consent Deloitte & Touche LLP                                23 (b)
         (27)              Financial data schedule                                      27
         (99)              Additional Exhibits - Report of predecessor
                           independent accountants                                      99
--------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       43
<PAGE>   45



         *        Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3(i)and 3(ii) of
                  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed March
                  6, 1997.

         **       Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(i) of Registrant's
                  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed March 6, 1997.

         ***      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of Registrant's
                  Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
                  1997.


(b)      None

(c)      All required exhibits are filed as attached or incorporated by
         reference.

(d)      No financial statement schedules are required to be filed.


                                       44
<PAGE>   46



                             EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.

       INDEX TO EXHIBITS TO FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

         EXHIBIT                    DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (11)              Computation of earnings per share
         (21)              Subsidiaries
         (23)(a)           Consent KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
         (23)(b)           Consent Deloitte & Touche LLP
         (27)              Financial Data Schedule
         (99)              Report of Predecessor Independent Accountants




                                       45