ATLANTA, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Bancshares, Inc. (Amex: PMB)
announced that J.C. Bradford & Co. has initiated coverage of the company's
stock and has issued a 'strong buy' rating for Premier Bancshares, Inc.
    J.C. Bradford's report concluded that there are three important factors in
choosing community financial institution investments - management, markets and
growth prospects, and that Premier ranks highly on all counts.  Bradford's
summary analysis noted that these important strengths, combined with Premier's
discount valuation, make Premier one of the region's most compelling
investment opportunities.
    Darrell D. Pittard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Premier
Bancshares, Inc. said, "We are pleased to have J.C. Bradford & Co. initiate
coverage of our organization, particularly with a 'strong buy' rating.  We
believe that the Company is better positioned than ever to attract merger
candidates and to initiate new efforts focused on bolstering internal growth."
    Premier Bancshares is a rapidly growing banking franchise headquartered in
Atlanta with four subsidiaries including Premier Bank, Central and Southern
Bank of North Georgia, FSB, Central and Southern Bank of Georgia, and the
Company's mortgage lending and commercial finance subsidiary, Premier Lending
Corporation.  The subsidiaries have offices throughout the expanding Atlanta
market area and smaller communities in northern and central Georgia.
    Premier Bancshares, Inc. reported record net earnings of $2,224,000, or
$.28 per share for the second quarter of 1997.  This compares to net earnings
of $1,454,000, or $.18 per share for the same period in 1996.  Year to date
the Company reported earnings of $4,089,000, or $.52 per share, compared to
$2,959,000, or $.37 per share for the six months ended June 30, 1996.  This is
an increase of 38% over the comparable period.
    Premier Bancshares, Inc. has current assets of $587,424,000, as compared
to assets of $476,674,000 at June 30, 1996.  With the completion of the
pending merger with Citizens Gwinnett Bankshares, Inc., which is anticipated
to close in November, Premier Bancshares, Inc., will have assets in excess of
$700,000,000.
    On August 27, 1997, Premier Bancshares, Inc. and Traditional Mortgage
Corporation jointly announced that they had executed a letter of intent for
Premier Bancshares, Inc. to acquire Traditional Mortgage.  The transaction, a
tax free exchange of approximately 120,000 shares of Premier Bancshares common
stock, is expected to be valued on October 1, 1997 at the conclusion of due
diligence.
    Traditional Mortgage Corporation operates five mortgage lending offices,
three in metro Atlanta, one in Mobile, Alabama, and one in Jacksonville,
Florida.  The Company also has plans to open a new office on October 1, 1997,
in Charleston, South Carolina.  Traditional Mortgage Corporation's current
average monthly loan production is $15 - $17 million.  The acquisition of
Traditional Mortgage should position Premier Lending Corporation to generate
mortgages exceeding $60 million per month, making them the second highest
volume lender based in Georgia.
    For a copy of the J.C. Bradford & Co. report, or for additional financial
information on Premier Bancshares, contact Michael E. Ricketson, Chief
Financial Officer, at 404-814-3090.

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