Exhibit 99.1

Civista Bancshares, Inc. Announces Strong First Quarter 2019 Earnings

Sandusky, Ohio, May 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/– Civista Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIVB) (“Civista”) reported net income available to common shareholders of $9.5 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2019. This compares to net income available to common shareholders of $6.7 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018.

“We continue to build upon the success of the UCB acquisition and efforts that we put in place during 2018. Our net interest margin has continued to expand, due in large part to the solid core deposit base that the legacy Civista and UCB teams put in place. While our loan balances only grew 2.9% on an annualized basis during the first quarter, the first quarter tends to be a slower quarter for our loan portfolio. Our team continues to put together core earnings growth and very strong asset quality.” said Dennis G. Shaffer, President and CEO of Civista.

Factors Affecting Comparability

Civista acquired United Community Bancorp (“UCB”) in September 2018. The financial position and results of operations of UCB prior to its acquisition date are not included in the Company’s financial results for periods prior to the acquisition date.

Results of Operations:

Net interest income increased $6.9 million, or 47.0%, for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018. Interest income increased $8.7 million, or 54.4%, for the first quarter of 2019. Average earning assets increased $514.6 million, which resulted in $6.3 million of the increase in interest income. Additionally, yields increased 65 basis points which resulted in $2.4 million of the increase in interest income. Accretion income associated with purchased loan portfolios totaled $992 thousand or approximately 22 basis points for the quarter. Interest expense increased $1.7 million, or 148.7 %, for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $384.0 million, resulting in $701 thousand of the increase in interest expense. Average rates increased 39 basis points, resulting in $1.0 million of the increase in interest expense. The tax equivalent net interest margin increased 40 basis points to 4.45% for the first quarter of 2019, compared to 4.05% for the same period a year ago. Accretion income from the UCB acquisition contributed approximately 22 basis points to the increase in net interest margin.

Average Balance Analysis

(Unaudited - Dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019								2018
	Average balance			Interest		Yield/ rate *			Average balance			Interest		Yield/ rate *
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Loans	$	1,564,208		$	20,963		5.44	%	$	1,147,441		$	13,639		4.82	%
Taxable securities		207,600			1,748		3.43	%		140,999			986		2.83	%
Non-taxable securities		157,619			1,351		4.49	%		101,478			878		4.53	%
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks		88,096			522		2.40	%		113,025			421		1.51	%
Total interest-earning assets	$	2,017,523			24,584		5.02	%	$	1,502,943			15,924		4.37	%
Noninterest-earning assets:
Cash and due from financial institutions		92,782								90,358
Premises and equipment, net		21,924								17,529
Accrued interest receivable		6,534								4,445
Intangible assets		86,116								28,368
Other assets		20,053								11,243
Bank owned life insurance		43,643								25,175
Less allowance for loan losses		(13,885	)							(13,141	)
Total Assets	$	2,274,690							$	1,666,920
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Demand and savings	$	855,666		$	708		0.34	%	$	616,213		$	252		0.17	%
Time		270,507			1,183		1.77	%		187,391			455		0.98	%
FHLB		97,267			597		2.49	%		39,642			152		1.56	%
Subordinated debentures		29,427			372		5.13	%		29,427			288		3.97	%
Repurchase agreements		22,197			5		0.09	%		18,398			5		0.11	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	1,275,064			2,865		0.91	%	$	891,071			1,152		0.52	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits		680,929								576,809
Other liabilities		17,041								14,608
Shareholders’ equity		301,656								184,432
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	2,274,690							$	1,666,920
Net interest income and interest rate spread				$	21,719		4.11	%				$	14,772		3.85	%
Net interest margin							4.45	%							4.05	%

* - Interest yields are presented on an annualized basis and are calculated using a 21% tax-equivalent adjustment

No provision for loan losses was made during the three month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

For the first quarter of 2019, noninterest income totaled $6.3 million, an increase of $668 thousand, or 11.9%, compared to the prior year’s first quarter.

