SUN BANCORP INC /NJ/
DEF 14A, 1997-04-18
BLANK CHECKS
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                        [Sun Bancorp, Inc. Letterhead]

April 18, 1997

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

      On behalf of the Board of Directors and  management of Sun Bancorp,  Inc.,
(the  "Company"),  I  cordially  invite  you to attend  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders  to be held at the Ramada Inn, West Landis  Avenue,  Vineland,  New
Jersey,  on May 20, 1997, at 4:00 p.m. The attached Notice of Annual Meeting and
Proxy  Statement  describe the formal  business to be  transacted  at the Annual
Meeting.  During the Annual Meeting, I will also report on the operations of the
Company.  Directors and officers of the Company,  as well as a representative of
Deloitte & Touche LLP, certified public accountants,  will be present to respond
to any questions shareholders may have.

      The matters to be considered  by  shareholders  at the Annual  Meeting are
described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.  The
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  has  determined  that the  matters  to be
considered  at the Annual  Meeting are in the best  interests of the Company and
its shareholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board of
Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" each matter to be considered.

     WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING,  PLEASE SIGN AND DATE
THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE  ACCOMPANYING  POSTAGE-PAID  RETURN
ENVELOPE  AS  PROMPTLY  AS  POSSIBLE.  This will not prevent you from voting  in
person at  the Annual Meeting, but will assure that your vote is counted if  you
are unable to attend the Annual Meeting. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

                                          Sincerely,



                                          /s/Bernard A. Brown
                                          Bernard A. Brown
                                          Chairman of the Board


<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                SUN BANCORP, INC.
                                226 LANDIS AVENUE
                           VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 08360
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           To be Held on May 20, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  (the "Meeting")
of Sun  Bancorp,  Inc.  ("the  Company"),  will be held at the Ramada Inn,  West
Landis Avenue, Vineland, New Jersey on May 20, 1997, at 4:00 p.m.

The Meeting is for the  purpose of  considering  and acting  upon the  following
matters:

1.   The election of six directors of the Company;

2.   The  ratification of the amendment to the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "1995
     Stock Option Plan"); and

3.   Such  other  matters  as  may  properly  come  before  the  meeting  or any
     adjournments thereof.

The Board of  Directors  is not aware of any other  business  to come before the
Meeting.  Any action may be taken on the  foregoing  proposals at the Meeting on
the date specified  above or on any date or dates to which, by original or later
adjournment,  the Meeting may be adjourned.  Shareholders of record at the close
of  business  on April 14,  1997 are the  shareholders  entitled  to vote at the
Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

EACH  SHAREHOLDER,  WHETHER  OR NOT HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND  THE  MEETING,  IS
REQUESTED  TO SIGN,  DATE AND RETURN THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY  WITHOUT  DELAY IN THE
ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE.  ANY  PROXY  GIVEN BY THE  SHAREHOLDER  MAY BE
REVOKED BY FILING WITH THE  SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY A WRITTEN  REVOCATION  OR A
DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE. ANY SHAREHOLDER PRESENT AT THE MEETING
MAY REVOKE  HIS PROXY AND VOTE  PERSONALLY  ON EACH  MATTER  BROUGHT  BEFORE THE
MEETING.  HOWEVER,  IF YOU ARE A SHAREHOLDER  WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN
YOUR OWN NAME, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR RECORD HOLDER TO
VOTE PERSONALLY AT THE MEETING.

                                    BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



                                    /s/Sidney R. Brown
                                    Sidney R. Brown
                                    Secretary

Vineland, New Jersey
April 18, 1997

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT  RETURN OF PROXIES  WILL SAVE THE  COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF
FURTHER  REQUESTS  FOR  PROXIES  IN ORDER TO INSURE A QUORUM AT THE  MEETING.  A
SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED
IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       OF
                                SUN BANCORP, INC.
                                226 LANDIS AVENUE
                           VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 08360
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                  May 20, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     GENERAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Sun Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  to be
used at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders of the Company which will be held at
the Ramada Inn, West Landis Avenue, Vineland, Jersey, on May 20, 1997, 4:00 p.m.
local  time (the  "Meeting").  The  accompanying  Notice of  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders  and this Proxy Statement are being first mailed to shareholders on
or about April 18, 1997.

      At the Meeting,  shareholders will consider and vote upon (i) the election
of six  directors,  (ii) the  ratification  of the  amendment  to the 1995 Stock
Option Plan (the "1995 Stock Option  Plan") and (iii) such other  matters as may
properly  come  before the  meeting or any  adjournments  thereof.  The Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board" or the "Board of  Directors")  knows of no
additional  matters that will be  presented  for  consideration  at the Meeting.
Execution  of  a  proxy,  however,   confers  on  the  designated  proxy  holder
discretionary  authority  to  vote  the  shares  represented  by such  proxy  in
accordance  with their best  judgment on such other  business,  if any, that may
properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Shareholders  who execute  proxies  retain the right to revoke them at any
time. Unless so revoked, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at
the  Meeting  and all  adjournments  thereof.  Proxies may be revoked by written
notice to the  Secretary of the Company at the address above or by the filing of
a later dated proxy prior to a vote being taken on a particular  proposal at the
Meeting.  A proxy will not be voted if a  shareholder  attends  the  Meeting and
votes in person.  Proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors  will be voted in
accordance  with  the  directions  given  therein.  Where  no  instructions  are
indicated,  signed  proxies will be voted "FOR" the nominees for  directors  set
forth below and "FOR" the other listed proposal. The proxy confers discretionary
authority on the persons  named  therein to vote with respect to the election of
any person as a director where the nominee is unable to serve, or for good cause
will not serve, and matters incident to the conduct of the Meeting.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Shareholders  of record as of the close of business on April 14, 1997 (the
"Record  Date"),  are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock of the
Company (the "Common  Stock") then held. As of the Record Date,  the Company had
1,851,260 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.


<PAGE>



      The  presence  in  person  or by  proxy  of at  least  a  majority  of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a
quorum at the Meeting. With respect to any matter, any shares for which a broker
indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary  authority as to such
shares  to vote on such  matter  (the  "Broker  Non-Votes")  will be  considered
present for purposes of  determining  whether a quorum is present.  In the event
there are not  sufficient  votes for a quorum or to ratify any  proposals at the
time of the Meeting, the Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit the further
solicitation of proxies.

      As to the election of directors  (Proposal I), the proxy being provided by
the  Board  enables  a  shareholder  to vote for the  election  of the  nominees
proposed by the Board,  or to withhold  authority to vote for the nominees being
proposed. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes of the shares present in
person or represented by proxy at a meeting and entitled to vote in the election
of directors.

      As to the  ratification of the amendment to the 1995 Stock Option Plan set
forth in Proposal II, by checking the  appropriate  box, a shareholder  may: (i)
vote "FOR" the item, (ii) vote "AGAINST" the item, or (iii) vote to "ABSTAIN" on
such item.  Shareholder approval of Proposal II will be determined by a majority
of votes cast on the matter at the Meeting,  in person or by proxy, and entitled
to vote without regard to Broker  Non-Votes.  Unless otherwise  required by law,
all other matters shall be determined by a majority of votes cast  affirmatively
or  negatively  without  regard to (a) Broker  Non-Votes  or (b) proxies  marked
"ABSTAIN" as to that matter.

      Persons and groups owning in excess of 5% of the Common Stock are required
to file certain  reports  regarding  such  ownership  pursuant to the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended (the "1934 Act").  The  following  table sets
forth,  as of the  Record  Date,  persons  or groups who own more than 5% of the
Common Stock and the  ownership of all  executive  officers and directors of the
Company as a group. Other than as noted below,  management knows of no person or
group that owns more than 5% of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock at the
Record Date.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Percent of Shares of
                                              Amount and Nature of       Common Stock
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner          Beneficial Ownership       Outstanding
- ------------------------------------          --------------------       -----------
<S>                                              <C>                          <C>   
Bernard A. Brown
71 West Park Avenue
Vineland, New Jersey 08360                         853,210(1)                  42.67%

All directors and executive officers 
of the Company as a group (6 persons)            1,041,908(2)                  50.77%
</TABLE>

- --------------------
(1)   Includes  shares of Common  Stock held  directly  as well as by spouses or
      minor children,  in trust and other indirect ownership,  over which shares
      the  individuals  effectively  exercise sole voting and investment  power,
      unless otherwise indicated. Includes 148,426 options that may be exercised
      within 60 days of the Record Date to purchase shares of Common Stock under
      the 1985  Stock  Option  Plan and the  amended  1995  Stock  Option  Plan.
      Excludes  78,750 options to purchase shares awarded in July 1996 which are
      not  presently  exercisable  within 60 days.  See Director  and  Executive
      Officer Compensation.

(2)   Includes  shares of Common  Stock held  directly  as well as by spouses or
      minor children,  in trust and other indirect ownership,  over which shares
      the  individuals  effectively  exercise sole voting and investment  power,
      unless otherwise indicated. Includes 200,925 options that may be exercised
      within 60 days of the Record Date to purchase shares of Common Stock under
      the 1985  Stock  Option  Plan and the  amended  1995  Stock  Option  Plan.
      Excludes  options to purchase 89,250 shares awarded in July 1996 which are
      not  presently  exercisable  within 60 days.  See  Directors and Executive
      Officer Compensation.

