First Commonwealth Financial Corporation logo. (PRNewsFoto) INDIANA, PA USA

    INDIANA, Pa., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerry Thomchick, President and
Chief Executive Officer of First Commonwealth Bank, announced changes to the
Bank's Executive Management team following the recent merger of several
independent affiliates into the operations of First Commonwealth Bank, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of First Commonwealth Financial Corporation.  Changes
to the Bank's Executive Management structure are effective immediately.
    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030416/FIRSTLOGO )
    Mr. John Previte, Senior Executive Vice President, will lead the bank's
trust and treasury functions. Mr. Previte has been with First Commonwealth for
32 years, 15 of which he led the company's trust operations.  Most recently
Mr. Previte oversaw asset and liability management, cash flow management,
investments and funds transfer for the organization.  He holds a B.S. degree
in business administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
    Ms. Sue McMurdy, Senior Executive Vice President, will lead the bank's
information technology, operations, and support areas; she will also continue
to serve as Chief Information Officer for First Commonwealth Financial
Corporation.  Ms. McMurdy has been with the company for 26 years and was
President and CEO of First Commonwealth Systems Corporation, a data processing
subsidiary that was recently merged into First Commonwealth Bank.  Ms. McMurdy
holds a BA degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
    Mr. Thad Clements, Senior Executive Vice President, will lead the bank's
human resources, marketing, balanced scorecard, and planning areas; he will
also continue to serve as Senior Vice President/Human Resources for First
Commonwealth Financial Corporation.  Mr. Clements has been with First
Commonwealth for 11 years and has more than 25 years of human resources
experience, including compensation, benefits, recruitment, employee
development, and communications responsibilities.  He holds an MS degree in
Management from Carnegie Mellon University and MBA and BS degrees from Indiana
University of Pennsylvania.
    Mr. Paul Briggs, Executive Vice President, will lead all lending
activities for First Commonwealth Bank.  Mr. Briggs has been with the company
since 2001 and was responsible for the Bank's commercial lending sector.
Prior to joining First Commonwealth, Mr. Briggs managed the Middle Market
Banking business for Mellon Financial Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA.  He holds
an MBA and a BS degree in finance from Duquesne University.
    Ms. Renee Shepko, Executive Vice President, will oversee all bank branches
and deposit product management.  Ms. Shepko has been with First Commonwealth
for 2-1/2 years, during which time she was responsible for the Retail sector
of the Bank, including Sales Development.  Ms. Shepko came to First
Commonwealth from Wachovia in McLean, VA, where she served as Senior Vice
President/Service Director.  Ms. Shepko earned a BA in business administration
from the University of Pittsburgh.
    Mr. Dick DeHaas, Executive Vice President, will lead the bank's asset
quality responsibilities. Mr. DeHaas has worked for First Commonwealth for 6
years, during which time he was responsible for credit support and management
of credit risk.  Mr. DeHaas's banking career spans 29 years.  Prior to joining
First Commonwealth, Mr. DeHaas was President and CEO of Huntingdon Bank of
Pennsylvania.  He received his BS degree in business administration from West
Virginia Wesleyan College.
    Mr. Jim Knipple, Executive Vice President, will oversee all compliance
responsibilities for the Bank and the holding company.  Mr. Knipple has been
with First Commonwealth since 1991. His most recent role within the
organization was Senior Vice President/Compliance Manager for First
Commonwealth Bank.  Prior to his tenure with First Commonwealth, Mr. Knipple
served in a variety of management roles at United States National Bank in
Johnstown, PA. He holds an MBA in Management from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania and a BS in business administration from Penn State.
    In announcing First Commonwealth Bank's new Executive Management team, Mr.
Thomchick noted, "The experience, leadership, and expertise that these seven
individuals bring with them positions our bank to take full advantage of every
opportunity to increase our profitability and continue to grow our company."
    First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is a $6.2 billion financial
services holding company headquartered in Indiana, PA.  It operates through
First Commonwealth Bank in 16 counties in western and central Pennsylvania
with 106 branches and 110 ATMs. Financial services and insurance products are
provided through First Commonwealth Insurance Agency, First Commonwealth Trust
Company and First Commonwealth Financial Advisors.  The Corporation also owns
First Commonwealth Systems Corporation, a data processing subsidiary, First
Commonwealth Professional Resources, Inc., a support services subsidiary, and
jointly owns Commonwealth Trust Credit Life Insurance Company, a credit life
reinsurance company.

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve
significant risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"should," "planned," "estimated," "intended," and "potential." Actual results
could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such statements
for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the timing and
magnitude of changes in interest rates; changes in accounting principles,
policies or guidelines; changes in regional, nations and global economic
conditions; changes in regulatory requirements, and significant changes in the
securities markets. Consequently, all forward-looking statements made in this
press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and the cautionary
language in First Commonwealth's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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