Noninterest income
(unaudited - dollars in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
	2019		2018
Service charges	$	1,456	$	1,134
Net gain on sale of securities		4		—
Net gain on equity securities		2		40
Net gain on sale of loans		331		333
ATM/Interchange fees		906		554
Wealth management fees		847		852
Bank owned life insurance		247		142
Tax refund processing fees		2,200		2,200
Other		291		361
Total noninterest income	$	6,284	$	5,616

Service charges increased $322 thousand, or 28.4%, ATM/Interchange fees increased $352 thousand, or 63.5% and bank owned life insurance increased $105 thousand, or 73.9% all primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of UCB during the third quarter of 2018.

For the first quarter of 2019, noninterest expense totaled $16.4 million, an increase of $4.2 million, or 34.8%, compared to the prior year’s first quarter

Noninterest expense
(unaudited - dollars in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
	2019		2018
Compensation expense	$	9,805	$	7,374
Net occupancy and equipment		1,503		1,135
Contracted data processing		419		348
Taxes and assessments		593		469
Professional services		694		552
Amortization of intangible assets		240		33
Marketing		340		318
Other		2,855		1,976
Total noninterest expense	$	16,449	$	12,205

Compensation expense increased $2.4 million, or 33.0%, primarily due to the acquisition of UCB as well as normal merit increases during 2018 and an increase in health insurance costs. Net occupancy and equipment expense increased $368 thousand, or 32.4%, taxes and assessments increased $124 thousand, or 26.4%, amortization of intangible assets increased $207 thousand, or 627.3% and other expense increased $879 thousand, or 44.5%, all primarily as a result of the acquisition of UCB.

The efficiency ratio was 58.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 59.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The improvement in the efficiency ratio is due primarily to the increase in net interest income.

Civista’s effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2019 was 16.3% compared to 14.6% in 2018.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $138.7 million, or 6.5%, from December 31, 2018 to March 31, 2019, due to a $121.3 million increase in cash, primarily related to the tax refund processing program, as well as a $3.6 million increase in Investment securities and an $11.3 million increase in the loan portfolio.

End of period loan balances (unaudited - dollars in thousands)
	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		$ Change			% Change
Commercial and Agriculture	$	179,200	$	177,101	$	2,099			1.2	%
Commercial Real Estate:
Owner Occupied		217,030		210,121		6,909			3.3	%
Non-owner Occupied		539,420		523,598		15,822			3.0	%
Residential Real Estate		461,340		457,850		3,490			0.8	%
Real Estate Construction		123,905		135,195		(11,290	)		-8.4	%
Farm Real Estate		35,645		38,513		(2,868	)		-7.4	%
Consumer and Other		16,653		19,563		(2,910	)		-14.9	%
Total Loans	$	1,573,193	$	1,561,941	$	11,252			0.7	%

Loan growth during 2019 totaled $11.3 million with increases in Commercial & Agriculture, Commercial Real Estate – Owner Occupied and Residential Real Estate. Commercial Real Estate – Non-Owner Occupied also increased, driven primarily by two projects that were in Real Estate Construction and converted to permanent financing.

Total deposits increased $185.9 million, or 11.8%, from December 31, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

End of period deposit balances (unaudited - dollars in thousands)
	March 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		$ Change			% Change
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	657,510	$	468,083	$	189,427			40.5	%
Interest-bearing demand		284,369		261,996		22,373			8.5	%
Savings and money market		550,591		562,882		(12,291	)		-2.2	%
Time deposits		264,095		258,832		5,263			2.0	%
Brokered deposits		9,236		28,100		(18,864	)		-67.1	%
Total Deposits	$	1,765,801	$	1,579,893	$	185,908			11.8	%

The increase was due almost entirely to the additional cash balances related to the tax refund processing program, which led to the increase in noninterest-bearing demand of $189.4 million. Interest-bearing demand deposits increased, primarily due to increases in public fund accounts. The increase in tax refund processing cash also led to a decrease in brokered deposits, as well as overnight funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). FHLB advances totaled $127.1 million at March 31, 2019, a decrease of $66.5 million, or 34.3%, from December 31, 2018.

