NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES INC
8-K, 1998-07-28
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 21, 1998


                         NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Pennsylvania                  0-10957                23-2215075
  (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
        of incorporation)             File Number)            Ident. No.)


      Philadelphia and Reading Avenues, Boyertown, PA        19512
           (Address of principal executive office)         (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (215) 367-6001


                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

Item 5.  Other Events.

     On July 21, 1998,  National Penn Bancshares,  Inc.  ("NPB"),  National Penn
Bank, a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of NPB ("Bank"),  and Elverson  National Bank
("ENB")  entered into an Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the  "Agreement")  which
provides,  among other  things,  for the merger of ENB with and into Bank,  with
Bank surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPB (the "Merger").

     The Agreement provides for the exchange of 1.175 shares of NPB common stock
for each share of ENB common  stock.  There are  2,597,995  shares of ENB common
stock  outstanding.  The exchange ratio is subject to adjustment if the price of
National Penn  Bancshares  common stock  declines by more than 10% during the 20
trading day period  ending on the trading day 31 days before the date of the ENB
shareholders'  meeting.  In that event, the ratio would adjust to a ratio of 1.2
shares for each ENB share.  Should that  decline  exceed 20%, ENB would have the
right to  terminate  the  Agreement  if that  decline  also was 5% more than the
decline in an index of stock prices of a group of comparable  Pennsylvania  bank
holding  companies over the same time period,  unless  National Penn  Bancshares
choose to  increase  the  exchange  ratio to 1.25  shares for each ENB share.  A
decline in excess of 25% would permit ENB to terminate the Agreement.

     A 5-for-4  split of National  Penn  Bancshares  common  stock is  currently
pending and will be completed  on July 31. Upon its  completion,  the  Agreement
provides for proportionate adjustment of all the exchange ratio provisions so as
to preserve the same economic terms as at present.

     The  Agreement  provides for the  issuance of stock  options for NPB common
stock in substitution  for stock options for ENB common stock, to the extent the
ENB stock options remain outstanding on the closing date. The substitute options
would  reflect the final  exchange  ratio and otherwise be on the same terms and
conditions  as the ENB  options,  all of which  vested  and  became  immediately
exercisable upon execution of the Agreement.  There are options  outstanding for
44,424 additional shares of ENB common stock.

     The Merger is intended to be a tax-free  exchange for ENB  shareholders  to
the extent they receive  shares of NPB common stock and a "pooling of interests"
for financial  accounting  purposes.  NPB and ENB anticipate that closing of the
Merger  will  occur  late in the  fourth  quarter  of 1998 or early in the first
quarter of 1999.

     The Merger is subject to a number of conditions,  including approval by the
Office of the  Comptroller of the Currency and approval by  shareholders of both
ENB and NPB. For ENB,  shareholder approval will require the affirmative vote of
holders of two-thirds of the  outstanding  shares of ENB common stock;  for NPB,
shareholder

                                        2
<PAGE>

approval  will require the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the votes cast by
shareholders at the meeting.

     All  directors  of ENB  (collectively  holding  approximately  20.7% of the
outstanding  shares of ENB  common  stock)  have  agreed to vote in favor of the
Merger; likewise, all directors of NPB (collectively holding approximately 2.25%
of the  outstanding  shares of NPB common stock) have agreed to vote in favor of
the Merger.

     The Agreement  provides for ENB  immediately  to pay NPB a cash fee of Five
Million  Dollars  ($5,000,000.00)  if ENB  fails to  complete  the  transactions
contemplated  by the  Agreement  after the  occurrence  of one of the  following
events, if NPB is not in material breach of the Agreement:

     (i) ENB exercises its right to terminate the Agreement  under the following
circumstances. If ENB should receive an Acquisition Proposal (as defined below),
the ENB Board of Directors may terminate the  Agreement,  but only to the extent
that the ENB Board of Directors  concludes in good faith after consultation with
its legal and financial advisors that such Acquisition  Proposal, if consummated
pursuant to its terms,  would result in an alternative  transaction that is more
favorable  to ENB  shareholders  than  the  Merger.  As used  herein,  the  term
"Acquisition  Proposal"  means: (x) any acquisition or purchase of a significant
amount of the assets of ENB, or any equity  interest in ENB or any take-over bid
or tender  offer  (including  an issuer bid or self  tender  offer) or  exchange
offer,  consolidation,  plan  or  arrangement,  reorganization,   consolidation,
business  combination,  sale  of  substantially  all  of  the  assets,  sale  of
securities,  recapitalization,  liquidation,  dissolution or similar transaction
involving ENB (other than the transactions contemplated by the Agreement) or (y)
any  proposal,  plan or intention  to do any of the  foregoing  either  publicly
announced  or  communicated  to ENB or any  agreement  to  engage  in any of the
foregoing.

     (ii) The  failure of ENB  shareholders  to approve  the Merger at a meeting
called  for  such  purpose  if at the  time of such  meeting  there  has been an
announcement  by a person or group of  persons  (other  than NPB) of an offer or
proposal to acquire 19.9% or more of the ENB Common Stock then  outstanding,  or
to acquire,  merge, or consolidate with ENB, or to purchase all or substantially
all of ENB's assets.

     The  Agreement  provides for NPB  immediately  to pay ENB a cash fee of One
Million  Dollars  ($1,000,000.00)  if NPB  fails to  complete  the  transactions
contemplated by the Agreement  after the failure of NPB  shareholders to approve
the  Merger at a meeting  called  for that  purpose,  if ENB is not in  material
breach of the Agreement.

     The foregoing  description of the Agreement does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the

                                        3
<PAGE>

Agreement,  which is filed  herein as Exhibit 2. A copy of NPB's  press  release
dated July 21, 1998 is filed herein as Exhibit 99.1,  and a copy of NPB's letter
to its shareholders is filed herein as Exhibit 99.2.

     Effective  July 21,  1998,  NPB's Board of  Directors  rescinded  its prior
authority granted in December 1997 for NPB to repurchase up to 530,000 shares of
its common stock  (adjusted to 662,500 shares on account of the pending  5-for-4
stock split).

     The merger is expected to be accretive to National Penn's earnings in 2000.
There are a variety of factors  that  could  cause the actual  results to differ
materially  from this  forward-looking  statement.  These  include,  but are not
limited to: (1) expected cost savings from the Merger,  including  reductions in
interest and non-interest  expense, may not be fully realized or realized within
the expected  time-frame;  (2) revenues  following  the Merger may be lower than
expected,  or deposit  attrition,  operating costs,  customer losses or business
disruption  following the Merger may be greater than  expected;  (3)  commercial
loan growth  following the Merger may be lower than  expected;  (4)  competitive
pressures   among   banking   and   non-banking   organizations   may   increase
significantly;  (5) costs,  difficulties or delays related to the integration of
the businesses or systems of NPB and ENB may be greater or longer than expected;
(6) changes in the interest rate  environment may reduce interest  margins;  (7)
general economic or business  conditions,  either nationally or in the region in
which the combined  company will be doing  business,  may be less favorable than
expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or
a reduced demand for credit; (8) legislation or regulatory changes may adversely
affect the  businesses in which the combined  company would be engaged;  and (9)
changes may occur in the securities markets. Additional information with respect
to  factors  that may cause  actual  results  to differ  materially  from  those
contemplated  by such  forward-looking  statement is included in NPB's quarterly
report on Form  10-Q for 1st  quarter  1998 and may be  included  in  subsequent
reports filed by NPB with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.

           2 -  Agreement   dated  July  21,  1998  between   National   Penn
                Bancshares,  Inc.,  National  Penn Bank,  and Elverson  National
                Bank.

        99.1 -  Press Release of National Penn Bancshares, Inc.

        99.2 -  Letter to Shareholders of National Penn Bancshares, Inc.

                                        4
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                  NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.


                                                  By /s/Wayne R. Weidner
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                        Wayne R. Weidner
                                                        President


Dated:  July 24, 1998

                                        5
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


  Exhibit Number                    Description

        2       Agreement dated July 21, 1998 between  National Penn Bancshares,
                Inc., National Penn Bank, and Elverson National Bank.

        99.1    Press Release of National Penn Bancshares, Inc.

        99.2    Letter to Shareholders of National Penn Bancshares, Inc.

                                        6

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of July 21, 1998 ("Agreement"),
is made by and among NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES,  INC., a Pennsylvania corporation
("NPB"),  NATIONAL  PENN BANK,  a national  banking  association  ("Bank"),  and
ELVERSON NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association ("ENB").


                                   BACKGROUND

     1. NPB owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Bank.

     2. NPB and ENB  desire  for ENB to merge  with and  into  Bank,  with  Bank
surviving  such merger as a wholly-owned  subsidiary of NPB, in accordance  with
the applicable laws of the United States of America and this Agreement.

     3. As a condition and inducement to NPB to enter into this  Agreement,  the
directors  and  certain  officers  of ENB are  concurrently  executing  a Letter
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1-A.

     4. As a condition and inducement to ENB to enter into this  Agreement,  the
directors  and  certain  officers  of NPB are  concurrently  executing  a Letter
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1-B.

     5. NPB and ENB desire to provide  the terms and  conditions  governing  the
transactions contemplated herein.


                                    AGREEMENT

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and warranties herein  contained,  the
parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                     GENERAL

     1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the  indicated  meanings  (such  meanings to be equally  applicable  to both the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

     Affiliate means, with respect to any corporation, any person that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by,
or is under common control with,  such  corporation  and,  without  limiting the
generality of the

<PAGE>

foregoing,  includes any executive officer, director or 10% equity owner of such
corporation.

     Agreement means this Agreement and Plan of Merger.

     Applications  means the  applications  for  regulatory  approval  which are
required by the transactions contemplated hereby.

     Bank means  National  Penn Bank, a national  banking  association,  all the
outstanding capital stock of which is owned by NPB.

     Closing Date means the date on which the last condition  precedent provided
in this Agreement  (other than those conditions which are to be fulfilled at the
Closing) has been fulfilled or waived, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

     CRA means the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.

     Determination  Date means the trading day thirty-one  days prior to the ENB
Shareholders Meeting.

     Determination  Period  has  the  meaning  given  to such  term  in  Section
1.02(f)(ii)(D) of this Agreement.

     Dissenting  ENB  Shares  has the  meaning  given  to that  term in  Section
1.02(f)(ii)(F) of this Agreement.

     Effective  Date means the date upon  which all  filings  with  governmental
agencies,  as may be required  under  applicable  laws and  regulations  for the
Merger to be effective, are made and accepted by such agencies, and shall be the
same as the Closing Date or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

     Elverson  Continuing  Director means a director of ENB immediately prior to
the Closing Date who becomes a member of the Elverson  Board  immediately  after
the Closing Date.

     ENB Benefit Plan has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.12 of this
Agreement.

     Elverson Board has the meaning given to that term in Section  4.07(c)(x)(B)
of this Agreement.

     ENB means Elverson National Bank, a national banking association.

     ENB Common Stock has the meaning  given to that term in Section  2.02(a) of
this Agreement.


                                        2
<PAGE>

     ENB Disclosure  Schedule  means,  collectively,  the  disclosure  schedules
delivered  by ENB to NPB at or  prior  to the  execution  and  delivery  of this
Agreement.

