For More Information:

Marquette National Corporation:
Paul M. McCarthy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(708) 364-9002

Hemlock Federal Financial Corp.:
Maureen Partynski
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(708) 687-9400

Chicago, Illinois, December 29, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Marquette National Corporation ("Marquette") announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. ("Hemlock") (Pink Sheets: HMKF).

Hemlock, based in Oak Forest, IL is the holding company of Hemlock Federal Bank. Founded in 1904, Hemlock Federal Bank has banking locations in Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Lemont, Bolingbrook and two offices in Chicago (Back of the Yards and Little Village communities). Marquette is an Illinois-based bank holding company. Marquette's banking subsidiary, Marquette Bank, was started in 1945 and currently operates 20 retail offices located in communities in southwestern Chicagoland.

In the all cash transaction, Marquette has agreed to pay $55.50 per share to Hemlock shareholders. Subject to regulatory and Hemlock shareholder approval, the transaction is anticipated to be completed during the second quarter of 2006.

Subsequent to closing, Hemlock branches will become offices of Marquette Bank, bringing the total number of Marquette banking offices to 26. Hemlock currently has assets of $292 million and the combined company's total assets will exceed $1.7 billion.

"This is a merger of two very similar South Side institutions. Merging our contiguous branch networks will provide greater convenience for both Hemlock and Marquette customers," said Paul M. McCarthy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marquette. "We are very impressed with Hemlock's long history of service to the community as well as their strong financial performance in recent years."

McCarthy also emphasized that customers of Hemlock will continue to be serviced at their current branch by the same employees they have come to know throughout their banking relationship with Hemlock.

"This agreement with Marquette brings recognition to our many years of hard work of building a strong franchise with attractive locations and a top-notch employee base," said Maureen Partynski, Chief Executive Officer of Hemlock. "We are pleased our employees will benefit from becoming part of a larger organization that is focused on growth while still maintaining its community bank heritage, and excited that our customers will benefit from a broadened array of financial products and services."

Marquette National Corp. is the holding company for Marquette Bank. Marquette Bank is a full-service bank that serves the financial needs of communities in southwestern Chicagoland. The Bank offers an extensive line of financial products including retail banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, trust and business banking to consumers and commercial customers. The Bank has 20 retail offices located in Chicago, Aurora, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Naperville, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Romeoville and Summit, Illinois. Additional information on Marquette may be found on its web site: www.emarquettebank.com.

Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. is the holding company for Hemlock Federal Bank, headquartered in Oak Forest, Illinois. Hemlock Bank serves customers in six full service branches located in Cook and Will Counties, Illinois. Chicago, Illinois, December 29, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Marquette National Corporation ("Marquette") announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. ("Hemlock") (Pink Sheets: HMKF).

Hemlock, based in Oak Forest, IL is the holding company of Hemlock Federal Bank. Founded in 1904, Hemlock Federal Bank has banking locations in Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Lemont, Bolingbrook and two offices in Chicago (Back of the Yards and Little Village communities). Marquette is an Illinois-based bank holding company. Marquette's banking subsidiary, Marquette Bank, was started in 1945 and currently operates 20 retail offices located in communities in southwestern Chicagoland.

In the all cash transaction, Marquette has agreed to pay $55.50 per share to Hemlock shareholders. Subject to regulatory and Hemlock shareholder approval, the transaction is anticipated to be completed during the second quarter of 2006.

Subsequent to closing, Hemlock branches will become offices of Marquette Bank, bringing the total number of Marquette banking offices to 26. Hemlock currently has assets of $292 million and the combined company's total assets will exceed $1.7 billion.

"This is a merger of two very similar South Side institutions. Merging our contiguous branch networks will provide greater convenience for both Hemlock and Marquette customers," said Paul M. McCarthy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marquette. "We are very impressed with Hemlock's long history of service to the community as well as their strong financial performance in recent years."

McCarthy also emphasized that customers of Hemlock will continue to be serviced at their current branch by the same employees they have come to know throughout their banking relationship with Hemlock.

"This agreement with Marquette brings recognition to our many years of hard work of building a strong franchise with attractive locations and a top-notch employee base," said Maureen Partynski, Chief Executive Officer of Hemlock. "We are pleased our employees will benefit from becoming part of a larger organization that is focused on growth while still maintaining its community bank heritage, and excited that our customers will benefit from a broadened array of financial products and services."

Marquette National Corp. is the holding company for Marquette Bank. Marquette Bank is a full-service bank that serves the financial needs of communities in southwestern Chicagoland. The Bank offers an extensive line of financial products including retail banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, trust and business banking to consumers and commercial customers. The Bank has 20 retail offices located in Chicago, Aurora, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Naperville, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Romeoville and Summit, Illinois. Additional information on Marquette may be found on its web site: www.emarquettebank.com.

Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. is the holding company for Hemlock Federal Bank, headquartered in Oak Forest, Illinois. Hemlock Bank serves customers in six full service branches located in Cook and Will Counties, Illinois. Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. will be filing a proxy statement and other relevant documents concerning the merger. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Documents filed by Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. will be available free of charge from its Corporate Secretary at 5700 W. 159th Street, Oak Forest Illinois, 60452, telephone (708) 687-9400. INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE MERGER.

Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forwarding-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by Marquette National Corporation and Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. from time to time. Marquette Financial Corporation and Hemlock Federal Financial Corp. do not undertake, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to publicly release results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements.