Exhibit 99.1

N e w s     R e l e a s e

October 17, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Park National Corporation reports third quarter 2005 earnings

NEWARK, Ohio — The Park National Corporation (“Park”) (AMEX: PRK) today announced earnings for the third quarter of 2005. Net income for the quarter totaled $24.295 million, a 3.2 percent increase from $23.547 million in the same period in 2004. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter totaled $1.69 per share, a 3.7 percent increase compared to $1.63 per share in the third quarter of last year.

Year-to-date net income (as of September 30) was $72.407 million, a 2.5 percent increase over the same nine-month period in 2004, which reported a net income of $70.610 million. Diluted earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2005 were $5.03 per share, a 3.1 percent increase over the first three quarters of 2004, which reported $4.88 in diluted earnings per share.

Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park is a bank holding company with $5.5 billion in consolidated total assets. Its family of 12 community banks and 2 specialty finance companies operate 133 offices throughout 29 Ohio counties. They include The Park National Bank, Fairfield National Division, The Richland Trust Company, Century National Bank, The First-Knox National Bank, Farmers and Savings Division, United Bank, N.A., Second National Bank, The Security National Bank and Trust Co., Unity National Division, The Citizens National Bank of Urbana, First Clermont Division, Scope Aircraft Finance (Scope Leasing Inc.), and Guardian Financial Services.

For more information visit www.parknationalcorp.com. Financial tables are below.

Media contacts:
Bethany White, Comm. Specialist 740.349.3754
John Kozak, Chief Financial Officer, 740.349.3792

Safe Harbor Statement
Except for the historical and present factual information contained in this press release, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including: the impact of competition; changes in economic conditions in Park’s market area; changes in policies by regulatory agencies; fluctuations in interest rates; demand for loans in Park’s market area; and other risk factors relating to our industry as detailed from time to time in Park’s reports filed with the SEC. Park wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Park does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Park National Corporation
50 N. Third Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
www.parknationalcorp.com

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

INCOME STATEMENT	THREE MONTHS ENDED									NINE MONTHS ENDED
	SEPTEMBER 30,									SEPTEMBER 30,
							PERCENT									PERCENT
	2005			2004			CHANGE			2005			2004			CHANGE
NET INTEREST INCOME	$	55,551		$	53,810			3.24	%	$	165,408		$	158,948			4.06	%
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES		1,600			2,745			-41.71	%		4,007			6,115			-34.47	%
OTHER INCOME		15,154			13,009			16.49	%		44,720			39,927			12.00	%
GAIN (LOSS) ON SALE OF SECURITIES		0			0						96			106
OTHER EXPENSE		34,342			31,092			10.45	%		103,080			92,912			10.94	%
INCOME BEFORE TAXES		34,763			32,982			5.40	%		103,137			99,954			3.18	%
NET INCOME		24,295			23,547			3.18	%		72,407			70,610			2.54	%
NET INCOME PER SHARE-BASIC		1.70			1.65			3.03	%		5.06			4.92			2.85	%
NET INCOME PER SHARE-DILUTED		1.69			1.63			3.68	%		5.03			4.88			3.07	%
CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE		0.90			0.838			7.40	%		2.70			2.514			7.40	%
RATIOS AND OTHER INFORMATION
RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS		1.74	%		1.84	%					1.73	%		1.87	%
RETURN ON AVERAGE EQUITY		17.08	%		17.84	%					17.26	%		17.70	%
YIELD ON EARNING ASSETS		6.23	%		5.77	%					6.08	%		5.78	%
COST OF PAYING LIABILITIES		2.26	%		1.50	%					2.11	%		1.48	%
NET INTEREST MARGIN		4.36	%		4.54	%					4.32	%		4.56	%
EFFICIENCY RATIO		48.15	%		46.00	%					48.60	%		46.17	%
NET LOAN CHARGE-OFFS	$	1,585		$	2,096					$	3,817		$	4,518
NET CHARGE-OFFS AS A PERCENT OF LOANS		0.19	%		0.29	%					0.16	%		0.22	%
BALANCE SHEET
AT SEPTEMBER 30,							PERCENT
	2005			2004			CHANGE
INVESTMENTS	$	1,766,252		$	1,955,443			-9.68	%
LOANS		3,298,402			2,873,433			14.79	%
LOAN LOSS RESERVE		70,367			64,739			8.69	%
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES		69,825			11,849			489.29	%
TOTAL ASSETS		5,518,173			5,135,570			7.45	%
DEPOSITS		3,821,312			3,535,405			8.09	%
BORROWINGS		1,065,821			981,105			8.63	%
EQUITY		563,436			553,317			1.83	%
BOOK VALUE PER SHARE		39.71			38.71			2.58	%
NONPERFORMING LOANS		21,536			20,235			6.43	%
NONPERFORMING ASSETS		23,696			23,600			0.41	%
PAST DUE 90 DAY LOANS		7,536			7,237			4.13	%
RATIOS
LOANS/ASSETS		59.77	%		55.95	%
NONPERFORMING LOANS/LOANS		0.65	%		0.70	%
PAST DUE 90 DAY LOANS/LOANS		0.23	%		0.25	%
LOAN LOSS RESERVE/LOANS		2.13	%		2.25	%
EQUITY/ASSETS		10.21	%		10.77	%