     ENB Financials means (i) the audited  consolidated  financial statements of
ENB as of  December  31,  1997 and 1996 and for each of the  three  years in the
period ended  December 31, 1997,  and (ii) the  unaudited  interim  consolidated
financial  statements of ENB for each calendar  quarter after December 31, 1997,
including the quarter ending June 30, 1998.

     ENB  Shareholders  Meeting  means the  meeting of the holders of ENB Common
Stock concerning the Merger pursuant to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement.

     ENB Stock  Option  Plans  means each stock  option plan  maintained  by ENB
immediately prior to the Effective Date.

     Environmental  Law  means  any  federal,   state  or  local  law,  statute,
ordinance,  rule, regulation,  code, license, permit,  authorization,  approval,
consent,  order, judgment,  decree,  injunction or agreement with any Regulatory
Authority  relating to (i) the  protection,  preservation  or restoration of the
environment,  including,  without limitation,  air, water vapor,  surface water,
groundwater,  drinking water supply,  surface soil,  subsurface  soil, plant and
animal  life or any  other  natural  resource,  and/or  (ii) the  use,  storage,
recycling,  treatment,   generation,   transportation,   processing,   handling,
labeling,  production,  release or disposal of any substance  presently  listed,
defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous,
or otherwise regulated,  whether by type or by quantity,  including any material
containing any such substance as a component.

     ERISA  means  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
amended.

     Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.

     Exchange  Agent has the  meaning  given to such term in Section  1.02(h) of
this Agreement.

     Exchange Ratio means the exchange ratio set forth in Section 1.02(f)(ii)(A)
or (E) or  Section  6.01(c),  whichever  is in  effect,  in each  case as may be
adjusted pursuant to Section 1.02(i).

     IRC means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     Knowledge of ENB means the knowledge of ENB's officers and directors.


                                        3
<PAGE>

     Knowledge of NPB means the knowledge of NPB's officers and directors.

     Material  Adverse  Effect  means  a  material  adverse  effect  on (a)  the
business,  financial condition or results of operations of ENB on a consolidated
basis  (when  such term is used in  Article 2 hereof)  or NPB on a  consolidated
basis (when such term is used in Article 3 hereof) other than, in each case, any
change,  circumstance or effect relating to (i) the economy or financial markets
in general or (ii) the banking industry and not  specifically  related to ENB or
NPB or (b) the ability of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

     Merger means the merger of ENB with and into Bank, with Bank surviving such
merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPB, contemplated by this Agreement.

     Merger  Application  has the meaning  given to such term in Section 3.25 of
this Agreement.

     Merger  Employment  Policies has the meaning  given to such term in Section
4.07(c)(iv) of this Agreement.

     MIP has the  meaning  given to such term in  Section  4.07(c)(vii)  of this
Agreement.

     NASD means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

     Nasdaq means the National  Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market  operated
by the NASD.

     NPB means National Penn Bancshares, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.

     NPB Common Stock means the shares of common  stock,  without par value,  of
NPB.

     NPB Disclosure  Schedule  means,  collectively,  the  disclosure  schedules
delivered  by NPB to ENB at or  prior  to the  execution  and  delivery  of this
Agreement.

     NPB Financials means (i) the audited  consolidated  financial statements of
NPB as of  December  31,  1997 and 1996 and for each of the  three  years in the
period ended  December 31, 1997,  and (ii) the  unaudited  interim  consolidated
financial  statements of NPB for each calendar  quarter after December 31, 1997,
including the quarter ending June 30, 1998.

     NPB  Market   Value  has  the  meaning   given  to  such  term  in  Section
1.02(f)(ii)(D) of this Agreement.


                                        4
<PAGE>

     NPB Shareholders Meeting means the meeting of the holders of the NPB Common
Stock concerning the Merger pursuant to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement.

     NPB Stock Split means the 5-for-4 stock split of NPB Common Stock  declared
by NPB on June 24, 1998, effective July 15, 1998 and payable July 31, 1998.

     OCC means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

     Prospectus/Proxy Statement means the prospectus/proxy  statement,  together
with any supplements  thereto, to be sent to holders of ENB Common Stock and NPB
Common Stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Registration  Statement  means  the  registration  statement  on Form  S-4,
including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or supplements thereto,
as filed with the SEC under the  Securities  Act with  respect to the NPB Common
Stock to be issued in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

     Regulatory  Agreement  has the meaning  given to that term in Sections 2.11
and 3.10 of this Agreement.

     Regulatory  Authority means any agency or department of any federal,  state
or local government or of any  self-regulatory  organization,  including without
limitation the SEC, the OCC, the NASD, and the respective staff thereof.

     Rights means warrants,  options,  rights,  convertible securities and other
capital stock equivalents which obligate an entity to issue its securities.

     Rights  Agreement means the rights  agreement dated August 23, 1989 between
NPB and National Penn Bank, as Rights Agent.

     SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the rules
and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder.

     Subsidiary means any corporation, 50% or more of the capital stock of which
is  owned,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  by  another  entity,  except  any
corporation  the stock of which is held in the  ordinary  course of the  lending
activities of a bank.

     Surviving  Bank has the  meaning  given to that term in Section  1.02(b) of
this Agreement.


                                        5
<PAGE>

     1.02 The Merger.

     (a) Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the  "Closing")  will take place on the Closing  Date at a time and place to be
agreed upon by the parties hereto; provided, in any case, that all conditions to
closing set forth in Article V of this  Agreement  (other  than the  delivery of
certificates,  opinions,  and other instruments and documents to be delivered at
the Closing) have been satisfied or waived at or prior to the Closing Date.

     (b) The Merger.  Subject to the terms and  conditions of this Agreement and
in accordance  with the applicable  laws and regulations of the United States of
America,  on the Effective  Date: ENB shall merge with and into Bank,  under the
charter of Bank;  the separate  existence of ENB shall cease;  Bank shall be the
surviving  bank  in  the  Merger  (the  "Surviving  Bank")  and  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of NPB; and all of the property (real,  personal and mixed),  rights,
powers, duties,  obligations and liabilities of ENB shall be taken and deemed to
be  transferred  to and vested in Bank,  as the  surviving  bank in the  Merger,
without further act or deed.

     (c)  Bank's  Name and  Business.  The name of the  Surviving  Bank shall be
"National  Penn Bank".  The  business of the  Surviving  Bank shall be that of a
national banking association, and it shall be conducted by the Surviving Bank at
its main office  which  shall be located at  Philadelphia  and Reading  Avenues,
Boyertown, Pennsylvania 19512, and its legally established branches.

     (d) Bank's Articles of Association  and Bylaws.  On and after the Effective
Date,  the articles of  association  of the  Surviving  Bank shall read in their
entirety as set forth on NPB Disclosure  Schedule  1.02(d)  attached  hereto and
made a part hereof,  until  changed in  accordance  with  applicable  law,  such
articles of  association,  and the  Surviving  Bank's  bylaws.  On and after the
Effective  Date,  the bylaws of Bank,  as set forth on NPB  Disclosure  Schedule
1.02(d),  shall  automatically  be and remain the bylaws of the Surviving  Bank,
until changed in accordance with  applicable law, the Surviving  Bank's articles
of association, and such bylaws.

     (e) Bank's  Board of Directors  and  Officers.  On and after the  Effective
Date,  (i) the  directors  of Bank duly elected and holding  office  immediately
prior  to the  Effective  Date  and (ii)  two  persons  (each an "ENB  Nominee")
selected by ENB's Board of Directors  and approved by NPB (which  approval  will
not be unreasonably withheld) shall be the directors of the Surviving Bank, each
to hold office until his or her  successor is elected and qualified or otherwise
in accordance with applicable law, the articles of association and bylaws of the
Surviving Bank, provided,  however,  that with respect to the ENB Nominees,  NPB
and the Bank shall take all steps  necessary  to insure  that such  persons,  or
their  successors,  are  re-elected to the Bank's Board of Directors for each of
the five years

                                        6
<PAGE>

following the  Effective  Date if such persons are in office as directors of NPB
on the annual  election  dates.  In the event that  either ENB  Nominee,  or any
successor,  resigns,  dies or is  otherwise  removed  from the  Bank's  Board of
Directors  prior to the end of such five year period,  the  Elverson  Continuing
Directors,  by a plurality vote, shall have the right to select the successor to
such ENB Nominee, subject to approval of such person by NPB (which approval will
not be unreasonably  withheld). On and after the Effective Date, the officers of
Bank duly elected and holding  office  immediately  prior to the Effective  Date
shall be the officers of the  Surviving  Bank,  each to hold office until his or
her  successor  is  elected  and  qualified  or  otherwise  in  accordance  with
applicable law, the articles of association and bylaws of the Surviving Bank.

     (f) Conversion of Shares.

          (i) Bank Capital Stock. Each share of the capital stock of Bank issued
and outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Date shall, on the Effective
Date,  continue to be issued and  outstanding as a share of capital stock of the
Surviving Bank.

          (ii) ENB Common Stock.

               (A) Conversion.  Subject to subsections (f)(ii)(B) and (f)(ii)(C)
below with respect to treasury  stock and fractional  shares,  and to subsection
(f)(ii)(F)  below with respect to dissenting  shares of ENB Common  Stock,  each
share of ENB  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Date,  shall,  on the  Effective  Date,  by reason of the  Merger and
without any action on the part of the holder  thereof,  cease to be  outstanding
and be converted into the right to receive, subject to adjustment as provided in
subsection (f)(ii)(E) and subsection (i) below, 1.175 shares of NPB Common Stock
including the associated  rights to purchase  securities  pursuant to the Rights
Agreement [the number 1.175 shall be adjusted to 1.46875 upon  completion of the
NPB Stock Split].

               (B)  Treasury  Stock.  Each share of ENB Common  Stock issued and
held  in the  treasury  of ENB  as of the  Effective  Date,  if  any,  shall  be
cancelled,  and no cash,  stock or other property shall be delivered in exchange
therefor.

               (C) Fractional  Shares.  No fractional shares of NPB Common Stock
and no scrip or  certificates  therefor  shall be issued in connection  with the
Merger. Any former holder of ENB Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to
receive  a  fraction  of a share of NPB  Common  Stock  shall  receive,  in lieu
thereof,  cash in an amount equal to such fraction of a share  multiplied by NPB
Market Value (as defined in subsection (f)(ii)(D) below).

               (D)  Market  Value of NPB  Common  Stock.  For  purposes  of this
Agreement, the market value of a share of NPB Common Stock

                                        7
<PAGE>

("NPB Market Value") shall be deemed to be the average of the closing sale price
of a share of NPB Common Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market, National
Market tier,  as published in the Wall Street  Journal,  for the twenty  trading
days  (the   "Determination   Period")   ending  on  the   Determination   Date.
Notwithstanding   any  other   provision  of  this   Agreement,   however,   the
Determination  Period  shall not begin  prior to the ten days  after the date of
this Agreement.

               (E) Exchange Ratio  Adjustment.  If NPB Market Value is less than
$30.38 per share,  then the exchange  ratio set forth in  subsection  (f)(ii)(A)
above shall be adjusted to 1.2 shares of NPB Common  Stock in exchange  for each
share of ENB Common Stock [the dollar  amount $30.38 and the number 1.2 shall be
adjusted  to $24.30  and 1.5,  respectively,  upon  completion  of the NPB Stock
Split], subject to the provisions of Section 6.01(c) below.

