First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Added to Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index

ITASCA, IL--(Marketwire - May 5, 2008) - First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. ("First Midwest") (NASDAQ: FMBI), the holding company of First Midwest Bank, today announced the addition of First Midwest to the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index effective as of the open of trading on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

"Inclusion of First Midwest in the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index is reflective of our consistent performance and longstanding philosophy of rewarding our stockholders with meaningful dividends," said John M. O'Meara, First Midwest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While many companies have reduced or suspended their dividends in these challenging economic times, First Midwest recently celebrated its 101st quarterly dividend payment since the formation of the company in 1983. We believe that's extremely attractive to long-term value investors."

The Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index tracks the top 100 highest dividend paying U.S. companies derived from the Dow Jones U.S. Index, which covers roughly 95% of U.S. market capitalization.

First Midwest is the premier relationship-based banking franchise in the growing Chicagoland banking market. As one of the Chicago metropolitan area's largest independent bank holding companies, First Midwest provides the full range of both business and retail banking and trust and investment management services through 102 offices located in 63 communities, primarily in metropolitan Chicago. First Midwest was recently recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workforce Flexibility in the greater Chicago Area.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Paul F. Clemens EVP, Chief Financial Officer (630) 875-7347 www.firstmidwest.com