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2005		2004		2005		2004
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	57,338	$	45,130	$	164,109	$	132,062
Interest on:
Obligations of U.S. Government, its agencies and other securities		21,229		22,187		65,778		65,714
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		1,095		1,255		3,449		3,904
Other interest income		106		32		319		83
Total interest income		79,768		68,604		233,655		201,763
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits:
Demand and savings deposits		4,111		1,821		10,601		4,834
Time deposits		10,851		8,181		30,306		24,759
Interest on borrowings		9,255		4,792		27,340		13,222
Total interest expense		24,217		14,794		68,247		42,815
Net interest income		55,551		53,810		165,408		158,948
Provision for loan losses		1,600		2,745		4,007		6,115
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		53,951		51,065		161,401		152,833
Other income		15,154		13,009		44,720		39,927
Gain (loss) on sale of securities		—		—		96		106
Other expense:
Salaries and employee benefits		19,812		17,838		59,364		53,082
Occupancy expense		2,113		1,803		6,544		5,267
Furniture and equipment expense		1,242		1,333		3,991		4,398
Other expense		11,175		10,118		33,181		30,165
Total other expense		34,342		31,092		103,080		92,912
Income before federal income taxes		34,763		32,982		103,137		99,954
Federal income taxes		10,468		9,435		30,730		29,344
Net income	$	24,295	$	23,547	$	72,407	$	70,610
Per Share:
Net income — basic	$	1.70	$	1.65	$	5.06	$	4.92
Net income — diluted	$	1.69	$	1.63	$	5.03	$	4.88
Weighted average shares — basic		14,256,723		14,289,060		14,300,005		14,358,027
Weighted average shares — diluted		14,338,418		14,427,971		14,397,838		14,481,842

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands, except share data)

	September 30,
	2005			2004
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	157,321		$	141,530
Federal funds sold		42,143			—
Interest bearing deposits		500			—
Investment securities		1,766,252			1,955,443
Loans (net of unearned interest)		3,298,402			2,873,433
Allowance for possible loan losses		70,367			64,739
Loans, net		3,228,035			2,808,694
Bank premises and equipment, net		47,222			37,179
Other assets		276,700			192,724
Total assets	$	5,518,173		$	5,135,570
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$	649,897		$	567,708
Interest-bearing		3,171,415			2,967,697
Total deposits		3,821,312			3,535,405
Borrowings		1,065,821			981,105
Other liabilities		67,604			65,743
Total liabilities		4,954,737			4,582,253
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock (No par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized in 2005 and 2004; 15,271,624 shares issued in 2005 and 15,271,479 in 2004)		208,368			106,036
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes		(5,519	)		13,638
Retained earnings		467,057			521,275
Treasury stock (1,082,636 shares in 2005 and 975,950 shares in 2004)		(106,470	)		(87,632	)
Total stockholders’ equity		563,436			553,317
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	5,518,173		$	5,135,570

PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2005			2004			2005			2004
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	147,063		$	145,212		$	148,214		$	142,007
Federal funds sold		11,182			4,932			10,786			7,423
Interest bearing deposits		684			29			1,215			43
Investment securities		1,821,149			1,941,864			1,907,051			1,938,132
Loans (net of unearned interest)		3,286,412			2,836,341			3,266,610			2,790,978
Allowance for possible loan losses		70,979			64,757			71,052			64,492
Loans, net		3,215,433			2,771,584			3,195,558			2,726,486
Bank premises and equipment, net		47,231			36,198			46,110			36,239
Other assets		292,495			198,955			286,574			189,813
Total assets	$	5,535,237		$	5,098,774		$	5,595,508		$	5,040,143
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$	645,916		$	570,975		$	635,576		$	564,050
Interest-bearing		3,196,983			2,981,788			3,204,540			2,946,887
Total deposits		3,842,899			3,552,763			3,840,116			3,510,937
Borrowings		1,049,351			954,543			1,119,570			929,700
Other liabilities		78,102			66,478			75,077			66,713
Total liabilities		4,970,352			4,573,784			5,034,763			4,507,350
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock		208,368			106,014			208,343			105,940
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes		2,672			(607	)		5,224			10,577
Retained earnings		452,977			507,747			441,449			496,245
Treasury stock		(99,132	)		(88,164	)		(94,271	)		(79,969	)
Total stockholders’ equity		564,885			524,990			560,745			532,793
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	5,535,237		$	5,098,774		$	5,595,508		$	5,040,143