EXHIBIT 99



     April 18, 2001


     For media inquiries:                              For financial inquiries:
     Katherine Taylor                                  John Hecht
     Investor Relations Manager                        Chief Financial Officer
     815-961-7164                                      815-961-2787




           AMCORE FINANCIAL, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2001 EARNINGS

     ROCKFORD, IL -- AMCORE Financial, Inc. reported earnings per share of $0.39
on net income of $10.2 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2001.

     Earnings per share on a year-over-year basis were essentially flat, as the
slowing economy and carry over impact of last year's unusual rate environment
impacted net income. Net income declined $893,000 when compared to the first
quarter of 2000 and was the result of lower margins, a $221 million decrease in
average earning assets, and the cost of stock repurchases.

     "However, we made progress with our margins during the first quarter of
2001 when compared to the prior quarter, yet they still remain below 2000
levels," said Robert J. Meuleman, chairman and chief executive officer. "In
addition, the weakness in the equity markets as evidenced by the NASDAQ and the
S&P 500 indexes has negatively impacted our trust and asset management income
year over year."

     HIGHLIGHTS
     ----------

     o    Diluted earnings per share in the first quarter were $0.39, compared
          to the $0.40 in the first quarter of 2000.
     o    The stock repurchase program, downsizing in the investment portfolio
          and a slowing economy resulted in net income decreasing 8 percent, or
          $893,000, to $10.2 million for the first quarter of 2001 compared to
          the same period a year ago.
     o    Net interest margin decreased 22 basis points to 3.22 percent from the
          same period a year ago, but increased 8 basis points up from 3.14
          percent in the fourth quarter of 2000.
     o    Increased emphasis on loan quality and use of a new loan pricing
          discipline resulted in a decrease of 6 percent, or $167 million in
          average loans, from the same period last year.
     o    Return on equity was 12.99 percent down from a record 15.63 percent in
          the first quarter of 2000 and 14.17 percent in the fourth quarter
          2000. This reflects the lower earnings and a $30 million increase on
          average from March 31, 2000 in the value of securities available for
          sale.
     o    Operating expenses increased 3 percent, or $882,000, compared to the
          first quarter of 2000.
     o    Mortgage activity was very strong and resulted in $109 million in
          closed loans during the quarter, up $70 million from the same quarter
          a year ago. This was predominantly due to refinance activity, which
          also resulted in a mortgage servicing right impairment charges of
          approximately $300,000 taken during the quarter.


                                     (More)
                                                                     Page 1 of 4
<PAGE>

     EARNINGS SUMMARY
     ----------------


      "Having experienced a record 10 years of economic expansion in the U.S.
economy, we have seen a slow down within sectors of our loan portfolio," said
Meuleman. "Through our reorganization process we have centralized our commercial
credit underwriting and have enhanced control over the entire credit process and
our pricing disciplines. This has caused a purposeful lowering of loans in the
portfolio given the current economy."

     Since the first quarter of 2000, the Company has sold $118 million of
indirect auto loans and securitized $52 million of 1 - 4 family mortgage loans,
which has improved liquidity. Excluding these deliberate actions, average loans
would have been flat year over year. For the first quarter of 2001, the Company
recorded $780,000 in non-interest income from the sale of auto loans.

     As part of an ongoing process to reduce interest rate risk and wholesale
borrowings, AMCORE has continued to resize its investment portfolio. Excluding
the securitized mortgages of $52 million, the Company has further reduced its
investment portfolio by $145 million, on average, from the first quarter of
2000. "While this has the immediate impact of reducing our net interest income,
we believe the reduction in our interest rate risk outweighs its earnings
contribution," said Meuleman. "This is a short term negative, but a significant
positive for the long-term outlook."

     Net income for the first quarter was $10.2 million, an 8 percent decrease
from $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2000. Average earning assets
decreased $221 million, or 5 percent, contributing to a $893,000 decrease in net
income. Average loans decreased 6 percent or $167 million to $2.6 billion.

     Net interest margin decreased 22 basis points to 3.22 percent from the same
period a year ago but increased 8 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2000.
"Our margins are improving in the current rate environment and also reflect
significant reductions in our wholesale borrowing, which has lowered our cost of
funds," said Meuleman. Total average wholesale funding has been reduced by $179
million from the first quarter of 2000. "We've also introduced a free checking
product in the first quarter as a means of attracting low cost deposits."