                                       -2-


<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Officers and employees of the Company have an interest in certain  matters
being  presented  for  shareholder  ratification.  Officers  and other  eligible
employees of the Company have been granted  stock  options  pursuant to the 1995
Option  Plan  subject to  ratification  of the Plan by the  shareholders  of the
Company.  The  ratification  of the  1995  Option  Plan is  being  presented  as
"Proposal II - Ratification of the Amendment to the 1995 Stock Option Plan." See
"Proposal I -  Information  with  Respect to Nominees  for  Director,  Directors
Continuing in Office,  and Executive  Officers"  for  information  regarding the
voting  control  of  shares of  Common  Stock  held by  executive  officers  and
directors.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Section  16(a)  of the  1934  Act  requires  the  Company's  officers  and
directors,  and persons who own more than ten  percent of the Common  Stock,  to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the Common Stock, on Forms
3, 4 and 5, with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") and to provide
copies of those Forms 3, 4 and 5 to the Company.

      Based upon a review of the copies of the forms  furnished  to the Company,
or written  representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes
that all Section 16(a) filing requirements  applicable to its executive officers
and  directors,  except as otherwise  noted,  were complied with during the year
ended  December 31, 1996.  As of the effective  date of the  Company's  1934 Act
Registration in August 1996, all officers and directors were required to file an
Initial  Statement of Beneficial  Ownership  ("Form 3") within 10 days,  stating
their individual  ownership.  Due to an administrative delay, the Form 3 reports
for the officers and directors were filed late.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        I - INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR, DIRECTORS
                  CONTINUING IN OFFICE, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Election of Directors

      The entire Board of Directors, consisting of six members, is to be elected
at the  Annual  Meeting of  shareholders,  each to serve  until the next  Annual
Meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor has been duly elected and
qualified.

      It is intended  that the persons  named in the  proxies  solicited  by the
Board will vote for the election of the named  nominees.  If any of the nominees
are unable to serve,  the shares  represented by all valid proxies will be voted
for the election of such  substitute  as the Board of Directors may recommend or
the size of the Board may be reduced to eliminate the vacancy. At this time, the
Board knows of no reason why the nominees might be unavailable to serve.

      The following  table sets forth  information  with respect to the nominees
and the  directors  continuing in office,  their name,  age, the year they first
became a director of the Company, the expiration date of their current term as a
director,  and  the  number  and  percentage  of  shares  of  the  Common  Stock
beneficially owned.  Beneficial ownership of executive officers and directors of
the Company,  as a group,  is shown in the table under  "Voting  Securities  and
Principal Holders Thereof."

                                       -3-


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                        Shares of
                                                              Current     Stock      Percent
Director/Executive                                  Director    Term    Beneficially    of
     Officer           Age (1) Position              Since    Expires    Owned (3)    Class        
     -------           ------- --------              -----    -------   -----------   -----
                                                
<S>                      <C>   <C>                    <C>       <C>     <C>           <C>   
Bernard A. Brown (2)      72   Chairman of the        1985      1997    853,210 (4)   42.67%
                                 Board               
Sidney R. Brown (2)       39   Director, Treasure     1990      1997     45,623        2.46%
                                 Secretary           
Adolph F. Calovi          74   Director, President    1985      1997        218        0.01%
                                 and Chief           
                                 Executive Officer     
Peter Galetto, Jr.        43   Director               1990      1997     18,604        1.00%
                                                     
Philip W. Koebig, III     54   Director, Executive    1995      1997     85,025 (4)    4.47%
                                 Vice President      
Anne E. Koons (2)         44   Director               1990      1997     39,228        2.12%
                                                     
</TABLE>                  
- ------------------                                                     
(1)   At December 31,      1996                                           
(2)   Bernard A. Brown is the father of Sidney R. Brown and Anne E. Koons.  
      Sidney R. Brown is the brother of Anne E. Koons.
(3)   Includes  shares  held  directly  by the  individual  as  well  as by such
      individual's  spouse,  shares held in trust and in other forms of indirect
      ownership  over which shares the  individual  effectively  exercises  sole
      voting and  investment  power and shares which the named  individual has a
      right to acquire  within sixty days of December 31, 1996,  pursuant to the
      exercise of stock options.
(4)   Includes  148,426  options and 52,499 options  granted to Messrs.  Bernard
      Brown and  Koebig,  respectively,  which  are  presently  exercisable  and
      awarded  under the 1985 and the 1995 Stock Option Plans.  Excludes  78,750
      and  10,500  options   granted  to  Messrs.   Bernard  Brown  and  Koebig,
      respectively,  which are not  presently  exercisable  as awarded under the
      amended 1995 Stock Option Plan.

Biographical Information

      Directors and Executive Officers of the Company.  The principal occupation
of each  director and executive  officer of the Company is set forth below.  All
directors  and executive  officers  have held their  present  positions for five
years unless otherwise  stated.  All of the directors reside in the State of New
Jersey.

      Bernard A. Brown has been the  Chairman of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company since its inception in January,  1985. Mr. Brown is also the Chairman of
the Board of  Directors  of the Bank.  For many  years,  Mr.  Brown has been the
Chairman of the Board of  Directors  and  President of NFI  Industries,  Inc., a
trucking conglomerate headquartered in Vineland, New Jersey.

      Sidney R. Brown has been the Treasurer and a director of the Company since
April, 1990. In March 1997, Mr. Brown became secretary of the Company. Mr. Brown
is an officer  and  director  of NFI  Industries,  Inc.,  and one of the general
partners of The Four B's, a partnership which has extensive real estate holdings
in the  Eastern  United  States.  Its  primary  objective  is  investing  in and
consequent development of commercial real estate, leasing and/or sale. Mr. Brown
is  currently  an  officer  and  director  of  several  other  corporations  and
partnerships in the transportation,  equipment leasing,  insurance,  warehousing
and real estate industries.

                                       -4-


<PAGE>



     Adolph F.  Calovi has been the  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and a
director of the Company  since its inception in January,  1985.  Mr. Calovi is a
director  of the Bank  and,  from  1985 to 1994,  was its  President  and  Chief
Executive Officer.

     Peter Galetto, Jr. has been a director of the Company since April 1990. Mr.
Galetto was secretary of the Company from April 1990 to March 1997.  Mr. Galetto
is the  President/Sales  for Stanker & Galetto,  Inc., located in Vineland,  New
Jersey. He is also the President of the Cumberland Technology Enterprise Center.
Mr. Galetto has been the Secretary/Treasurer of Trimark Building Contractors. He
is also an officer and director of several other corporations and organizations.

     Philip W. Koebig,  III has been the Executive Vice President of the Company
since 1994. He has been a director of the Company since 1995. Mr. Koebig is also
a director,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Bank since  January,
1995.  From 1990 to 1994,  Mr.  Koebig had been  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of Covenant Bank for Savings, Haddonfield, New Jersey. He also serves on
the Board of Directors of numerous charitable organizations and corporations.

     Anne E. Koons has been a director of the Company  since  April,  1990.  Ms.
Koons is a real  estate  agent with Fox & Lazo,  and a travel  agent for Leisure
Time Travel.  Ms. Koons is also a Commissioner of the Camden County  Improvement
Authority and a member of the Cooper Medical Center's Foundation Board.

     Additional  Executive Officers of the Bank. Set forth below is biographical
information of certain executive officers of the Bank who are not also executive
officers of the Company.

     Robert F. Mack has been with the Bank  since  1992 and serves as its Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer.  Mr. Mack has twenty-five  years of
extensive banking  experience and has worked for several commercial banks in New
Jersey.

     Bart A.  Speziali  has been with the Bank since 1992 as the Senior  Lending
Officer and Senior Vice President. Mr. Speziali has over twenty years of banking
experience in southern New Jersey.

     James S. Killough joined the Bank in February 1997 as Senior Vice President
of Administrations,  Operations and Retail Banking. Before joining the Bank, Mr.
Killough  was  president  and chief  professional  officer for the United Way of
Camden  County,  New Jersey  for two  years.  Prior to that,  Mr.  Killough  was
executive  vice  president  for  Central  Jersey  Bank and Trust  and  Midlantic
National Bank/South.

Nominations for Director

     Pursuant to Article II,  section 202 of the Company's  Bylaws,  nominations
for  directors  to be  elected  at an annual  meeting  of  shareholders  must be
submitted to the secretary of the Company in writing not later than the close of
business  of the  fifth  business  day  immediately  preceding  the  date of the
meeting. All late nominations shall be rejected.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

     The  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  conducts  its  business  through
meetings of the Bank.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Board
of Directors held four regular meetings and three special meetings.  No director
attended fewer than 75% of the total meetings of the Board of

                                       -5-


<PAGE>



Directors and committees  during the time such director served during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996.

      The  Nominating  Committee  consists  of the  board  of  directors  of the
Company. The Committee met once during the year ended December 31, 1996.

