Exhibit 10.20                           
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                           CONSULTANT AGREEMENT


          This Agreement, dated as of the 16th day of November, 1995, by and
between STANLEY J. LESNIK, residing at 24 Springhill Drive, in the Township of
West Orange, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey (herein referred to as
"Lesnik") and BROAD NATIONAL BANCORPORATION, a corporation organized under the
laws of New Jersey (herein referred to as "Bancorporation"), with principal
offices at 905 Broad Street, in the City of Newark, County of Essex, and State
of New Jersey.

          WITNESSETH:

          WHEREAS, Bancorporation is the owner of all of the outstanding
shares of Broad National Bank, a national banking association organized under
the laws of the United States of America (the "Employing Subsidiary" or the
"Bank"); and

          WHEREAS, Lesnik has served as the Chairman of the Board of
Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Employing Subsidiary and of
Bancorporation; and

          WHEREAS, the leadership and productivity of Lesnik have
significantly contributed to the growth and financial security of
Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary; and

          WHEREAS, Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary desire that
Lesnik continue his activities on behalf of the Employing Subsidiary as a
consultant, officer and, if elected, 
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director, and Lesnik has agreed to continue to service Bancorporation and the 
Employing Subsidiary pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Employment 
Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants hereinafter
set forth, the parties agree as follows:

          1.   Employment, Term and Compensation.  Bancorporation agrees to
employ Lesnik and Lesnik hereby accepts and agrees to be a consultant for
Bancorporation and the Subsidiary for the term, in the capacities, at the
compensation and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this and the
following paragraphs of this Agreement:

               A.   The term hereunder shall be a period of three
     (3) years commencing January 2, 1996 and ending December 31, 1998. 
     In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets
     of Bancorporation or the merger or consolidation of Bancorporation
     with any other institution during the term of this Agreement,
     following which the holders of a majority of the voting stock in
     the surviving entity shall be persons other than those who owned a
     majority of the voting stock of Bancorporation immediately prior
     to such transaction, then the term of this Agreement shall be
     extended to a date ending three (3) years from the effective date
     of any such sale or merger.  Any such transaction is referred to
     herein as a "Control Change".
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               B.   Lesnik shall serve as a Special Consultant to
     Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary and shall be
     reasonably available to management to provide to their respective
     officers and key personnel the benefit of his experience and
     judgment and to establish, produce and continue important customer
     banking relationships.

               C.   Bancorporation or the Employing Subsidiary shall
     compensate Lesnik for his services as a Special Consultant to
     Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary at the rate of Eighty-
     Six Thousand Dollars ($86,000) a year, payable monthly in arrears
     during the initial term and any extended term hereof.

               D.   Lesnik, if elected, shall serve as a member of
     the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of
     Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary at no additional
     compensation.

               E.   In addition to all other compensation payable to
     Lesnik during the term of this Agreement, Bancorporation or the
     Employing Subsidiary shall pay to Lesnik, or provide for his
     benefit such medical and dental insurance benefits as
     Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary provide to any other
     personnel of Bancorporation or the Subsidiary.
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               F.   Pending the commencement of the term hereof, the
     provisions of the Consultant Agreement between Lesnik and
     Bancorporation dated January 2, 1995 shall continue in effect, but
     shall be superseded by this Agreement as of January 2, 1996.

          2.   Termination of Employment.  This Agreement shall be
terminated prior to the expiration of its term upon the date of the first to
occur of the following events:

               A.   A determination by Lesnik's physician and by a
     physician designated by Bancorporation or the Subsidiary that
     Lesnik shall not be able to substantially perform the services
     required for his consultantship as set forth in subparagraph B of
     paragraph 1 because of a physical or mental illness or injury and
     such disability prevents Lesnik from substantially performing the
     services required for his employment for a period of six
     consecutive months.  If the two physicians cannot agree, they
     shall select a third physician and the determination of the
     majority of them shall prevail.  If the two physicians shall not
     agree on the selection of a third physician within thirty (30)
     days of their disagreement, the third physician shall be such
     physician as shall be selected by the Essex County Medical Society
     or by the Chief of Medicine of the New Jersey College of Medicine
     and Dentistry, in that order.
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               B.   The death of Lesnik.

