Exhibit 99.1

Civista Bancshares, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2017 Earnings

Sandusky, Ohio, October 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/– Civista Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIVB) (“Civista”) reported net income available to common shareholders of $3.4 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2017, compared with $3.3 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the prior year period. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, Civista reported net income available to common shareholders of $11.0 million or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to $12.4 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, in the same period of 2016. The 2016 results for nine-month period were impacted by a large loan recovery that resulted in a credit provision of $1.3 million and a recovery of interest income of approximately $919 thousand. These two items were approximately $1.5 million after taxes. In addition, we issued approximately 1.6 million new shares in February 2017 related to raising $32.8 million of additional capital, net of costs.

“During 2017 we have invested in a loan production office in Westlake and additional lenders in our more vibrant markets. While those investments have a cost, they have proven to be successful at increasing our loans. Our loan growth has been at an 11% annualized rate through the first nine-months of the year. Additionally, our net income for the first nine-months of 2017 is comparable to 2016 when we remove the impact of the 2016 loan recovery” said James O. Miller, Chairman, President and CEO of Civista.

Results of Operations:

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2017 increased $1.2 million, or 9.2% compared to the same period of 2016 and for the nine months ended September 30 increased $2.2 million, or 5.9%, when compared to the same period of 2016. For both periods, an increase in average loans outstanding primarily contributed to the increase in interest income slightly offset by a decrease in loan yield for the nine-month period. The net interest income for the nine-month period in 2016 included approximately $919 thousand of recovered interest income on a previous non-accrual loan which resulted in approximately 9 basis points of additional net interest margin. Tax equivalent net interest margin was 4.08% for the third quarter, compared to 4.06% for the same period a year ago and was 3.93% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 3.89% for the same period a year ago.

Average Balance Analysis

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Average Balance Analysis

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No provision for loan losses was made during 2017. No provision for loan losses was made for the third quarter of 2016, but a credit provision of $1.3 million was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 due to a large loan recovery.

During the quarter, noninterest income totaled $3.5 million, a decrease of $188 thousand, compared to the prior year’s third quarter. Year-to-date noninterest income totaled $12.7 million, a decrease of $285 thousand, or 2.2%, compared to the prior year’s first nine months.    

Service charge income decreased $17 thousand, or 1.4% and $105 thousand, or 2.8%, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016. The decreases were primarily due to an increase in the business account earnings credit. Overdraft charges were also down, related to consumer account activity. Gain on sale of loans decreased $69 thousand, or 12.8%, and $134 thousand, or 10.0% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016. The nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 included a gain associated with the sale of some Commercial loans which totaled $77 thousand. Wealth management fees increased $99 thousand and $244 thousand for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 due to increased assets under management as well as market conditions. Assets under management have increased $11.6 million since the end of the second quarter 2017 and $39.3 million since the end of the third quarter 2016. Other income decreased $193 and $334 for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016, primarily due to decreases in both swap related income and gain/loss on sale of OREO properties.

During the quarter, noninterest expense totaled $12.2 million, an increase of $972 thousand, or 8.7%, compared to the prior year’s third quarter. Year-to-date noninterest expense increased $3.1 million, or 9.2%, when compared to the nine months of 2016.

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased $1.0 million for the third quarter and $2.6 million for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2017. The increases in salaries, wages and benefits expense for both periods were due to an increase in employees, normal merit raises, as well as increases in incentive expense, insurance costs and pension expense. Full time equivalent employees have increased from 333 in 2016 to 347 in 2017. The pension expense increase of $200 thousand for the quarter and $481 thousand year-to-date is due to an expected pension curtailment anticipated upon the retirement of some senior executives. ATM expenses, included in other expense, increased $50 thousand for the third quarter and $321 thousand for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2017. The year-to-date expense is up, primarily due to vendor credits that expired in the second quarter of 2016. Additionally, both periods are up due to expenses incurred related to the Company’s debit card program conversion. Professional services costs increased $103 thousand for the third quarter and $268 thousand for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2017. The increase for both periods was primarily attributable to the Company retaining professional services to analyze its’ workflow systems and recommend process improvements.                

The efficiency ratio was 67.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 64.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in the efficiency ratio is due primarily to the increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by an increase in net interest income. The recovery of interest income in 2016 accounted for 120 basis points of the change.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $118.8 million, or 8.6%, from December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017, primarily due to an increase in the loan portfolio of $86.5 million and an increase in investment securities of $33.6 million.    

The $86.5 million, or 8.2%, increase in the loan portfolio from December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017 continues to come from growth in our Commercial and Agriculture, Commercial Real Estate and Residential Real Estate loan portfolios. Real Estate Construction loans also increased this quarter.    

Total deposits increased $80.2 million, or 7.2%, from December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The increase was due primarily to $37.5 million brokered time deposits and $30.0 million brokered money market accounts. Brokered deposits are used to fund loan growth.

Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $8.3 million or 17.0% from December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017, primarily to fund loan growth.

Total shareholders’ equity increased $44.4 million, or 32.2%, from December 31, 2016 to September 30, 2017, primarily due to approximately $32.8 million of additional common equity raised in February. Retained earnings also increased by $9.2 million.

Asset Quality

The Company recorded net charge-offs of $359 thousand for the nine months of 2017 compared to net recoveries of $390 thousand for the same period of 2016.    

Non-performing assets at September 30, 2017 were $11.0 million, a 5.8% decrease from December 31, 2016.

Mr. Miller continued, “Our performance this quarter was solid and asset quality numbers have remained steady at pre-recession levels. While our expenses have ticked up during the year, we believe the additional expense is warranted to generate present and future loan growth. We feel we are poised for growth organically and through acquisitions. We announced earlier in the month that our CRA rating has been upgraded and we can begin to execute on our plan for acquisitions.”

Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a $1.5 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company’s banking subsidiary, Civista Bank, operates 29 locations in Northern, Mid-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, 2016. 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 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

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Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income

Selected Balance Sheet Items

Supplemental Financial Information

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Supplemental Financial Information

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