CHANGE IN CONTROL,
                       SEVERANCE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                FOR THOMAS SHARA

      THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement"), is made this 1st day of January, 1997, among HUBCO, Inc.
("HUBCO"), a New Jersey corporation which maintains its principal office at 1000
MacArthur Boulevard., Mahwah, New Jersey, HUDSON UNITED BANK (the "Bank"), a New
Jersey chartered commercial bank, with an office at 1000 MacArthur Boulevard.,
Mahwah, New Jersey (HUBCO and the Bank collectively are referred to herein as
the "Company") and THOMAS SHARA (the "Executive").

                                   BACKGROUND

      WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed by HUBCO and the Bank for many
years, most recently as Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of the
Bank;

      WHEREAS, the Executive throughout his tenure has worked diligently in his
position in the business of HUBCO and the Bank;

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of HUBCO and the Bank believe that the
future services of the Executive are of great value to HUBCO and the Bank and
that it is important for the growth and development of HUBCO and the Bank that
the Executive continue in his position;

      WHEREAS, if HUBCO receives any proposal from a third person concerning a
possible business combination with, or acquisition of equities securities of,
the Company, the Board of Directors of HUBCO (the "Board") believes it is
imperative that HUBCO and the Bank and the



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Board be able to rely upon the Executive to continue in his position, and that
they be able to receive and rely upon his advice, if they request it, as to the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders, without concern that the
Executive might be distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks created by
such a proposal;

      WHEREAS, to achieve that goal, and to retain the Executive's services
prior to any such activity, the Board of Directors and the Executive have agreed
to enter into this Agreement to provide the Executive's with certain termination
benefits in the event of a Change in Control, as hereinafter defined;

      NOW, THEREFORE, to assure the Company that it will have the continued
dedication of the Executive and the availability of his advice and counsel
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a bid to take over
control of the Company, and to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of
the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the
Executive, each intending to be legally bound hereby agree as follows:

      1. Definitions

                  a. Cause. For purposes of this Agreement "Cause" with respect
to the termination by the Company of Executive's employment shall mean (i)
willful and continued failure by the Executive to materially perform his duties
for the Company under this Agreement after at least one warning in writing from
the Company's Board of Directors identifying specifically any such material
failure and offering a reasonable opportunity to cure such failure; (ii) the
willful engaging by the Executive in material misconduct which causes material
injury to the Company as specified in a written notice to the Executive from the
Board of Directors; or (iii) conviction of a crime (other than a traffic
violation), habitual drunkenness, drug abuse, or excessive absenteeism other
than for illness, after a warning (with respect to drunkenness or absenteeism
only) in writing


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from the Board of Directors to refrain from such behavior. No act or failure to
act on the part of the Executive shall be considered willful unless done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable
belief that the action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. The
Company shall have the burden of proving cause by clear and convincing evidence.

                  b. Change in Control.

                        (i) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, a
      "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
      events with respect to HUBCO:

                                    (A)  The  acquisition  of the  beneficial
            ownership, as defined under the Exchange Act, of 25% or more of
            HUBCO's voting securities or all or substantially all of the assets
            of HUBCO by a single person or entity or group of affiliated persons
            or entities;

                                    (B) The merger, consolidation or
            combination of HUBCO with an unaffiliated corporation in which the
            directors of HUBCO as applicable immediately prior to such merger,
            consolidation or combination constitute less than a majority of the
            board of directors of the surviving, new or combined entity unless
            one-half of the board of directors of the surviving, new or combined
            entity were directors of HUBCO immediately prior to such transaction
            and HUBCO's chief executive officer immediately prior to such
            transaction continues as the chief executive officer of the
            surviving, new or combined entity; or

                                    (C) During any period of two consecutive
            calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
            constitute the


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            Board of Directors of HUBCO cease for any reason to constitute at
            least two-thirds thereof, unless the election or nomination for the
            election by HUBCO's stockholders of each new director was approved
            by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
            office who were directors at the beginning of the period; or

                                    (D) The transfer of all or substantially
            all of HUBCO's assets or all or substantially all of the assets of
            its primary subsidiaries.