      The Audit Committee consists of Directors Calovi,  Galetto, and Koons. The
Audit  Committee is responsible for  recommending  the appointment of the Bank's
independent public accountants and meeting with such accountants with respect to
the scope and review of the annual  audit.  The Audit  Committee met once during
the year ended December 31, 1996.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directors' Compensation

      Each  member  of the  Board of  Directors,  except  for the  chairmen  and
employee  directors,  received a fee of $300 for each  meeting  attended for the
year ended December 31, 1996.  For the year ended  December 31, 1996,  directors
fees totaled $26,700.

Executive Compensation

      The Company has no full time employees, relying upon employees of the Bank
for the limited  services  required by the  Company.  All  compensation  paid to
officers and employees is paid by the Bank.

      Summary  Compensation  Table. The following table sets forth  compensation
awarded to the Chief  Executive  Officer and  Executive  Vice  President  of the
Company who, for the year ended  December  31, 1996,  received  total salary and
bonus  payments from the Bank in excess of $100,000.  Except as set forth below,
no executive officer of the Company had a salary and bonus during the year ended
December 31, 1996 that exceeded $100,000 for services rendered in all capacities
to the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Long Term
                                                            Compensation
                                                            ------------
                         Annual Compensation                   Awards
                         -------------------                   ------
                                                             Securities
       Name and                                              Underlying      All Other
  Principal Position      Year      Salary        Bonus(1)   Options(#)    Compensation
  ------------------      ----      ------        --------   ----------    ------------

<S>                       <C>     <C>           <C>             <C>        <C>         
Adolph F. Calovi          1996    $   131,000   $       --           --    $        --
President and Chief       1995        131,000           --           --             --
Executive Officer         1994        130,500           --           --        2,743(2)




Philip W. Koebig, III     1996        174,044       22,500       10,500       7,253(3)
Executive Vice            1995        150,000           --       52,499       7,253(3)
President                 1994         25,965           --           --         240(3)
</TABLE>

footnotes on next page

                                       -6-


<PAGE>




- --------------------
(1)  Excludes the value of perquisites and other personal  benefits which in the
     aggregate  does  not  exceed  10% of the  total  annual  salary  and  bonus
     reported.
(2)  Constitutes life insurance premiums.
(3)  Constitutes life and disability insurance premiums.

      Stock Option Plan.  The Company has adopted the 1985 Stock Option Plan and
the 1995  Stock  Option  Plan (the  "Option  Plans").  Officers,  directors  and
employees are eligible to receive,  at no cost to them, options under the Option
Plans.  Options  granted  under the Option Plans may be either  incentive  stock
options  (options  that  afford  favorable  tax  treatment  to  recipients  upon
compliance  with  certain  restrictions  pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code and that do not normally  result in tax  deductions to the Company)
or options that do not so qualify. The option price may not be less than 100% of
the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant.  Option shares may
be paid in cash, shares of the common stock, or a combination of both.

      Options  granted under the 1985 Stock Option Plan are  exercisable  at the
fair market value of the common stock  determined at the time of the grant for a
period of up to ten years from the date of grant. Options granted under the 1995
Stock Option Plan are  exercisable  at the fair market value of the common stock
determined at the time of the grant for a period of ten years thereafter.

      The following table sets forth additional  information  concerning options
granted under the Option Plans.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
                        ---------------------------------

                         Individual Grants                           Potential Realizable
- -----------------------------------------------------------------      Value at Assumed
                                                                    Annual Rates of Stock
                                                                    Price Appreciation for
                                                                         Option Term
                                  Percent of Total                       -----------
                       Number of  Options Granted Exercise
                        Options    to Employees    Price    Expiration
Name                    Granted   in Fiscal Year  ($/Share)    Date        5% ($)      10% ($)
- ----                    -------   --------------  ---------    ----        ------      -------

<S>                     <C>            <C>         <C>      <C>            <C>         <C>   
Philip W. Koebig, III   10,500         8.34        16.67    July 16, 2006  8,752       17,504
</TABLE>

                                       -7-


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
                      -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Value of
                                                          Number of         Exercisable/Unexercisable
                                                  Exercisable/Unexercisable      In-the-money
                      Shares Acquired     Value         Options at                Options at
Name                  on Exercise (#)    Realized    Fiscal Year-End(#)        Fiscal Year-End($)
- ----                  ---------------    --------    ------------------     -------------------------

<S>                       <C>            <C>         <C>                      <C>  
Adolph F. Calovi          101,346        $953,152          --                       --

Philip W. Koebig, III        --              --      52,499 / 10,500 (1)      452,541 / 45,465 (2)
</TABLE>

- -------------------
(1)  Exercisability of options subject to stockholder  ratification of amendment
     to 1995 Stock Option Plan. See Proposal II, hereinafter.
(2)  Based upon the difference  between the option exercise price and the market
     price of stock of $21.50 per share as of April 2, 1997.

      Directors' Compensation. Each member of the Board of Directors, except for
the  Chairman and  employee  directors,  received a fee of $300 for each meeting
attended for the year ended  December 31, 1996.  For the year ended December 31,
1996, director fees totaled $26,700.

      Employment  Agreement.  The Company  has an  employment  agreement,  dated
January 2, 1995,  with Adolph F. Calovi,  its President and CEO. Under the terms
of the agreement,  Mr. Calovi will receive an annual salary of $131,000 for each
of the four years of the  agreement.  In addition,  he will receive all benefits
offered  officers  of the  Company  and  will  have  the use of a  Company-owned
automobile.  If,  during  the term of the  agreement,  Mr.  Calovi's  employment
terminates for any reason except voluntary resignation,  embezzlement, fraud, or
due to a  material  default by Mr.  Calovi of his  employment  obligations,  the
Company  will be fully  liable  for all  remaining  salary  payments  under  the
agreement.

     Compensation   Committee   Interlocks   and  Insider   Participation.   The
Compensation  Committee of the Company  during the year ended  December 31, 1996
consisted of Anne E. Koons,  Sidney R. Brown and Philip W. Koebig,  III. All are
members of the Board of Directors of the Company.  Mr. Koebig is also a Director
and  Officer  of the Bank  and did not  participate  in  matters  involving  his
personal compensation.

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

      The  Personnel  Committee  (the  "Committee")  has furnished the following
report on executive compensation:

      Compensation  Policies.  Under the  supervision of the Board of Directors,
the Company has  developed  and  implemented  compensation  policies,  plans and
programs  which seek to  enhance  the  profitability  of the  Company,  and thus
shareholder value, by aligning closely the financial  interests of the Company's
employees,  including its Chief Executive officer ("CEO"), Chairman of the Board
and the Company's other senior management, with those of its shareholders.  With
regard to compensation actions affecting the CEO, the Executive Committee of the
Board of Directors,  consisting of the members of the  Personnel  Committee,  as
well as all of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors,  acted as the
approving body.

                                       -8-


<PAGE>




     The  executive compensation program of the Company is designed to:

     o    Support a pay-for-performance policy that differentiates  compensation
          based on corporate and individual performance;

     o    Motivate employees to assume increased  responsibility and reward them
          for their achievement;

     o    Provide  compensation  opportunities  that  are  comparable  to  those
          offered by other  leading  companies,  allowing the Company to compete
          for and retain  talented  executives who are critical to the Company's
          long-term success; and

     o    Align the  interests of  executives  with the  long-term  interests of
          shareholders  through award opportunities that can result in ownership
          of Common Stock.

      At present,  the  executive  compensation  program is comprised of salary,
annual cash incentive  opportunities,  long-term incentive  opportunities in the
form  of  stock  options,  and  miscellaneous   benefits  typically  offered  to
executives  in comparable  corporations.  Annual base salaries for all executive
offices are generally set somewhat below competitive  levels so that the Company
relies to a large  degree on annual and longer term  incentive  compensation  to
attract and retain  corporate  officers and other employees and to motivate them
to perform to the full extent of their  abilities.  The Committee  considers the
total  compensation  (earned or  potentially  available)  in  establishing  each
element of compensation so that total  compensation paid is competitive with the
market  place,   based  on  an   independent   consultant's   survey  of  salary
competitiveness  of other financial  institutions.  The Committee  intends to be
advised periodically by independent  compensation  consultants concerning salary
competitiveness.

      As to Mr. Koebig and other executive  offices,  as an executive's level of
responsibility  increases,  a  greater  portion  of his or her  potential  total
compensation  opportunity is based on Company performance incentives rather than
on salary.  Reliance on Company  performance  causes greater  variability in the
individual's  total  compensation  from  year to year.  By  varying  annual  and
long-term  compensation  and basing both on corporate  performance,  the Company
believes  executive  offices are  encouraged  to  continue  focusing on building
profitability and shareholder value.

      Salaries. Effective January 1, 1997, the Board of Directors, acting on the
recommendation  of the Committee,  increased the base salary paid to Mr. Koebig.
The  increase  reflected  consideration  of  competitive  data  provided  by  an
independent  consulting firm, the Committee's and the Board's  assessment of Mr.
Koebig's performance,  over the previous year and recognition of the improvement
in performance  by the Company during 1996 as compared with the Company's  goals
included in its business  plan. The other  executive  officers were also granted
salary increases based on competitive  data,  individual  performance,  position
tenure and internal comparability considerations.

     Mr. Calovi has been President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and a director of
the Company  since its  inception in 1985.  Mr.  Calovi's  salary of $131,000 is
fixed in his  employment  agreement and is based upon his prior years of service
to the Bank and the Company.  Mr. Calovi's  compensation of $131,000 is for term
of four years. See "-Employment Agreement."

