Exhibit 99.1

                                                                  NEWS RELEASE

           Date:   Feb. 24, 1999


        Contact:   Katherine Taylor
                   Investor Relations Manager
                   815-961-7164


                   AMCORE FINANCIAL ANNOUNCES LETTER OF INTENT
                        TO ACQUIRE WELLMARK CAPITAL VALUE

    ROCKFORD -- In a strategic move to build its defined contribution and 401
(k) business, AMCORE Investment Group, N.A., a $4.2 billion trust and asset
management company, executed a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire Wellmark
Capital Value, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa. AMCORE Investment Group (AIG) is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of AMCORE Financial, Inc., a $4.1 billion regional
financial services company.

    Wellmark Capital Value is a subsidiary of Wellmark, Inc., and provides
complete recordkeeping and other administrative services to 401 (k) and other
tax-qualified retirement plans.

    "The fastest growing market for mutual funds is 401 (k) plans, which are
expected to grow at a 15 percent rate over the next five years," said Robert J.
Meuleman, president and chief executive officer of AMCORE Financial. "This is a
good business move for AMCORE as we seek to broaden and strengthen our position
in providing high quality investment services to our clients."

    Alan W. Kennebeck, president and chief executive officer of AIG, said that
the participant recordkeeper will increasingly play the central and pivotal role
with plan sponsors going forward. "Accuracy, timeliness and responsiveness are
key advantages in serving the retirement plan market," he said. "The successful
competitors in the 401 (k) arena will be those that can deliver excellent
administration."

    The acquisition of Wellmark Capital Value will enable AMCORE to bring plan
administrative services in-house where it can enhance its record keeping
ability. AMCORE is familiar with the quality of services Wellmark Capital Value
provides through their work with Investors Management Group (IMG), AMCORE's
investment advisory firm.

    "Wellmark Capital Value's quality standards are impeccable," said David W.
Miles, senior managing director of IMG.  "Pension professionals familiar with
the company regard them as among the finest recordkeepers in the business."

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    Wellmark Capital Value provides recordkeeping and other administrative
services to retirement plans that currently have assets, in the aggregate, in
excess of $150 million. The company will remain located in Des Moines. Wellmark
Capital Value has customers in Iowa, South Dakota and Illinois. "AMCORE is a
great fit to assume Wellmark Capital Value's business because of the
high-quality services they can provide our customers and for the strong interest
they indicated in our personnel," said Gerry Lentz, vice president of Wellmark,
Inc.

    Through AIG, AMCORE has $4.2 billion in assets under management and has
provided trust and investment services for over 100 years. AIG's institutional
asset management department provides comprehensive plan services including
acting as a trustee, investment management, plan design consultation, paying
agent, plan provision and investment option educator.

    AMCORE Financial, Inc., headquartered in northern Illinois, is a financial
services company with banking assets of $4.1 billion and 9 banks operating in 66
locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. The company also has four financial
services companies: AMCORE Investment Group, which provides trust and brokerage
services, and through Investors Management Group, provides capital management
and mutual fund administrative services, and is the investment advisor for the
Vintage family of mutual funds; AMCORE Mortgage, Inc.; AMCORE Consumer Finance
Company, Inc. and AMCORE Insurance Group, Inc.

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