Exhibit 99.1

News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas A. Richlovsky Senior Vice President & Treasurer (216) 575-2126

Jeffrey C. Douglas Vice President & Assistant Treasurer Investor Relations (216) 222-9849

www.national-city.com

For Immediate Release

NATIONAL CITY REPORTS 11 PERCENT INCREASE IN
1999 EARNINGS PER SHARE

      CLEVELAND, Ohio—January 14, 2000—National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC) today reported record 1999 earnings per diluted share, excluding nonrecurring items, of $2.22, an increase of 11.0% compared to $2.00 in 1998. On the same basis, net income was $1,404.2 million, up from $1,332.6 million in 1998. Returns on average common equity and average assets reached 22.6% and 1.67%, respectively, up from 19.2% and 1.66%, respectively, last year. The efficiency ratio improved to 56.2% in 1999 from 58.4% in 1998.

      For the fourth quarter of 1999, excluding nonrecurring items, diluted earnings per share were $.56, an increase of 5.7% compared to $.53 in the fourth quarter of 1998. Returns on average common equity and average assets were 22.9% and 1.60%, respectively, compared to 19.4% and 1.69%, respectively, for the fourth quarter last year.

      Commenting on the financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 1999, David A. Daberko, Chairman and CEO stated, “We are extremely pleased to deliver an 11.0% increase in 1999 earnings per share and a 22.6% return on average equity, the strongest in our history. Moreover, actions taken in 1999 helped build a solid foundation for sustainable long-term revenue growth as we move forward in the new millennium. We divested unprofitable business

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lines at National Processing, reorganized our businesses along functional lines, deliberately pared back real estate exposure, and effectively deployed excess capital through two dividend increases, acquisitions and stock repurchases. We also expanded our presence in attractive markets where we had been underrepresented such as Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia. Investment in these new markets along with technology enhancements and targeted line of business acquisitions position us to maximize customer retention and attract new business in 2000 and beyond.”

      Included in the 1999 results were several nonrecurring items which, while having no per share impact on the full year and only a nominal per share impact in the first and fourth quarters of 1999, did affect a number of reported income and expense line items. The combination of these items produced a pre-tax benefit of $35.3 million but increased reported net income for 1999 by only $1.3 million.

      The results for 1998 included charges incurred in connection with the acquisitions of First of America Bank Corporation and Fort Wayne National Corporation, which reduced net income by $261.9 million, or $.39 per diluted share.

      In 1999, taxable-equivalent net interest income was $3,037.0 million, up from $2,951.9 million in 1998. Excluding the estimated interest cost of funding the Corporation’s share repurchase program, net interest income rose 6.2% in 1999.

      Taxable-equivalent net interest income for the 1999 fourth quarter was $756.4 million, essentially equal to the third quarter amount of $757.7 million and the $757.9 million earned in the 1998 fourth quarter. On a linked-quarter basis, the lower net interest income and margin primarily reflect the cost of funding the share repurchase program. Consistent with the industry trend, the Corporation’s net interest margin has been stable to narrowing in each of the last five quarters. That trend is a reflection of heightened price competition for traditional loan and deposit business. A favorable mix shift toward higher-yielding loans and away from thinner-spread investment securities and conventional residential mortgages helped mitigate this trend. During 1999, the Corporation focused on shifting the composition of its loan portfolio and

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growing the proportion of higher-yielding commercial and installment loans. Average loans, excluding real estate, were $44.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 1999, up 8.0% compared to $41.1 billion in last year’s fourth quarter and represent a 17.2% annualized increase from last quarter’s $42.5 billion. Year-over-year growth was propelled by a 12.5% increase in average consumer installment loans and a 12.7% increase in average general commercial loans. Throughout much of 1999, the Corporation actively managed its real estate loan portfolios, reducing lower-yielding residential loans and paring back commercial real estate exposure in certain markets and property types.

      For 1999, excluding the effect of divested businesses and nonrecurring items, fees and other income grew 5.9% to $2,144.7 million from $2,026.2 million for 1998 with growth experienced in mortgage banking revenue, deposit fees, trust and investment management fees, and brokerage revenue.

