8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 18, 2003

                         First Defiance Financial Corp.
                         ------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



              Ohio                     0-26850                   34-1803915
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(State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission                (IRS Employer
         incorporation)               File Number)           Identification No.)




                    601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512
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               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015
                                                           --------------


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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

      (a) Financial Statements

            None.

      (b) Pro Forma Financial Information

            None.

      (c) Exhibits


   Exhibit 99.1   First Defiance Financial Corp. Press Release dated July 18,
                  2003 titled "First Defiance Announces New Stock Repurchase
                  Program"

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD  DISCLOSURES/RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
PROVIDED UNDER ITEM 12 PURSUANT TO RELEASE 34-47583

On July  18,  2003,  First  Defiance  Financial  Corp.  issued  a press  release
announcing its intention to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding  shares over
a 12 month period upon the completion of its existing stock  repurchase  program
as Exhibit 99.1. This information is being furnished under Item 9 as provided in
the Commission's  final rule;  interim  guidance  regarding Form 8-K Item 11 and
Item 12 filing requirements (Release No. 34-47583).

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly caused this Current  Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

First Defiance Financial Corp.

                                           By:   /s/ John C. Wahl
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John C. Wahl
                                                 Executive Vice President/ Chief
                                                 Financial Officer

Date: July 18, 2003

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact:  William J. Small
                                                  Chairman, President and CEO
                                                  First Defiance Financial Corp.
                                                  (419) 782-5015
                                                  bsmall@first-fed.com
                                                  --------------------

              FIRST DEFIANCE ANNOUNCES NEW STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

       New program will be implemented upon completion of existing program

DEFIANCE, OHIO (July 18, 2003) - First Defiance Financial Corp. (NASDQ: FDEF)
today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase
program of up to 10%, or approximately 628,000 shares, of the outstanding shares
of its common stock over a 12-month period which will begin immediately
following the imminent completion of the company's existing share repurchase
program

Under the existing program, 657,418 shares have been repurchased at an average
cost of $19.21 per share. As of July 17, 2003, there remained 23,443 shares
authorized for repurchase under the existing program. The repurchased shares
will be held as treasury stock and will be available for general corporate
purposes including employee stock option plans.

William J. Small, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said the
company's strong balance sheet allows it the flexibility to fund this program
while continuing to finance the company's operations and growth strategy. "We
believe that the repurchase of our stock at current price levels represents an
excellent investment opportunity for the company," Mr. Small said. "The
repurchase program represents a good way for us to offer additional value to our
shareholders."

Purchases under the First Defiance Financial Corp. stock repurchase program may
be made from time-to-time, in the open market, through block trades or
otherwise, and in privately negotiated transactions. Depending on market
conditions and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at
any time or from time-to-time without prior notice. As of July 17, 2003, First
Defiance Financial Corp. had 6,284,191 shares outstanding.





About First Defiance Financial Corp. First Defiance Financial Corp.,
headquartered in Defiance, OH, is the holding company for First Federal Bank of
the Midwest and First Insurance and Investments. First Federal operates 17 full
service branches, one commercial loan production office and 23 ATM locations in
northwest Ohio. First Insurance and Investments is the largest property and
casualty insurance company in the Defiance, OH area and it also specializes in
life and group health insurance. For more information, visit the company's Web
site at www.fdef.com.


Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained herein, including management's expectations, and Mr.
Small's comments, may not be based on historical facts and are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended and Section 21B of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. Actual
results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in
general and local banking, insurance and mortgage conditions, competitive
factors specific to markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate,
future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions or capital
market conditions. Additional uncertainties include, without limitation, that
the stock repurchase program may not result in the purchase of any specific
number of shares or the repurchase of shares at any particular prices, either
because such shares are not available for repurchase on terms or at prices
deemed desirable by the Company. The Company assumes no responsibility to update
this information. For more details, please refer to the Company's SEC filings,
including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q.