               (F)  Dissenting  ENB  Shareholders.  If there are  holders of ENB
Common  Stock who dissent  from the Merger and exercise and perfect the right to
obtain  valuation  of and payment for their  shares  ("Dissenting  ENB  Shares")
pursuant to Section 215a(b) of the National Bank Act (12 U.S.C. ss.215a(b)), the
following  provisions  will govern  payments to be made in respect of Dissenting
ENB Shares:

                    (1) All  payments in respect of  Dissenting  ENB Shares,  if
any, will be made by NPB or the Surviving Bank, as they shall agree.

                    (2)  Dissenting  ENB Shares,  if any, will be deemed to have
been retired and cancelled immediately prior to the Merger, with the effect that
no conversion thereof will occur pursuant to subsection  (f)(ii)(A) above unless
and until such  holder  shall have failed to perfect or  effectively  shall have
withdrawn or lost his right to appraisal and payment under such section.  If any
such holder of ENB Common  Stock shall have so failed to perfect or  effectively
shall have withdrawn or lost such right,  each of his shares of ENB Common Stock
shall  thereupon be deemed to have been converted  into, on the Effective  Date,
the right to receive  shares of NPB Common Stock and cash in lieu of  fractional
shares as set forth in Section 1.02(f)(ii)(A) and (C) above.

     (g) Stock Options.

          (i) On the Effective  Date,  each option (an "ENB Option") to purchase
one or more  shares of ENB Common  Stock  issued by ENB and  outstanding  on the
Effective Date, whether or not such option is exercisable on the Effective Date,
shall, by virtue of the Merger, cease to be outstanding and be converted into an
option  to  purchase  the  number  of  shares  of NPB  Common  Stock  which  the
optionholder would have been entitled to receive in the Merger had

                                        8
<PAGE>

such option been exercised in full  immediately  prior to the Effective Date, at
an exercise  price per share of NPB Common Stock equal to the per share exercise
price of the option to purchase ENB Common stock divided by the Exchange  Ratio,
and having other terms and conditions identical to those of the option exchanged
(including  forfeiture,   acceleration  and  expiration  date  provisions).  The
adjustment  provided  herein with  respect to any options  which are  "incentive
stock  options",  as defined in Section 422 of the IRC, shall be and is intended
to be effected in a manner which is consistent  with Section  424(a) of the IRC.
As a result of this  Agreement  and as provided in the ENB 1996 Stock  Incentive
Plan, all options issued and outstanding under the ENB 1996 Stock Incentive Plan
shall become 100 percent vested and immediately exercisable.

          (ii) As soon as  practicable  after  the  Effective  Date,  NPB  shall
deliver to the holders of ENB Options  appropriate  notices  setting  forth such
holders'  rights  pursuant to the ENB Stock Option  Plans  (including  that,  by
virtue of the Merger and  pursuant to the terms of the ENB Stock  Option  Plans,
the ENB  Stock  Options  have  become  fully  vested  and  exercisable)  and the
agreements  evidencing  the grants of such ENB Stock Options  shall  continue in
effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments  required by
this Section  1.02(g) after giving effect to the Merger and the terms of the ENB
Stock  Option  Plans).  NPB shall  comply with the terms of the ENB Stock Option
Plans and shall take such reasonable  steps as are necessary or required by, and
subject to the provisions of, such ENB Stock Option Plans, to have the ENB Stock
Options,  if any,  which  qualified as "incentive  stock  options"  prior to the
Effective  Date,  continue to qualify as  "incentive  stock  options"  after the
Effective Date.

          (iii) NPB shall take all  corporate  action  necessary  to reserve for
issuance a sufficient  number of shares of NPB Common  Stock for  delivery  upon
exercise of ENB Stock Options in accordance with this Agreement.  Promptly after
the Effective Date, NPB shall file a registration  statement on Form S-3 or Form
S-8, as the case may be (or any successor other appropriate forms), with respect
to the  shares  of NPB  Common  Stock  subject  to such  options  and  shall use
commercially   reasonable   efforts  to  maintain  the   effectiveness  of  such
registration  statement or  registration  statements  (and  maintain the current
status of the prospectus or prospectuses  contained thereon) for so long as such
options remain outstanding. With respect to those individuals who, subsequent to
the Merger, will be subject to the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of
the Exchange Act, where  applicable,  NPB shall  administer the ENB Stock Option
Plans  in a  manner  consistent  with  the  exemptions  provided  by Rule  16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act.

                                        9
<PAGE>

     (h) Surrender and Exchange of ENB Stock Certificates.

          (i) Each holder of shares of ENB Common  Stock who  surrenders  to NPB
the  certificate  or  certificates  representing  such  shares  (each,  an  "ENB
Certificate")  shall be  entitled to receive in  exchange  therefor,  as soon as
practicable  after the  Effective  Date, a  certificate  for the number of whole
shares of NPB Common Stock into which such  holder's  shares of ENB Common Stock
have been converted by the Merger, together with a check for cash in lieu of any
fractional  share in accordance  with subsection  (f)(ii)(C)  above (the "Merger
Consideration").

          (ii) Each  certificate  for shares of NPB Common Stock  (each,  a "NPB
Certificate")  issued in exchange for ENB  Certificates  pursuant to  subsection
(h)(i) above shall be dated the Effective  Date and be entitled to dividends and
all other  rights and  privileges  pertaining  to such  shares of stock from the
Effective Date. Until  surrendered,  each ENB Certificate  shall, from and after
the  Effective  Date,  evidence  solely  the right to receive  NPB  Certificates
pursuant  to  subsection  (h)(i)  above  and a  check  for  cash  in lieu of any
fractional  share in accordance  with  subsection  (f)(ii)(C)  above.  If an ENB
Certificate  is exchanged on a date  following  one or more record dates for the
payment of dividends or any other  distribution  on shares of NPB Common  Stock,
NPB shall pay to such shareholder  cash in an amount equal to dividends  payable
on such shares of NPB Common Stock and pay or deliver any other  distribution to
which such  shareholder  is entitled.  No interest shall accrue or be payable in
respect of  dividends or any other  distribution  otherwise  payable  under this
subsection  (h)(ii) upon  surrender  of ENB  Certificates.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, no party hereto shall be liable to any holder of ENB Common Stock for
any amount  paid in good faith to a public  official  or agency  pursuant to any
applicable  abandoned  property,  escheat or similar law. Until such time as ENB
Certificates  are  surrendered to NPB for exchange,  NPB shall have the right to
withhold dividends or any other  distributions on the shares of NPB Common Stock
issuable to such shareholder.

          (iii)  Each  ENB   Certificate   delivered  for  exchange  under  this
subsection  (h) must be endorsed in blank by the  registered  holder  thereof or
accompanied by a power of attorney to transfer such shares  endorsed in blank by
such holder.

          (iv) Upon the Effective  Date, the stock transfer books for ENB Common
Stock  will  be  closed  and no  further  transfers  of ENB  Common  Stock  will
thereafter be made or recognized.  All ENB Certificates  surrendered pursuant to
this subsection (h) will be cancelled.

          (v) As soon as reasonably  practicable  after the Effective  Date, NPB
shall  cause  Bank or  another  institutional  entity  selected  by NPB,  as the
exchange agent (the "Exchange

                                       10
<PAGE>

Agent") to mail to each holder of an ENB Certificate (i) a letter of transmittal
which shall specify that delivery shall be effected,  and risk of loss and title
to the ENB  Certificates  shall pass, only upon delivery of the ENB Certificates
to the Exchange Agent, and which letter shall be in customary form and have such
other  provisions  as NPB  reasonably  may  specify  and (ii)  instructions  for
effecting the surrender of such ENB  Certificates in exchange for the applicable
Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of an ENB Certificate to the Exchange Agent
together  with such  letter of  transmittal,  duly  executed  and  completed  in
accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as reasonably
may be required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of such ENB Certificate  shall
be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (A) one or more shares of NPB Common
Stock  representing,  in the  aggregate,  the whole  number of shares  that such
holder has the right to receive  pursuant to Section  1.02(f) (after taking into
account all shares of ENB Common Stock then held by such holder) and (B) a check
in the  amount  equal to the cash that  such  holder  has the  right to  receive
pursuant to the  provisions of this Section 1.02,  including cash in lieu of any
fractional  shares and  dividends  and other  distributions  pursuant to Section
1.02(h)(ii).  In the event of a transfer of  ownership of ENB Common Stock which
is not registered in the transfer  records of ENB, one or more NPB  Certificates
evidencing, in the aggregate, the proper number of shares of NPB Common Stock, a
check in the  proper  amount of cash in lieu of any  fractional  shares  and any
dividends or other  distributions  to which such holder is entitled  pursuant to
Section 1.02(h)(ii), may be issued with respect to such ENB Common Stock to such
a transferee if the ENB Certificate representing such shares of ENB Common Stock
is presented to the Exchange  Agent,  accompanied  by all documents  required to
evidence and effect such  transfer  and to evidence  that any  applicable  stock
transfer taxes have been paid.

     (i) Anti-Dilution  Provisions.  If, in addition to the NPB Stock Split, NPB
shall,  at any time before the Effective Date, (A) issue a dividend in shares of
NPB Common Stock, (B) combine the outstanding  shares of NPB Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares,  (C) split or subdivide the outstanding  shares of NPB
Common Stock,  or (D)  reclassify  the shares of NPB Common Stock,  then, in any
such  event,  the number of shares of NPB Common  Stock to be  delivered  to ENB
shareholders  who are entitled to receive shares of NPB Common Stock in exchange
for shares of ENB Common  Stock shall be  adjusted so that each ENB  shareholder
shall be entitled to receive  such number of shares of NPB Common  Stock as such
shareholder  would  have been  entitled  to receive  if the  Effective  Date had
occurred prior to the happening of such event. (By way of  illustration,  if NPB
shall declare a stock dividend of 7% payable with respect to a record date on or
prior to the  Effective  Date,  the  exchange  ratio  set  forth  in  subsection
(f)(ii)(A) hereof shall be adjusted upward by 7%.)


                                       11
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ENB

     ENB hereby represents and warrants to NPB as follows:

     2.01 Organization.

     (a) ENB is a  national  banking  association  duly  organized  and  validly
existing  under the laws of the United States of America.  ENB has the corporate
power to carry on its business and operations as now being  conducted and to own
and operate the properties and assets now owned and being operated by it. ENB is
duly licensed,  registered or qualified to do business in each  jurisdiction  in
which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of
the  properties  and  assets  owned  or  leased  by  it  makes  such  licensing,
registration  or  qualification  necessary,  except  where the  failure to be so
licensed,  registered or qualified will not have a Material Adverse Effect,  and
all such licenses, registrations and qualifications are in full force and effect
in all material respects.

     (b) ENB has no Subsidiaries  other than those  identified in ENB Disclosure
Schedule 2.01(b).  Except as set forth on ENB Disclosure Schedule 2.01(b), ENB's
Subsidiaries primarily hold real estate.

     (c) The minute book of ENB accurately  records,  in all material  respects,
all  material  corporate  actions of its  shareholders  and board of  directors,
including  committees,  in each case in accordance with normal business practice
of ENB.

     (d) ENB has  delivered  to NPB true and correct  copies of the  articles of
association and bylaws of ENB, each as in effect on the date hereof.

