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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                 FORM 10-K/A

[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, 1996

[ ]      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: (216) 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 March 7, 1997, the registrant had
2,530,800 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 March 7, 1997,
was $40,636,376.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PARTS II AND IV of Form 10-K - Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders for the
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1996 

PART III of Form 10-K - Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders


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                                   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:    April 16, 1997

         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                                     April 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------
Thomas P. Perciak
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)

/s/   JOHN F. ZIEGLER                                       April 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------
John F. Ziegler
Director, Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(principal accounting and financial officer)

/s/   MIKE KALINICH                                         April 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------
Mike Kalinich
Director,  Chairman of the Board

/s/    KENNETH J. PIECHOWSI                                 April 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------
Kenneth J. Piechowski
Director

/s/   JOAN M. DZURILLA                                      April 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------
Joan M. Dzurilla
Director

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/s/   WILLIAM A. FRAUNFELDER,  JR.                      April 16, 1997
--------------------------------------------
William A. Fraunfelder,  Jr.
Director


/s/   GLENN W. GOIST                                    April 16, 1997
--------------------------------------------
Glenn W. Goist, DDS
Director

/s/   JOHN J. PLUCINSKY                                 April 16, 1997
--------------------------------------------
John J. Plucinsky, MD
Director

/s/   GEORGE BOHNERT                                    April 16, 1997
--------------------------------------------
George Bohnert, Jr., CPA
Director

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                             EMERALD FINANCIAL CORP.

    INDEX TO EXHIBITS TO FORM 10-K/A FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996

         Exhibit                    Description
         ------------------------------------------------------------

         (13)              Annual Report to Shareholders




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