                        (ii) Time of Change in Control. For purposes of this
      Agreement, a Change in Control of HUBCO shall be deemed to occur on the
      earlier of:

                                    (A) The first date on which a single person
      or entity or group of affiliated persons or entities acquire the
      beneficial ownership of 25% or more of HUBCO's voting securities; or

                                    (B) Forty-five (45) days prior to the date
      HUBCO enters into a definitive agreement to merge, consolidate, combine or
      sell the assets of HUBCO; provided however, that for purposes of any
      resignation by the Executive, the Change in Control shall not be deemed to
      occur until the consummation of the merger, consolidation, combination or
      sale, as the case may be, except if this Agreement is not expressly
      assumed in writing by the acquiring company, then the Change in Control
      shall be deemed to occur the day before the consummation; and further
      provided that if any definitive agreement to merge, consolidate, combine
      or sell assets is terminated without consummation of the acquisition, then
      no Change in Control shall have been deemed to have occurred; or


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                                    (C) The date upon which the election of
      directors occurs qualifying under Section b(i)(C) above.

                  c. Contract Period. "Contract Period" shall mean the period
commencing the day immediately preceding a Change in Control and ending on the
earlier of (i) two years after the consummation of any event giving rise to the
Change in Control or (ii) the date the Executive would attain age 65.

                  d. Exchange Act. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.

                  e. Good Reason. When used with reference to a voluntary
termination by Executive of his employment with the Company, "Good Reason" shall
mean any of the following, if taken without Executive's express written consent:

                        (i) The assignment to Executive of any duties
      inconsistent with, or the reduction of authority, powers or
      responsibilities associated with, Executive's position, title, duties,
      responsibilities and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change
      in Control; any removal of Executive from, or any failure to re-elect
      Executive to, any position(s) or office(s) Executive held immediately
      prior to such Change in Control. A change in position, title, duties,
      responsibilities and status or position(s) or office(s) resulting from a
      Change in Control or from a merger or consolidation of the Company into or
      with another bank or company shall not meet the requirements of this
      paragraph if, and only if, the Executive's new title, duties and
      responsibilities are accepted in writing by the Executive, in the sole
      discretion of the Executive.

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                        (ii) A reduction by the Company in Executive's annual
      base compensation as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control or
      the failure to award Executive any annual increases in accordance
      herewith;

                        (iii) A failure by the Company to continue any bonus
      plan in which Executive participated immediately prior to the Change in
      Control or a failure by the Company to continue Executive as a participant
      in such plan on at least the same basis as Executive participated in such
      plan prior to the Change in Control;

                        (iv) The Company's transfer of Executive to another
      geographic location outside of New Jersey or more than 25 miles from his
      present office location, except for required travel on Company's business
      to an extent substantially consistent with Executive's business travel
      obligations immediately prior to such Change in Control;

                        (v) The failure by the Company to continue in effect any
      employee benefit plan, program or arrangement (including, without
      limitation the Company's 401(k) plan, the Company's pension plan, life
      insurance plan, health and accident plan, disability plan, or stock option
      plan) in which Executive is participating immediately prior to a Change in
      Control (except that the Company may institute or continue plans, programs
      or arrangements providing Executive with substantially similar benefits);
      the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect
      Executive's participation in or materially reduce Executive's benefits
      under, any of such plans, programs or arrangements; the failure to
      continue, or the taking of any action which would deprive Executive, of
      any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately prior to such
      Change in Control; or the failure by the Company to provide Executive with
      the number of paid vacation days to which Executive was entitled
      immediately prior to such Change in Control;

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                        (vi) The failure by the Company to obtain an assumption
      in writing of the obligations of the Company to perform this Agreement by
      any successor to the Company and to provide such assumption to the
      Executive prior to any Change in Control; or

                        (vii) Any purported termination of Executive's
      employment by the Company during the term of this Agreement which is not
      effected pursuant to all of the requirements of this Agreement; and, for
      purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be
      effective.

                  f. Voting Securities. "Voting securities" means HUBCO's common
stock, together with any preferred stock entitled to vote generally in elections
for directors or other matters. With respect to preferred stock, in determining
the percentage of beneficial ownership of voting securities, the number of votes
to which the holder is entitled in the election of directors with the common
holders, and not the number of shares, shall be the basis of the calculation.

            2. Employment. During the Contract Period, the Company hereby agrees
to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

            3. Position. During the Contract Period the Executive shall be
employed as the Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of the Bank, or
such other corporate or divisional profit center as shall then be the principal
successor to the business, assets and properties of the Company, with
substantially the same title and the same duties and responsibilities as before
the Change in Control. The Executive shall devote his full time and attention to
the business of the Company, and shall not during the Contract Period be engaged
in any other business activity. This

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paragraph shall not be construed as preventing the Executive from managing any
investments of his which do not require any substantial service on his part in
the operation of such investments.