     2.02 Capitalization.

     (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of ENB consists of 4,000,000  shares of
common stock,  par value $1.25 per share ("ENB Common  Stock"),  of which at the
date hereof 2,597,995 shares are validly issued and outstanding,  fully paid and
nonassessable. ENB has not issued nor is ENB bound by any subscription,  option,
warrant, call, commitment, agreement or other Right of any character relating to
the  purchase,  sale,  or issuance  of, or right to receive  dividends  or other
distributions on, any shares of ENB Common Stock or any other security of ENB or
any securities representing the right to vote, purchase or otherwise receive any
shares of ENB Common Stock or any other security of ENB,  except for (i) options
to acquire  44,424 shares of ENB Common Stock issued and  outstanding  under the
ENB 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, (ii) the terms of ENB's Dividend Reinvestment and
Stock Purchase Plan, (iii) the terms of the ENB

                                       12

<PAGE>

Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan,  and (iv) the terms of the ENB  401(k)  Profit
Sharing Plan.

     (b) ENB owns all of the  capital  stock of the ENB  Subsidiaries,  free and
clear of any lien or encumbrance.  Except for ENB's  Subsidiaries,  ENB does not
possess,   directly  or  indirectly,   any  material   equity  interest  in  any
corporation,  except for equity interests in ENB's investment portfolio,  equity
interests  held by ENB in a fiduciary  capacity,  and equity  interests  held in
connection with ENB's commercial loan activities.

     2.03 Authority; No Violation.

     (a) ENB has full corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by ENB and the  consummation by ENB of the Merger
have  been  duly  and  validly  approved  by the  Board of  Directors  of ENB by
unanimous vote and,  except for approval by the  shareholders of ENB as required
by the National Bank Act, no other corporate  proceedings on the part of ENB are
necessary to  consummate  the Merger.  This  Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by ENB and,  subject to approval by the  shareholders  of
ENB and subject to the required approvals of Regulatory Authorities described in
Section  3.04  hereof,  constitutes  the valid and  binding  obligation  of ENB,
enforceable  against ENB in  accordance  with its terms,  subject to  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

     (b) (i) The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by ENB, (ii) subject
to receipt of approvals from the ENB shareholders and the Regulatory Authorities
referred to in Section 3.04 hereof and ENB's,  Bank's and NPB's  compliance with
any conditions  contained  therein,  the  consummation of the Merger,  and (iii)
compliance  by ENB with any of the terms or provisions  hereof,  do not and will
not: (A) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the articles of
association  or  bylaws of ENB;  (B)  violate  any  statute,  rule,  regulation,
judgment,  order,  writ,  decree or  injunction  applicable to ENB or any of its
properties or assets;  or (C) violate,  conflict with, result in a breach of any
provisions of,  constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a default) under,  result in the termination of,
or  acceleration  of,  the  performance  required  by,  or  result in a right of
termination  or  acceleration  or the creation of any lien,  security  interest,
charge or other  encumbrance  upon any of the properties or assets of ENB under,
any of the terms or conditions of any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture, license,
lease, agreement, commitment or other instrument or obligation to which ENB is a
party,  or by  which  it or any of its  properties  or  assets  may be  bound or
affected, excluding from clauses (B) and (C)

                                       13

<PAGE>

hereof,  any items which,  in the aggregate,  would not have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     2.04  Consents.  No consents or approvals  of, or filings or  registrations
with, any public body or authority are  necessary,  and no consents or approvals
of any third  parties  are  necessary,  in  connection  with the  execution  and
delivery  of this  Agreement  by ENB or,  subject  to the  consents,  approvals,
filings and registrations from or with the Regulatory Authorities referred to in
Section 3.04 hereof and  compliance  with any conditions  contained  therein and
subject to the  approval  of this  Agreement  by the  shareholders  of ENB,  the
consummation by ENB of the Merger.

     2.05 Financial Statements.

     (a) ENB has delivered to NPB the ENB Financials, except those pertaining to
quarterly  periods  commencing after June 30, 1998, which it will deliver to NPB
within 45 days  after  the end of the  respective  quarter.  The  delivered  ENB
Financials fairly present, in all material respects,  the consolidated financial
position,  results of operations and cash flows of ENB as of and for the periods
ended on the dates thereof,  in accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting
principles  consistently  applied,  except in each case as noted therein and, in
the case of interim  period  financial  statements,  subject to normal  year-end
adjustments and footnotes thereto.

     (b)  To the  knowledge  of  ENB,  ENB  did  not  have  any  liabilities  or
obligations of any nature, whether absolute,  accrued,  contingent or otherwise,
which are not fully reflected or reserved against in the balance sheets included
in the ENB  Financials at the date of such balance  sheets which would have been
required  to  be  reflected  therein  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted
accounting  principles  consistently applied or disclosed in a footnote thereto,
except for  liabilities  and  obligations  which were  incurred in the  ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, and except for liabilities and
obligations which are within the subject matter of a specific representation and
warranty herein or which otherwise have not had a Material Adverse Effect.

     2.06 No Material Adverse Change. ENB has not suffered any adverse change in
its assets,  business,  financial  condition or results of operations since June
30, 1998 which change has had a Material  Adverse  Effect,  it being  understood
that the expenses  incurred by ENB in  connection  with this  Agreement  and the
Merger,  including,  without  limitation,  the engagement of legal and financial
advisors, shall not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

     2.07 Taxes.

     (a) ENB has filed,  and will file,  in correct form all federal,  state and
local tax returns required to be filed by or

                                       14

<PAGE>

with  respect to ENB on or prior to the  Closing  Date except to the extent that
any  failure  to file or any  inaccuracies  would  not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid or will pay, or made or
will make,  provisions  for the  payment of all  federal,  state and local taxes
which are shown on such returns to be due for the periods  covered  thereby from
ENB to any applicable  taxing  authority,  on or prior to the Closing Date other
than taxes which (i) are not  delinquent  or are being  contested in good faith,
(ii) have not been  finally  determined,  or (iii) the failure to pay would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) To the knowledge of ENB,  there are no material  disputes  pending,  or
claims asserted in writing,  for taxes or assessments upon ENB, nor has ENB been
requested  in writing to give any  currently  effective  waivers  extending  the
statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, county or local
income tax return for any period.

     (c)  Proper  and  accurate  amounts  have  been  withheld  by ENB  from its
employees for all prior periods in compliance in all material  respects with the
tax withholding  provisions of applicable federal,  state and local laws, except
where  failure  to do so is not  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     2.08 Contracts.

     (a) Except as described in ENB Disclosure  Schedule 2.08(a) or 2.12, ENB is
not a party  to or  subject  to:  (i)  any  employment,  consulting,  severance,
"change-in-control"  or termination  contract or  arrangement  with any officer,
director,  employee,  independent contractor,  agent or other person, except for
"at will"  arrangements;  (ii) any plan,  arrangement or contract  providing for
bonuses, pensions,  options, deferred compensation,  retirement payments, profit
sharing or similar  arrangements  for or with any officer,  director,  employee,
independent  contractor,  agent or other person; (iii) any collective bargaining
agreement  with any labor union relating to employees of ENB; (iv) except in the
ordinary course of business,  any material  instrument  evidencing or related to
indebtedness  for borrowed  money,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  by way of
purchase  money  obligation,  conditional  sale,  lease  purchase,  guaranty  or
otherwise,  in  respect  of which  ENB is an  obligor  to any  person,  or which
contains financial covenants or other restrictions, other than those relating to
the payment of principal and interest when due,  which would be applicable on or
after the Closing  Date;  (v) any  contract,  other than this  Agreement,  which
restricts or  prohibits  ENB from  engaging in any type of business  permissible
under  applicable  law; or (vi) except in the ordinary  course of business,  any
lease for real property.

     (b) All the contracts,  plans,  arrangements and instruments  listed in ENB
Disclosure Schedule 2.08(a) are in full force and

                                       15
<PAGE>

effect on the date  hereof,  and neither ENB nor, to the  knowledge  of ENB, any
other party to any such contract, plan, arrangement or instrument,  has breached
any provision of, or is in default under any term of, any such  contract,  plan,
arrangement or instrument the breach of which or default under which will have a
Material Adverse Effect, and no party to any such contract, plan, arrangement or
instrument will have the right to terminate any or all of the provisions thereof
as a result of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, the termination
of which will have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as otherwise  described in
ENB  Disclosure  Schedule  2.08(a)  or  2.12,  no  plan,  employment  agreement,
termination  agreement  or similar  agreement or  arrangement  to which ENB is a
party or under which ENB may be bound (i)  contains  provisions  which permit an
employee or an independent contractor to terminate it without cause and continue
to accrue future  benefits  thereunder;  (ii) provides for  acceleration  in the
vesting of benefits  thereunder  upon the occurrence of a change in ownership or
control or merger or other  acquisition of ENB; or (iii) requires ENB to provide
a benefit in the form of ENB Common  Stock or  determined  by  reference  to the
value of ENB Common Stock.

     2.09 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.

     (a) ENB has, and will have as to property  acquired  after the date hereof,
good,  and as to real  property,  marketable,  title to all material  assets and
properties  owned by ENB,  whether  real or  personal,  tangible or  intangible,
including  securities,  assets and  properties  reflected in the balance  sheets
contained in the ENB Financials or acquired  subsequent  thereto  (except to the
extent that such  securities  are held in any  fiduciary or agency  capacity and
except to the extent that such assets and  properties  have been disposed of for
fair value,  in the  ordinary  course of business,  or have been  disposed of as
obsolete  since the date of such balance  sheets),  subject to no  encumbrances,
liens, mortgages,  security interests or pledges, except (i) statutory liens for
amounts not yet  delinquent  or which are being  contested  in good faith,  (ii)
liens for current  taxes not yet due and payable,  (iii) such  imperfections  of
title,  easements  and  encumbrances,  if any, as are not material in character,
amount  or  extent,   and  (iv)   dispositions  and  encumbrances  for  adequate
consideration in the ordinary course of business. ENB has the right under leases
of material  properties used by ENB in the conduct of its business to occupy and
use all such properties in all material respects as presently  occupied and used
by it.

     (b) With  respect to all  agreements  pursuant  to which ENB has  purchased
securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, ENB has a valid, perfected
first lien or security  interest in the securities or other collateral  securing
the repurchase agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the
amount of the debt secured thereby, except to the extent that any failure to

                                       16
<PAGE>

obtain such a lien or maintain such collateral would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) ENB currently  maintains  insurance in amounts  considered by ENB to be
reasonable  for its  operations,  and such  insurance  is  similar  in scope and
coverage  in all  material  respects  to that  maintained  by  other  businesses
similarly situated.  ENB has not received notice from any insurance carrier that
(i) such insurance will be cancelled or that coverage thereunder will be reduced
or  eliminated,  or (ii) premium  costs with respect to such  insurance  will be
substantially  increased  except to the  extent  such  cancellation,  reduction,
elimination or increase would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (d) ENB currently  maintains  such fidelity  bonds and errors and omissions
insurance as may be customary or required under applicable laws or regulations.

     2.10 Legal Proceedings. ENB is not a party to any, and there are no pending
or, to ENB's knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative,  arbitration or other
proceedings,    claims,   actions,    customer   complaints,   or   governmental
investigations  or inquiries  of any nature (i) against  ENB,  (ii) to which the
assets of ENB are subject, (iii) challenging the validity or propriety of any of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) which could materially
adversely  affect  the  ability  of ENB to perform  its  obligations  under this
Agreement,  except for any  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  investigations,  or
inquiries  referred  to in clauses  (i) or (ii)  which,  individually  or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     2.11 Compliance with Applicable Law.