     "In total, these balance sheet restructuring actions are intended to
improve the predictability and quality of future earnings," said Meuleman.

     Trust and asset management revenues decreased $840,000, or 11 percent, in
the first quarter of 2001 from $7.6 million in the first quarter of 2000. "The
overall decline in the stock market over recent months has impacted our asset
management business, particularly equity values upon which our fees are based,"
said Meuleman.

     "We are not unique in this respect, but the composition of our managed
assets is evenly divided between equity, fixed income and money market
investments. Therefore, when one sector is experiencing pressure, as the equity
markets have been recently, other sectors can lessen the impact. For comparison
purposes, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ were down nearly 22 percent and 60 percent,
respectively, from the first quarter of 2000 to the first quarter of 2001, yet
the Lehman Aggregate bond index was up nearly 13 percent. "Because of favorable
outcomes in the fixed income market, our decrease in net income was limited to
11 percent," said Meuleman.

     Mortgages revenues were up 144%, or $1.4 million, primarily due to
refinancing activity. During the first quarter of 2001, the Company took a
charge to reflect a decrease of servicing rights of approximately $300,000,
which is the result of higher refinancing activity. During the first quarter of
2001, mortgage volume was already at 50 percent of the total volume for the
previous year. "We've been successful in capturing a significant portion of the
refinancing business in our markets because of the strong name recognition of
our mortgage company and our scalable processing systems that allows us to
efficiently take on an increase in volume when opportunities arise."

                                                                     Page 2 of 4
<PAGE>

     Total operating expenses increased only 3 percent from a year ago to $30.6
million. The increase was primarily due to increases in refinancing volume,
higher occupancy costs primarily due to increases in fuel prices, higher credit
related costs and higher health care costs.

     "Like many other companies have experienced, our healthcare costs began
running significantly higher during the second half of 2000 and we expect the
increase to moderate in the upcoming quarter due to structural changes in the
plan and other cost containment activities," said Meuleman.


     ASSET QUALITY AND RESERVES
     --------------------------

     The allowance for loan losses to ending loans increased to 1.15 percent at
March 31, 2001 from 1.05 percent at March 31, 2000. Reserve coverage of
non-performing loans decreased to 93 percent at March 31, 2001 down from 131
percent at March 31, 2000. Total non-performing assets at March 31, 2001 were
$35.6 million, or 0.85 percent of total assets. Net charge-offs represented 24
basis points annualized of average loans for the first quarter compared to 23
basis points in the first quarter of 2000 and 26 basis points in the fourth
quarter of 2000.

     "About $9 million of the total increase in non-performing loans is due to
three unrelated credits that were added to non-performing loans during the
quarter," said Meuleman. "Two were previously disclosed in the Company's Annual
Report and Form 10K. These are three diverse credits that are not tied to any
one industry."


    OUTLOOK
    -------

     "The first quarter of 2001 was within our expectations when taking into
account the slow down in the economy and carryover impact of the inverted yield
curve from the previous year," said Meuleman. "Going forward we expect to see
the margin improvement that began in the first quarter accelerate as the
interest rate environment improves. We expect our margin for the full year to be
within the 3.40 to 3.45 percent range."

     We expect our performance in the latter half of the year to outpace the
first half of the year and we believe our yearly earnings per share target
should come within the range of $1.65 to $1.70. Our operating expenses are
expected to be up only 3.5 percent for the full year and our trust and asset
management revenues should be down only 7 to 8 percent compared to 2000."

     As previously announced, the Company has reached definitive agreements for
the sale of its Ashton, Rochelle, Mt. Morris, Aledo, Sheffield and Wyanet
branches and continues to pursue the sale of its Gridley branch. Combined the
seven branches represent approximately $75.8 million in loans and other assets
and $176.0 million in deposits. AMCORE expects the branch sales will result in
gains individually and in total.

     AMCORE Financial, Inc. is the bank distinguished by high performance asset
management and the delivery of tailored products to business customers in
selected high growth Midwestern markets. The Company is headquartered in
northern Illinois with investment assets under administration of $4.8 billion
and banking assets of $4.2 billion with 65 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.