Personnel Committee

      Anne E. Koons
      Sidney R. Brown
      Philip W. Koebig, III

                                       -9-


<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Set forth below is a stock  performance  graph  comparing  the  cumulative
total  shareholder  return on the  Common  Stock with (a) the  cumulative  total
shareholder  return on stocks  included in the Nasdaq Stock Market index and (b)
the cumulative  total  shareholder  return on stocks included in the Nasdaq Bank
index,  as prepared for Nasdaq by the Center for Research in  Securities  Prices
("CRSP") at the University of Chicago.  All three investment  comparisons assume
the investment of $100 as of August 3, 1996 (the date of initial issuance of the
Common Stock).  All of these cumulative total returns are computed  assuming the
reinvestment of dividends.  In the graph below, the periods compared were August
3, 1996 and the Company's fiscal year end of December 31, 1996.

      There can be no assurance that the Company's future stock performance will
be the same or similar to the historical  stock  performance  shown in the graph
below.  The Company  neither  makes nor  endorses  any  predictions  as to stock
performance.

                               [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

        -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  8/96      12/31/96
        -------------------------------------------------------------
        CRSP Nasdaq U.S. Index                 $100.00       $112.94
        -------------------------------------------------------------
        CRSP Nasdaq Bank Index                  100.00        116.00
        -------------------------------------------------------------
        Sun Bancorp, Inc.                       100.00        104.76
        -------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -10-


<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

      Bernard A. Brown,  the  Chairman of the Board of  Directors of the Company
and of the Bank, is, with his wife, the owner of Vineland  Construction Company.
The  Company  and the Bank lease  office  space in  Vineland,  New  Jersey  from
Vineland  Construction  Company. The Company believes that the transactions with
Vineland  Construction  Company are on terms substantially the same, or at least
as  favorable to the Bank,  as those that would be provided by a  non-affiliate.
The  Company  paid  $361,731  to  Vineland  Construction  during  the year ended
December 31, 1996.

      The Bank has a policy  of  offering  various  types of loans to  officers,
directors  and  employees of the Bank and of the Company.  These loans have been
made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially  the same terms and
conditions  (including  interest  rates and  collateral  requirements)  as,  and
following credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those
prevailing at the time for  comparable  transactions  by the Bank with its other
unaffiliated  customers  and do  not  involve  more  than  the  normal  risk  of
collectibility, nor present other unfavorable features.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               PROPOSAL II - RATIFICATION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General

      The  Company's  Board of  Directors  has adopted an  amendment to the 1995
Stock Option Plan  ("Option  Plan").  In accordance  with such  amendment to the
plan,  the total number of shares of Common Stock  authorized for issuance under
the Option Plan has been  increased  from  105,000 (as adjusted for the 5% stock
dividend  in 1996) to 315,000  shares.  The  purpose  of the  Option  Plan is to
attract  and  retain   qualified   personnel   for   positions  of   substantial
responsibility and to provide  additional  incentive to certain officers and key
employees to promote the success of the Company's and the Bank's  business.  The
following  summary of the material  features of the Option Plan, as amended,  is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete  provisions of the Option
Plan which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

      The  Option  Plan  will be  administered  by the Board of  Directors  or a
committee  of not  less  than  three  non-employee  directors  appointed  by the
Company's  Board of  Directors  and  serving at the  pleasure  of the Board (the
"Option  Committee").  Members of the  Option  Committee  shall be deemed  "Non-
Employee  Directors"  within the meaning of Rule 16b-3  pursuant to the Exchange
Act.  Directors  Galetto,  S.  Brown,  and Koons  serve as members of the Option
Committee.  The Option  Committee  may select the officers and employees to whom
options  are to be granted  and the  number of options to be granted  based upon
several  factors   including  prior  and  anticipated   future  job  duties  and
responsibilities,  job  performance,  the  Bank's  financial  performance  and a
comparison  of awards  given by other  institutions  which have  converted  from
mutual to stock form.  A majority of the members of the Option  Committee  shall
constitute  a quorum and the action of a majority of the members  present at any
meeting  at which a quorum is  present  shall be deemed the action of the Option
Committee.

      Officers and key employees who are designated by the Option Committee will
be eligible to receive,  at no cost to them,  options under the Option Plan (the
"Optionees"). Each option granted pursuant to the Option Plan shall be evidenced
by an  instrument in such form as the Option  Committee  shall from time to time
approve. It is anticipated that options granted under the Option Plan will

                                      -11-


<PAGE>



constitute  either  Incentive Stock Options  (options that afford  favorable tax
treatment to recipients upon compliance  with certain  restrictions  pursuant to
Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  ("Code")  and that do not  normally
result in tax deductions to the Company) or Non-Incentive Stock Options (options
that do not afford  recipients  favorable tax treatment under Code Section 422).
Option shares may be paid for in cash,  shares of Common Stock, or a combination
of both. The Company will receive no monetary  consideration for the granting of
stock  options  under the Option  Plan.  Further,  the Company  will  receive no
consideration  other than the option  exercise  price per share for Common Stock
issued to  Optionees  upon the  exercise of those  Options.  In the event of the
death or  disability  of an  Optionee,  or a change in control  (as such term is
described in the Option Plan), the options granted to such Optionee shall become
immediately exercisable without regard to any vesting schedule.

      Shares  issuable under the Option Plan may be from authorized but unissued
shares or shares purchased in the open market. An Option which expires,  becomes
unexercisable,  or is forfeited  for any reason prior to its exercise will again
be  available  for  issuance  under the Option  Plan.  No Option or any right or
interest  therein is  assignable or  transferable  except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. The Option Plan shall continue in effect for a term of
ten years from the Effective Date.

Stock Options

      The  Option   Committee  may  grant  either  Incentive  Stock  Options  or
Non-Incentive  Stock Options.  In general,  if an Optionee ceases to serve as an
employee  of the  Company  for any reason  other than  disability  or death,  an
exercisable Incentive Stock Option shall cease being exercisable,  except as may
otherwise be determined by the Option Committee at the time of the award. In the
event  of  the  disability  or  death  of  an  Optionee  during  employment,  an
exercisable  Incentive Stock Option will continue to be exercisable for one year
thereafter,  to the extent exercisable by the Optionee  immediately prior to the
Optionee's disability or death but only if, and to the extent that, the Optionee
was entitled to exercise such Incentive Stock Options on the date of termination
of employment.  The terms and conditions of Non-Incentive Stock Options relating
to the effect of an Optionee's termination of employment or service, disability,
or death shall be such terms as the Option  Committee,  in its sole  discretion,
shall  determine at the time of  termination  of service,  disability  or death,
unless specifically determined at the time of grant of such options.

      The exercise  price for the purchase of Common Stock  subject to an Option
may not be less than one hundred  percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the
Common  Stock  covered  by the Option on the date of grant of such  Option.  The
Option Committee may impose additional  conditions upon the right of an Optionee
to exercise any Option granted  hereunder  which are not  inconsistent  with the
terms of the Option Plan or the requirements  for  qualification as an Incentive
Stock  Option,  if such  Option is  intended  to qualify as an  incentive  stock
option.

      No shares of Common  Stock shall be issued upon the  exercise of an Option
until full payment  therefor has been  received by the Company,  and no Optionee
shall have any of the rights of a  shareholder  of the Company  until  shares of
Common Stock are issued to such  Optionee.  Upon the exercise of an Option by an
Optionee (or the Optionee's personal  representative),  the Option Committee, in
its sole and absolute  discretion,  may make a cash payment to the Optionee,  in
whole or in part, in lieu of the delivery of shares of Common  Stock.  Such cash
payment to be paid in lieu of  delivery  of Common  Stock  shall be equal to the
difference  between the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the
Option  exercise  and the  exercise  price  per share of the  Option.  Such cash
payment  shall be in exchange for the  cancellation  of such  Option.  Such cash
payment  shall not be made in the event that such  transaction  would  result in
liability to the Optionee and the Company  under  Section  16(b) of the Exchange
Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                      -12-


<PAGE>

Awards Under the Option Plan

      The Board or the Option  Committee  shall from time to time  determine the
officers  and key  employees  who shall be granted  Awards  under the Plan,  the
number of Awards to be granted to any  Participant  under the Plan,  and whether
Awards granted to each such Participant  under the Plan shall be Incentive Stock
Options and/or  Non-Incentive  Stock Options.  In selecting  Participants and in
determining  the  number of shares of Common  Stock  subject  to  Options  to be
granted to each such Participant, the Board or the Option Committee may consider
the nature of the past and  anticipated  future  services  rendered by each such
Participant,  each such Participant's current and potential  contribution to the
Company and such other factors as may be deemed relevant.  Participants who have
been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards.

      The table  below  presents  information  related  to stock  option  awards
previously  awarded  based upon the amendment to the Option Plan to increase the
authorized shares from 105,000 to 315,000.