     (a)  ENB  holds  all  licenses,   franchises,  permits  and  authorizations
necessary for the lawful  conduct of its businesses  under,  and has complied in
all  material  respects  with,  applicable  laws,  statutes,  orders,  rules  or
regulations  of any Regulatory  Authority  relating to it, other than where such
failure to hold or such noncompliance will neither result in a limitation in any
material  respect on the conduct of its businesses nor otherwise have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     (b) ENB has filed all reports, registrations and statements,  together with
any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that it was required to
file  with any  Regulatory  Authority,  and has  filed  all  other  reports  and
statements  required to be filed by it, including without  limitation any report
or statement  required to be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of
the United States, any state or any Regulatory Authority,  and has paid all fees
and  assessments  due and  payable in  connection  therewith,  except  where the
failure to file such report,  registration  or statement or to pay such fees and
assessments,

                                       17
<PAGE>

either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  will  not have a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     (c) No  Regulatory  Authority  has  initiated  any  proceeding  or,  to the
knowledge of ENB,  investigation  into the business or operations of ENB, except
where any such proceedings or  investigations  will not,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or such proceedings or investigations
have been terminated or otherwise resolved.

     (d) ENB  has not  received  any  notification  or  communication  from  any
Regulatory  Authority  (i)  asserting  that ENB has not complied with any of the
statutes,  regulations or ordinances which such Regulatory  Authority  enforces,
unless such  assertion has been waived,  withdrawn or otherwise  resolved;  (ii)
threatening   to  revoke  any  license,   franchise,   permit  or   governmental
authorization  which is material  to ENB;  (iii)  requiring  or  threatening  to
require ENB, or indicating  that ENB may be required,  to enter into a cease and
desist order,  agreement or memorandum of  understanding  or any other agreement
restricting or limiting,  or purporting to restrict or limit,  in any manner the
operations of ENB; or (iv) directing,  restricting or limiting, or purporting to
direct, restrict or limit, in any manner the operations of ENB (any such notice,
communication,  memorandum, agreement or order described in this sentence herein
referred to as a "Regulatory Agreement"),  in each case except as would not have
a Material Adverse Effect.  ENB has not received,  consented to, or entered into
any Regulatory Agreement which would have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a
Material Adverse Effect.

     (e) To the knowledge of ENB, there is no unresolved  violation,  criticism,
or  exception  by any  Regulatory  Authority  with  respect  to  any  Regulatory
Agreement  which if  resolved  in a manner  adverse to ENB would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     (f) There is no injunction,  order,  judgment or decree imposed upon ENB or
the assets of ENB which has had,  or, to the  knowledge  of ENB,  will  have,  a
Material Adverse Effect.

     2.12 ERISA.

     (a) ENB has  delivered  to NPB true and  complete  copies  of any  employee
pension  benefit plans within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(2),  profit sharing
plans,  stock purchase plans,  deferred  compensation  and  supplemental  income
plans,  supplemental  executive  retirement plans, annual incentive plans, group
insurance plans, and all other employee welfare benefit plans within the meaning
of  ERISA  Section  3(1)  (including   vacation  pay,  sick  leave,   short-term
disability,  long-term  disability,  and medical  plans) and all other  material
employee benefit plans, policies, agreements and arrangements,  all of which are
set forth in ENB Disclosure Schedule 2.12,  currently  maintained or contributed
to for the benefit of the

                                       18
<PAGE>

employees  or  former   employees   (including   retired   employees)   and  any
beneficiaries  thereof or directors or former directors of ENB (the "ENB Benefit
Plans"),  together  with (i) the most recent  actuarial  (if any) and  financial
reports relating to those ENB Benefit Plans which constitute  "qualified  plans"
under IRC Section  401(a),  (ii) the most recent Form 5500 (if any)  relating to
such ENB Benefit Plans filed by them,  respectively,  with the Internal  Revenue
Service, and (iii) the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter
which  pertain to any such ENB Benefit  Plans.  Neither ENB nor any pension plan
(within the meaning of ERISA  Section  3(2))  maintained by ENB has incurred any
liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or to the Internal Revenue
Service  with respect to any pension plan  qualified  under IRC Section  401(a),
except liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pursuant to ERISA
Section 4007, all of which have been fully paid,  nor has any  reportable  event
under ERISA Section 4043(b) (with respect to which the 30 day notice requirement
has not been waived) occurred with respect to any such pension plan. ENB has not
incurred  any  liability  under  ERISA  Section  4201 for a complete  or partial
withdrawal  from  a  multi-employer   plan.  Each  ENB  Benefit  Plan  has  been
maintained,  operated and  administered  in  compliance in all respects with its
terms and related  documents or agreements and the applicable  provisions of all
laws,  including ERISA and the IRC, except where any such  non-compliance  would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.  As of the date hereof,  ENB is not aware of
any existing or contemplated audit of its employee benefit plans by the Internal
Revenue Service or the U.S. Department of Labor.

     (b) With  respect  to any  services  which ENB may  provide  as a  sponsor,
fiduciary,  trustee or otherwise for any plan, program, or assignment subject to
ERISA  (other than any ENB Benefit  Plan),  ENB (i) has  correctly  computed all
contributions,  payments or other amounts for which it is responsible,  (ii) has
not engaged in any prohibited  transactions (as defined in ERISA Section 406 for
which an exemption does not exist),  and (iii) has not incurred any liability to
any  beneficiary  or sponsor of any ERISA plan as a result of any  negligence in
the performance of its duties except where any such action or inaction would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.

     2.13 Brokers and Finders.  Neither ENB nor any of its officers,  directors,
employees,  independent  contractors or agents, has employed any broker, finder,
investment banker or financial  advisor,  or incurred any liability for any fees
or  commissions  to  any  such  person,  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  except for Berwind Financial,  L.P. ("Berwind")
whose engagement letter with ENB is included in ENB Disclosure Schedule 2.13.


                                       19
<PAGE>

     2.14 Environmental Matters.

     (a) Except as set forth on ENB  Disclosure  Schedule 2.14, to the knowledge
of ENB,  neither ENB, any ENB Subsidiary,  nor any property owned or operated by
ENB or any ENB  Subsidiary  has been or is in  violation  of or liable under any
Environmental Law, except for such violations or liabilities that,  individually
or in the  aggregate,  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except  as
disclosed  in ENB  Disclosure  Schedule  2.14,  there are no  actions,  suits or
proceedings,  or  demands,  claims  or  notices,  including  without  limitation
notices,  demand  letters  or  requests  for  information  from  any  Regulatory
Authority, instituted or pending, or to the knowledge of ENB, threatened, or any
investigation  pending,  relating to the liability of ENB or any ENB  Subsidiary
with  respect to any  property  owned or operated  by ENB or any ENB  Subsidiary
under any  Environmental  Law,  except as to any such  actions or other  matters
which will not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Except as set forth on ENB Disclosure  Schedule 2.14, no property,  now
or formerly  owned or operated by ENB or any ENB  Subsidiary  or on which ENB or
any ENB Subsidiary  holds or held a mortgage or other  security  interest or has
foreclosed  or taken a deed in lieu,  has been listed or proposed for listing on
the  National  Priority  List  under the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response
Compensation  and  Liability  Act of  1980,  as  amended,  on the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response Compensation and Liabilities  Information System, or any
similar  state  list,  or  which  is the  subject  of  federal,  state  or local
enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to claims against ENB
or any ENB Subsidiary for response costs, remedial work,  investigation,  damage
to natural resources or for personal injury or property damage claim, including,
but not limited to,  claims under  CERCLA,  which would have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     2.15  Business of ENB.  Since June 30,  1998,  ENB has not, in any material
respect,  (i)  increased  the wages,  salaries,  compensation,  pension or other
employee benefits payable to any executive officer,  employee or director except
as is permitted in Section 4.01(d),  (ii) eliminated  employee  benefits,  (iii)
deferred  routine  maintenance  of  real  property  or  leased  premises,   (iv)
eliminated a reserve where the  liability  related to such reserve has remained,
(v) failed to depreciate  capital assets in accordance  with past practice or to
eliminate  capital  assets which are no longer used in the businesses of ENB, or
(vi) had extraordinary reduction or deferral of ordinary or necessary expenses.

     2.16 CRA  Compliance.  ENB is in material  compliance  with the  applicable
provisions of the CRA, and, as of the date hereof, ENB has received a CRA rating
of  "satisfactory"  or better from the OCC. ENB knows of no fact or circumstance
or set of facts or

                                       20

<PAGE>

circumstances  which would cause ENB to fail to comply with such provisions in a
manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     2.17 Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses shown, and to
be shown,  on the balance sheets  contained in the ENB Financials have been, and
will be, established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and all applicable regulatory criteria.

     2.18  Information  to be  Supplied.  The  information  supplied  by ENB for
inclusion  in  the  Registration   Statement   (including  the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement)  will  not,  at the  time  the  Registration  Statement  is  declared
effective   pursuant   to  the   Securities   Act,   and  as  of  the  date  the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement is mailed to  shareholders  of ENB and NPB and up to
and including the dates of the meetings of  shareholders of ENB and NPB to which
such  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  relates,  contain any untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the
statements made therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  in which they were
made,  not  misleading.  The  information  supplied by ENB for  inclusion in the
Applications  will,  at the time such  documents  are filed with any  Regulatory
Authority and up to and including the dates of any required regulatory approvals
or  consents,  as it may be amended by  subsequent  filings,  be accurate in all
material respects.

     2.19 Related Party  Transactions.  Except as  previously  disclosed to NPB,
disclosed on ENB  Disclosure  Schedule 2.19, or as is disclosed in the footnotes
to the  ENB  Financials,  as of the  date  hereof,  ENB  is not a  party  to any
transaction  (including  any loan or other credit  accommodation  but  excluding
deposits in the ordinary  course of business) with any Affiliate of ENB; and all
such transactions were made on substantially the same terms,  including interest
rates  and  collateral,   as  those   prevailing  at  the  time  for  comparable
transactions  with other  persons (as defined in Section  13(d) of the  Exchange
Act,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  thereunder),  except  with  respect  to
variations in such terms as would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in ENB Disclosure Schedule 2.19, as
of the date hereof,  no loan or credit  accommodation to any Affiliate of ENB is
presently in default or, during the three-year  period prior to the date of this
Agreement,  has been in material default or has been  restructured,  modified or
extended in any manner  which  would have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  To ENB's
knowledge,  as of the date hereof,  principal  and interest  with respect to any
such loan or other credit accommodation will be paid when due and the loan grade
classification accorded such loan or credit accommodation is appropriate.

     2.20 Loans.  Each loan  reflected as an asset in the ENB  Financials (a) is
evidenced by notes,  agreements  or other  evidences of  indebtedness  which are
true, genuine and correct and (b) to the

                                       21
<PAGE>

extent  secured,  has been secured by valid liens and security  interests  which
have been  perfected,  in each case other than loans as to which the  failure to
satisfy the foregoing standards would not have a Material Adverse Effect on ENB.

     2.21 Accounting for the Merger; Reorganization.  As of the date hereof, ENB
does not have any reason to believe that the Merger will fail to qualify (i) for
"pooling of interests"  accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles, or (ii) as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the IRC.

     2.22 Fairness  Opinion.  ENB has received a written opinion from Berwind to
the effect that,  as of the date  hereof,  the  consideration  to be received by
shareholders  of ENB pursuant to this Agreement is fair,  from a financial point
of view, to such shareholders.