      Fees and other income, excluding nonrecurring items, for the fourth quarter of 1999 were $581.1 million. Excluding the effect of divested businesses, fees and other income increased 8.1% from $537.6 million in the fourth quarter of 1998, and were up 9.9% from $528.6 million in 1999’s third quarter. Solid mortgage banking revenue along with higher deposit fees led to the increase in the year-over-year quarterly comparison of noninterest income. Processing revenues posted in the seasonally strong 1999 fourth quarter reached $98.5 million. Mortgage banking revenue was robust through most of 1999, although higher interest rates in the latter half of the year slowed mortgage origination volume. Purchase acquisitions in the second half of 1999 of a specialty mortgage finance company, First Franklin Financial Companies, and the mortgage production units of AccuBanc Mortgage Company, contributed $49.6 million to 1999’s fourth quarter mortgage banking revenue. National City’s residential loan servicing portfolio grew 32.3% to $46.7 billion at the end of 1999, up from $35.3 billion at year-end 1998.

      In the fourth quarter of 1999, pre-tax securities gains totaled $37.1 million, or $.04 per share, after-tax, down from $49.3 million, or $.05 per share, after-tax, in the fourth quarter of

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1998. For 1999, pre-tax securities gains, excluding nonrecurring items, totaled $106.3 million, or $.11 per share, after-tax, a decline from $134.5 million, or $.13 per share, after-tax, for 1998.

      Noninterest expense, excluding nonrecurring items, for 1999 declined by $53.0 million, or 1.8% versus 1998. Merger integration savings and lower expenses from the disposition of certain National Processing business lines in the second quarter of 1999 contributed to the decline. Partially offsetting these reductions were increased expenses in 1999 resulting from the purchase acquisitions, volume-related growth of the processing and fee businesses, along with higher loan and lease processing costs from record originations, and information technology initiatives.

      Noninterest expense, excluding nonrecurring items, was $780.1 million in the 1999 fourth quarter, compared to $705.9 million in the 1999 third quarter and $766.8 million in the fourth quarter of 1998. Compared to the third quarter of 1999, noninterest expense, excluding nonrecurring items, rose due to expenses and intangibles amortization from the purchase acquisitions of First Franklin Financial Companies and the mortgage production units of AccuBanc Mortgage Company, whose costs were not fully included in the prior quarter’s base. Seasonality of certain expenses also affected the linked-quarter comparison.

      National City’s nonperforming assets and charge-offs remain at low levels. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 1999 were $289.1 million, or .48% of total loans and real estate owned, up from $260.0 million at September 30, 1999 and $248.5 million at December 31, 1998. Real estate mortgage loans, which historically have had annual loss ratios of less than .06%, comprised nearly 60% of nonperforming assets at December 31, 1999. For the fourth quarter of 1999, net charge-offs totaled $66.6 million, or .45% of average loans, versus $55.0 million, or .38% of average loans in the third quarter of 1999, and $60.0 million, or .42% in the fourth quarter of 1998. The allowance for loan losses was $970.5 million, or 1.61% of loans at year-end 1999.

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      Total assets were $87.1 billion at December 31, 1999, and total stockholders’ equity was $5.7 billion. Equity as a percentage of assets was 6.57% at December 31, 1999, compared to 7.95% a year ago, reflecting the effect of share repurchases. Since the fourth quarter of 1998, $2.1 billion of capital has been returned to stockholders through the repurchase of 62.6 million common shares.

      Mr. Daberko’s comments contain forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including changes in general economic and financial market conditions and the Corporation’s ability to execute its business plans. Although management believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially.

      National City Corporation is an $87.1 billion diversified financial services company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. National City operates banks and other financial services subsidiaries principally in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.