Asset Quality

Civista recorded net recoveries of $143 thousand for the three months of 2019 compared to net charge-offs of $320 thousand for the same period of 2018.

Allowance for Loan Losses (unaudited - dollars in thousands)
	March 31, 2019			March 31, 2018
Beginning of period	$	13,679		$	13,134
Charge-offs		(239	)		(425	)
Recoveries		382			105
Provision		—			—
End of period	$	13,822		$	12,814

The allowance for loan losses to loans was 0.88% at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. The non-performing assets to assets ratio decreased to 0.40% from 0.46% in 2018. The allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans increased to 150.6% from 137.9% in 2018.

Non-performing assets at March 31, 2019 were $9.2 million, a 7.5% decrease from December 31, 2018. Nonaccrual loans include $569 thousand and $1.0 million of purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) loans at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Non-performing Assets
(dollars in thousands)	March 31,		December 31,
	2019		2018
Non-accrual loans	$	5,581	$	6,898
Restructured loans		3,597		3,024
Total non-performing loans		9,178		9,922
Other Real Estate Owned		—		—
Total non-performing assets	$	9,178	$	9,922

Conference Call and Webcast

Civista Bancshares, Inc. will also host a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results for the first quarter of 2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 3, 2019. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.civb.com. Participants can also listen to the conference call by dialing 855-238-2712 and ask to be joined into the Civista Bancshares, Inc. First Quarter 2019 Earnings call. Please log in or dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection.

An archive of the webcast will be available for one year on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (www.civb.com).

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of Civista. For these statements, Civista claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Civista, including the information in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include risk factors relating to the banking industry and the other factors detailed from time to time in Civista’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in “Item 1A Risk Factors” of Part I of Civista’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Civista does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a $2.3 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company’s banking subsidiary, Civista Bank, operates 38 locations in Northern, Central and Southwestern Ohio, Southeastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Civista Bancshares, Inc. may be accessed at HUwww.civb.comUH. The Company’s common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CIVB”. The Company’s depositary shares, each representing a 1/40^th ownership interest in a Series B Preferred Share, are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CIVBP”.

For additional information, contact:

Dennis G. Shaffer

President and CEO

Civista Bancshares, Inc.

888-645-4121

Civista Bancshares, Inc.

Financial Highlights

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations

	Three Months Ended March 31, (unaudited)
	2019			2018
Interest and dividend income	$	24,584		$	15,924
Interest expense		2,865			1,152
Net interest income		21,719			14,772
Provision for loan losses		—			—
Net interest income after provision		21,719			14,772
Noninterest income		6,284			5,616
Noninterest expense		16,449			12,205
Income before taxes		11,554			8,183
Income tax expense		1,885			1,194
Net income		9,669			6,989
Preferred stock dividends		164			303
Net income available to common shareholders	$	9,505		$	6,686
Dividends per common share	$	0.09		$	0.07
Earnings per common share,
basic	$	0.61		$	0.65
diluted	$	0.57		$	0.55
Average shares outstanding,
basic		15,607,655			10,213,264
diluted		16,901,830			12,597,394
Selected financial ratios:
Return on average assets		1.72	%		1.70	%
Return on average equity		13.00	%		15.37	%
Dividend payout ratio		14.53	%		10.23	%
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)		4.45	%		4.05	%