     2.23 Year 2000  Compliance.  ENB is in compliance in all material  respects
with the Year 2000  compliance  time-frames  established in OCC Advisory  Letter
97-6, the safety and soundness and other  guidelines for Year 2000 business risk
issued  from  time to time by the  Federal  Financial  Institutions  Examination
Council,  and the guidance contained in OCC Advisory Letters 97-10 (December 17,
1997) and 98-1 (January 20,  1998),  except to the extent that the failure so to
comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                   ARTICLE III

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NPB

     NPB hereby represents and warrants to ENB as follows:

     3.01 Organization.

     (a) NPB is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good
standing  under  the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.  NPB is a bank
holding company duly  registered  under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended.  NPB has the corporate  power to carry on its businesses and operations
as now being  conducted  and to own and  operate the  properties  and assets now
owned and being operated by it. NPB is duly licensed, registered or qualified to
do business in each  jurisdiction in which the nature of the business  conducted
by it or the character or location of the  properties and assets owned or leased
by it makes such licensing,  registration  or  qualification  necessary,  except
where the failure to be so licensed,  registered  or  qualified  will not have a
Material Adverse Effect, and all such licenses, registrations and qualifications
are in full force and effect in all material respects.


                                       22

<PAGE>

     (b) Bank is a national  banking  association  duly  organized  and  validly
existing under the laws of the United States of America.  Bank has the corporate
power to carry on its business and operations as now being  conducted and to own
and operate the  properties  and assets now owned and being operated by it. Bank
is duly licensed, registered or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of
the  properties  and  assets  owned  or  leased  by  it  makes  such  licensing,
registration  or  qualification  necessary,  except  where the  failure to be so
licensed,  registered or qualified will not have a Material Adverse Effect,  and
all such licenses, registrations and qualifications are in full force and effect
in all material respects.

     (c) The respective  minute books of NPB and Bank accurately  record, in all
material   respects,   all  material   corporate  actions  of  their  respective
shareholders  and  board of  directors,  including  committees,  in each case in
accordance with their normal business practices.

     (d) NPB has  delivered  to ENB true and  correct  copies of the  respective
articles of  incorporation,  articles of association and bylaws of NPB and Bank,
as in effect on the date hereof.

     3.02 Capitalization.

     (a) The authorized  capital stock of NPB consists of (a) 62,500,000  shares
of common stock,  without par value ("NPB Common  Stock"),  of which at the date
hereof  240,692  shares are validly issued and held by NPB as treasury stock and
10,488,135   shares  are  validly  issued  and   outstanding,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable,  and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock,  without par value,
of  which  none  are  issued.  NPB  has  not  issued  nor  is NPB  bound  by any
subscription, option, warrant, call, commitment, agreement or other Right of any
character  relating to the  purchase,  sale, or issuance of, or right to receive
dividends or other distributions on, any shares of NPB Common Stock or any other
security of NPB or any securities  representing  the right to vote,  purchase or
otherwise  receive any shares of NPB Common Stock or any other  security of NPB,
except (i) for options to acquire  shares of NPB Common Stock issued under NPB's
various stock option plans, (ii) pursuant to NPB's employee stock purchase plan,
dividend  reinvestment  plan and  directors' fee plan, and (iii) pursuant to the
Rights Agreement. On June 24, 1998, NPB declared the NPB Stock Split.

     (b)  NPB  owns  all  of the  capital  stock  of  Bank  and  the  other  NPB
Subsidiaries,  free and  clear  of any lien or  encumbrance.  Except  for  NPB's
Subsidiaries,  NPB does not possess, directly or indirectly, any material equity
interest  in any  corporation,  except for equity  interests  in the  investment
portfolio of NPB's Subsidiaries,  equity interests held by NPB's Subsidiaries in
a

                                       23
<PAGE>

fiduciary capacity,  and equity interests held in connection with the commercial
loan activities of NPB's Subsidiaries.

     3.03 Authority; No Violation.

     (a) NPB has full corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby. Bank has full
corporate  power and  authority  to execute and deliver  this  Agreement  and to
consummate  the Merger.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by NPB and
the consummation by NPB of the transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly
and validly  approved by the Board of Directors  of NPB by  unanimous  vote and,
except  for  approval  by  the   shareholders  of  NPB  as  required  by  Nasdaq
requirements  applicable to it (consisting of the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares of NPB Common Stock voting at the NPB  Shareholders  Meeting),  no
other  corporate  proceedings on the part of NPB are necessary to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Bank and the  consummation  by Bank of the Merger  have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of Directors of Bank by unanimous  vote and by NPB as sole
shareholder of Bank, and no other corporate  proceedings on the part of Bank are
necessary to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  This
Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by NPB and,  subject
to approval by the shareholders of NPB under Nasdaq  requirements  applicable to
it and receipt of the required approvals of Regulatory  Authorities described in
Section  3.04  hereof,  constitutes  the valid and  binding  obligation  of NPB,
enforceable  against NPB in  accordance  with its terms,  subject to  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally
and  subject,  as to  enforceability,  to general  principles  of  equity.  This
Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by Bank and, subject
to receipt of the required  approvals  of  Regulatory  Authorities  described in
Section  3.04  hereof,  constitutes  the valid and binding  obligation  of Bank,
enforceable  against Bank in  accordance  with its terms,  subject to applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

     (b) (i) The  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by NPB,  (ii) the
execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by Bank,  (iii) subject to receipt of
approvals from the Regulatory Authorities referred to in Section 3.04 hereof and
NPB's,  Bank's and ENB's compliance with any conditions  contained therein,  the
consummation  of the Merger,  and (iv) compliance by NPB or Bank with any of the
terms or provisions  hereof,  does not and will not: (A) conflict with or result
in a breach  of any  provision  of the  respective  articles  of  incorporation,
articles of association or bylaws of NPB or Bank; (B) violate any statute, rule,
regulation,  judgment,  order,  writ, decree or injunction  applicable to NPB or
Bank or any of their respective properties or assets; or (C) violate, conflict

                                       24
<PAGE>

with, result in a breach of any provisions of, constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under,
result in the termination of, or acceleration of the performance required by, or
result in a right of  termination or  acceleration  or the creation of any lien,
security  interest,  charge or other  encumbrance  upon any of the properties or
assets of NPB or Bank under,  any of the terms or conditions of any note,  bond,
mortgage, indenture,  license, lease, agreement,  commitment or other instrument
or obligation to which NPB or Bank is a party,  or by which they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, excluding from clauses
(B) and (C) any such items which,  in the  aggregate,  would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     3.04  Consents.  Except for consents and approvals of, or filings with, the
SEC,  the OCC,  the NASD and state  securities  or "blue  sky"  authorities,  no
consents or approvals of, or filings or  registrations  with, any public body or
authority are  necessary in  connection  with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by NPB or Bank or,  except for the  approval of this  Agreement by the
shareholders of NPB, the consummation of the Merger.

     3.05 Financial Statements.

     (a) NPB has delivered to ENB the NPB Financials, except those pertaining to
quarterly  periods  commencing after June 30, 1998, which it will deliver to ENB
within 45 days  after  the end of the  respective  quarter.  The  delivered  NPB
Financials fairly present, in all material respects,  the consolidated financial
position,  results of operations and cash flows of NPB as of and for the periods
ended on the dates thereof,  in accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting
principles  consistently  applied,  except in each case as noted therein and, in
the case of interim  period  financial  statements,  subject to normal  year-end
adjustments and footnotes thereto.

     (b)  To the  knowledge  of  NPB,  NPB  did  not  have  any  liabilities  or
obligations of any nature, whether absolute,  accrued,  contingent or otherwise,
which are not fully reflected or reserved against in the balance sheets included
in the NPB  Financials at the date of such balance  sheets which would have been
required  to  be  reflected  therein  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted
accounting  principles  consistently applied or disclosed in a footnote thereto,
except for  liabilities  and  obligations  which were  incurred in the  ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, and except for liabilities and
obligations which are within the subject matter of a specific representation and
warranty herein or which otherwise have not had a Material Adverse Effect.

     3.06 No Material Adverse Change. NPB has not suffered any adverse change in
its assets, business, financial condition or

                                       25

<PAGE>

results  of  operations  since  June 30,  1998  which  change has had a Material
Adverse Effect.

     3.07 Taxes.

     (a) NPB has filed,  and will file,  in correct form all federal,  state and
local tax returns  required to be filed by or with respect to NPB on or prior to
the  Closing  Date  except  to the  extent  that  any  failure  to  file  or any
inaccuracies  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a  Material
Adverse Effect,  and has paid or will pay, or made or will make,  provisions for
the  payment  of all  federal,  state  and local  taxes  which are shown on such
returns to be due for the periods  covered  thereby  from NPB to any  applicable
taxing authority, on or prior to the Closing Date other than taxes which (i) are
not delinquent or are being contested in good faith,  (ii) have not been finally
determined,  or (iii) the  failure  to pay  would  not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) To the knowledge of NPB,  there are no material  disputes  pending,  or
claims asserted in writing,  for taxes or assessments upon NPB, nor has NPB been
requested  in writing to give any  currently  effective  waivers  extending  the
statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, county or local
income tax return for any period.

     (c)  Proper  and  accurate  amounts  have  been  withheld  by NPB  from its
employees for all prior periods in compliance in all material  respects with the
tax withholding  provisions of applicable federal,  state and local laws, except
where  failure  to do so is not  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     3.08 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.

     (a) NPB has, and will have as to property  acquired  after the date hereof,
good,  and as to real  property,  marketable,  title to all material  assets and
properties  owned by NPB,  whether  real or  personal,  tangible or  intangible,
including  securities,  assets and  properties  reflected in the balance  sheets
contained in the NPB Financials or acquired  subsequent  thereto  (except to the
extent that such  securities  are held in any  fiduciary or agency  capacity and
except to the extent that such assets and  properties  have been disposed of for
fair value,  in the  ordinary  course of business,  or have been  disposed of as
obsolete  since the date of such balance  sheets),  subject to no  encumbrances,
liens,  mortgages,  security  interests or pledges,  except (i) those items that
secure  liabilities  for borrowed money and that are described in NPB Disclosure
Schedule 3.08(a) or permitted under Article IV hereof,  (ii) statutory liens for
amounts not yet  delinquent  or which are being  contested in good faith,  (iii)
liens for current  taxes not yet due and  payable,  (iv) such  imperfections  of
title,  easements  and  encumbrances,  if any, as are not material in character,
amount

                                       26
<PAGE>

or extent,  and (v) dispositions and encumbrances for adequate  consideration in
the  ordinary  course of  business.  NPB has the right under  leases of material
properties used by NPB in the conduct of its business to occupy and use all such
properties in all material respects as presently occupied and used by it.

     (b) With  respect to all  agreements  pursuant  to which NPB has  purchased
securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, NPB has a valid, perfected
first lien or security  interest in the securities or other collateral  securing
the repurchase agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the
amount of the debt  secured  thereby,  except to the extent  that any failure to
obtain such a lien or maintain such collateral would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) NPB currently  maintains  insurance in amounts  considered by NPB to be
reasonable  for its  operations,  and such  insurance  is  similar  in scope and
coverage  in all  material  respects  to that  maintained  by  other  businesses
similarly situated.  NPB has not received notice from any insurance carrier that
(i) such insurance will be cancelled or that coverage thereunder will be reduced
or  eliminated,  or (ii) premium  costs with respect to such  insurance  will be
substantially  increased  except to the  extent  such  cancellation,  reduction,
elimination or increase would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (d) NPB currently  maintains  such fidelity  bonds and errors and omissions
insurance as may be customary or required under applicable laws or regulations.