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UNAUDITED

National City Corporation
Financial Highlights
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

				1999																1998
																								4Q99/
				Fourth				Third				Second				First				Fourth				4Q98
				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				% Change
Tax-equivalent net interest income				$	756.4			$	757.7			$	758.2			$	764.7			$	757.9				(0.2	)%
Provision for loan losses					66.6				55.5				59.6				68.0				56.9				17.1
Fee and other income - recurring					581.1				528.6				537.6				554.1				576.3				0.8
Securities gains before nonrecurring items					37.1				20.3				25.2				23.7				49.3				(24.7	)
Noninterest expense - recurring					780.1				705.9				719.5				739.2				766.8				1.7
Net income before nonrecurring items					344.9				356.5				354.9				347.9				359.3				(4.0	)
Nonrecurring items:
	Pre-tax				(1.8	)			—				0.3				36.8				(104.7	)			—
	After-tax				(1.4	)							(0.4	)			3.1				(68.0	)			—
Net income					343.5				356.5				354.5				351.0				291.3				17.9
Net income per common share:
		Basic		$	.56			$	.58			$	.56			$	.55			$	.44				27.3
		Diluted			.55				.57				.56				.54				.43				27.9
		Diluted — adjusted (1)			.56				.57				.56				.53				.53				5.7
		Diluted — cash basis (1)(2)			.59				.59				.59				.56				.56				5.4
Dividends paid per common share					.27				.27				.26				.26				.24				12.5
Performance Ratios (1):
Return on average common equity					22.93	%			23.79	%			22.99	%			20.94	%			19.43	%
Return on average assets					1.60				1.71				1.71				1.65				1.69
Net interest margin					3.87				4.03				4.04				4.02				4.00
Overhead ratio					26.31				23.40				23.99				24.21				25.15
Efficiency ratio					58.33				54.88				55.52				56.05				57.48
Assets				$	87,121			$	85,058			$	84,022			$	84,094			$	88,246				(1.3	)%
Loans					60,204				58,001				57,317				57,312				58,011				3.8
Securities					14,904				15,811				14,994				15,264				16,119				(7.5	)
Deposits					50,066				50,395				52,091				52,051				58,247				(14.0	)
Stockholders’ equity					5,728				5,914				5,867				6,257				7,013				(18.3	)
Book value per common share					9.39				9.54				9.44				9.90				10.69				(12.2	)
Market value per common share					23.69				26.69				32.75				33.19				36.25				(34.6	)
Nonrecurring Items Detail:
Gain on sale of CEFT stock				$	—			$	—			$	32.1			$	—			$	—
Gain on sale of EPS					—				—				—				95.7				—
Gain on sale of SVS					—				—				—				6.1				—
NPI business line divestitures, net of minority interest					(1.8	)			—				6.0				(65.0	)			—
Facilities charge and executive contract obligations					—				—				(37.8	)			—				—
Merger charges					—				—				—				—				(104.7	)
Nonrecurring pre-tax				$	(1.8	)		$	—			$	0.3			$	36.8			$	(104.7	)

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]

				Twelve Months Ended
				December 31,
				1999				1998				% Change
Tax-equivalent net interest income				$	3,037.0			$	2,951.9				2.9	%
Provision for loan losses					249.7				201.4				24.0
Fee and other income - recurring					2,201.4				2,179.7				1.0
Securities gains before nonrecurring items					106.3				134.5				(20.9	)
Noninterest expense - recurring					2,944.7				2,997.7				(1.8	)
Net income before nonrecurring items					1,404.2				1,332.6				5.4
Nonrecurring items:
	Pre-tax				35.3				(379.4	)			—
	After-tax				1.3				(261.9	)			—
Net income					1,405.5				1,070.7				31.3
Net income per common share:
		Basic		$	2.25			$	1.64				37.2
		Diluted			2.22				1.61				37.9
		Diluted — adjusted (1)			2.22				2.00				11.0
		Diluted — cash basis (1)(2)			2.33				2.10				11.0
Dividends paid per common share					1.06				.94				12.8
Performance Ratios (1):
Return on average common equity					22.62	%			19.18	%
Return on average assets					1.67				1.66
Net interest margin					3.99				4.11
Overhead ratio					24.48				27.71
Efficiency ratio					56.21				58.42
Assets
Loans
Securities
Deposits
Stockholders’ equity
Book value per common share
Market value per common share
Nonrecurring Items Detail:
Gain on sale of CEFT stock				$	32.1			$	—
Gain on sale of EPS					95.7				—
Gain on sale of SVS					6.1				—
NPI business line divestitures, net of minority interest					(60.8	)			—
Facilities charge and executive contract obligations					(37.8	)			—
Merger charges					—				(379.4	)
Nonrecurring pre-tax				$	35.3			$	(379.4	)

