<PAGE> 1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1997  
                                                  Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
   (exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate of incorporation)

DELAWARE                                 6036                    37-1351861
(state or other jurisdiction of    (Primary Standard           (IRS Employer 
incorporation or organization)  Classification Code Number)  Identification No.)
                   
                           2101 NORTH VETERANS PARKWAY
                           BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704
                                 (309) 661-8700
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                          CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B.
                    EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS & PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                        --------------------------------

C. WILLIAM LANDEFELD                      COPIES TO:
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER     LAWRENCE M.F. SPACCASI, ESQUIRE
CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.            MARC P. LEVY, ESQUIRE
2101 NORTH VETERANS PARKWAY               MULDOON, MURPHY & FAUCETTE
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704               5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
(309) 661-8700                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20016
(Name, address, including zip code,       (202) 362-0840
telephone number, including area code, 
of agent for service)

    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon as
        practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
  delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
                      1933, check the following box. / X /

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================
   Title of each Class of     Amount to be   Proposed Purchase  Estimated Aggregate  Registration
Securities to be Registered    Registered    Price Per Share(1)  Offering Price(2)        Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   <S>                       <C>                    <C>            <C>                    <C>
   Common Stock
   $.01 par Value            111,111 Shares         $18            $1,999,998             $590
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Participation
      Interests                    (3)                             $1,999,998              (4)
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) The closing price of the common stock of Citizens First  Financial Corp.  on
    the  American Stock Exchange on  December  3, 1997 in  accordance  with Rule
    457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(3) In addition,  pursuant  to  Rule  416(c)  under  the  Securities  Act,  this
    registration  statement also covers an indeterminate  amount of interests to
    be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(4) The securities  of Citizens  First  Financial  Corp.  (the  "Company" or the
    "Registrant")  to  be  purchased  by  the  Citizens  Savings  Bank,   F.S.B.
    Employees'  Savings & Profit  Sharing  Plan are included in the amount shown
    for Common Stock.  Accordingly,  pursuant to Rule 457(h)(2), no separate fee
    is required for the participation  interests. In accordance with Rule 457(h)
    under the Securities  Act, the  registration  fee has been calculated on the
    basis of the number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased with the
    current assets of such Plan.

THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE  IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,  (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SS.230.462.

Number of Pages 13
Exhibit Index begins on Page 10


                                        1

<PAGE> 2



CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The documents containing the information for Citizens Savings Bank,
F.S.B.  Employees'  Savings & Profit Sharing Plan ("Savings  Plan")  required by
Part I of the  Registration  Statement will be sent or given to the participants
in the 401(k) Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1).  Such documents are not filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") either as a part of this
Registration  Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus  supplement pursuant to
Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following  documents  filed or to be filed with the SEC are  incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement:

      (a) The Form 10-KSB filed by the  Registrant  (File No.  1-14274) with the
SEC on March 28, 1997, which includes the consolidated balance sheet of Citizens
First  Financial  Corp. and subsidiary as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
related consolidated  statements of income, changes in stockholder's equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period  ended  December  31, 1996,
together  with the  related  notes and the report of Geo.  S.  Olive & Co.  LLC,
independent certified public accountants.  The consolidated statements of income
and cash  flows for the year  ended  December  31,  1994 have been  restated  to
reflect  the  pooling  of  interests  with  Fairbury  Federal  Savings  and Loan
Association  and  subsidiary  as  described  in the  notes  to the  consolidated
financial statements.  Those statements were audited by Clifton Gunderson L.L.C.
(formerly  Clifton,  Gunderson & Co.), whose report has been relied upon by Geo.
S. Olive & Co., LLC and  incorporated  herein in reliance  upon the authority of
said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      (b) The Form 10-QSB report filed by the Registrant for the fiscal quarters
ended March 31, 1997,  June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 (File No.  1-14274),
filed with the SEC on May 15,  1997,  August 14,  1997 and  November  14,  1997,
respectively.

      (c) The description of Registrant's Common Stock contained in Registrant's
Form 8-A  (File  No. 1-  14274),  as filed  with the SEC on  February  13,  1996
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act") and Rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder.

