Exhibit 31.3

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, SECTION 302

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, William J. Small, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

1) I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of First Defiance Financial Corp. (the “registrant”);

2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Dated: April 3, 2012

/s/ William J. Small

William J. Small

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)