     3.09 Legal  Proceedings.  Neither NPB nor any NPB  Subsidiary is a party to
any,  and  there  are no  pending  or, to NPB's  knowledge,  threatened,  legal,
administrative,  arbitration or other  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  customer
complaints,  or  governmental  investigations  or  inquiries  of any  nature (i)
against  NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary,  (ii) to which the assets of NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary are subject,  (iii)  challenging  the validity or propriety of any of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) which could materially
adversely  affect the  ability of NPB or Bank to perform its  obligations  under
this Agreement, except for any proceedings, claims, actions, investigations,  or
inquiries  referred  to in clauses  (i) or (ii)  which,  individually  or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     3.10 Compliance with Applicable Law.

     (a) NPB and its  Subsidiaries  hold all licenses,  franchises,  permits and
authorizations  necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective  businesses
under,  and have  complied  in all  material  respects  with,  applicable  laws,
statutes,  orders,  rules or regulations of any Regulatory Authority relating to
them, other than where such failure to hold or such noncompliance will neither

                                       27
<PAGE>


result  in a  limitation  in any  material  respect  on  the  conduct  of  their
respective businesses nor otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) NPB and its  Subsidiaries  have filed all  reports,  registrations  and
statements,  together  with any  amendments  required  to be made  with  respect
thereto, that they were required to file with any Regulatory Authority, and have
filed all other reports and statements  required to be filed by them,  including
without  limitation any report or statement required to be filed pursuant to the
laws,  rules or regulations  of the United  States,  any state or any Regulatory
Authority,  and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection
therewith,  except  where the  failure  to file  such  report,  registration  or
statement or to pay such fees and  assessments,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) No  Regulatory  Authority  has  initiated  any  proceeding  or,  to the
knowledge of NPB,  investigation into the businesses or operations of NPB or any
of its Subsidiaries,  except where any such proceedings or  investigations  will
not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect, or such
proceedings or investigations have been terminated or otherwise resolved.

     (d) Neither NPB nor any NPB  Subsidiary  has received any  notification  or
communication  from any  Regulatory  Authority (i) asserting that NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary has not complied with any of the statutes,  regulations or ordinances
which such Regulatory Authority enforces, unless such assertion has been waived,
withdrawn  or  otherwise  resolved;  (ii)  threatening  to revoke  any  license,
franchise,  permit or governmental authorization which is material to NPB or any
NPB  Subsidiary;  (iii)  requiring  or  threatening  to  require  NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary  or indicating  that NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary  may be required,  to
enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or memorandum of understanding or
any other agreement restricting or limiting, or purporting to restrict or limit,
in any manner the operations of NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary;  or (iv)  directing,
restricting  or limiting,  or  purporting to direct,  restrict or limit,  in any
manner  the  operations  of  NPB  or  any  NPB  Subsidiary   (any  such  notice,
communication,  memorandum, agreement or order described in this sentence herein
referred to as a "Regulatory Agreement") in each case except as would not have a
Material  Adverse  Effect.  Neither  NPB nor any NPB  Subsidiary  has  received,
consented  to, or  entered  into any  Regulatory  Agreement  which  would  have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

     (e) To the knowledge of NPB, there is no unresolved  violation,  criticism,
or  exception  by any  Regulatory  Authority  with  respect  to  any  Regulatory
Agreement  which if  resolved  in a manner  adverse to NPB would have a Material
Adverse Effect.


                                       28
<PAGE>

     (f) There is no injunction,  order,  judgment or decree imposed upon NPB or
any NPB Subsidiary or the assets of NPB or any NPB Subsidiary which has had, or,
to the knowledge of NPB, will have, a Material Adverse Effect.

     3.11 ERISA.

     (a) NPB has  delivered  to ENB true and  complete  copies  of any  employee
pension  benefit plans within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(2),  profit sharing
plans,  stock purchase plans,  deferred  compensation  and  supplemental  income
plans,  supplemental  executive  retirement plans, annual incentive plans, group
insurance plans, and all other employee welfare benefit plans within the meaning
of  ERISA  Section  3(1)  (including   vacation  pay,  sick  leave,   short-term
disability,  long-term  disability,  and medical  plans) and all other  material
employee benefit plans, policies, agreements and arrangements,  all of which are
set forth in NPB Disclosure Schedule 3.11,  currently  maintained or contributed
to for the  benefit of the  employees  or former  employees  (including  retired
employees) and any beneficiaries thereof or directors or former directors of NPB
(the "NPB Benefit Plans"),  together with (i) the most recent actuarial (if any)
and  financial  reports  relating  to those NPB Benefit  Plans which  constitute
"qualified  plans" under IRC Section 401(a),  (ii) the most recent Form 5500 (if
any)  relating to such NPB Benefit Plans filed by them,  respectively,  with the
Internal  Revenue  Service,  and (iii) the most recent Internal  Revenue Service
determination  letters which pertain to any such NPB Benefit Plans.  Neither NPB
nor any pension plan (within the meaning of ERISA  Section  3(2))  maintained by
NPB has incurred any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or to
the Internal  Revenue  Service with respect to any pension plan qualified  under
IRC  Section  401(a),   except  liabilities  to  the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation  pursuant to ERISA Section 4007,  all of which have been fully paid,
nor has any reportable  event under ERISA Section 4043(b) (with respect to which
the 30 day notice  requirement has not been waived) occurred with respect to any
such pension plan.  NPB has not incurred any liability  under ERISA Section 4201
for a complete  or  partial  withdrawal  from a  multi-employer  plan.  Each NPB
Benefit Plan has been maintained, operated and administered in compliance in all
respects with its terms and related  documents or agreements  and the applicable
provisions  of all  laws,  including  ERISA and the IRC,  except  where any such
non-compliance  would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof,
NPB is not aware of any existing or contemplated  audit of its employee  benefit
plans by the Internal Revenue Service or the U.S. Department of Labor.

     (b) With  respect  to any  services  which  NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary  may
provide as a sponsor, fiduciary,  trustee or otherwise for any plan, program, or
assignment  subject to ERISA (other than any NPB Benefit Plan), NPB and each NPB
Subsidiary  (i) has  correctly  computed  all  contributions,  payments or other
amounts

                                       29
<PAGE>

for which it is responsible, (ii) has not engaged in any prohibited transactions
(as defined in ERISA  Section 406 for which an  exemption  does not exist),  and
(iii) has not incurred any liability to any  beneficiary or sponsor of any ERISA
plan as a result of any  negligence  in the  performance  of its duties,  except
where any such action or inaction would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     3.12 Brokers and Finders.  Neither NPB nor any of its officers,  directors,
employees,  independent  contractors or agents, has employed any broker, finder,
investment banker or financial  advisor,  or incurred any liability for any fees
or  commissions  to  any  such  person,  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  except for LSC Financial Services, Inc. ("LSC")
whose engagement letter with NPB is included in NPB Disclosure Schedule 3.12.

     3.13 Environmental Matters.

     (a) Except as set forth on NPB  Disclosure  Schedule 3.13, to the knowledge
of NPB,  neither NPB, any NPB Subsidiary,  nor any property owned or operated by
NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary  has been or is in  violation  of or liable under any
Environmental Law, except for such violations or liabilities that,  individually
or in the  aggregate,  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except  as
disclosed  in NPB  Disclosure  Schedule  3.13,  there are no  actions,  suits or
proceedings,  or  demands,  claims  or  notices,  including  without  limitation
notices,  demand  letters  or  requests  for  information  from  any  Regulatory
Authority, instituted or pending, or to the knowledge of NPB, threatened, or any
investigation  pending,  relating to the liability of NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary
with  respect to any  property  owned or operated  by NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary
under any  Environmental  Law,  except as to any such  actions or other  matters
which will not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Except as set forth on NPB Disclosure  Schedule 3.13, no property,  now
or formerly  owned or operated by NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary  or on which NPB or
any NPB Subsidiary  holds or held a mortgage or other  security  interest or has
foreclosed  or taken a deed in lieu,  has been listed or proposed for listing on
the  National  Priority  List  under the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response
Compensation  and  Liability  Act of  1980,  as  amended,  on the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response Compensation and Liabilities  Information System, or any
similar  state  list,  or  which  is the  subject  of  federal,  state  or local
enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to claims against NPB
or any NPB Subsidiary for response costs, remedial work,  investigation,  damage
to natural resources or for personal injury or property damage claim, including,
but not limited to,  claims under  CERCLA,  which would have a Material  Adverse
Effect.


                                       30
<PAGE>

     3.14  Business of NPB.  Since June 30,  1998,  NPB has not, in any material
respect,  (i)  increased  the wages,  salaries,  compensation,  pension or other
employee benefits payable to any executive officer,  employee or director,  (ii)
eliminated  employee  benefits,  (iii)  deferred  routine  maintenance  of  real
property or leased  premises,  (iv)  eliminated  a reserve  where the  liability
related to such reserve has remained, (v) failed to depreciate capital assets in
accordance with past practice or to eliminate capital assets which are no longer
used in the businesses of NPB, or (vi) had  extraordinary  reduction or deferral
of ordinary or necessary expenses.

     3.15 CRA  Compliance.  Bank is in material  compliance  with the applicable
provisions  of the CRA,  and,  as of the date  hereof,  Bank has  received a CRA
rating of  "satisfactory"  or better from the OCC.  Neither NPB nor Bank know of
any fact or circumstance or set of facts or circumstances which would cause Bank
to fail to comply with such  provisions  in a manner which would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     3.16 Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses shown, and to
be shown,  on the balance sheets  contained in the NPB Financials have been, and
will be, established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and all applicable regulatory criteria.

     3.17  Information  to be  Supplied.  The  information  supplied  by NPB for
inclusion  in  the  Registration   Statement   (including  the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement)  will  not,  at the  time  the  Registration  Statement  is  declared
effective   pursuant   to  the   Securities   Act,   and  as  of  the  date  the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement is mailed to  shareholders  of ENB and NPB and up to
and including the dates of the meetings of  shareholders of ENB and NPB to which
such  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  relates,  contain any untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the
statements made therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  in which they were
made,  not  misleading.  The  information  supplied by NPB for  inclusion in the
Applications  will,  at the time such  documents  are filed with any  Regulatory
Authority and up to and including the dates of any required regulatory approvals
or  consents,  as it may be amended by  subsequent  filings,  be accurate in all
material respects.

     3.18 Related  Party  Transactions.  Except as  disclosed in NPB  Disclosure
Schedule 3.18 or in the footnotes to the NPB Financials,  as of the date hereof,
NPB is not a party  to any  transaction  (including  any  loan or  other  credit
accommodation  but excluding  deposits in the ordinary  course of business) with
any Affiliate of NPB; and all such  transactions  (i) were made on substantially
the same terms, including interest rates and collateral,  as those prevailing at
the time for comparable  transactions  with other persons (as defined in Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the

                                       31
<PAGE>

rules and  regulations  thereunder),  except with respect to  variations in such
terms as would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Except as set forth in NPB  Disclosure  Schedule  3.18,  as of the date
hereof, no loan or credit  accommodation to any Affiliate of NPB is presently in
default or, during the  three-year  period prior to the date of this  Agreement,
has been in material default or has been  restructured,  modified or extended in
any manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect. To NPB's knowledge, as of
the date hereof,  principal  and interest with respect to any such loan or other
credit  accommodation  will be paid when due and the loan  grade  classification
accorded such loan or credit accommodation is appropriate.