      (d) The  Savings  Plan's  annual  report on Form 11-K for the fiscal  year
ended December 31, 1996,  which includes the Form 5500 of the Savings Plan as of
December 31, 1996 filed with the SEC (File No. 1-14274)  concurrently  with this
Registration  Statement.  The financial  statements  filed as a part of the Form
5500 are unaudited as permitted for the Savings Plan under ERISA regulations.

      (e) All  documents  filed  by the  Company  and the  Savings  Plan,  where
applicable,  pursuant to Section  13(a) and (c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the date  hereof  and prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

       ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT, OR IN A DOCUMENT
INCORPORATED OR DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  HEREIN,  SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE MODIFIED OR SUPERSEDED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT TO THE
EXTENT THAT A STATEMENT  CONTAINED  HEREIN, OR IN ANY OTHER  SUBSEQUENTLY  FILED
DOCUMENT WHICH ALSO IS  INCORPORATED  OR DEEMED TO BE  INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
HEREIN, MODIFIES OR SUPERSEDES SUCH STATEMENT. ANY SUCH STATEMENT SO MODIFIED OR
SUPERSEDED  SHALL  NOT BE  DEEMED,  EXCEPT  AS SO  MODIFIED  OR  SUPERSEDED,  TO
CONSTITUTE A PART OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

                                        2

<PAGE> 3



ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      The  Common  Stock to be offered  pursuant  to the  Savings  Plan has been
registered  pursuant  to  Section  12  of  the  Exchange  Act.  Accordingly,   a
description of the Common Stock is not required herein.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      None.

      The  consolidated  statements  of  financial  condition  of the  Bank  and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  equity  capital,  and cash flows for each of the years in
the three-year  period ended December 31, 1996,  together with the related notes
and the  reports of Geo.  S.  Olive & Co.  LLC,  and  Clifton  Gunderson  L.L.C.
(formerly Clifton,  Gunderson & Co.),  independent certified public accountants,
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, have been incorporated
herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting  and
auditing.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Directors and officers of the Registrant are indemnified and held harmless
against liability to the fullest extent  permissible by the general  corporation
law of Delaware as it currently exists or as it may be amended provided any such
amendment  provides broader  indemnification  provisions than currently  exists.
This  indemnification  applies  to the Board of  Directors  who  administer  the
Savings Plan.

      In accordance  with the General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(being  Chapter 1 of Title 8 of the  Delaware  Code),  Articles 10 and 11 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

TENTH:
------

A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
or is  otherwise  involved in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether  civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (hereinafter a  "proceeding"),  by
reason  of the fact that he or she is or was a  Director  or an  Officer  of the
Corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
Director, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an  "indemnitee"),  whether the basis of such
proceeding  is alleged  action in an official  capacity as a Director,  Officer,
employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer,
employee or agent,  shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to
the fullest extent  authorized by the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the  extent  that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide
broader  indemnification  rights  than such law  permitted  the  Corporation  to
provide  prior to such  amendment),  against  all  expense,  liability  and loss
(including  attorneys' fees,  judgments,  fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and  amounts  paid  in  settlement)  reasonably  incurred  or  suffered  by such
indemnitee in connection therewith;  provided, however, that, except as provided
in  Section  C  hereof  with  respect  to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to
indemnification,   the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  such  indemnitee  in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only
if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.

B. The right to  indemnification  conferred in Section A of this  Article  TENTH
shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation  the expenses  incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final  disposition  (hereinafter
an "advancement of expenses");  provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires,  an advancement of expenses  incurred by an indemnitee
in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer  (and not in any other  capacity
in which  service  was or is  rendered by such  indemnitee,  including,  without
limitation,  services  to an  employee  benefit  plan)  shall be made  only upon
delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall


