POWER OF ATTORNEY
                              -----------------

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned officer and/or
director of ASB Financial Corp. (the "Company") or American Savings Bank,
fsb ("American") hereby constitutes and appoints Robert M. Smith or Leigh
Anne Smith as his/her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
securities of the Company beneficially owned by the undersigned and any and
all amendments thereto, and to file the same, and other documents relating
thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and grants unto each
of said attorneys-in-fact and substitute or substitutes full power and
authority to do each and every act and thing requested and necessary to be
done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as
he/she might do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that
each of said attorneys-in-fact and substitute or substitutes may lawfully
do and seek to be done by virtue hereof.

      This Power of Attorney shall be valid until such time as it is
revoked by the undersigned in writing.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his/her hand
this 11 day of August, 2003.


                                       Signature:  /s/ Christopher H. Lute
                                                   -----------------------
                                       Print Name: Christopher H. Lute
                                       Capacity:   Board Member