Exhibit 99

Independent Accountants' Review Report

The Board of Directors
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2000, and the related consolidated statements of income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which will be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, the consolidated balance sheet of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. as of December 31, 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) and in our report dated January 18, 2000, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1999, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

                                /s/ ERNST & YOUNG, LLP

Chicago, Illinois
August 14, 2000