                                        3

<PAGE> 4



ultimately  be  determined  by final  judicial  decision  from which there is no
further  right  to  appeal  (hereinafter  a  "final   adjudication")  that  such
indemnitee  is not  entitled  to be  indemnified  for such  expenses  under this
Section or otherwise.  The rights to  indemnification  and to the advancement of
expenses  conferred in Sections A and B of this Article  TENTH shall be contract
rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a
Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent and shall  inure to the  benefit  of the
indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C. If a claim under  Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in full by
the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation,  except in the case of a claim for an advancement  of expenses,  in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any
time thereafter  bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim.  If  successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit
brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the indemnitee  shall be entitled to be paid also the
expenses of  prosecuting or defending such suit. In: (i) any suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to  indemnification  hereunder  (but not in a suit
brought by the  indemnitee to enforce a right to an  advancement of expenses) it
shall be a defense that;  and (ii) in any suit by the  Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses  pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation
shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final  adjudication  that, the
indemnitee has not met any applicable  standard for indemnification set forth in
the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including  its  Board  of  Directors,   independent   legal  counsel,   or  its
stockholders)  to have made a  determination  prior to the  commencement of such
suit that  indemnification  of the  indemnitee  is  proper in the  circumstances
because the indemnitee  has met the applicable  standard of conduct set forth in
the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  nor an  actual  determination  by the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders)  that the  indemnitee  has not met  such  applicable  standard  of
conduct,  shall  create  a  presumption  that  the  indemnitee  has  not met the
applicable  standard  of conduct  or, in the case of such a suit  brought by the
indemnitee,  be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to indemnification  or to an advancement of expenses  hereunder,
or by the  Corporation  to recover an  advancement  of expenses  pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the  burden of  proving  that the  indemnitee  is not
entitled to be  indemnified,  or to such  advancement  of  expenses,  under this
Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in
this  Article  TENTH shall not be  exclusive of any other right which any person
may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,  the Corporation's  Certificate
of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  agreement,  vote of stockholders  or  Disinterested
Directors or otherwise.

E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and
any Director,  Officer,  employee or agent of the  Corporation  or subsidiary or
Affiliate or another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other
enterprise  against  any  expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the
Corporation  would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

F. The Corporation may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by the Board
of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to any  employee  or agent  of the  Corporation  to the  fullest  extent  of the
provisions  of this  Article  TENTH  with  respect  to the  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of the Corporation.



                                        4

<PAGE> 5



ELEVENTH:
--------

A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation
or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a
Director,  except for liability:  (i) for any breach of the  Director's  duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its  stockholders;  (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law; or (iv)
for any  transaction  from  which the  Director  derived  an  improper  personal
benefit.  If the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law is  amended  to  authorize
corporate  action  further  eliminating  or limiting the  personal  liability of
Directors,  then  the  liability  of a  Director  of the  Corporation  shall  be
eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the Delaware  General
Corporation Law, as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the
Corporation  shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of
the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

      The  Registrant  is also  permitted to maintain  directors'  and officers'
liability  insurance  covering  its  directors  and  officers and has obtained a
directors' and officers'  liability and corporation  reimbursement  policy which
(subject to certain limits and  deductibles)  (i) insures officers and directors
of the Registrant  against loss arising from certain claims made against them by
reason  of  their  being  such  directors  or  officers,  and (ii)  insures  the
Registrant  against  loss  which  it  may be  required  or  permitted  to pay as
indemnification due its directors or officers for certain claims.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the  "Securities  Act") may be permitted to directors,  officers or
persons controlling the Registrant, the Registrant has been informed that in the
opinion of the Commission that such  indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.

      The following  exhibits are filed with or  incorporated  by reference into
this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8  (numbering  corresponds  generally to
Exhibit Table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

      4        Stock Certificate of Citizens First Financial Corp.1

      8        Tax Opinion not required.  The Registrant has submitted or hereby
               undertakes to submit the Savings Plan and any  amendment  thereto
               to the Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") in a timely manner and
               has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in order to
               qualify the plan.

      23.1     Consent of Geo. S. Olive & Co. LLC.

      23.2     Consent of Clifton Gunderson L.L.C.

      24       Power of Attorney is located on the signature pages.
--------------------------
1 Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibit of the same number contained
  in the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (SEC No. 33-556), as amended, filed
  with the SEC on January 24, 1996 and declared effective on March 11, 1996.



