NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/15/2008
Contact: Richard Scott or Bryna Butler, (740) 446-2631, 1-800-468-6682


                     OVBC ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


GALLIPOLIS,  Ohio -- Ohio Valley Banc Corp. [NASDAQ: OVBC] was authorized by its
Board of Directors on January 15, 2008, to  repurchase  up to 175,000  shares of
OVBC common stock through open market and privately negotiated purchases.

The timing of the purchases,  the prices paid and the actual number of shares of
common  stock  purchased  will  depend upon market  conditions  and  limitations
imposed by  applicable  federal  securities  laws.  All  shares of common  stock
purchased will be held as treasury  shares and will be available for use by OVBC
pursuant  to the  terms of  OVBC's  Dividend  Reinvestment  and  Employee  Stock
Purchase Plan as well as for other  general  corporate  purposes.  All purchases
will be made by OVBC between  February  16, 2008 and  February 15, 2009,  unless
OVBC's Board of Directors extends the program.

Jeffrey E.  Smith,  president  and chief  executive  officer,  commented,  "This
authorization  by our Board will permit the purchase of shares,  when available,
to meet the demand for the Dividend Reinvestment Program."

Ohio Valley Banc Corp. has three subsidiaries:  Ohio Valley Bank with 16 offices
in Ohio and West  Virginia,  Loan Central  with five  offices in Ohio,  and Ohio
Valley Financial  Services based in Jackson,  Ohio. Ohio Valley Banc Corp. stock
is traded on the NASDAQ Global  Market under the symbol OVBC.  The company's Web
site is www.ovbc.com.