            4. Cash Compensation. The Company shall pay to the Executive
compensation for his services during the Contract Period as follows:

                  a. Annual Salary. An annual salary equal to the annual salary
in effect as of the Change in Control. The annual salary shall be payable in
installments in accordance with the Company's usual payroll method. The annual
salary shall not be reduced during the Contract Period.

                  b. Annual Bonus. An annual cash bonus equal to the highest of
the bonuses paid to the Executive for the three fiscal years prior to the Change
in Control. The bonus shall be payable at the time and in the manner which the
Company paid such bonuses prior to the Change in Control.

                  c. Annual Review. The Board of Directors of the Company during
the Contract Period shall review annually, or at more frequent intervals which
the Board determines is appropriate, the Executive's compensation and shall
award him additional compensation to reflect the Executive's performance, the
performance of the Company and competitive compensation levels, all as
determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors.

            5. Expenses and Fringe Benefits.

                  a. Expenses. During the Contract Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to reimbursement for all business expenses incurred by him with
respect to the business of the Company in the same manner and to the same extent
as such expenses were previously reimbursed to him immediately prior to the
Change in Control.

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                  b. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. During the Contract
Period, if the Executive was entitled to benefits under the Company's
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") prior to the Change in Control,
the Executive shall be entitled to continued benefits under the SERP after the
Change in Control and such SERP may not be modified to reduce or eliminate the
accrual of or vesting of such benefits during the Contract Period.

                  c. Club Membership and Automobile. If prior to the Change in
Control, the Executive was entitled to membership in a country club and/or the
use of an automobile, he shall be entitled to the same membership and/or use of
an automobile at least comparable to the automobile provided to him prior to the
Change in Control during the Contract Period.

                  d. Other Benefits. The Executive also shall be entitled to
vacations and sick days, in accordance with the practices and procedures of the
Company, as such existed immediately prior to the Change in Control. During the
Contract Period, the Executive also shall be entitled to hospital, health,
medical and life insurance, and any other benefits enjoyed, from time to time,
by senior officers of the Company, all upon terms as favorable as those enjoyed
by other senior officers of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this
paragraph 5(d) to the contrary, if the Company adopts any change in the benefits
provided for senior officers of the Company, and such policy is uniformly
applied to all officers of the Company (and any successor or acquirer of the
Company, if any), including the chief executive officer of such entities, then
no such change shall be deemed to be contrary to this paragraph.

            6. Termination for Cause. The Company shall have the right to
terminate the Executive for Cause, upon written notice to him of the termination
which notice shall specify the reasons for the termination and provide, if
practical, an opportunity for the Executive to cure such

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Cause. In the event of a valid termination for Cause the Executive shall not be
entitled to any further benefits under this Agreement.

            7. Disability. During the Contract Period if the Executive becomes
permanently disabled, or is unable to perform his duties hereunder for 4
consecutive months in any 12 month period, the Company may terminate the
employment of the Executive. In such event, the Executive shall be entitled to
the payments and benefits provided under Section 9 hereof as if the Executive
had been terminated hereunder without Cause upon such date.

            8. Death Benefits. Upon the Executive's death during the Contract
Period, the Executive shall be deemed to terminate without cause as of the date
of death and his estate shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided
under Section 9 hereof as if the Executive had been terminated without cause
upon such date.

            9. Termination Without Cause or Resignation.

                  a. Termination Without Cause. The Company may terminate the
Executive without Cause during the Contract Period by written notice to the
Executive.

                  b. Resignation For Good Reason. The Executive may resign for
Good Reason during the Contract Period upon prior written notice to the Company.

                  c. Payments and Benefits. If the Company terminates the
Executive's employment during the Contract Period without Cause or if the
Executive resigns for Good Reason under paragraph 9(b), the Company shall, as
promptly as practical but in no event later than 10 business days after the
termination of employment pay the Executive a lump sum (the "Lump Sum") equal to
3.0 times the sum of (i) the annual salary paid to the Executive immediately
prior to the Change in Control plus (ii) the highest annual incentive bonus paid
to the Executive for any fiscal year during each of the three fiscal years
immediately prior to the Change in Control. For

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these purposes, any deferral of salary or bonus by the Executive under the
Company's 401(k) plan or otherwise shall be included in salary and bonus. The
Company shall at the time of such payment also make any Gross-Up Payment due
under Section 10 hereof for the calendar year of the termination. The Company
also shall continue to provide the Executive, his spouse and eligible dependents
for a period of three years following the termination of employment, with
health, hospitalization and medical insurance, as were provided at the time of
the Change in Control, at the Company's cost, subject only to the responsibility
of the Executive to continue to pay a portion of the premium, as well as co-pays
or deductibles in such amounts as were paid by the Executive prior to the
termination.