                                        5

<PAGE> 6



ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a
            post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to:

            (i)   Include  any  Prospectus  required  by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                  Securities Act;

            (ii)  Reflect  in   the   Prospectus  any  facts  or  events  which,
                  individually  or together,  represent a fundamental  change in
                  the information in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                  the   foregoing,   any  increase  or  decrease  in  volume  of
                  securities  offered (if the total dollar  value of  securities
                  offered  would not exceed that which was  registered)  and any
                  deviation  from the low or high end of the  estimated  maximum
                  offering  range  may be  reflected  in the form of  prospectus
                  filed  with  the  SEC  pursuant  to  Rule  424(b)  if,  in the
                  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent no more
                  than a 20 percent  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering
                  price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
                  in the effective registration statement; and

            (iii) Include any additional or changed material  information on the
                  plan  of   distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information   in  the   Registration   Statement   unless  the
                  information  required by (i) and (ii) is contained in periodic
                  reports  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant  to  Section 13 or
                  15(d) of the Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference
                  into this Registration Statement;

      (2)   For  determining  liability  under the Securities Act, to treat each
            post-effective  amendment  as a new  Registration  Statement  of the
            securities offered,  and the offering of the securities at that time
            to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   To file a post-effective  amendment to remove from  registration any
            of the securities that remain unsold at the end of the Offering.

      (4)   That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
            Act,  each filing of the  Registrant's  or the Plan's  annual report
            pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 15(d)  of the  Exchange  Act that is
            incorporated  by reference in the  Registration  Statement  shall be
            deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
            offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time
            shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  officers and  controlling  persons of
the  Registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,   or  otherwise,  the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification
is  against   public  policy  as  expressed  in  the  Act  and  is,   therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  Registrant of expenses  incurred or
paid by a  trustee,  officer  or  controlling  person of the  Registrant  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
trustee,  officer or controlling  person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the Act will be governed by the final  adjudication  of
such issue.



                                        6

<PAGE> 7



CONFORMED

                                   SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act,  Citizens First
Financial  Corp.  certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe that it
meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly  caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Bloomington,  State of Illinois, on November 24,
1997.

                                       CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.



                                       By: /s/ C. William Landefeld
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           C. William Landefeld
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


      Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below (other than Mr.  Landefeld)  constitutes and appoints C. William Landefeld
and  Mr.  Landefeld   appoints  Richard  F.  Becker,  as  the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent with full power of substitution and  resubstitution,
for him and in his name,  place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
or all amendments to the Form S-8 Registration Statement,  and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  respectively,  granting  unto said
attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every act and things  requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said  attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes,  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


    Name                       Title                               Date
    ----                       -----                               ----

/s/ Ronald C. Wells            Chairman of the Board           November 24, 1997
-------------------------
Ronald C. Wells

/s/ C. William Landefeld       President, Chief Executive      November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Officer and Director
C. William Landefeld        


/s/ Richard F. Becker          Senior Vice President and       November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Secretary
Richard F. Becker


/s/ Dallas G. Smiley           Senior Vice President,          November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Treasurer and Chief Financial
Dallas G. Smiley               Officer


/s/ Bryce A. Sides             Director                        November 24, 1997
-------------------------
Bryce A. Sides


                                        7

<PAGE> 8




/s/ Lyle J. Honegger           Director                        November 24, 1997
--------------------------
Lyle J. Honegger


/s/ Lowell M. Thompson         Director                        November 24, 1997
--------------------------
Lowell M. Thompson


THE PLAN.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or
other  persons  who   administer   the  Savings  Plan)  have  duly  caused  this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Bloomington,  State of Illinois, on November 24,
1997.

                                CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B. EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS
                                & PROFIT SHARING PLAN

                                By:  /s/ C. William Landefeld
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     C. William Landefeld, President and
                                     Chief Executive Officer
                                For: CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B.
                      





                                        8

<PAGE> 9

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                         EXHIBIT INDEX
                                         -------------

                                                                                                Sequentially
                                                                                                  Numbered
                                                                                                   Page
 Exhibit No.     Description            Method of Filing                                         Location
------------     ------------------     ---------------------------------------------------     ----------

    <S>          <C>                    <C>                                                         <C>
      4          Stock Certificate of   Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits          --
                 Citizens First         of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
                 Financial Corp.        SB-2 filed with the SEC on January 24, 1996 and
                                        declared effective on March 11.
    23.1         Consent of Geo. S.     Filed herewith.                                             12
                 Olive & Co. LLC.

    23.2         Consent of Clifton     Filed herewith.                                             --
                 Gunderson L.L.C.