     The company has two financial services companies: AMCORE Mortgage, Inc. and
AMCORE Investment Group. AMCORE Mortgage provides a variety of mortgage lending
products and services to individuals. AMCORE Investment Group provides the
following services: trust, brokerage, investment management, mutual fund
administration, employee benefit plan record keeping and is the investment
advisor for the Vintage family of mutual funds.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance and business of AMCORE. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about beliefs and

                                                                     Page 3 of 4
<PAGE>

expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon
beliefs and assumptions of AMCORE'S management and on information currently
available to such management. The use of the words "believe", "expect",
"anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "may", "will" or similar expressions are
forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
they are made, and AMCORE undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of
them in light of new information or future events.

Contemplated, projected, forecasted or estimated results in such forward-looking
statements involve certain inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors
- many of which are beyond the ability of the company to control or predict -
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its
forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following
possibilities: (I) heightened competition, including specifically the
intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors and the
formation of new products by new and existing competitors; (II) adverse state
and federal legislation and regulation; (III) failure to obtain new customers
and retain existing customers; (IV) inability to carry out marketing and/or
expansion plans; (V) loss of key executives or personnel; (VI) changes in
interest rates including the effect of prepayment; (VII) general economic and
business conditions which are less favorable than expected; (VIII) equity and
fixed income market fluctuations; (IX) unanticipated changes in industry trends;
(X) unanticipated changes in credit quality and risk factors; (XI) success in
gaining regulatory approvals when required; (XII) changes in Federal Reserve
Board monetary policies; (XIII) unexpected outcomes on existing or new
litigation in which AMCORE, its subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees
are named defendants; (XIV) technological changes; (XV) changes in accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and (XVI)
inability of third-party vendors to perform critical services to the company or
its customers.


     AMCORE common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol
"AMFI." Further information about AMCORE Financial, Inc. can be found at the
company's website at http://www.AMCORE.com and at www.VintageFunds.com.





                                                                     Page 4 of 4
<PAGE>

                             AMCORE Financial, Inc.
                     CONSOLIDATED KEY FINANCIAL DATA SUMMARY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands, except share data)

                                                            Quarter Ended                         Trailing Twelve Months Ended
                                             --------------------------------------------------  -------------------------------
                                                     March 31,           Percent   December 31,          March 31,       Percent
Financial Highlights                            2001          2000       Change       2000           2001        2000    Change
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>           <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
Net revenues, including security gains...... $ 46,199      $ 47,749       (3.2%)    $ 45,708     $ 185,765   $ 192,530    (3.5%)
Net interest income - FTE...................   31,343        35,238      (11.1%)      31,304       130,114     142,270    (8.5%)
Operating expenses..........................   30,602        29,720        3.0%       29,402       119,476     119,595    (0.1%)
Net income from operations..................    9,969        11,087      (10.1%)      10,404        41,707      44,461    (6.2%)
Net income..................................   10,194        11,087       (8.1%)      10,511        42,190      41,200     2.4%
Basic earnings per share from operations....     0.38          0.40       (5.0%)        0.40          1.57        1.59    (1.3%)
Basic earnings per share....................     0.39          0.40       (2.5%)        0.40          1.58        1.47     7.5%
Diluted earnings per share from operations..     0.38          0.40       (5.0%)        0.39          1.55        1.56    (0.6%)
Diluted earnings per share..................     0.39          0.40       (2.5%)        0.40          1.58        1.45     9.0%
Cash dividends per share....................     0.16          0.16        0.0%         0.16          0.64        0.58    10.3%
Book value per share........................    12.22         10.44       17.1%        11.87
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Quarter Ended
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 March 31,                         December 31,
Key Financial Ratios (A)                                    2001          2000         Change          2000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>          <C>              <C>
   Return on average assets.....................            0.97%         1.03%        (0.06%)          1.02%
   Return on average equity.....................           12.99%        15.63%        (2.64%)         14.17%
   Net interest margin (FTE)....................            3.22%         3.44%        (0.22%)          3.14%
   Efficiency Ratio (FTE)  .....................           62.68%        59.12%         3.56%          61.07%
</TABLE>

