Star Bank Opens First Churchill DownsBranch.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 1998--Star Bank announced today that it will open the first full-service branch inside a thoroughbred racetrack in the U.S., tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28, when it unveils its new Churchill Downs office. The newest Star Bank branch office will be located

The clubhouse branch also will serve members of the local community, in addition to race day patrons and employees of Churchill Downs. Star Bank will open a second branch location at Churchill Downs early next year in the stable area to serve track employees, vendors, horsemen and the stable area workers who care for horses.

As part of the grand opening festivities for the new branch there will be a special "Star Stakes" promotional give-away drawing featuring a unique package including $5000 in cash, tickets to the 125th running of the Kentucky Derby and limousine service to and from the event to be given to a lucky winner.

Also, Star Bank will be involving some of its other partners in the Greater Louisville market such as Meijer and Winn-Dixie through special give-away promotions at Churchill Downs, including gift certificates, grocery items and other merchandise. Star Bank currently has 37 banking locations in the Greater Louisville market, 22 full-service branch locations inside selected retail stores, such as Meijer, Winn-Dixie, biggs and Wal-Mart and 17 traditional banking offices.

John Taylor, regional chairman of Star Bank in Louisville, commented, "We are very excited about the opening of our first Star Bank at Churchill Downs. Star and Churchill Downs are both committed to customer service and as a team we will be able to offer our customers a very unique way of doing their banking."

Hours for the new Star Bank branch during the Fall 1998 racing season will be Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., closed on Monday. During the Breeder's Cup on Saturday, November 7, the branch will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. During the Thanksgiving holiday the branch will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, and from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on November 27, 28 and 29. During the non-racing season the branch will be open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and be closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Star Banc Corporation, (NYSE:STB) the parent company of Star Bank, is a $17.3 billion bank holding company with 460 full-service banking offices in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Star offers a full complement of consumer, commercial and trust financial services and products. Star Bank, a leader in high quality customer service and relationship banking, was the first bank in the U.S. to offer a fully integrated 24-Hour Banking System in 1995. Star's 24-Hour Banking System includes branch banking, voice activated phone banking, PC banking, Super ATMs, video kiosk banking and Internet Banking. Star's Internet Banking is available to customers through a state-of-the-art on-line real time system which enables customers to access their total banking relationship, at no charge, through their personal computer. In 1996, Star Bank was the first bank to offer its Five Star Service Guarantee which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or customers will be paid for their inconvenience. Star Bank's Internet address is http://www.starbank.com. Star Bank was founded in 1863.