                                NEW PLAN BENEFITS
                                -----------------

                                                             Number of Options
Name and Position                          Dollar Value(1)      Granted(2)
- -----------------                          ---------------      ----------

Bernard Brown
  Chairman of the Board................       $380,363            78,750
Philip W. Koebig, III
  Director, Executive Vice-President..        $ 50,715            10,500



- -----------------------
(1)   The exercise  price of such Options  equals $16.67  representing  the Fair
      Market  Value of the  Common  Stock on the date of Board  approval  of the
      Option Plan. On April 2, 1997,  the last sale price of the Common Stock at
      the close of the  market as  reported  on the Nasdaq  National  Market was
      $21.50 per share.  The dollar value of such awards  equals the  difference
      between  the  grant  price and the  price as of April 2,  1997,  times the
      number of Options awarded.
(2)   Such  Options  are   immediately  exercisable,   subject  to   stockholder
      ratification of the Option Plan.

Effect of Mergers, Change of Control and Other Adjustments

      Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company,  within
the sole discretion of the Option  Committee,  the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock for which Options may be granted  hereunder or the number of shares
of Common Stock represented by each outstanding  Option will be  proportionately
adjusted  for any  increase or decrease in the number of issued and  outstanding
shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or  consolidation  of shares
or the  payment of a stock  dividend  or any other  increase  or decrease in the
number of shares of Common  Stock  effected  without  the  receipt or payment of
consideration by the Company. Subject to any required action by the shareholders
of the Company, in the event of any change in control, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation,  exchange  of shares,  spin-off,  reorganization,  tender  offer,
partial or  complete  liquidation  or other  extraordinary  corporate  action or
event, the Option Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power, prior
to or  subsequent  to such  action or events,  to (i)  appropriately  adjust the
number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Option,  the exercise price per
share of such  Option,  and the  consideration  to be given or  received  by the
Company upon the  exercise of any  outstanding  Options;  (ii) cancel any or all
previously granted Options,  provided that appropriate  consideration is paid to
the Optionee in connection  therewith;  and/or (iii) make such other adjustments
in connection with the Option

                                      -13-


<PAGE>



Plan  as  the  Option  Committee,  in  its  sole  discretion,  deems  necessary,
desirable,  appropriate  or  advisable.  However,  no action may be taken by the
Option  Committee which would cause Incentive Stock Options granted  pursuant to
the Option  Plan to fail to meet the  requirements  of  Section  422 of the Code
without  the  consent  of  the  Optionee.  Upon  the  payment  of a  special  or
non-recurring  cash  dividend  that has the effect of a return of capital to the
shareholders,   the  Option   exercise   price  per  share   shall  be  adjusted
proportionately.

      The Option  Committee  will at all times have the power to accelerate  the
exercise  date of all Options  granted  under the Option Plan.  In the case of a
Change in Control of the  Company as  determined  by the Option  Committee,  all
outstanding options shall become immediately exercisable. A change in control is
defined to include (i) the sale of all, or a material portion,  of the assets of
the  Company;  (ii) the merger or  recapitalization  of the Company  whereby the
Company  is not  the  surviving  entity;  (iii)  the  acquisition,  directly  or
indirectly,  of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act and rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder)  of 25% or
more of the outstanding  voting securities of the Company by any person,  trust,
entity,  or group.  This limitation shall not apply to the purchase of shares by
underwriters  in  connection  with a pubic  offering  of  Company  stock  or the
purchase of shares of up to 25% of any class of  securities  of the Company by a
tax-qualified employee stock benefit plan.

      In the event of such a Change in  Control,  the Option  Committee  and the
Board  of  Directors  will  take  one or more  of the  following  actions  to be
effective  as of the date of such  Change  in  Control:  (i)  provide  that such
Options  shall  be  assumed,   or  equivalent   options  shall  be  substituted,
("Substitute  Options")  by  the  acquiring  or  succeeding  corporation  (or an
affiliate thereof), provided that: (A) any such Substitute Options exchanged for
Incentive  Stock Options shall meet the  requirements  of Section  424(a) of the
Code, and (B) the shares of stock issuable upon the exercise of such  Substitute
Options shall constitute securities registered in accordance with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  ("Securities  Act") or such securities shall be exempt
from such  registration  in accordance  with Sections  3(a)(2) or 3(a)(5) of the
Securities Act, (collectively,  "Registered Securities"), or in the alternative,
if the securities  issuable upon the exercise of such  Substitute  Options shall
not  constitute  Registered  Securities,  then the  Optionee  will  receive upon
consummation of the Change in Control transaction a cash payment for each Option
surrendered  equal to the  difference  between (1) the Fair Market  Value of the
consideration  to be  received  for each share of Common  Stock in the Change in
Control  transaction  times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such
surrendered   Options,  and  (2)  the  aggregate  exercise  price  of  all  such
surrendered  Options,  or (ii) in the event of a transaction  under the terms of
which  the  holders  of the  Common  Stock  of the  Company  will  receive  upon
consummation  thereof a cash  payment  (the  "Merger  Price")  for each share of
Common  Stock  exchanged  in the  Change in Control  transaction,  to make or to
provide for a cash payment to the Optionees equal to the difference  between (A)
the  Merger  Price  times the number of shares of Common  Stock  subject to such
Options held by each Optionee (to the extent then  exercisable  at prices not in
excess of the Merger  Price) and (B) the  aggregate  exercise  price of all such
surrendered Options in exchange for such surrendered Options.

      The power of the Option  Committee to  accelerate  the exercise of Options
and the immediate  exercisability  of Options in the case of a Change in Control
of the Company could have an anti-takeover effect by making it more costly for a
potential  acquiror to obtain control of the Company due to the higher number of
shares outstanding  following such exercise of Options.  The power of the Option
Committee to make  adjustments  in  connection  with the Option Plan,  including
adjusting the number of shares subject to Options and canceling  Options,  prior
to or after the  occurrence of an  extraordinary  corporate  action,  allows the
Option  Committee to adapt the Option Plan to operate in changed  circumstances,
to adjust the Option Plan to fit a smaller or larger company,  and to permit the
issuance of Options to new  management  following such  extraordinary  corporate
action. However, this power of

                                      -14-


<PAGE>



the Option  Committee  may also have an  anti-takeover  effect,  by allowing the
Option  Committee  to adjust  the Option  Plan in a manner to allow the  present
management  of the Company to exercise  more Options and hold more shares of the
Company's Common Stock, and to possibly decrease the number of Options available
to new management of the Company.

      Although the Option Plan may have an anti-takeover  effect,  the Company's
Board of Directors did not adopt the Option Plan  specifically for anti-takeover
purposes.  The Option Plan could render it more  difficult to obtain support for
shareholder  proposals  opposed by the  Company's  Board and  management in that
recipients of Options could choose to exercise such Options and thereby increase
the number of shares for which they hold voting  power.  Also,  the  exercise of
such  Options  could  make it easier for the Board and  management  to block the
approval of certain  transactions  requiring  the voting  approval of 80% of the
Common Stock in accordance with the Certificate of  Incorporation.  In addition,
such Options could increase the cost of an acquisition by a potential acquiror.

Amendment and Termination of the Option Plan

      The Board of Directors may alter, suspend or discontinue the Option Plan.

Possible Dilutive Effects of the Option Plan

      The Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of Options  awarded  under
the Option Plan may either be authorized but unissued  shares of Common Stock or
shares purchased in the open market.  Because the shareholders of the Company do
not have  preemptive  rights,  to the extent that the  Company  funds the Option
Plan, in whole or in part, with authorized but unissued shares, the interests of
current  shareholders  will be  diluted.  If  upon  the  exercise  of all of the
Options, the Company delivers newly issued shares of Common Stock represented by
the plan amendment  (i.e.,  210,000 shares of Common Stock),  then the effect to
current  shareholders would be to dilute their current ownership  percentages by
approximately 11.3%.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

      Under present federal tax laws, awards under the Option Plan will have the
following consequences:

     1.   The grant of an Option will not by itself result in the recognition of
          taxable  income  to an  Optionee  nor  entitle  the  Company  to a tax
          deduction at the time of such grant.

     2.   The exercise of an Option which is an "Incentive  Stock Option" within
          the meaning of Section 422 of the Code  generally will not, by itself,
          result in the recognition of taxable income to an Optionee nor entitle
          the Company to a deduction at the time of such exercise.  However, the
          difference between the Option exercise price and the Fair Market Value
          of the Common  Stock on the date of Option  exercise is an item of tax
          preference which may, in certain  situations,  trigger the alternative
          minimum tax for an Optionee.  An Optionee will recognize  capital gain
          or loss upon resale of the shares of Common Stock received pursuant to
          the exercise of Incentive Stock Options, provided that such shares are
          held for at least one year after  transfer  of the shares or two years
          after the grant of the Option,  whichever is later.  Generally, if the
          shares  are not held for that  period,  the  Optionee  will  recognize
          ordinary income upon  disposition in an amount equal to the difference
          between the Option exercise price and the Fair Market Value of the

                                      -15-


<PAGE>



          Common Stock on the date of exercise,  or, if less, the sales proceeds
          of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option.

     3.   The  exercise  of a  Non-Incentive  Stock  Option  will  result in the
          recognition of ordinary income by the Optionee on the date of exercise
          in an amount equal to the  difference  between the exercise  price and
          the Fair Market  Value of the Common  Stock  acquired  pursuant to the
          Option.