     24          Power of Attorney      Located on the signature page.                              --


</TABLE>



                                        9
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0001006265", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "371351861", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-41615", "film-number": "97733281"}, "business-address": {"street1": "301 BROADWAY", "city": "NORMAL", "state": "IL", "zip": "61761", "phone": "3094521102"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "301 BROADWAY", "city": "NORMAL", "state": "IL", "zip": "61761"}}
1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1997  
                                                  Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
   (exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate of incorporation)

DELAWARE                                 6036                    37-1351861
(state or other jurisdiction of    (Primary Standard           (IRS Employer 
incorporation or organization)  Classification Code Number)  Identification No.)
                   
                           2101 NORTH VETERANS PARKWAY
                           BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704
                                 (309) 661-8700
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                          CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B.
                    EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS & PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                        --------------------------------

C. WILLIAM LANDEFELD                      COPIES TO:
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER     LAWRENCE M.F. SPACCASI, ESQUIRE
CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.            MARC P. LEVY, ESQUIRE
2101 NORTH VETERANS PARKWAY               MULDOON, MURPHY & FAUCETTE
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704               5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
(309) 661-8700                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20016
(Name, address, including zip code,       (202) 362-0840
telephone number, including area code, 
of agent for service)

    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon as
        practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
  delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
                      1933, check the following box. / X /
==================================================================================================
   Title of each Class of     Amount to be   Proposed Purchase  Estimated Aggregate  Registration
Securities to be Registered    Registered    Price Per Share(1)  Offering Price(2)        Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock
   $.01 par Value            111,111 Shares         $18            $1,999,998             $590
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Participation
      Interests                    (3)                             $1,999,998              (4)
==================================================================================================
(1) The closing price of the common stock of Citizens First  Financial Corp.  on
    the  American Stock Exchange on  December  3, 1997 in  accordance  with Rule
    457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(3) In addition,  pursuant  to  Rule  416(c)  under  the  Securities  Act,  this
    registration  statement also covers an indeterminate  amount of interests to
    be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
(4) The securities  of Citizens  First  Financial  Corp.  (the  "Company" or the
    "Registrant")  to  be  purchased  by  the  Citizens  Savings  Bank,   F.S.B.
    Employees'  Savings & Profit  Sharing  Plan are included in the amount shown
    for Common Stock.  Accordingly,  pursuant to Rule 457(h)(2), no separate fee
    is required for the participation  interests. In accordance with Rule 457(h)
    under the Securities  Act, the  registration  fee has been calculated on the
    basis of the number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased with the
    current assets of such Plan.

THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE  IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,  (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SS.230.462.

Number of Pages 13
Exhibit Index begins on Page 10

                                        1
2

CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The documents containing the information for Citizens Savings Bank,
F.S.B.  Employees'  Savings & Profit Sharing Plan ("Savings  Plan")  required by
Part I of the  Registration  Statement will be sent or given to the participants
in the 401(k) Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1).  Such documents are not filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") either as a part of this
Registration  Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus  supplement pursuant to
Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following  documents  filed or to be filed with the SEC are  incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement:

      (a) The Form 10-KSB filed by the  Registrant  (File No.  1-14274) with the
SEC on March 28, 1997, which includes the consolidated balance sheet of Citizens
First  Financial  Corp. and subsidiary as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
related consolidated  statements of income, changes in stockholder's equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period  ended  December  31, 1996,
together  with the  related  notes and the report of Geo.  S.  Olive & Co.  LLC,
independent certified public accountants.  The consolidated statements of income
and cash  flows for the year  ended  December  31,  1994 have been  restated  to
reflect  the  pooling  of  interests  with  Fairbury  Federal  Savings  and Loan
Association  and  subsidiary  as  described  in the  notes  to the  consolidated
financial statements.  Those statements were audited by Clifton Gunderson L.L.C.
(formerly  Clifton,  Gunderson & Co.), whose report has been relied upon by Geo.
S. Olive & Co., LLC and  incorporated  herein in reliance  upon the authority of
said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      (b) The Form 10-QSB report filed by the Registrant for the fiscal quarters
ended March 31, 1997,  June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 (File No.  1-14274),
filed with the SEC on May 15,  1997,  August 14,  1997 and  November  14,  1997,
respectively.

      (c) The description of Registrant's Common Stock contained in Registrant's
Form 8-A  (File  No. 1-  14274),  as filed  with the SEC on  February  13,  1996
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act") and Rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder.