(A) All ratios have been adjusted to exclude restructuring and accounting
changes.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Quarter Ended
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                March 31,             Percent      December 31,
Income Statement                                           2001          2000         Change           2000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>              <C>          <C>
Interest income...................................       $ 75,626      $ 78,932         (4.2%)       $ 79,671
Interest expense..................................         46,400        45,970          0.9%          50,559
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
   Net interest income............................         29,226        32,962        (11.3%)         29,112
Provision for loan and lease losses...............          2,156         2,390         (9.8%)          2,340
Non-interest income:
   Trust and asset management income..............          6,782         7,622        (11.0%)          7,419
   Service charges on deposits....................          3,074         2,614         17.6%           3,153
   Mortgage revenues..............................          2,299           941        144.3%           1,500
   Bank owned life insurance income...............          1,044           162           N/M             741
   Other..........................................          3,031         2,745         10.4%           3,125
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
      Total non-interest income...................         16,230        14,084         15.2%          15,938
Net security gains................................            743           703          5.7%             658
Operating expenses:
   Personnel costs................................         16,672        16,263          2.5%          17,061
   Net occupancy expense..........................          2,062         1,837         12.2%           1,769
   Equipment expense..............................          2,160         2,283         (5.4%)          2,029
   External data processing expense...............          1,516         1,592         (4.8%)          1,408
   Professional fees..............................          1,116         1,008         10.7%             853
   Advertising and business development...........            836           983        (15.0%)            792
   Amortization of intangible assets..............            551           528          4.4%             520
   Communication expense..........................          1,044         1,076         (3.0%)            988
   Other..........................................          4,645         4,150         11.9%           3,982
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
      Total operating expenses....................         30,602        29,720          3.0%          29,402
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes........................         13,441        15,639        (14.1%)         13,966
Income taxes......................................          3,472         4,552        (23.7%)          3,562
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
Net income from operations........................        $ 9,969      $ 11,087        (10.1%)       $ 10,404
Restructuring and accounting changes, net of tax..            225             -           N/M             107
                                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
Net income........................................       $ 10,194      $ 11,087         (8.1%)       $ 10,511
                                                   ============================================================

Average shares outstanding - basic (000)..........         26,057        27,477         (5.2%)         26,266
Average shares outstanding - diluted (000)........         26,309        27,832         (5.5%)         26,580
Ending shares outstanding (000)...................         25,839        27,113         (4.7%)         25,985
</TABLE>

N/M=not meaningful

<PAGE>

AMCORE Financial, Inc.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Quarter Ended March 31,
                                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            2001                           2000
                                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands)                                     Ending          Average        Yield/         Average         Yield/
                                                   Balance         Balance         Rate          Balance          Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>             <C>               <C>         <C>                <C>
Assets:
   Taxable securities.....................         $ 949,229       $ 935,297       6.86%       $ 1,008,984        6.94%
   Tax-exempt securities (FTE)............           283,794         285,101       7.67%           304,141        7.68%
   Other earning assets...................             6,614          31,467       5.81%            19,066        5.63%
   Loans held for sale....................            43,886          36,156       7.88%            10,304        7.34%
   Loans, net of unearned income (FTE)....         2,564,831       2,592,155       8.55%         2,759,002        8.34%
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Earning Assets (FTE)..........       $ 3,848,354     $ 3,880,176       8.07%       $ 4,101,497        7.94%
      Intangible assets...................            17,733          17,478                        17,914
      Other non-earning assets............           300,979         273,598                       202,243
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Assets........................       $ 4,167,066     $ 4,171,252                   $ 4,321,654
                                              =========================================================================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
   Interest bearing deposits..............       $ 2,683,686     $ 2,710,789       5.27%       $ 2,700,506        4.81%
   Non-interest bearing deposits..........           359,629         345,171                       363,600
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Deposits......................       $ 3,043,315     $ 3,055,960                   $ 3,064,106
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Short-term borrowings..................           422,589         443,768       6.18%           619,732        5.95%
   Long-term borrowings...................           299,123         286,427       6.27%           295,460        6.16%
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Interest Bearing Liabilities..         3,405,398       3,440,984       5.47%         3,615,698        5.11%
      Other liabilities...................            86,406          73,943                        57,029
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Liabilities...................       $ 3,851,433     $ 3,860,098                   $ 4,036,327
      Stockholders' Equity................           315,633         311,154                       285,327
                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Liabilities and
      Stockholders' Equity................       $ 4,167,066     $ 4,171,252                   $ 4,321,654
                                              =========================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Quarter Ended
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            March 31,             Percent       December 31,     Percent
Asset Quality (in thousands)                          2001            2000        Change            2000         Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>              <C>
Ending allowance for loan losses..........          $ 29,561        $ 29,166        1.4%          $ 29,157         1.4%
Net charge-offs...........................             1,558           1,601       (2.7%)            1,714        (9.1%)
Net charge-offs to average loans (B)......              0.24%           0.23%       0.01%             0.26%       (0.02%)