     4.   The Company will be allowed a tax  deduction  for federal tax purposes
          equal to the amount of ordinary  income  recognized  by an Optionee at
          the time the Optionee recognizes such ordinary income.

Accounting Treatment

      Neither  the grant nor the  exercise  of an Option  under the Option  Plan
currently   requires  any  charge  against  earnings  under  generally  accepted
accounting principles. In certain circumstances,  Common Stock issuable pursuant
to  outstanding  Options  which are  exercisable  under the Option Plan might be
considered  outstanding  for  purposes of  calculating  earnings  per share on a
primary or fully diluted basis.

Shareholder Approval

      Shareholder  ratification of the Option Plan is being sought in accordance
with the Code to qualify the Option Plan for the  granting  of  Incentive  Stock
Options in accordance with the Code, to enable  Optionees to qualify for certain
exemptive treatment from the short-swing profit recapture  provisions of Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act, to meet the requirements for the tax-deductibility of
certain  compensation  items under Section  162(m) of the Code,  and to meet the
requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock under the Nasdaq National
Market. An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares voting in
person or  represented  by proxy and entitled to vote  without  regard to broker
non- votes is required to constitute  shareholder  ratification of this Proposal
II.

      THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE  RATIFICATION  OF THE
AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  OTHER MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The Board of  Directors  is not aware of any  business  to come before the
Meeting other than those matters described in this Proxy Statement.  However, if
any other matters should  properly come before the Meeting,  it is intended that
proxies in the accompanying  form will be voted in respect thereof in accordance
with the judgment of the persons named in the accompanying proxy.

                                      -16-


<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The Board of Directors  has  previously  selected the  accounting  firm of
Deloitte & Touche,  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,  to be the Company's
independent  accountants  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1997.  A
representative  of  Deloitte  & Touche,  LLP is  expected  to be  present at the
Meeting,  will have the  opportunity to make a statement at the meeting if he or
she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Under the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation  and Bylaws,  shareholders are
not required to ratify or confirm the selection of independent  accountants made
by the Board of Directors.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The cost of soliciting  proxies will be borne by the Company.  The Company
will reimburse  brokerage firms and other  custodians,  nominees and fiduciaries
for  reasonable  expenses  incurred by them in sending  proxy  materials  to the
beneficial  owners  of Common  Stock.  In  addition  to  solicitations  by mail,
directors,  officers,  and regular  employees of the Company may solicit proxies
personally or by telephone without additional compensation.

      The Company's  Annual Report to  Shareholders  for the year ended December
31, 1996, including financial statements,  will be mailed to all shareholders of
record as of the close of business on April 14, 1997.  Any  shareholder  who has
not  received a copy of such  Annual  Report may obtain a copy by writing to the
Secretary of the Company.  Such Annual  Report is not to be treated as a part of
the  proxy  solicitation  material  or as  having  been  incorporated  herein by
reference.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for
next year's Annual Meeting of  Shareholders,  any  shareholder  proposal to take
action at such meeting must be received at the  Company's  executive  offices at
226 Landis Avenue,  Vineland,  New Jersey 08360,  no later than August 18, 1997.
Any such  proposals  shall be subject  to the  requirements  of the proxy  rules
adopted under the 1934 Act.

                                      -17-


<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    FORM 10-K
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A COPY OF THE  COMPANY'S  ANNUAL  REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL  YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996,  WILL BE FURNISHED  WITHOUT CHARGE TO  SHAREHOLDERS AS OF THE
RECORD DATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY, SUN BANCORP, INC., 226 LANDIS
AVENUE, VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 08360.

                                    BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



                                    /s/Sidney R. Brown
                                    Sidney R. Brown
                                    Secretary

Vineland, New Jersey
April 18, 1997



                                      -18-


<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT A

                               SUN BANCORP, INC.

                            1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            ----------------------

                            AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

1.    Purpose of Plan.
      ---------------

      The purpose of the Sun Bancorp,  Inc.  1995 Stock Option Plan,  as amended
(the "Plan") contained herein is to provide additional incentive to employees of
Sun  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  and each  present  or  future  subsidiary
corporation  of the  Company,  by  encouraging  them to  invest in shares of the
Company's  common stock ("Common  Stock"),  and thereby to acquire a proprietary
interest in the  business of the Company and each  present or future  subsidiary
corporation of the Company and an increased personal interest in their continued
success and progress, to the mutual benefit of employees and stockholders.

2.    Aggregate Number of Shares.
      --------------------------

      Three Hundred and Fifteen  thousand  (315,000) shares of Common Stock (par
value  $1.00 per share)  shall be the  aggregate  number of shares  which may be
issued  under  this Plan.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in the event of any
change in the outstanding  shares of Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend,
stock split,  combination of shares,  recapitalization,  merger,  consolidation,
transfer of assets, reorganization, conversion, or other event that the Board of
Directors  of  the  Company  or  the  Executive   Compensation   Committee  (the
"Committee"),  deems in its sole  discretion  to be similar  circumstances,  the
aggregate number and kind of shares which may be issued under this Plan shall be
approximately  adjusted in a manner  determined  in the sole  discretion  of the
Committee.  Reacquired  shares of Common Stock as well as unissued shares may be
used for the  purpose of this Plan.  Shares of Common  Stock  subject to options
which  have  terminated  unexercised,  either  in  whole  or in  part,  shall be
available for future options granted under this Plan.

3.    Class of Employees Eligible to Receive Options.
      ----------------------------------------------

      All  officers  and key  employees  of the  Company  and of any present and
future  subsidiary  corporation of the Company are eligible to receive an option
or options under this Plan.  The officers and key employees who shall,  in fact,
receive an option or options  shall be  selected  by the  Committee  in its sole
discretion, except as otherwise specified in Section 4 hereof.

4.    Administration of Plan.
      ----------------------

      (a) This  Plan  shall be  administered  by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company or the  Committee,  which will be appointed by the Board of Directors of
the Company.  The Committee shall consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of
seven members of the Company's  Board of  Directors.  All persons  designated as
members  of  the  Committee  shall  meet  the  requirements  of a  "Non-Employee
Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (17 CFR ss.240.16b-3) under

                                       A-1


<PAGE>



the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended  ("Exchange Act"). The Board of
Directors  of the  Company or the  Committee  shall,  in  addition  to its other
authority and subject to the provisions of this Plan, have authority in its sole
discretion  to determine  who are the officers and key  employees of the Company
and each present and future  subsidiary  corporation of the Company  eligible to
receive options under this Plan,  which officers and key employees shall in fact
be granted an option or options,  whether the option shall be an incentive stock
option or a non-qualified  stock option,  the time or times at which the options
shall be granted, the rate of option  exercisability,  and, subject to Section 5
hereof,  the price at which each of the options is exercisable  and the duration
of the option.

      (b) The  Committee  shall adopt such rules for the conduct of its business
and  administration  of this Plan as it considers  desirable.  A majority of the
members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. The vote or
written  consent of a majority of the members of the  Committee  on a particular
matter shall  constitute the act of the Committee on such matter.  The Committee
shall have the  exclusive  right to  construe  the Plan and the  options  issued
pursuant to it, correct defects, supply omissions and reconcile  inconsistencies
to the extent  necessary to effectuate the Plan and the options issued  pursuant
to it, and such action shall be final,  binding and conclusive  upon all parties
concerned.  No member of the Committee or the Board of Directors shall be liable
for any act or  omission  (whether  or not  negligent)  taken or omitted in good
faith,  or for the exercise of an authority or discretion  granted in connection
with this Plan to the  Committee or the Board of  Directors,  or for the acts or
omissions  of any other  members  of the  Committee  or the Board of  Directors.
Subject  to the  numerical  limitations  on  Committee  membership  set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof,  the Board of Directors may at any time appoint  additional
members of the  Committee and may at any time remove any member of the Committee
with or without cause. Vacancies in the Committee, however caused, may be filled
by the Board of Directors if it so desires.

5.    Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options.
      ------------------------------------------------------

      (a) Options  issued  pursuant to this Plan may be either  incentive  stock
options granted  pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof or  nonqualified  stock options
granted  pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof,  as  determined by the  Committee.  An
"incentive stock option" is an option which satisfies all of the requirements of
Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  and
the regulations  thereunder,  and a nonqualified stock option is an option which
does not satisfy the  requirements  of Code Section 422. The Committee may grant
both an  incentive  stock  option and a  nonqualified  stock  option to the same
person,  or more than one of each type of option to the same person.  The option
price for both  incentive  stock options and  nonqualified  stock options issued
under this Plan shall equal at least the fair market  value of the Common  Stock
as of the  date of the  grant  of the  option,  such  fair  market  value  being
determined  by the  Committee  in  accordance  with  its  interpretation  of the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

      (b) Incentive  stock options issued  pursuant to this Plan shall be issued
substantially  in the form set forth in Appendix I hereof,  which form is hereby
incorporated   by  reference   and  made  a  part  hereof,   and  shall  contain
substantially all of the terms and conditions set forth

                                       A-2


<PAGE>



therein.  Incentive stock options shall expire ten years after the date they are
granted, unless terminated earlier under the option terms. Notwithstanding other
provisions hereof, the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time an
incentive  stock  option is granted) of the stock for which any  employee may be
granted  incentive stock options in any calendar year (under all incentive stock
option  plans,  as  defined in Section  422 of the Code,  of the  Company or any
present  or future  parent  or  subsidiary  of the  Company)  shall  not  exceed
$100,000.  At the time of granting an  incentive  stock  option  hereunder,  the
Committee  may,  in its  discretion,  modify  or amend any of the  option  terms
contained  in Appendix I for any person who  receives an option  pursuant to the
Plan ("Optionee"),  provided that the option as modified or amended continues to
be an  incentive  stock  option.  Each of the options  granted  pursuant to this
Section 5(b) is intended, if possible, to be an "incentive stock option" as that
term is defined in Section 422 of the Code and the  regulations  thereunder.  In
the event this Plan or any option  granted  pursuant to this Section 5(b) is any
way  inconsistent  with the  applicable  legal  requirements  of the Code or the
regulations  thereunder for an incentive stock option, this Plan and such option
shall be deemed  automatically  amended as of the date hereof to conform to such
legal requirements, if such conformity may be achieved by amendment.

