<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
December 5, 1997
FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Mexico 0-25956 85-0317365
- ------------------------------- ------------ -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) file number) Identification No.)
100 East Broadway, Farmington, New Mexico 87401
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address of principal executive offices Zip Code
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (505) 324-9500
----------------
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
News release dated December 5, 1997, announcing the submission to
the Financial Institutions Division of the Regulations and Licensing
Department of the State of New Mexico a Notice of Intent for the
purpose of forming a new state chartered bank to be located in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) EXHIBITS
News release from First Place Financial Corporation dated
December 5, 1997.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
---------------------------------
(Registrant)
Date: December 8, 1997 James D. Rose
------------------ -------------------------------------
President and Chief Operating Officer
<PAGE>
NEWS RELEASE
------------
DATE: December 5, 1997
CONTACT: James D. Rose, President
TELEPHONE: (505) 324-9542
FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO -- Richard I. Ledbetter, chief executive officer of
First Place Financial Corporation of Farmington, New Mexico's largest home-
based bank holding company, announced today that they have submitted a Notice
of Intent with the Financial Institutions Division of the Regulations and
Licensing Department of the State of New Mexico for the purpose of forming a
new state chartered bank to be located in Albuquerque. The proposed new
bank's name will be announced at a later date.
An application will be filed with the Regional Office of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation in Dallas, Texas. The bank will be managed by
the Albuquerque management team, but the bank will be owned by First Place
Financial Corporation, whose flagship bank is the First National Bank of
Farmington. First Place Financial Corporation also owns the Burns National
Bank of Durango and Western Bank of Gallup. As of September 30, 1997, First
Place Financial had total assets of $864,339,000. James D. Rose, President of
First Place Financial, said he anticipates the new bank to be open no later
than the second quarter of 1998.