                  d. No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not have a duty to
mitigate the damages suffered by him in connection with the termination by the
Company of his employment without Cause under paragraph 9(a) or a resignation
under paragraph 9(b) during the Contract Period. The Company shall not be
entitled to offset from the payment due to the Executive hereunder any amounts
due from or claims against the Executive.

                  e. Legal Fees and Expenses. If the Company fails to pay the
Executive the Lump Sum due him under this Agreement or to provide him with the
health, hospitalization and medical insurance benefits due under this Agreement
or the Gross-Up Payment due under Section 10 hereof, the Executive, after giving
10 days' written notice to the Company identifying the Company's failure, shall
be entitled to recover from the Company, monthly upon demand, any and all of his
legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with his enforcement
against the Company of the terms of this Agreement.

<PAGE>

            10. Gross Up for Taxes.

                  a. Additional Payments. If, for any taxable year, Executive
shall be liable for the payment of an excise tax under Section 4999 or other
substitute or similar tax assessment (the "Excise Tax") of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), including the corresponding provisions of
any succeeding law, with respect to any payments under this Section 10 or any
payments and/or benefits under this Agreement or under any benefit plan of the
Company applicable to Executive individually or generally to executives or
employees of the Company, then, notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the
"Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the Executive, after
deduction of any Excise Tax on such payments and benefits and any federal, state
and local income tax and Excise Tax upon payments provided for in this Section
10, shall be equal to the payments due to the Executive hereunder and the
payments and/or benefits due to the Executive under any benefit plan of the
Company. Each Gross-Up Payment shall be made by domestic cashier's or
treasurer's check, certified check or wire transfer, upon the later of (i) five
(5) days after the date the Executive notifies the Company of its need to make
such Gross-Up Payment, or (ii) the date of any payment causing the liability for
such Excise Tax. The amount of any Gross-Up Payment under this section shall be
computed by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm designated
jointly by the Company and the Executive. The cost of such services by the
accounting firm shall be paid by the Company. If the Company and the Executive
are unable to designate jointly the accounting firm, then the firm shall be the
accounting firm used by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control.

                  b. IRS Disputed Claims. The Executive shall notify the company
in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that, if
successful, would require the

<PAGE>

payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment in addition to that payment
previously paid by the Company pursuant to this section. Such notification shall
be given an soon as practicable but no later than fifteen (15) business days
after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the
Company of the nature of such claim, the date on which such claim is requested
to be paid, and attach a copy of the IRS notice. The Executive shall not pay
such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) day period following the
date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter
period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim
is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive
shall:

                        (i)  Give  the  Company  any  information   reasonably
      requested by the Company relating to such claim;

                        (ii) Take such action in connection with contesting such
      claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to
      time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with
      respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company;

                        (iii) Cooperate with the Company in good faith in order
      effectively to contest such claim; and

                        (iv) Permit the Company to participate in any
      proceedings relating to such claim;

provided, however that the Company shall pay directly all costs and expenses
(including legal and accounting fees, as well as other expenses and any
additional interest and penalties) incurred by the Executive and the Company in
connection with an IRS levy, contest or claim and provided further that the
Company shall not take any action or fail to make any Gross-Up Payment so as to
cause the

<PAGE>

assessment of any IRS levy and the Company shall cause any levy so assessed to
be immediately released by payment of the Gross-Up Amount, together with all
costs, interest and penalties.

            11. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.

                  a. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Except in the
course of his employment with the Company and in the pursuit of the business of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Executive shall not,
at any time during or following the Contract Period, disclose or use, any
confidential information or proprietary data of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates. The Executive agrees that, among other things,
information concerning the identity of and the Company's relations with its
customers is confidential information.

                  b. Specific Performance. Executive agrees that the Company
does not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach of this section and
agrees that he shall be subject to injunctive relief and equitable remedies as a
result of the breach of this section. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the force and effect of the
remaining valid portions.

                  c. Survival. This section shall survive the termination of the
Executive's employment hereunder and the expiration of this Agreement.