      (c)  Nonqualified  stock  options  issued  pursuant  to this Plan shall be
issued  substantially in the form set forth in Appendix II hereof, which form is
hereby  incorporated  by  reference  and made a part hereof,  and shall  contain
substantially  all of the terms and conditions  set forth therein.  Nonqualified
stock  options  shall  expire  ten  years  and ten days  after the date they are
granted,  unless  terminated  earlier  under the  option  terms.  At the time of
granting a  nonqualified  stock  option  hereunder,  the  Committee  may, in its
discretion, modify or amend any of the option terms contained in Appendix II for
any  particular  Optionee,  provided that the option as modified or amended does
not  expire  more than ten years and ten days from the date of its grant and the
option  price is not less than the fair market  value of the Common  Stock as of
the date of such grant.

      (d) Neither the Company nor any present or future affiliated or subsidiary
corporation of the Company, nor their officers, directors,  stockholders,  stock
option plan  committees,  employees  or agents  shall have any  liability to any
Optionee in the event an option granted pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof does not
qualify as an  "incentive  stock  option" as that term is used in Section 422 of
the Code and the regulations  thereunder,  or in the event any Optionee does not
obtain the tax benefits of such an incentive  stock option,  or in the event any
option granted pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof is an "incentive stock option."

6.    Six Month Holding Period.
      ------------------------

      With respect to options  awarded to officers and employees who are subject
to the reporting  requirements  under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, subject
to  vesting  requirements,  if  applicable,  except  in the  event  of  death or
disability of the Optionee, a minimum of six months must elapse between the date
of the grant of an option and the date of the sale of the Common Stock  received
through the exercise of such option.

                                       A-3


<PAGE>



7.    Cashless Exercise.
      -----------------

      Subject to vesting requirements,  if applicable,  an Optionee who has held
an option for at least six months may engage in the  "cashless  exercise" of the
option.  Upon a cashless exercise,  an Optionee gives the Company written notice
of  the  exercise  of  the  option  together  with  an  order  to  a  registered
broker-dealer or equivalent third party, to sell part or all of the Common Stock
under  option  ("Optioned  Stock") and to deliver  enough of the proceeds to the
Company to pay the option exercise price and any applicable  withholding  taxes.
If  the  Optionee  does  not  sell  the  Optioned  Stock  through  a  registered
broker-dealer  or  equivalent  third  party,  the  Optionee can give the Company
written  notice of the  exercise of the option and the third party  purchaser of
the  Optioned  Stock  shall pay the option  exercise  price plus any  applicable
withholding taxes to the Company.

8.    Transferability.
      --------------- 

      An incentive stock option granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be exercised
during an  Optionee's  lifetime  only by the Optionee to whom it was granted and
shall not be assignable or transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and  distribution.  A nonqualified  stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan may,  with the prior  written  consent of the  Committee,  be assignable or
transferable  during the Optionee's  lifetime.  In determining  whether  consent
shall be given to an  Optionee  with regard to the  assignment  or transfer of a
nonqualified stock option, it shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee.

9.    Modification, Amendment, Suspension and Termination.
      ---------------------------------------------------

      Options shall not be granted pursuant to this Plan after the expiration of
ten years from and after the date of the  adoption of the Plan by the  Company's
Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors  reserves the right at any time, and
from time to time,  to modify or amend  this Plan in any way,  or to  suspend or
terminate  it,  effective  as of such date,  which date may be either  before or
after the taking of such action,  as may be specified by the Board of Directors;
provided,  however,  that such action shall not affect options granted under the
Plan prior to the actual date on which such action  occurred.  If a modification
or amendment of this Plan is required by the Code or the regulations  thereunder
to be  approved  by the  stockholders  of the  Company  in order to  permit  the
granting of "incentive stock options" (as that term is defined in Section 422 of
the Code and regulations  thereunder)  pursuant to the modified or amended Plan,
such modification or amendment shall also be approved by the stockholders of the
Company  in such  manner  as is  prescribed  by the  Code  and  the  regulations
thereunder.   If  the  Board  of  Directors   voluntarily   submits  a  proposed
modification,  amendment,  suspension or termination for  stockholder  approval,
such submission shall not require any future modifications,  amendments (whether
or not  relating  to the same  provision  or  subject  matter),  suspensions  or
terminations to be similarly submitted for shareholder approval.

      Notwithstanding  any other provision  contained in this Plan, in the event
of a change in any federal or state law, rule or regulation which would make the
exercise of all or part of any previously granted option unlawful or subject the
Company to any penalty, the Committee may

                                       A-4


<PAGE>



restrict any such  exercise  without the consent of the Optionee or other holder
thereof in order to comply with any such law, rule or regulation or to avoid any
such penalty.

10.   Recapitalization, Merger, Consolidation, Change in Control and Other 
Transactions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      (a) Subject to any  required  action by the  stockholders  of the Company,
within the sole discretion of the Committee,  the aggregate  number of shares of
Common Stock for which options may be granted hereunder, the number of shares of
Common Stock  covered by each  outstanding  option,  and the exercise  price per
share of Common Stock of each option, shall all be proportionately  adjusted for
any  increase  or  decrease  in the number of issued and  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares (whether by
reason of merger, consolidation,  recapitalization,  reclassification, split-up,
combination  of shares,  or otherwise) or the payment of a stock dividend or any
other increase or decrease in the number of such shares of Common Stock effected
without  the  receipt or payment of  consideration  by the  Company  (other than
Common Stock held by dissenting stockholders).

      (b) All outstanding  options  previously  granted shall become immediately
exercisable in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, as determined by
the  Committee.  "Change  in  Control"  shall  mean:  (i) the sale of all,  or a
material   portion,   of  the  assets  of  the  Company;   (ii)  the  merger  or
recapitalization of the Company whereby the Company is not the surviving entity;
or (iii) the acquisition,  directly or indirectly,  of the beneficial  ownership
(within the meaning of that term as it is used in Section  13(d) of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five percent
(25%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company by any person,
trust,  entity or group.  This  limitation  shall not apply to the  purchase  of
shares by  underwriters in connection with a public offering of Common Stock, or
the purchase of shares of up to 25% of any class of securities of the Company by
a  tax-qualified  employee  stock benefit plan which is exempt from the approval
requirements, as now in effect or as may hereafter be amended. The term "person"
refers to an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint
venture, pool, syndicate,  sole proprietorship,  unincorporated  organization or
any other form of entity not  specifically  listed  herein.  The decision of the
Committee as to whether a Change in Control has occurred shall be conclusive and
binding.

      In the event of such a Change in Control,  the  Committee and the Board of
Directors  of the Company will take one or more of the  following  actions to be
effective as of the date of such Change in Control:

            (i)  provide  that such  options  shall be  assumed,  or  equivalent
options  shall  be  substituted,  ("Substitute  Options")  by the  acquiring  or
succeeding  corporation (or an affiliate  thereof),  provided that: (A) any such
Substitute  Options  exchanged  for  incentive  stock  options  shall  meet  the
requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, and (B) the shares of stock issuable
upon  the  exercise  of such  Substitute  Options  shall  constitute  securities
registered in accordance  with the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  ("1933
Act") or such  securities  shall be exempt from such  registration in accordance
with  Sections  3(a)(2) or 3(a)(5) of the 1933 Act,  (collectively,  "Registered
Securities"), or in the alternative, if the securities issuable upon the

                                       A-5


<PAGE>



exercise of such Substitute Options shall not constitute Registered  Securities,
then the  Optionee  will  receive  upon  consummation  of the  Change in Control
transaction a cash payment for each option  surrendered  equal to the difference
between (1) the fair market value of the  consideration  to be received for each
share of Common Stock in the Change in Control  transaction  times the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  subject  to  such  surrendered  options,  and (2) the
aggregate exercise price of all such surrendered options, or

            (ii) in the  event of a  transaction  under  the  terms of which the
holders  of the Common  Stock  will  receive  upon  consummation  thereof a cash
payment  (the "Merger  Price") for each share of Common  Stock  exchanged in the
Change in Control  transaction,  to make or to provide for a cash payment to the
Optionees equal to the difference  between (A) the Merger Price times the number
of shares of Common Stock  subject to such options held by each Optionee (to the
extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (B) the
aggregate  exercise price of all such  surrendered  options in exchange for such
surrendered options.

