INDIANA, Pa., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF), has declared a first quarter dividend of $0.16 per share payable on April 15, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close of business March 31, 2004. The dividend represents a 3.2% increase over the dividend paid for the same quarter last year.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030416/FIRSTLOGO )

First Commonwealth is designated a "Dividend Achiever," as classified by Mergent and its Handbook of Dividend Achievers, based on its outstanding record of providing shareholders with increased dividend performance.

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is a $5.2 billion financial services holding company headquartered in Indiana, PA. On a pro forma basis, reflecting the pending acquisition of GA Financial, Inc., the combined total assets would be $6.1 billion. First Commonwealth Financial Corporation operates through First Commonwealth Bank, in 17 counties in western and central PA. Financial services and insurance products are also provided through First Commonwealth Trust Company, First Commonwealth Financial Advisors and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency. The Corporation also owns First Commonwealth Systems Corporation, a data processing subsidiary, First Commonwealth Professional Resources, Inc., a support services subsidiary, FraMal Holdings Corporation, an investment services company, and jointly owns Commonwealth Trust Credit Life Insurance Company, a credit life reinsurance company.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE  First Commonwealth Financial Corporation
    -0-                             03/16/2004
    /CONTACT:  John Dolan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, +1-724-349-7220/
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030416/FIRSTLOGO
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com /
    (FCF)

CO:  First Commonwealth Financial Corporation
ST:  Pennsylvania
IN:  FIN
SU:  DIV

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0304 03/16/200416:30 ESThttp://www.prnewswire.com