EXHIBIT 99.1
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NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT:  BRIEN M. CHASE, CFO
JUNE 3, 2005                                                        304-525-1600

                         PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
                     ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF JUNE DISTRIBUTION
                          OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

         PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. (PREMIER), HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA
(NASDAQ/NMS-PFBI) a community bank holding company with five bank subsidiaries
today announced that it received approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of
Cleveland (FRB) to pay the regularly scheduled June 30 distribution on its 9.75%
Trust Preferred Securities issued by PFBI Capital Trust (NASDAQ/NMS-PFBIP).
Shareholders of record on June 15, 2005 will receive $0.609375 per share for the
regularly scheduled quarterly distribution due June 30, 2005.

         Under a previously disclosed Written Agreement entered into with the
FRB on January 29, 2003, Premier is required to request approval for the payment
of quarterly distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities. Although the FRB
has given its approval to pay the current distribution due June 30 ,2005,
Premier is still bound by the Written Agreement and will be required to request
the FRB's approval to pay future distributions. Management intends to seek the
FRB's approval for payment of future regularly scheduled quarterly distributions
on the Trust Preferred Securities but no assurance can be given that the FRB
will grant such approval.

         Certain Statements contained in this news release, including without
limitation statements including the word "believes," "anticipates," "intends,"
"expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of Premier to be materially different from
any future results, performance or achievements of Premier expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general
economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development
plans and other factors referenced in this press release. Given these
uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on such forward-looking statements. Premier disclaims any obligation to update
any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of
the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or
developments.