Exhibit 99.1

                              River Valley Bancorp
                   Announces Improved Earnings for the Quarter
                              Ended March 31, 2003

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 15, 2003

     Madison,  Indiana,  April 15, 2003.  River Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ Small Cap
Symbol "RIVR"),  an Indiana  corporation (the "Corporation") and holding company
for River Valley  Financial  Bank,  based in Madison,  Indiana  announced  today
earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.

     Net income for the quarter was  $595,670,  an increase of $68,767 or 13.1%,
from the $526,903  reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2002. Net income for
the quarter  ended  March 31, 2003  expressed  as basic  earnings  per share was
$0.73,  or a 7.4%  increase  from the $0.68 per share  recorded  for the quarter
ended as of March 31, 2002. Return on average assets was 1.04% and the return on
equity was 11.31%.

     Assets  totaled  $233.9  million as of March 31, 2003,  an increase of $9.9
million,  from the $224.0 million reported as of December 31, 2002.  Included in
the increased  asset total is $7.0 million of funds received in connection  with
the issuance of pooled trust preferred  securities on March 26, 2003. The pooled
trust  preferred  securities  provide a source of funding  for  holding  company
activities.  Net loans, including loans held for sale, were $168.9 million as of
March 31, 2003,  an increase of $2.9 million for the quarter,  or an increase of
$9.8 million from March 31, 2002.  Deposits  totaled  $164.8 million as of March
31, 2003, an increase of $3.0 million from the $161.8 million reported  December
31, 2002.

     We are extremely  pleased to again report positive results for the quarter.
We continue to have good news in growth and in  earnings.  "While all  financial
institutions are struggling with shrinking  margins,  we have been able to build
core value in our balance  sheet,"  stated  Matthew P.  Forrester,  president of
River Valley  Bancorp.  The CEO further added,  "The  Corporation has positioned
itself to prosper even in this sluggish economy."

     Equity as of March 31, 2003 was $21.2  million,  or 9.1% as  expressed as a
percentage of assets.  Book value of River Valley Bancorp stock was $26.01 as of
March 31, 2003.

     The last reported trade of "RIVR" stock on April 16, 2003 was at $33.30.



Selected Financial Information
(In thousands, unless otherwise noted)


                                    3 Months Ended              3 Months Ended
                                      3-31-2003                    3-31-2002

Assets                                $233,869                      $198,511
Net Loans                              168,889                       159,058
    ALL                                  2,147                         2,041
Deposits                               164,757                       153,681
Shareholder Equity                      21,169                        18,331

Total Interest Income                 $  3,082                      $  3,123
Total Non Interest Income                  869                           414
Interest Expense                         1,321                         1,391
Non Interest Expense                     1,525                         1,132
Provision Loan Losses                       90                           130
Taxes                                      419                           357
Net Income                                 596                           527

ROAA                                      1.04%                         1.09%
ROAE                                     11.31%                        11.51%
Earnings per Basic Share              $   0.73                      $   0.68




Contact: Matthew P. Forrester - President, CEO
     River Valley Bancorp
     812-273-4949