          3.   Compensation After Termination of Agreement.

               A.   If this Agreement shall be terminated because of
     Lesnik's disability as determined in accordance with subparagraph
     A of paragraph 2, or if Lesnik shall determine to retire from his
     position as a consultant, Bancorporation or the Subsidiary shall
     pay to Lesnik, or to his legal representative, fifty percent (50%)
     of the compensation as would otherwise be payable to Lesnik for
     the remainder of the term of this Agreement in accordance with
     subparagraph C of paragraph 1, provided that the amount of such
     payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to any insurance
     benefits actually paid under any disability policy maintained and
     paid for by Bancorporation or the Subsidiary and provided,
     further, that if Lesnik shall retire or become disabled following
     a Control Change, then, in lieu of fifty percent (50%) of the
     compensation which would otherwise be payable during the remainder
     of the term hereof, he shall be entitled to eighty-five (85%) of
     such compensation. If any disability insurance payments actually
     made to Lesnik exceed the amount of compensation provided herein,
     such excess may be retained by Lesnik.  Any retirement payments
     made hereunder shall be paid during the remainder of the term
     hereof, or until ninety (90) days following Lesnik's death,
     whichever shall first occur.
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               B.   If services of Lesnik shall terminate prior to
     the expiration of the term hereof, because of his death,
     Bancorporation or the Subsidiary shall pay to his surviving widow,
     but if she is not surviving, then to his legal representative,
     compensation at the applicable rate set forth in subparagraph C of
     paragraph 1 for a period of ninety (90) days after his death.

               C.   So long as Lesnik shall be receiving payments
     hereunder, Bancorporation shall continue to provide medical
     insurance for Lesnik and his wife at Bancorporation's cost in such
     amounts and on such terms as are provided for other employees. 
     Thereafter, if under the terms of Bancorporation's or the Bank's
     health insurance plan Lesnik and/or his wife are eligible for
     inclusion, such insurance shall be made available to them at their
     cost.

          4.   Additional Benefits.  Bancorporation and the Subsidiary
recognize that it is essential to the satisfactory performance by Lesnik of
his duties and responsibilities that Bancorporation and the Subsidiary, at
their cost, provide him with certain facilities and the Subsidiary or
Bancorporation incur certain expenses during the period of his employment as
follows:

               A.   An office commensurate with his position, and a
     secretary, as he may require.
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               B.   Use of a Bank vehicle.

               C.   Reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred
     by him for business travel and entertainment any and other
     expenses relating to Bancorporation's or the Subsidiary's
     businesses, as may be incurred by him.

          5.   Termination of Employment and/or Payments Without Benefits.

               A.   In the event that during the term hereof, Lesnik
     shall fail on a continuing basis to perform consulting services
     hereunder substantially as such services were performed during the
     two years prior to the date hereof, the Board of Directors of
     Bancorporation may notify Lesnik of such failure, stating those
     areas in which the Board shall have determined that Lesnik's
     performance shall have been deficient.  If within 60 days
     thereafter Lesnik shall not have corrected the deficiency, the
     Board may place Lesnik on retirement and he shall thereafter
     receive only the amount provided herein for such retirement.

               B.   If at any time during the period that Lesnik
     shall be receiving payments (including retirement payments) under
     this Agreement he shall engage in competition against the Bank and
     shall fail to discontinue such competition within thirty (30) days
     after written notice of demand by the Bank to 
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     discontinue such competition, then Bancorporation shall not be required 
     to make any further payments under this Agreement.

          6.   Automatic Extension.  This Agreement shall be extended
automatically for one additional year on each December 31 during the term
hereof or any extended term unless on or before December 1 of any year during
the term hereof or any extended term, Bancorporation shall notify Lesnik that
it has elected not to extend such term or Lesnik shall have notify
Bancorporation that he desires that such term not be extended.

          7.   Entire Agreement.  This writing shall constitute the entire
Agreement of the parties as to the employment and compensation of Lesnik by
Bancorporation and the Employing Subsidiary and shall supersede any and all
prior agreements and understandings, whether they be oral or in writing.

          8.   Severability.  If any provision hereof shall be determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such determination
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions
hereof.

          9.   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the
parties hereto, and all persons who succeed to their rights and obligations
such as their successors and permitted assigns, and it shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of and in the Courts of New Jersey.
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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bancorporation has caused this Agreement to be
signed and sealed by its duly authorized officers and Lesnik has signed and
sealed this Agreement.

ATTEST:                       BROAD NATIONAL BANCORPORATION


 /s/ Fred S. Campo                 By:   /s/ Donald M. Karp       
Fred S. Campo                           Donald M. Karp, Chairman
Secretary                               and Chief Executive Officer
                                     
WITNESS:

/s/ Margaret R. Nurnberger          /s/ Stanley J. Lesnik
                                   Stanley J. Lesnik