Exhibit 99.1

Civista Bancshares, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2016 Earnings

Sandusky, Ohio, July 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ – Civista Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIVB) (“Civista”) reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $4.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016, compared with $2.7 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the prior year period. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, Civista reported net income available to common shareholders of $9.1 million or $0.91 per diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the same period of 2015. During the second quarter of 2016, Civista received a payoff on a non-performing loan which resulted in a negative provision of $1.3 million and additional interest income of $920 thousand, or approximately $1.5 million after tax or approximately $0.13 per diluted share for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016. Without this transaction, the diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2016 would have been $0.34 and $0.77 for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

“During the second quarter we were successful at growing loans 2.7%. That growth coupled with the payoff of the aforementioned non-performing loan have provided continued good results for Civista. Additionally, the recovery we received on the payoff of the non-performing loan shows the benefit of our continued efforts to work with our customers. “ said James O. Miller, Chairman, President and CEO of Civista.

Results of Operations:

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2016 increased $1.0 million, or 8.6% compared to the same period of 2015 and for the six months ended June 30 increased $2.3 million, or 10.3%, when compared to the same period of 2015. The increase in net interest income for the quarter was primarily due to the recovery of interest income from the payoff of a non-performing loan. For the three and six-month periods ended June 30, an increase in average loans outstanding also contributed to the increase in interest income compared to 2015. Tax equivalent net interest margin was 4.13% for the second quarter, compared to 3.96% for the same period a year ago and 3.81% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. Year-to-date net interest margin was reduced in both periods due to the impact of additional interest-earning cash on deposit related to the tax refund processing program. The impact of the interest recovery on the non-performing loan payoff was 28 basis points and 13 basis points, for the three and six-month periods, respectively. Year-to-date average cash related to the tax refund processing program 2016 and 2015 was $139 million and $73 million, respectively. The reduction to net interest margin due to the additional cash from the tax refund processing program was 38 basis points in 2016 and 22 basis points in 2015.

Summary Average Balance Sheet

(Tax-equivalent basis / dollars in thousands)

Summary Average Balance Sheet

(Tax-equivalent basis / dollars in thousands)

The provision for loan losses for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 is negative $1.3 million due to ongoing improvement in the loan portfolio and recognition of a significant recovery due to the resolution of a nonperforming loan relationship that paid off, generating a $1.3 million recovery. The provision for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2015 was $400 thousand and $800 thousand, respectively.

During the quarter, noninterest income totaled $4.1 million, an increase of $423 thousand, or 11.6%, compared to the prior year’s second quarter. Year-to-date noninterest income totaled $9.3 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 15.9%, compared to the prior year’s first six months.

Noninterest income

Service charge income increased $221 thousand and $295 thousand in the three and six-month periods, respectively, primarily due to a large new customer relationship. Gain on sale of loans decreased $8 thousand for the three-month period ended June 30. The second quarter of 2015 included a $78 thousand gain on the sale of an SBA loan. Gain on sale of loans increased $181 thousand for the six-month period due to additional volume of loans sold as well as an increase in the premium on loans sold. Trust fees decreased $68 thousand and $201 thousand for the three and six-month periods, respectively, due to a decrease in trust assets. Tax refund processing fees increased $150 thousand and $750 thousand in the three and six-month periods, respectively, due to a higher contract fee to compensate for an increase in the volume of refunds processed.

During the quarter, noninterest expense totaled $11.1 million, an increase of $117 thousand, or 1.1%, compared to the prior year’s second quarter. Year-to-date noninterest expense increased $420 thousand, or 2.0%, when compared to the six months of 2015.

Noninterest expense

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $545 thousand for the second quarter and $970 thousand for the six-month period ending June 30, 2016. The increases in salaries, wages and benefits expense for both periods were primarily due to the addition of TCNB employees, normal merit increases, increased insurance expense and increased incentive expense. Contracted data processing and professional fees decreased for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016. These decreases were primarily due to expenses related to the acquisition of TCNB in 2015. Overall acquisition related expenses included in the six months ended June 30, 2015 approximate $390 thousand.

The efficiency ratio improved to 61.4% during 2016 compared to 67.2% for 2015. The improvement in the efficiency ratio is due to the increase in net interest income, including the $920 thousand recovered interest income, as well as the increase in noninterest income, partially offset by a modest increase in noninterest expense.

Mr. Miller continued, “While we have had success increasing revenues, the success we have had in minimizing costs is also important in our increase in net income. We were successful in limiting the increase of costs to 2% for the comparable six-month periods.”

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $44.9 million, or 3.4%, from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016, due primarily to loan growth.

Total loans increased $27.4 million or 2.7% from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016. The increase in total loans is primarily due to increased Commercial Real Estate – Non-owner Occupied and Residential Real Estate.

End of period loan balances

(dollars in thousands)

Total deposits increased $63.0 million, or 6.0%, from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016, due primarily to the additional cash balances related to the tax refund processing program. Total tax refund processing related deposits were $68.9 million on June 30, 2016, compared to $22.1 million at year-end.

End of period deposit balances

(dollars in thousands)

Total shareholder’s equity increased $11.0 million, or 8.8%, from December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2016 primarily due to increased retained earnings of $8.3 million and a $2.3 million increase in other comprehensive income related to unrealized gains in the investment portfolio.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2016 were $13.8 million, a $528 thousand increase from December 31, 2015. This increase is in restructured loans where we elected to work with customers to rewrite certain loans to address the economic headwinds. The Company recorded net recoveries of $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2016 compared to net charge-offs of $400 thousand for the same period of 2015. Year-to-date, net recoveries were $1.5 million for 2016 compared to net charge-offs of $361 thousand for the same period of 2015.

Non-performing Assets

Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a $1.4 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company’s banking subsidiary, Civista Bank, operates 28 locations in North Central, West Central and Southwestern Ohio.

Civista Bancshares, Inc. may be accessed at www.civb.com. 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”.

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, 2015. 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 publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made 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.

For additional information, contact:

James O. Miller

Chairman, President and CEO

Civista Bancshares, Inc.

888-645-4121

Civista Bancshares, Inc.

Financial Highlights

(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income

Selected Balance Sheet Items

Average Balance Analysis

(Unaudited – Dollars in thousands except share data)

* – All yields and costs are presented on an annualized basis

Average Balance Analysis

(Unaudited – Dollars in thousands except share data)

* – All yields and costs are presented on an annualized basis

Supplemental Financial Information

(Unaudited – Dollars in thousands except share data)

Supplemental Financial Information

(Unaudited – Dollars in thousands except share data)