            12. Term and Effect Prior to Change in Control.

                  a. Term. Except as otherwise provided for hereunder, this
Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall remain in effect for a
period of 3 years from the date hereof (the "Initial Term") or until the end of
the Contract Period, whichever is later. The Initial Term shall be automatically
extended for an additional one year period on the anniversary date hereof (so
that the Initial Term is always 3 years) unless on or before such date the Board
of Directors of HUBCO by resolution passed by a majority vote of the Directors
then in office, votes

<PAGE>

not to extend the Initial Term any further. The Company shall promptly advise
the Executive in writing of the passage of such resolution and if it fails to do
so, the passage of such resolution shall be ineffective.

                  b. No Effect Prior to Change in Control. Prior to a Change in
Control, this Agreement shall not affect any rights of the Company to terminate
the Executive or the benefits payable to the Executive. The rights and
liabilities provided hereunder shall only become effective upon a Change in
Control. If the employment of the Executive by the Company is ended for any
reason whatsoever prior to a Change in Control, this Agreement shall thereafter
be of no further force and effect.

            13. Compensation and Benefits Provided Not in Derogation of Other
Benefits. Anything to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding, the payment
or obligation to pay any monies, or granting of any benefits, rights or
privileges to Executive as provided in this Agreement shall not be in lieu or
derogation of the rights and privileges that the Executive now has or will have
under any plans or programs of or agreements with the Company, except that the
Executive shall not be entitled to the benefits of any other plan or program of
the Company or agreement with the Company expressly providing for severance or
termination pay or post-employment medical benefits. In furtherance of the
foregoing, this Agreement is not in derogation of, but rather supplemental to,
the rights and benefits of the Executive, if any, under any stock option plan,
restricted stock plan, pension plan, 401(k) plan and SERP.

            14. Notice. During the Contract Period, any notice of termination of
the employment of the Executive by the Company or by the Executive to the
Company shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall
mean a dated notice which shall (i) indicate the specific

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termination provision in this Agreement relied upon; (ii) set forth, if
necessary, in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the employment of the Executive or from the Company
under the provision so indicated; (iii) specify a date of termination, which
shall be not less than two weeks nor more than six weeks after such Notice of
Termination is given, except in the case of termination of employment by the
Company of the Executive for Cause pursuant to Section 6 hereof, in which case
the Notice of Termination may specify a date of termination as of the date such
Notice of Termination is given; and (iv) be given by personal delivery or, if
the individual is not personally available, by certified mail to the last known
address of the individual. Upon the death of the Executive, no Notice of
Termination need be given.

            15. Payroll and Withholding Taxes. All payments to be made or
benefits to be provided hereunder by the Company shall be subject to applicable
federal and state payroll or withholding taxes. Any Gross-Up Payment shall be
made in the form of withholding taxes and shall not be paid to the Executive,
but shall be sent to the IRS in the ordinary course of the Company's payroll
withholding.

            16. Miscellaneous. This Agreement is the joint and several
obligation of HUBCO and the Bank. The terms of this Agreement shall be governed
by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of New Jersey.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect
to the matters covered hereby, including expressly the Change in Control
Agreement among HUBCO and the Bank and the Executive, dated November 13, 1990,
most recently amended January 1, 1995. The amendment or termination of this
Agreement may be made only in a writing executed by the Company and the
Executive, and no amendment or termination of this Agreement shall be effective
unless and until made in such a writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon
any successor (whether direct or indirect, by

<PAGE>

purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company. This Agreement is personal to
the Executive and the Executive may not assign any of his rights or duties
hereunder but this Agreement shall be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives, executors or administrators. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account
for more than one such counterpart.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  HUBCO,  Inc. and Hudson United Bank each have
caused this  Agreement to be signed by their duly  authorized  representatives
pursuant to the authority of their Boards of Directors,  and the Executive has
personally  executed this Agreement,  all as of the day and year first written
above.
ATTEST:                             HUBCO, INC.

D. LYNN  VAN BORKULO-NUZZO          CHARLES F.X. POGGI
--------------------------          ---------------------
D. Lynn Van Borkulo-Nuzzo                 Charles F.X. Poggi,
Corporate Secretary                       Chairman of the Compensation
                                          Committee

ATTEST:                             HUDSON UNITED BANK

D. LYNN VAN BORKULO-NUZZO           CHARLES F.X. POGGI
--------------------------          ---------------------
D. Lynn Van Borkulo-Nuzzo                 Charles F.X. Poggi,
Corporate Secretary                       Chairman of the Compensation
                                          Committee

WITNESS:

KENNETH T. NEILSON                  THOMAS J. SHARA
--------------------------          ---------------------
Kenneth T. Neilson                        Thomas Shara