      (d) The  Savings  Plan's  annual  report on Form 11-K for the fiscal  year
ended December 31, 1996,  which includes the Form 5500 of the Savings Plan as of
December 31, 1996 filed with the SEC (File No. 1-14274)  concurrently  with this
Registration  Statement.  The financial  statements  filed as a part of the Form
5500 are unaudited as permitted for the Savings Plan under ERISA regulations.

      (e) All  documents  filed  by the  Company  and the  Savings  Plan,  where
applicable,  pursuant to Section  13(a) and (c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the date  hereof  and prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

       ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT, OR IN A DOCUMENT
INCORPORATED OR DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  HEREIN,  SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE MODIFIED OR SUPERSEDED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT TO THE
EXTENT THAT A STATEMENT  CONTAINED  HEREIN, OR IN ANY OTHER  SUBSEQUENTLY  FILED
DOCUMENT WHICH ALSO IS  INCORPORATED  OR DEEMED TO BE  INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
HEREIN, MODIFIES OR SUPERSEDES SUCH STATEMENT. ANY SUCH STATEMENT SO MODIFIED OR
SUPERSEDED  SHALL  NOT BE  DEEMED,  EXCEPT  AS SO  MODIFIED  OR  SUPERSEDED,  TO
CONSTITUTE A PART OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

                                        2
3

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      The  Common  Stock to be offered  pursuant  to the  Savings  Plan has been
registered  pursuant  to  Section  12  of  the  Exchange  Act.  Accordingly,   a
description of the Common Stock is not required herein.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      None.

      The  consolidated  statements  of  financial  condition  of the  Bank  and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  equity  capital,  and cash flows for each of the years in
the three-year  period ended December 31, 1996,  together with the related notes
and the  reports of Geo.  S.  Olive & Co.  LLC,  and  Clifton  Gunderson  L.L.C.
(formerly Clifton,  Gunderson & Co.),  independent certified public accountants,
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, have been incorporated
herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting  and
auditing.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

      Directors and officers of the Registrant are indemnified and held harmless
against liability to the fullest extent  permissible by the general  corporation
law of Delaware as it currently exists or as it may be amended provided any such
amendment  provides broader  indemnification  provisions than currently  exists.
This  indemnification  applies  to the Board of  Directors  who  administer  the
Savings Plan.

      In accordance  with the General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware
(being  Chapter 1 of Title 8 of the  Delaware  Code),  Articles 10 and 11 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

TENTH:
------

A. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
or is  otherwise  involved in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether  civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (hereinafter a  "proceeding"),  by
reason  of the fact that he or she is or was a  Director  or an  Officer  of the
Corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
Director, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to an
employee benefit plan (hereinafter an  "indemnitee"),  whether the basis of such
proceeding  is alleged  action in an official  capacity as a Director,  Officer,
employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer,
employee or agent,  shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to
the fullest extent  authorized by the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the  extent  that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide
broader  indemnification  rights  than such law  permitted  the  Corporation  to
provide  prior to such  amendment),  against  all  expense,  liability  and loss
(including  attorneys' fees,  judgments,  fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and  amounts  paid  in  settlement)  reasonably  incurred  or  suffered  by such
indemnitee in connection therewith;  provided, however, that, except as provided
in  Section  C  hereof  with  respect  to   proceedings  to  enforce  rights  to
indemnification,   the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  such  indemnitee  in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only
if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.

B. The right to  indemnification  conferred in Section A of this  Article  TENTH
shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation  the expenses  incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final  disposition  (hereinafter
an "advancement of expenses");  provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires,  an advancement of expenses  incurred by an indemnitee
in his or her capacity as a Director or Officer  (and not in any other  capacity
in which  service  was or is  rendered by such  indemnitee,  including,  without
limitation,  services  to an  employee  benefit  plan)  shall be made  only upon
delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by
or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall

