October 20, 2000


Board of Directors
PVF Capital Corp.
25350 Rockside Road
Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We  have  acted  as  counsel  to and  for PVF  Capital  Corp.,  an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Registration Statement on Form S-8
(the  "Registration  Statement"),  for the  purpose  of  registering  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  shares (the  "Shares")  of the  Company's
common  stock,  $.01 par value per share (the  "Common  Stock").  The Shares are
issuable  under the  Company's  2000  Incentive  Stock Option Plan (the " Option
Plan").

         In our  capacity  as  counsel,  we have been  requested  to render  the
opinion set forth in this letter and, in connection therewith,  we have reviewed
the following documents:  (i) the Registration Statement,  (ii) the Option Plan,
(iii) the First Amended and Restated  Articles of Incorporation of the certified
by the Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof,  (iv) certain  minutes of
meetings or unanimous consents of the Board of Directors and shareholders of the
Company,  as  amended,  certified  as true and correct by the  Secretary  of the
Company,  and (vi) a  certificate  of the  Chief  Financial  Officer  and of the
Secretary of the Company dated October 17, 2000.

         In rendering  this  opinion,  we have assumed and relied upon,  without
independent  investigation,  (i) the authenticity,  completeness,  truth and due
authorization and execution of all documents submitted to us as originals,  (ii)
the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us as originals,
and (iii) the  conformity to the  originals of all documents  submitted to us as
certified or photostatic copies.

         The law covered by the opinion  expressed herein is limited to the Ohio
General Corporation Law.





Board of Directors
PVF Capital Corp.
October 20, 2000
Page 2


         This opinion letter is given only with respect to laws and  regulations
presently in effect. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in law
or regulation which may hereafter occur,  whether the same are  retroactively or
prospectively  applied, or to update or supplement this letter in any fashion to
reflect any facts or circumstances which hereafter come to our attention.

         Based upon, and subject to, the  foregoing,  we are of the opinion that
the Shares when issued  pursuant to and in accordance  with the Option Plan will
be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and we further consent to the reference to our firm under
the caption  "Legal  Matters" in the Prospectus and to any reference to our firm
in the  Prospectus  as legal  counsel who have  passed upon the  legality of the
securities offered thereby.


                                       Very truly yours,

                                       STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP




                                       By:  /s/ Joel E. Rappoport
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Joel E. Rappoport, a Partner