CCF Holding Company Announces Cash Dividend and Suspension of Future Cash Dividends.

Business Editors

JONESBORO, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2000

David B. Turner, President and Chief Executive Officer of CCF Holding Company ("the Corporation"), Jonesboro, Georgia, the holding company of Heritage Bank (the "Bank"), announced that the Corporation's Board of Directors has declared a $.08 per share dividend.

The record date will be January 8, 2001 and the expected payment date is January 22, 2001.

Despite record earnings and growth the Board of Directors expects this to be the last quarterly dividend for the near future. Future earnings will be retained at the Bank to continue supporting quality growth in its new markets, which should ultimately create more value for all shareholders.

The Bank is a state chartered institution headquartered in Jonesboro, Georgia. The Bank has offices located in Jonesboro, Forest Park, Morrow, McDonough and Fayetteville, Georgia. The Bank's deposits are federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The Bank is a community oriented, full service retail institution offering a variety of products. At September 30, 2000, CCF Holding Company had total assets and stockholders' equity of $224 million and $12.9 million, respectively. The Corporation's common stock trades on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the symbol "CCFH".