                                        3
4

ultimately  be  determined  by final  judicial  decision  from which there is no
further  right  to  appeal  (hereinafter  a  "final   adjudication")  that  such
indemnitee  is not  entitled  to be  indemnified  for such  expenses  under this
Section or otherwise.  The rights to  indemnification  and to the advancement of
expenses  conferred in Sections A and B of this Article  TENTH shall be contract
rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a
Director,  Officer,  employee  or agent and shall  inure to the  benefit  of the
indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C. If a claim under  Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in full by
the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation,  except in the case of a claim for an advancement  of expenses,  in
which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any
time thereafter  bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim.  If  successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit
brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the indemnitee  shall be entitled to be paid also the
expenses of  prosecuting or defending such suit. In: (i) any suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to  indemnification  hereunder  (but not in a suit
brought by the  indemnitee to enforce a right to an  advancement of expenses) it
shall be a defense that;  and (ii) in any suit by the  Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses  pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation
shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final  adjudication  that, the
indemnitee has not met any applicable  standard for indemnification set forth in
the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including  its  Board  of  Directors,   independent   legal  counsel,   or  its
stockholders)  to have made a  determination  prior to the  commencement of such
suit that  indemnification  of the  indemnitee  is  proper in the  circumstances
because the indemnitee  has met the applicable  standard of conduct set forth in
the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  nor an  actual  determination  by the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders)  that the  indemnitee  has not met  such  applicable  standard  of
conduct,  shall  create  a  presumption  that  the  indemnitee  has  not met the
applicable  standard  of conduct  or, in the case of such a suit  brought by the
indemnitee,  be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to
enforce a right to indemnification  or to an advancement of expenses  hereunder,
or by the  Corporation  to recover an  advancement  of expenses  pursuant to the
terms of an  undertaking,  the  burden of  proving  that the  indemnitee  is not
entitled to be  indemnified,  or to such  advancement  of  expenses,  under this
Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in
this  Article  TENTH shall not be  exclusive of any other right which any person
may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,  the Corporation's  Certificate
of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  agreement,  vote of stockholders  or  Disinterested
Directors or otherwise.

E. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and
any Director,  Officer,  employee or agent of the  Corporation  or subsidiary or
Affiliate or another  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other
enterprise  against  any  expense,   liability  or  loss,  whether  or  not  the
Corporation  would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

F. The Corporation may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by the Board
of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses
to any  employee  or agent  of the  Corporation  to the  fullest  extent  of the
provisions  of this  Article  TENTH  with  respect  to the  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of the Corporation.

                                        4
5

ELEVENTH:
--------

A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation
or its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a
Director,  except for liability:  (i) for any breach of the  Director's  duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its  stockholders;  (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law; or (iv)
for any  transaction  from  which the  Director  derived  an  improper  personal
benefit.  If the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law is  amended  to  authorize
corporate  action  further  eliminating  or limiting the  personal  liability of
Directors,  then  the  liability  of a  Director  of the  Corporation  shall  be
eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the Delaware  General
Corporation Law, as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the
Corporation  shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of
the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

      The  Registrant  is also  permitted to maintain  directors'  and officers'
liability  insurance  covering  its  directors  and  officers and has obtained a
directors' and officers'  liability and corporation  reimbursement  policy which
(subject to certain limits and  deductibles)  (i) insures officers and directors
of the Registrant  against loss arising from certain claims made against them by
reason  of  their  being  such  directors  or  officers,  and (ii)  insures  the
Registrant  against  loss  which  it  may be  required  or  permitted  to pay as
indemnification due its directors or officers for certain claims.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the  "Securities  Act") may be permitted to directors,  officers or
persons controlling the Registrant, the Registrant has been informed that in the
opinion of the Commission that such  indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

      Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.

      The following  exhibits are filed with or  incorporated  by reference into
this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8  (numbering  corresponds  generally to
Exhibit Table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

      4        Stock Certificate of Citizens First Financial Corp.1

      8        Tax Opinion not required.  The Registrant has submitted or hereby
               undertakes to submit the Savings Plan and any  amendment  thereto
               to the Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") in a timely manner and
               has made or will make all changes required by the IRS in order to
               qualify the plan.

      23.1     Consent of Geo. S. Olive & Co. LLC.

      23.2     Consent of Clifton Gunderson L.L.C.

      24       Power of Attorney is located on the signature pages.
--------------------------
1 Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibit of the same number contained
  in the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (SEC No. 33-556), as amended, filed
  with the SEC on January 24, 1996 and declared effective on March 11, 1996.