Selected Balance Sheet Items

	March 31,			December 31,
	2019			2018
	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Cash and due from financial institutions	$	164,094		$	42,779
Investment securities		351,006			347,364
Loans held for sale		1,444			1,391
Loans		1,573,193			1,561,941
Less allowance for loan losses		13,822			13,679
Net loans		1,559,371			1,548,262
Other securities		20,280			21,021
Premises and equipment, net		21,772			22,021
Goodwill and other intangibles		85,955			86,203
Bank owned life insurance		44,239			43,037
Other assets		29,541			26,876
Total assets	$	2,277,702		$	2,138,954
Total deposits	$	1,765,801		$	1,579,893
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		127,100			193,600
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		21,970			22,199
Subordinated debentures		29,427			29,427
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		21,347			14,937
Total shareholders’ equity		312,057			298,898
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,277,702		$	2,138,954
Shares outstanding at period end		15,624,113			15,603,499
Book value per share	$	19.37		$	18.56
Equity to asset ratio		13.70	%		13.97	%
Selected asset quality ratios:
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		0.88	%		0.88	%
Non-performing assets to total assets		0.40	%		0.46	%
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans		150.60	%		137.87	%
Non-performing asset analysis
Nonaccrual loans	$	5,581		$	6,898
Troubled debt restructurings		3,597			3,024
Other real estate owned		—			—
Total	$	9,178		$	9,922

Supplemental Financial Information

(Unaudited - Dollars in thousands except share data)

	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
End of Period Balances	2019			2018			2018			2018			2018
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	164,094		$	42,779		$	64,754		$	41,156		$	118,970
Investment securities		351,006			347,364			318,112			231,013			234,915
Loans held for sale		1,444			1,391			4,025			4,058			2,379
Loans		1,573,193			1,561,941			1,515,644			1,180,032			1,153,758
Allowance for loan losses		(13,822	)		(13,679	)		(13,331	)		(12,867	)		(12,814	)
Net Loans		1,559,371			1,548,262			1,502,313			1,167,165			1,140,944
Other securities		20,280			21,021			17,774			15,154			14,247
Premises and equipment, net		21,772			22,021			22,518			17,308			17,424
Goodwill and other intangibles		85,955			86,203			85,964			28,342			28,354
Bank owned life insurance		44,239			43,037			42,750			25,411			25,267
Other assets		29,541			26,876			27,325			18,700			17,805
Total Assets	$	2,277,702		$	2,138,954		$	2,085,535		$	1,548,307		$	1,600,305
Liabilities
Total deposits	$	1,765,801		$	1,579,893		$	1,577,755		$	1,146,172		$	1,290,671
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		127,100			193,600			145,100			156,200			60,000
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		21,970			22,199			18,515			14,230			17,452
Subordinated debentures		29,427			29,427			29,427			29,427			29,427
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		21,347			14,937			25,350			12,430			14,712
Total liabilities		1,965,645			1,840,056			1,796,147			1,358,459			1,412,262
Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred shares, Series B		9,364			9,364			10,878			13,250			17,034
Common stock		266,990			266,901			265,324			158,191			154,170
Accumulated earnings		49,421			41,320			35,302			39,898			37,902
Treasury stock		(17,235	)		(17,235	)		(17,235	)		(17,235	)		(17,235	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		3,517			(1,452	)		(4,881	)		(4,256	)		(3,828	)
Total shareholders’ equity		312,057			298,898			289,388			189,848			188,043
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	2,277,702		$	2,138,954		$	2,085,535		$	1,548,307		$	1,600,305
Quarterly Average Balances
Assets:
Earning assets	$	2,017,523		$	1,907,966		$	1,534,039		$	1,427,953		$	1,502,943
Securities		365,219			352,412			252,832			247,301			242,477
Loans		1,564,208			1,532,012			1,256,680			1,158,956			1,147,441
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Total deposits	$	1,807,102		$	1,591,521		$	1,202,419		$	1,190,415		$	1,380,413
Interest-bearing deposits	$	1,126,173			1,120,876			816,773			756,289			803,604
Interest-bearing liabilities		148,891			204,002			228,164			149,433			87,467
Total shareholders’ equity		301,656			290,096			205,601			188,330			184,432