Non-performing assets:
   Non-performing loans - nonaccrual......          $ 31,736        $ 22,321       42.2%          $ 22,069        43.8%
   Foreclosed real estate (OREO)..........             2,880           2,137       34.8%             3,282       (12.2%)
   Other foreclosed assets................               996           1,226      (18.8%)            1,092        (8.8%)
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total non-performing assets.........          $ 35,612        $ 25,684       38.7%          $ 26,443        34.7%
                                              ===========================================================================

Loans 90 days past due and still accruing.          $ 12,306         $ 6,647       85.1%          $ 13,136        (6.3%)
</TABLE>

(B) On an annualized basis.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  March 31,                          December 31,
Key Asset Quality Ratios                                    2001            2000      Change             2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>            <C>         <C>               <C>
   Allowance to ending loans..............                  1.15%           1.05%       0.10%             1.11%
   Allowance to non-performing loans......                 93.15%         130.67%     (37.52%)          132.12%
   Non-performing loans to loans..........                  1.24%           0.80%       0.44%             0.84%
   Non-performing assets to loans & OREO..                  1.39%           0.92%       0.47%             1.01%
   Non-performing assets to total assets..                  0.85%           0.59%       0.26%             0.62%

Capital Adequacy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total risk-based capital................                 12.25%          12.10%       0.15%
  Tier 1 risk-based capital...............                 11.25%          11.13%       0.12%
  Leverage ratio..........................                  7.99%           7.72%       0.27%
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


     April 23, 2001

     For media inquiries:                              For financial inquiries:
     Katherine Taylor                                  John Hecht
     Investor Relations Manager                        Chief Financial Officer
     815-961-7164                                      815-961-2787





           AMCORE FINANCIAL, INC., ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

     ROCKFORD -- AMCORE Financial, Inc., announced today its Board of Directors
has authorized the repurchase of up to five percent of its common stock, or 1.29
million shares.

     The transactions will be completed from time to time, depending on market
conditions, through open market or privately negotiated purchases. AMCORE
currently has 25.8 million shares of common stock outstanding.

     The repurchased shares will become treasury shares and will be used for
general corporate purposes, including the issuance of shares in connection with
AMCORE's stock option plans and other employee benefit plans.

     The repurchase of up to five percent of its common stock is in addition to
the 338,000 shares that remain outstanding from the 2000 repurchase
authorization for a total of 1.63 million shares. Robert J. Meuleman, chairman
and chief executive officer of AMCORE, said, "We believe the repurchase of our
own shares will enable us to take advantage of an attractive investment
opportunity given the current price level of our stock. We feel this investment
will be of benefit to both the Company and its stockholders and that this
program demonstrates AMCORE's commitment to shareholder value."

     AMCORE Financial, Inc. is the bank distinguished by high performance asset
management and the delivery of tailored products to business customers in
selected high growth Midwestern markets. The Company is headquartered in
northern Illinois with investment assets under administration of $4.8 billion
and banking assets of $4.2 billion with 65 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.

     The company has two financial services companies: AMCORE Mortgage, Inc. and
AMCORE Investment Group. AMCORE Mortgage provides a variety of mortgage lending
products and services to individuals. AMCORE Investment Group provides the
following services: trust, brokerage, investment management, mutual fund
administration, employee benefit plan record keeping and is the investment
advisor for the Vintage family of mutual funds.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance

<PAGE>

and business of AMCORE. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These
statements are based upon beliefs and assumptions of AMCORE'S management and on
information currently available to such management. The use of the words
"believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "may", "will" or similar
expressions are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made, and AMCORE undertakes no obligation to update
publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