                                        5
6

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a
            post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to:

            (i)   Include  any  Prospectus  required  by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                  Securities Act;

            (ii)  Reflect  in   the   Prospectus  any  facts  or  events  which,
                  individually  or together,  represent a fundamental  change in
                  the information in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
                  the   foregoing,   any  increase  or  decrease  in  volume  of
                  securities  offered (if the total dollar  value of  securities
                  offered  would not exceed that which was  registered)  and any
                  deviation  from the low or high end of the  estimated  maximum
                  offering  range  may be  reflected  in the form of  prospectus
                  filed  with  the  SEC  pursuant  to  Rule  424(b)  if,  in the
                  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent no more
                  than a 20 percent  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering
                  price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
                  in the effective registration statement; and

            (iii) Include any additional or changed material  information on the
                  plan  of   distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information   in  the   Registration   Statement   unless  the
                  information  required by (i) and (ii) is contained in periodic
                  reports  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant  to  Section 13 or
                  15(d) of the Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference
                  into this Registration Statement;

      (2)   For  determining  liability  under the Securities Act, to treat each
            post-effective  amendment  as a new  Registration  Statement  of the
            securities offered,  and the offering of the securities at that time
            to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   To file a post-effective  amendment to remove from  registration any
            of the securities that remain unsold at the end of the Offering.

      (4)   That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
            Act,  each filing of the  Registrant's  or the Plan's  annual report
            pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 15(d)  of the  Exchange  Act that is
            incorporated  by reference in the  Registration  Statement  shall be
            deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
            offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time
            shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  officers and  controlling  persons of
the  Registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,   or  otherwise,  the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification
is  against   public  policy  as  expressed  in  the  Act  and  is,   therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  Registrant of expenses  incurred or
paid by a  trustee,  officer  or  controlling  person of the  Registrant  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
trustee,  officer or controlling  person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the Act will be governed by the final  adjudication  of
such issue.

                                        6
7

CONFORMED

                                   SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act,  Citizens First
Financial  Corp.  certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe that it
meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly  caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Bloomington,  State of Illinois, on November 24,
1997.

                                       CITIZENS FIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

                                       By: /s/ C. William Landefeld
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           C. William Landefeld
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below (other than Mr.  Landefeld)  constitutes and appoints C. William Landefeld
and  Mr.  Landefeld   appoints  Richard  F.  Becker,  as  the  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact  and agent with full power of substitution and  resubstitution,
for him and in his name,  place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
or all amendments to the Form S-8 Registration Statement,  and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  respectively,  granting  unto said
attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every act and things  requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said  attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes,  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Name                       Title                               Date
    ----                       -----                               ----

/s/ Ronald C. Wells            Chairman of the Board           November 24, 1997
-------------------------
Ronald C. Wells

/s/ C. William Landefeld       President, Chief Executive      November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Officer and Director
C. William Landefeld        

/s/ Richard F. Becker          Senior Vice President and       November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Secretary
Richard F. Becker

/s/ Dallas G. Smiley           Senior Vice President,          November 24, 1997
-------------------------      Treasurer and Chief Financial
Dallas G. Smiley               Officer

/s/ Bryce A. Sides             Director                        November 24, 1997
-------------------------
Bryce A. Sides

                                        7
8

/s/ Lyle J. Honegger           Director                        November 24, 1997
--------------------------
Lyle J. Honegger

/s/ Lowell M. Thompson         Director                        November 24, 1997
--------------------------
Lowell M. Thompson

THE PLAN.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or
other  persons  who   administer   the  Savings  Plan)  have  duly  caused  this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Bloomington,  State of Illinois, on November 24,
1997.

                                CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B. EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS
                                & PROFIT SHARING PLAN

                                By:  /s/ C. William Landefeld
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     C. William Landefeld, President and
                                     Chief Executive Officer
                                For: CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, F.S.B.
                      

                                        8
9
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                         -------------

                                                                                                Sequentially
                                                                                                  Numbered
                                                                                                   Page
 Exhibit No.     Description            Method of Filing                                         Location
------------     ------------------     ---------------------------------------------------     ----------
4          Stock Certificate of   Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits          --
                 Citizens First         of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
                 Financial Corp.        SB-2 filed with the SEC on January 24, 1996 and
                                        declared effective on March 11.
    23.1         Consent of Geo. S.     Filed herewith.                                             12
                 Olive & Co. LLC.

    23.2         Consent of Clifton     Filed herewith.                                             --
                 Gunderson L.L.C.

     24          Power of Attorney      Located on the signature page.                              --
9