      (c) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, subject to
any required  action by the  stockholders  of the  Company,  in the event of any
Change in Control, recapitalization,  merger, consolidation, exchange of Shares,
spin-off, reorganization, tender offer, partial or complete liquidation or other
extraordinary  corporate action or event, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall have the power, prior or subsequent to such action or event to:

             (i)  appropriately  adjust  the  number of  shares of Common  Stock
subject to each option, the option exercise price per share of Common Stock, and
the  consideration  to be given or received by the Company  upon the exercise of
any outstanding option;

            (ii) cancel any or all  previously  granted  options,  provided that
appropriate  consideration  is paid to the  Optionee  in  connection  therewith;
and/or

            (iii) make such other adjustments in connection with the Plan as the
Committee, in its sole discretion,  deems necessary,  desirable,  appropriate or
advisable;  provided,  however,  that no action shall be taken by the  Committee
which would cause incentive  stock options granted  pursuant to the Plan to fail
to meet the  requirements  of Section 422 of the Code without the consent of the
Optionee.

      Except as expressly provided in Sections 10(a), 10(b) and 10(e) hereof, no
Optionee  shall have any rights by reason of the occurrence of any of the events
described in this Section 10.

      (d) The  Committee  shall at all times  have the power to  accelerate  the
exercise date of options previously granted under the Plan.

      (e) Upon the payment of a special or non-recurring  cash dividend that has
the effect of a return of capital to the stockholders, the option exercise price
per share shall be adjusted proportionately.

                                       A-6


<PAGE>




11.   Conditions Upon Issuance of Common Stock; Limitations on Option Exercise;
Cancellation of Option Rights.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      (a) Common  Stock shall not be issued with  respect to any option  granted
under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such shares shall comply with
all relevant  provisions of applicable law, including,  without limitation,  the
1933 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, any applicable state
securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Common
Stock may then be listed.

      (b) The inability of the Company to obtain any  necessary  authorizations,
approvals  or letters of  non-objection  from any  regulatory  body or authority
deemed by the Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Common Stock  issuable  hereunder  shall  relieve the Company of any
liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of such shares.

      (c) As a condition to the  exercise of an option,  the Company may require
the Optionee to make such  representations and warranties as may be necessary to
assure the  availability of an exemption from the  registration  requirements of
federal or state securities law.

      (d) Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, upon the termination
of employment or service of an Optionee by the Company or its  subsidiaries  for
"cause" (as  determined  by the Board of Directors  in good faith),  all options
held by such  Optionee  shall  cease  to be  exercisable  as of the date of such
termination of employment or service.

      (e) Upon the  exercise  of an option  by an  Optionee  (or the  Optionee's
personal  representative),  the Committee,  in its sole and absolute discretion,
may make a cash  payment to the  Optionee,  in whole or in part,  in lieu of the
delivery  of shares of Common  Stock.  Such cash  payment  to be paid in lieu of
delivery  of Common  Stock  shall be equal to the  difference  between  the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise and the exercise  price
per  share  of the  option.  Such  cash  payment  shall be in  exchange  for the
cancellation  of such option.  Such cash payment  shall not be made in the event
that such  transaction  would result in liability to the Optionee or the Company
under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

12.   Withholding Tax.
      ---------------

      The Company  shall have the right to deduct from all amounts  paid in cash
with  respect  to the  cashless  exercise  of  options  under the Plan any taxes
required  by law to be withheld  with  respect to such cash  payments.  Where an
Optionee or other person is entitled to receive  shares of Common Stock pursuant
to the  exercise of an option,  the Company  shall have the right to require the
Optionee  or such other  person to pay the Company the amount of any taxes which
the Company is required to withhold  with respect to such Common  Stock,  or, in
lieu  thereof,  to retain,  or to sell without  notice,  a number of such shares
sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

                                       A-7


<PAGE>


13.   Effectiveness of Plan.
      ---------------------

      This  Plan  shall  become  effective  on the date of its  adoption  by the
Company's Board of Directors subject,  however,  to approval by the stockholders
of the Company in such manner as is prescribed  by the Code and the  regulations
thereunder.  Options  may be granted  under this Plan  prior to  obtaining  such
approval,  provided such options shall not be exercisable until such approval is
obtained.

14.   General Conditions.
      ------------------

      (a) Nothing  contained in this Plan or any option granted pursuant to this
Plan shall  confer upon any  employee the right to continue in the employ of the
Company or any present or future  affiliated and  subsidiary  corporation of the
Company,  or  interfere  in any way  with  the  rights  of the  Company  and any
affiliated or subsidiary  corporation of the Company to terminate his employment
in any way.

      (b)  Corporate  action  constituting  an offer  of  stock  for sale to any
employee under the terms of the options to be granted  hereunder shall be deemed
completed as of the date when the Committee  authorizes  the grant of the option
to the  employee,  regardless  of when the option is actually  delivered  to the
employee or acknowledged or agreed to by him.

      (c) The term  "subsidiary  corporation"  as used throughout this Plan, and
the options granted pursuant to this Plan,  shall (except as otherwise  provided
in the  option  form)  have  the  meaning  that  is  ascribed  to  that  term by
subsections  424(f) and (g) of the Code,  and the Company  shall be deemed to be
the grantor corporation for purposes of applying such meaning.

      (d)  References  in this Plan to the Code shall be deemed to also refer to
the corresponding  provisions of any amendments thereto and to any future United
States revenue law.

      (e)  The  use  of  the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine gender
whenever appropriate.

      (f)  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  in no event shall
shares of Common Stock subject to Options granted to any individual  exceed more
than 80% of the total number of shares of Common Stock  authorized  for delivery
under the Plan.


                                       A-8


<PAGE>



Annex A

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                SUN BANCORP, INC.
                                226 LANDIS AVENUE
                           VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 08360
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                  May 20, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The  undersigned  hereby  appoints  the Board of Directors of Sun Bancorp,
Inc. (the "Company"), or its designee, with full powers of substitution,  to act
as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, to vote all shares of Common Stock
of the Company which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
of  Shareholders  (the  "Meeting"),  to be held at the Ramada  Inn,  West Landis
Avenue,  Vineland,  New Jersey, on May 20, 1997, at 4:00 p.m. and at any and all
adjournments thereof, in the following manner:

                                                   FOR       WITHHELD
                                                   ---       --------

1.     The election as directors of the nominees
       listed below (except as marked to the       |_|          |_|
       contrary below):

       Bernard A. Brown
       Sidney R. Brown
       Adolph F. Calovi
       Peter Galetto, Jr.
       Philip W. Koebig, III
       Anne E. Koons

       (Instruction:  To withhold authority to vote
       for any individual nominee, write that nominee's name
       on the space provided below)

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
       -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                   FOR        AGAINST    ABSTAIN
                                                   ---        -------    -------

2.     Ratification of the amendment to the
       1995 Stock Option Plan                      |_|          |_|        |_|

In their  discretion,  such  attorneys and proxies are authorized to vote on any
other  business  that may properly  come before the meeting or any  adjournments
thereof.

Note:  Executing this proxy permits such attorneys and proxies to vote, in their
discretion,  upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or
any adjournments thereof.

      The  Board  of  Directors   recommends  a  vote  "FOR"  the  above  listed
propositions.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS
SIGNED  PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE  PROPOSITIONS  STATED.  IF ANY OTHER
BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT SUCH  MEETING,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED
IN THIS  PROXY IN  THEIR  BEST  JUDGMENT.  AT THE  PRESENT  TIME,  THE  BOARD OF
DIRECTORS KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>



               THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the Meeting,  or at
any adjournments thereof, and after notification to the Secretary of the Company
at the Meeting of the shareholder's  decision to terminate this proxy, the power
of said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no further force
and effect.  The undersigned may also revoke this proxy by filing a subsequently
dated proxy or by written notification to the Secretary of the Company of his or
her decision to terminate this proxy.

      The  undersigned  acknowledges  receipt  from  the  Company  prior  to the
execution of this proxy of a Notice of Annual Meeting of  Shareholders,  a Proxy
Statement dated April 18, 1997, and the 1996 Annual Report.

Dated:                              , 1997
       -----------------------------


- ----------------------------------  --------------------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF SHAREHOLDER           PRINT NAME OF SHAREHOLDER


- ----------------------------------  --------------------------------------------
SIGNATURE OF SHAREHOLDER            SIGNATURE OF SHAREHOLDER

Please  sign  exactly  as your name  appears  on this  proxy.  When  signing  as
attorney, executor,  administrator,  trustee, or guardian, please give your full
title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE  COMPLETE,  DATE,  SIGN,  AND MAIL THIS PROXY  PROMPTLY  IN THE  ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


Annex B

                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.        )

Filed by the registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement     [ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission
                                        Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12

                                Sun Bancorp, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
  [X]       No fee required
  [ ]       Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
            0-11.

      (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (3) Per unit  price  or other  underlying  value of  transaction  computed
pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11.  (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (5)  Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [ ]   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

  [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange  Act
Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration  statement  number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

      (1) Amount previously paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (3) Filing Party:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (4) Date Filed:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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