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UNAUDITED

National City Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

					1999																1998
					Fourth				Third				Second				First				Fourth
					Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter
Interest Income:
	Loans				$	1,296,074			$	1,224,469			$	1,205,526			$	1,212,303			$	1,232,070
	Securities:
		Taxable				224,716				217,175				208,446				223,913				215,406
		Exempt from Federal income taxes				13,091				11,245				13,465				10,199				9,524
	Federal funds sold and security resale agreements					8,290				8,656				9,903				11,013				12,852
	Other short-term investments					4,949				3,189				2,925				3,062				2,407
			Total interest income			1,547,120				1,464,734				1,440,265				1,460,490				1,472,259
Interest Expense:
	Deposits					425,849				397,516				393,145				419,023				451,800
	Federal funds borrowed and security repurchase agreements					101,114				87,901				79,352				99,694				102,602
	Borrowed funds					41,159				37,632				36,957				28,484				30,589
	Long-term debt and capital securities					231,534				194,206				181,867				157,154				140,083
			Total interest expense			799,656				717,255				691,321				704,355				725,074
			Net interest income			747,464				747,479				748,944				756,135				747,185
	Provision for loan losses					66,622				55,476				59,542				68,034				56,888
			Net interest income after provision for loan losses			680,842				692,003				689,402				688,101				690,297
Noninterest Income:
	Item processing revenue					98,471				91,519				105,089				121,703				130,009
	Service charges on deposit accounts					108,321				107,430				104,834				99,863				98,649
	Trust and investment management fees					82,229				81,097				80,683				81,847				79,802
	Card-related fees					48,725				48,383				49,259				45,310				48,479
	Mortgage banking revenue					126,011				81,105				89,181				92,995				89,412
	Other					115,516				119,080				114,585				149,173				129,915
			Total fees and other income			579,273				528,614				543,631				590,891				576,266
	Securities gains					37,095				20,353				57,224				23,688				49,242
			Total noninterest income			616,368				548,967				600,855				614,579				625,508
Noninterest Expense:
	Salaries and other personnel					400,416				367,638				389,585				400,764				405,050
	Equipment					56,468				47,590				52,955				52,761				58,618
	Net occupancy					49,772				48,944				49,234				54,127				52,519
	Third party services					49,723				49,304				48,551				45,570				55,233
	Merger expenses					—				—				—				—				104,678
	Other					223,725				192,487				216,910				185,980				195,436
			Total noninterest expense			780,104				705,963				757,235				739,202				871,534
Income before income taxes						517,106				535,007				533,022				563,478				444,271
Income tax expense						173,590				178,545				178,534				212,459				153,012
			Net income		$	343,516			$	356,462			$	354,488			$	351,019			$	291,259
			Net income applicable to common stock		$	343,062			$	356,005			$	354,078			$	350,604			$	290,722
Net Income Per Common Share:
			Basic		$	.56			$	.58			$	.56			$	.55			$	.44
			Diluted			.55				.57				.56				.54				.43

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]