Contemplated, projected, forecasted or estimated results in such forward-looking
statements involve certain inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors
- many of which are beyond the ability of the company to control or predict -
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its
forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following
possibilities: (I) heightened competition, including specifically the
intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors and the
formation of new products by new and existing competitors; (II) adverse state
and federal legislation and regulation; (III) failure to obtain new customers
and retain existing customers; (IV) inability to carry out marketing and/or
expansion plans; (V) loss of key executives or personnel; (VI) changes in
interest rates including the effect of prepayment; (VII) general economic and
business conditions which are less favorable than expected; (VIII) equity and
fixed income market fluctuations; (IX) unanticipated changes in industry trends;
(X) unanticipated changes in credit quality and risk factors; (XI) success in
gaining regulatory approvals when required; (XII) changes in Federal Reserve
Board monetary policies; (XIII) unexpected outcomes on existing or new
litigation in which AMCORE, its subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees
are named defendants; (XIV) technological changes; (XV) changes in accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and (XVI)
inability of third-party vendors to perform critical services to the company or
its customers.

     AMCORE common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol
"AMFI." Further information about AMCORE Financial, Inc. can be found at the
company's website at http://www.AMCORE.com and at www.VintageFunds.com.

<PAGE>



           May 2, 2001


           For media inquiries:
           Katherine Taylor, Investor Relations Manager
           815-961-7164

           For financial inquiries:
           John Hecht, Chief Financial Officer
           815-961-2787


                 AMCORE FINANCIAL REACHES A DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
           FOR THE SALE OF ITS GRIDLEY BRANCH TO PONTIAC NATIONAL BANK

ROCKFORD, IL - AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMFI) announced today it has
reached a definitive agreement for the sale of its Gridley, Ill. branch to the
Pontiac National Bank.

Since the beginning of the year, AMCORE has successfully reached agreements for
the sale of seven branches with a total of $73 million in loans and $192 million
in deposits. The sales are part of AMCORE's organized effort to redirect capital
to higher-growth areas where the company is more heavily concentrated. Total
deposit premiums of approximately $12 million are expected from the
transactions. It is probable that most or all of these sales will close in the
second quarter of 2001.

"We're pleased to announce agreements have been reached for the sale of these
seven branches," said Robert J. Meuleman, chairman and chief executive officer
of AMCORE. "Gridley has been a solid market for us, but it no longer fits within
our strategy. This sale, along with our other six branch sales, will allow us to
focus on areas where we have a more concentrated presence along the I-90
corridor."

"Our commitment was to find a buyer that would support the community and provide
a strong banking presence. We are confident that the Pontiac National Bank will
continue to provide the Gridley market with excellent customer service and a
strong offering of financial products and services," Meuleman said.

Ed Vogelsinger, President of Pontiac National Bank, commented: "We are very
excited to add Gridley to our service area. Farmers, small business people and
families form the core of our business and with branches in Pontiac and
Bloomington, clientele of the Gridley facility will have access to more local
area branches and ATM's."

<PAGE>

In addition to traditional banking services, PNB offers Internet banking and
bill payment services through its website pnbbank.com, debit cards, and 24-hours
telephone banking. PNB also offers farm and investment management services.

With its 11 employees, the Gridley branch currently serves nearly 1,000
customers in McLean County and the surrounding area. The branch has $15 million
in loans and $19 million in deposits.

Previous branch sale announcements included: Ashton/Rochelle to the First
National Bank of Rochelle, IL; Mount Morris to UNION Savings BANK, Freeport, IL;
Aledo to THE National Bank, Bettendorf, Iowa; and Sheffield and Wyanet to
Peoples National Bank of Kewanee. Peoples National Bank of Kewanee then
immediately announced the sale of the Wyanet branch to Citizens First State Bank
of Walnut.

AMCORE Financial, Inc. is the bank distinguished by high performance asset
management and the delivery of tailored products to business customers in
selected high growth Midwestern markets. The Company is headquartered in
northern Illinois with investment assets under administration of $4.8 billion
and banking assets of $4.2 billion with 64 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
After all of the branch sales are closed, AMCORE will have 57 locations and
assets will be $4.0 billion.

The company has two financial services companies: AMCORE Mortgage, Inc. and
AMCORE Investment Group. AMCORE Mortgage provides a variety of mortgage lending
products and services to individuals. AMCORE Investment Group provides the
following services: trust, brokerage, investment management, mutual fund
administration, employee benefit plan record keeping and is the investment
advisor for the Vintage family of mutual funds.

AMCORE common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol
"AMFI." Further information about AMCORE Financial, Inc. can be found at the
company's website at http://www.AMCORE.com.

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