ATLANTA, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Bancshares (Amex: PMB) of Atlanta,
Georgia announced their preliminary results for the third quarter 1997.  The
Company reported record net earnings of $2,571,000, or $.32 per share for the
quarter.  This compares to net earnings of $865,000, or $.11 per share for the
same period in 1996.  An increase of 197% over the comparable period.
    Darrell Pittard, Chairman and CEO of Premier said, "We are beginning to
benefit from the operating efficiencies and market share growth resulting from
our recent merger with Central and Southern Holding Company which closed on
June 23.  We anticipate completing the acquisition of Traditional Mortgage
Company this month.  Traditional will allow our mortgage loan origination
volume to rise to the $60 Million per month range."
    Year to date the Company reported record earnings of $6,659,000, or $.82
per share, compared to $3,824,000, or $.48 per share for the six months ended
June 30, 1996.  An increase of 74% over the comparable period.
    Premier is a multi-bank holding company with assets of $587,000,000 and
has 27 offices located in the state of Georgia.


                          PREMIER BANCSHARES
                        (preliminary results)

    QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
    (dollars in thousands except
     per share data)                 1997      1996      Change      Percent
    Net income (loss)               $2,571   $  865      1,706       197.3%
    Net interest income (FTE)        6,444    4,793      1,651        34.4%
    Net interest income              6,379    4,712      1,667        35.4%
    Noninterest income               5,514    3,210      2,304        71.8%
    Noninterest expense              7,504    7,934       (431)       (5.4%)
    Provision for loan losses          360     (138)       498      (361.8%)

    PER SHARE DATA
    Net income                     $  0.32   $  0.11      0.21       189.3%
    Book Value                     $  6.48   $  5.88      0.60        10.1%
    Dividends                      $ 0.090   $ 0.027      0.06       233.3%
    Weighted average shares
      outstanding                8,108,530 7,889,299

    FINANCIAL RATIOS
    Return on average assets         1.75%     0.72%
    Return on average equity        19.98%     7.38%
    Net interest margin (FTE)        4.68%     4.24%
    Total shareholders equity
      to assets                      8.95%     9.45%
    Allowance for loan losses
      to loans, net of unearned      1.66%     2.06%
    Allowance for loan losses to
      loans, net of unearned
      and loans held for sale        1.87%     2.18%

    ENDING BALANCES AS OF
     SEPTEMBER 30
    Total assets                  $587,039  $490,891    96,149       19.6%
    Earning assets                 545,454   457,035    88,418       19.3%
    Loans, net of unearned + HFS   445,746   314,125   131,621       41.9%
    Loans held for sale             51,043    17,413    33,629      193.1%
    Allowance for loan losses        7,393     6,481       912       14.1%
    Investments and federal funds
      sold                          99,707   142,704   (42,997)     (30.1%)
    Deposits                       485,606   408,317    77,289       18.9%
    Shareholders' equity            52,534    46,411     6,122       13.2%
    Intangible Assets                2,507     2,889      (382)     (13.2%)

    AVERAGE BALANCES FOR THE QUARTER
    Total assets                  $582,799  $478,839   103,960       21.7%
    Earning assets                 546,164   449,708    96,457       21.4%
    Loans, net of unearned         436,736   313,525   123,211       39.3%
    Allowance for loan losses        7,112     6,452       661       10.2%
    Investments and federal funds
      sold                         109,428   136,182   (26,754)     (19.6%)
    Deposits                       475,125   392,345    82,780       21.1%
    Shareholders' equity            51,045    46,588     4,457        9.6%

    NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30
    Net income                    $  6,659  $  3,824     2,836       74.2%
    Net income per share          $   0.82  $   0.48      0.34       70.4%
    Weighted average shares
      outstanding                8,073,458 7,900,915
    Return on average assets         1.60%     1.09%
    Return on average equity        18.07%    11.05%
    Net interest margin (FTE)        4.75%     4.59%

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