					Twelve Months Ended
					December 31,
					1999				1998
Interest Income:
	Loans				$	4,938,372			$	4,811,735
	Securities:
		Taxable				874,250				836,430
		Exempt from Federal income taxes				48,000				48,831
	Federal funds sold and security resale agreements					37,862				43,793
	Other short-term investments					14,125				15,888
			Total interest income			5,912,609				5,756,677
Interest Expense:
	Deposits					1,635,533				1,846,276
	Federal funds borrowed and security repurchase agreements					368,061				353,882
	Borrowed funds					144,232				168,507
	Long-term debt and capital securities					764,761				476,364
			Total interest expense			2,912,587				2,845,029
			Net interest income			3,000,022				2,911,648
	Provision for loan losses					249,674				201,400
			Net interest income after provision for loan losses			2,750,348				2,710,248
Noninterest Income:
	Item processing revenue					416,782				484,503
	Service charges on deposit accounts					420,448				384,938
	Trust and investment management fees					325,856				311,050
	Card-related fees					191,677				201,168
	Mortgage banking revenue					389,292				327,247
	Other					498,354				470,777
			Total fees and other income			2,242,409				2,179,683
	Securities gains					138,360				134,459
			Total noninterest income			2,380,769				2,314,142
Noninterest Expense:
	Salaries and other personnel					1,588,403				1,594,757
	Equipment					209,774				212,871
	Net occupancy					202,077				202,664
	Third party services					193,148				226,262
	Merger expenses					—				379,376
	Other					819,102				761,183
			Total noninterest expense			2,982,504				3,377,113
Income before income taxes						2,148,613				1,647,277
Income tax expense						743,128				576,596
			Net income		$	1,405,485			$	1,070,681
			Net income applicable to common stock		$	1,403,749			$	1,068,499
Net Income Per Common Share:
			Basic		$	2.25			$	1.64
			Diluted			2.22				1.61

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UNAUDITED

National City Corporation
Consolidated Period-End Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands)

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UNAUDITED

National City Corporation
Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Millions)

						1999																1998
						Fourth				Third				Second				First				Fourth
						Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter				Quarter
Assets
Earning Assets:
	Loans:
			Commercial			$	22,988			$	22,066			$	22,228			$	22,154			$	21,609
			Real estate — commercial				6,141				6,238				6,275				6,305				6,314
			Real estate — residential				8,475				8,362				8,483				8,926				9,327
			Consumer				15,617				15,052				15,130				14,956				14,491
			Credit card				2,224				2,088				1,953				1,829				1,818
			Home equity				3,561				3,336				3,188				3,149				3,193
				Total loans			59,006				57,142				57,257				57,319				56,752
	Mortgage loans held for sale						2,555				2,172				2,344				2,976				2,991
	Securities available for sale						15,403				14,851				14,638				15,126				14,500
	Federal funds sold and security resale agreements						608				666				850				945				1,157
	Other short-term investments						190				140				149				148				113
				Total earning assets			77,762				74,971				75,238				76,514				75,513
Allowance for loan losses							(985	)			(990	)			(989	)			(985	)			(988	)
Fair value (depreciation) appreciation of securities available for sale							(116	)			(8	)			268				377				509
Cash and demand balances due from banks							3,376				3,306				3,506				4,068				3,826
Properties and equipment							1,121				1,108				1,158				1,179				1,178
Accrued income and other assets							4,442				4,304				4,188				4,367				4,170
				Total Assets		$	85,600			$	82,691			$	83,369			$	85,520			$	84,208
Liabilities and Stockholders’
Equity
Liabilities:
	Noninterest bearing deposits					$	11,278			$	11,338			$	11,542			$	11,681			$	10,168
	NOW and money market accounts						16,580				16,742				16,997				16,899				18,181
	Savings accounts						3,605				3,795				3,922				3,955				4,033
	Time deposits of individuals						14,578				14,461				14,883				15,581				16,126
	Other time deposits						3,141				2,908				2,857				3,311				4,141
	Deposits in overseas offices						3,105				2,389				2,342				3,030				2,050
				Total deposits			52,287				51,633				52,543				54,457				54,699
	Federal funds borrowed and security repurchase agreements						8,244				7,703				7,377				9,004				9,195
	Borrowed funds						2,893				2,808				2,977				2,838				2,515
	Long-term debt and capital securities						15,081				13,532				13,305				11,301				9,292
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities						1,105				1,046				951				1,159				1,144
				Total Liabilities			79,610				76,722				77,153				78,759				76,845
Stockholders’ Equity:
		Preferred					30				31				31				33				36
		Common					5,960				5,938				6,185				6,728				7,327
				Total Stockholders’ Equity			5,990				5,969				6,216				6,761				7,363
				Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	85,600			$	82,691			$	83,369			$	85,520			$	84,208