LEWISTON, Idaho, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstBank Corp. (Nasdaq: FBNW),
the holding company for FirstBank Northwest, today announced its Board of
Directors has increased the quarterly cash dividend on its common stock to
$.08 per share.  The dividend will be paid May 21, 1998 to shareholders of
record May 7.
    FirstBank has paid two cash dividends of $.07 per share -- in November
1997 and February 1998 -- since the company's conversion to the stock form of
ownership on July 1, 1997.
    "All areas of our business continue to perform extremely well and we are
pleased to share these successes with our shareholders," said Clyde
E. Conklin, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Paying dividends is one
of the most tangible ways to build shareholder value and demonstrate our
confidence in our company."
    FirstBank will report its financial results for fiscal 1998, ended March
31, 1998, tomorrow.
    FirstBank Corp. is the parent of FirstBank Northwest, which is
headquartered in Lewiston, Idaho at the northern end of Hell's Canyon.
Founded in 1920, the Bank converted from its charter as a federal stock
savings bank to a Washington State savings bank charter February 2, 1998.
FirstBank currently operates six branch locations along the Idaho/ Eastern
Washington border, plus two residential loan centers located in Lewiston and
Coeur d'Alene, ID.  The Bank is known as the local community bank, offering
its customers highly personalized service in the many communities it serves.

    NOTE:  This company is a client of Len Cereghino & Co. Corporate Investor
Relations.  FirstBank's press releases are available at no charge through PR
Newswire's Company News On-Call fax service.  For a menu of FirstBank press
releases or to retrieve a specific release, call 1-800-IRNEWS9, extension
124037, or http://www.prnewswire.com/cnoc/exec/menu?124037 on the Internet.

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