Supplemental Financial Information

(Unaudited - Dollars in thousands except share data)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
Income statement	2019			2018			2018			2018			2018
Total interest and dividend income	$	24,584		$	23,707		$	17,886		$	16,160		$	15,924
Total interest expense		2,865			2,962			2,062			1,394			1,152
Net interest income		21,719			20,745			15,824			14,766			14,772
Provision for loan losses		—			390			390			—			—
Noninterest income		6,284			4,838			3,288			4,390			5,616
Noninterest expense		16,449			16,391			22,156			15,928			12,205
Income (loss) before taxes		11,554			8,802			(3,434	)		3,228			8,183
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,885			1,233			(1	)		214			1,194
Net income (loss)		9,669			7,569			(3,433	)		3,014			6,989
Preferred stock dividends		164			165			192			299			303
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	9,505		$	7,404		$	(3,625	)	$	2,715		$	6,686
Common shares dividend paid	$	1,404		$	1,386		$	971		$	719		$	714
Per share data
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.61		$	0.48		$	(0.31	)	$	0.26		$	0.65
Diluted earnings per common share		0.57			0.45			(0.31	)		0.24			0.55
Dividends per common share		0.09			0.09			0.09			0.07			0.07
Average common shares outstanding - basic		15,607,655			15,521,404			11,627,093			10,470,839			10,213,264
Average common shares outstanding - diluted		16,901,830			16,898,186			13,271,073			12,615,336			12,597,394
Asset quality
Allowance for loan losses, beginning of period	$	13,679		$	13,331		$	12,867		$	12,814		$	13,134
Charge-offs		(239	)		(119	)		(133	)		(226	)		(425	)
Recoveries		382			77			207			279			105
Provision		—			390			390			—			—
Allowance for loan losses, end of period	$	13,822		$	13,679		$	13,331		$	12,867		$	12,814
Ratios
Allowance to total loans		0.88	%		0.88	%		0.88	%		1.09	%		1.11	%
Allowance to nonperforming assets		150.60	%		137.87	%		132.86	%		168.36	%		154.21	%
Allowance to nonperforming loans		150.60	%		137.87	%		132.86	%		168.36	%		154.41	%
Nonperforming assets
Nonperforming loans	$	9,178		$	9,140		$	10,034		$	7,642		$	8,298
Other real estate owned		—			—			—			—			11
Total nonperforming assets	$	9,178		$	9,140		$	10,034		$	7,642		$	8,309
Capital and liquidity
Tier 1 leverage ratio		11.64	%		12.22	%		15.37	%		12.96	%		11.82	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio		15.64	%		15.30	%		15.43	%		15.71	%		15.87	%
Total risk-based capital ratio		16.48	%		16.15	%		16.29	%		16.74	%		16.92	%
Tangible common equity ratio		9.96	%		9.98	%		9.71	%		9.80	%		9.12	%

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets

(Unaudited - Dollars in thousands except share data)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
	2019			2018			2018			2018			2018
Tangible Common Equity
Total Equity	$	312,057		$	298,898		$	289,388		$	189,848		$	188,043
Less: Preferred Equity		9,364			9,364			10,878			13,250			17,034
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		84,299			84,540			84,286			27,572			27,598
Tangible common equity	$	218,394		$	204,994		$	194,224		$	149,026		$	143,411
Total Shares Outstanding		15,624,113			15,603,499			15,395,064			10,788,892			10,243,274
Tangible book value per share	$	13.98		$	13.14		$	12.62		$	13.81		$	14.00
Tangible Assets
Total Assets	$	2,277,702		$	2,138,954		$	2,085,535		$	1,548,307		$	1,600,305
Less: Goodwill and intangible assets		84,299			84,540			84,286			27,572			27,598
Tangible assets	$	2,193,403		$	2,054,414		$	2,001,249		$	1,520,735		$	1,572,707
Tangible common equity to tangible assets		9.96	%		9.98	%		9.71	%		9.80	%		9.12	%