     3.19 Loans.  Each loan  reflected as an asset in the NPB  Financials (a) is
evidenced by notes,  agreements  or other  evidences of  indebtedness  which are
true,  genuine and correct and (b) to the extent  secured,  has been  secured by
valid liens and security interests which have been perfected, in each case other
than loans as to which the failure to satisfy the foregoing  standards would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on NPB.

     3.20 Accounting for the Merger; Reorganization.  As of the date hereof, NPB
does not have any reason to believe that the Merger will fail to qualify (i) for
"pooling of interests"  accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles,  or (ii) as a  reorganization  under Section  368(a) of the IRC. NPB
shall not take any action which would  preclude the Merger from  qualifying  for
"pooling of interests"  accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles or as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the IRC.

     3.21 Fairness  Opinion.  NPB has received a written opinion from LSC to the
effect that, as of the date hereof, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial
point of view, to the shareholders of NPB.

     3.22 Year 2000  Compliance.  NPB and its  Subsidiaries are in compliance in
all material respects with the Year 2000 compliance  time-frames  established in
OCC Advisory Letter 97-6, the safety and soundness and other guidelines for Year
2000  business  risk  issued  from  time  to  time  by  the  Federal   Financial
Institutions  Examination  Council,  and the guidance  contained in OCC Advisory
Letters 97-10  (December  17, 1997) and 98-1  (January 20, 1998),  except to the
extent that the failure so to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     3.23 NPB Common  Stock.  The  shares of NPB  Common  Stock to be issued and
delivered to ENB shareholders in accordance with this Agreement,  when so issued
and  delivered,  will be  validly  authorized  and  issued  and  fully  paid and
non-assessable,  and no shareholder of NPB shall have any pre-emptive right with
respect thereto.

                                       32
<PAGE>


     3.24  Securities  Documents.  NPB has  delivered  to ENB  copies of its (i)
annual  reports on SEC Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996,
(ii) quarterly  report on SEC Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and
all other reports,  registration statements and filings filed with the SEC since
January 1, 1998, and (iii) proxy  materials used in connection with its meetings
of  shareholders  held in 1998  and  1997.  Such  reports  and  proxy  materials
complied,  in all material  respects,and  any future SEC reports , filings,  and
proxy  materials will comply,  with the rules and  regulations of the SEC to the
extent applicable thereto, and all such SEC reports, filings and proxy materials
did not and will not, at the time of such filing,  contain any untrue  statement
of a  material  fact or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein  or  necessary  to make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

     3.25  Eligible  Bank.  Bank is an  eligible  bank,  as defined in 12 C.F.R.
Section 5.3(g), and NPB and Bank will take all reasonable steps necessary to use
a  streamlined  merger  application  (the  "Merger  Application")  and obtain an
expedited  review  of the  Merger  from the OCC,  as  contemplated  by 12 C.F.R.
Sections 5.33(i) and (j).


                                   ARTICLE IV

                            COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

     4.01 Conduct of ENB's Business.  Through the Closing Date, ENB shall in all
material  respects conduct its businesses and engage in transactions only in the
ordinary course and consistent with past practice,  except as otherwise required
by this  Agreement  or with  the  written  consent  of NPB.  ENB  shall  use its
reasonable  good faith  efforts to preserve  its business  organization  intact,
maintain  good  relationships  with  employees,  and  preserve  the good will of
customers of ENB and others with whom  business  relationships  exist,  provided
that job  vacancies  that occur prior to the  Effective  Date through  attrition
shall  not  be  filled  unless  the  integration  team  referred  to in  Section
4.07(b)(vi)  hereof  deems it  essential.  Through the Closing  Date,  except as
otherwise consented to in writing by NPB (such consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or as permitted by this Agreement, ENB shall not:

     (a) change any provision of its articles of association or bylaws;

     (b) change the number of authorized or issued shares of its capital  stock,
repurchase any shares of capital stock,  or issue or grant any option,  warrant,
call, commitment,  subscription, Right or agreement of any character relating to
its authorized or issued

                                       33

<PAGE>

capital stock or any securities  convertible  into shares of capital  stock,  or
declare,  set aside or pay any  dividend  or other  distribution  in  respect of
capital stock,  or redeem or otherwise  acquire any shares of ENB capital stock,
except that (i) ENB may issue up to an aggregate of 44,424  shares of ENB Common
Stock upon the valid exercise of any ENB options  issued and  outstanding on the
date hereof,  and (ii) ENB may pay its regular  quarterly  cash dividend of $.06
per share of ENB Common Stock;

     (c) grant any severance or termination pay, other than pursuant to policies
or  agreements  of ENB in effect on the date hereof,  to, or enter into or amend
any  employment,  consulting,  severance,   "change-in-control"  or  termination
contract or  arrangement  with,  any officer,  director,  employee,  independent
contractor, agent or other person associated with ENB;

     (d) except for routine  periodic pay  increases,  merit pay  increases  and
pay-raises in connection with promotions,  all in accordance with past practice,
and except for retention  bonuses on account of the Merger granted in good faith
reasonable  amounts,  increase the rate of compensation of, or pay any bonus to,
any director, officer, employee,  independent contractor,  agent or other person
associated with ENB; or grant job promotions  other than in accordance with past
practice;   provided,   however,  that  ENB  may  adjust  pay  and  bonuses  for
extraordinary efforts in the management of special projects,  development of new
products, outstanding departmental leadership and the like, in amounts in excess
of that  provided  for in the  salary  administration  program if such costs are
fully accrued on the Closing Date;

     (e) merge or consolidate ENB with any other corporation;  sell or lease all
or any  substantial  portion  of the  assets  or  businesses  of ENB;  make  any
acquisition of all or any  substantial  portion of the business or assets of any
other person, firm, association,  corporation or business organization; relocate
or surrender its  certificate  of authority to maintain,  or file an application
for the relocation of, any existing branch office;  or file an application for a
certificate of authority to establish a new branch office;

     (f)  except for the sale of the  excess  property  located at the Blue Rock
Center in the Borough of Elverson,  Chester County, sell or otherwise dispose of
any  material  asset of ENB,  other  than in the  ordinary  course of  business,
consistent  with past  practice;  subject  any  asset of ENB to a lien,  pledge,
security  interest or other  encumbrance,  other than in the ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice; modify in any material manner the manner
in which ENB has heretofore conducted its business or enter into any new line of
business;  incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed  money,  except in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice;


                                       34
<PAGE>

     (g) take any action which would result in any of the  conditions  set forth
in Article V hereof not being satisfied;

     (h) change any  method,  practice or  principle  of  accounting,  except as
required by changes in generally accepted accounting  principles concurred in by
its  independent   certified  public  accountants;   or  change  any  assumption
underlying,  or any method of calculation of,  depreciation of any type of asset
or establishment of any reserve;

     (i) waive,  release,  grant or  transfer  any rights of  material  value or
modify or change in any material respect any existing  agreement to which ENB is
a party,  other than in the ordinary  course of business,  consistent  with past
practice;

     (j) implement  any pension,  retirement,  profit  sharing,  bonus,  welfare
benefit or  similar  plan or  arrangement  that was not in effect on the date of
this Agreement,  or amend any existing plan or arrangement except as required by
law or to the extent  such  amendments  do not result in a material  increase in
cost;

     (k) amend or otherwise modify the underwriting and other lending guidelines
and policies of ENB in effect as of the date hereof or otherwise fail to conduct
its lending  activities in the ordinary course of business  consistent with past
practice;

     (l) enter  into,  renew,  extend or modify any other  transaction  with any
Affiliate,  other than deposit and loan  transactions  in the ordinary course of
business and which are in compliance  with the  requirements  of applicable laws
and  regulations,  except  as to any  transaction  disclosed  on ENB  Disclosure
Schedule 2.19;

     (m) enter into any interest rate swap, floor or cap or similar  commitment,
agreement or arrangement;

     (n) take any  action  that  would  give rise to a right of  payment  to any
individual  under any  employment  agreement  except in the  ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice;

     (o) purchase any security for its investment  portfolio (i) rated less than
"AAA" by either  Standard & Poor's  Corporation  or Moody's  Investor  Services,
Inc., or (ii) with a remaining maturity more than five (5) years;

     (p) except for good faith reasonable renovation or repair expenses to ENB's
physical  facilities,  make any capital  expenditure  of  $250,000  or more;  or
undertake or enter into any lease, contract or other commitment for its account,
other  than  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  involving  an  unbudgeted
expenditure by ENB of more than $250,000, or extending beyond twelve (12) months
from the date hereof;


                                       35
<PAGE>

     (q) take any action that would preclude the Merger from  qualifying (A) for
"pooling of interests"  accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles or (B) as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368 of the
IRC; or

     (r) agree to do any of the foregoing.

     4.02 Access; Confidentiality.

     (a) Through the Closing Date,  each party hereto shall afford to the other,
including its authorized  agents and  representatives,  reasonable access to its
properties,  assets,  books and records and personnel,  at reasonable  hours and
after reasonable  notice; and the officers of each party shall furnish the other
party  making  such   investigation,   including  its   authorized   agents  and
representatives,  with such financial and operating  data and other  information
with  respect to the  businesses,  properties,  assets,  books and  records  and
personnel as the party making such  investigation,  or its authorized agents and
representatives, shall from time to time reasonably request.

     (b) Each  party  hereto  agrees  that it,  and its  authorized  agents  and
representatives,  will conduct such investigation and discussions hereunder in a
confidential   manner  and  otherwise  in  a  manner  so  as  not  to  interfere
unreasonably  with the other party's normal operations and customer and employee
relationships.  Neither ENB nor NPB, nor any of their  respective  Subsidiaries,
shall be required to provide access to or disclose information where such access
or disclosure  would  violate or prejudice  the rights of customers,  jeopardize
attorney-client  privilege or similar privilege with respect to such information
or contravene  any law,  rule,  regulation,  decree,  order,  fiduciary  duty or
agreement entered into prior to the date hereof.

     (c) All information furnished to NPB or ENB by the other in connection with
the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  whether prior to the date of
this Agreement or subsequent  hereto,  shall be held in confidence to the extent
required by, and in accordance  with, the two  confidentiality  agreements dated
June  15,  1998  between  NPB  and  ENB  (collectively,   the   "Confidentiality
Agreements").

     4.03 Regulatory Matters. Through the Closing Date:

     (a) NPB and ENB shall  cooperate with one another in the preparation of the
Registration  Statement  (including  the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement)  and  all
Applications  and the making of all filings for, and shall use their  reasonable
best  efforts to obtain,  as promptly as  practicable,  all  necessary  permits,
consents,  approvals,  waivers and authorizations of all Regulatory  Authorities
necessary or advisable  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement, and in particular, NPB shall use

                                       36
<PAGE>

its reasonable  efforts to file the Merger  Application  within one month of the
date hereof.  Each of NPB and ENB shall give the other reasonable time to review
any Application to be filed by it prior to the filing of such  Application  with
the  relevant  Regulatory  Authority,  and each shall  consult one another  with
respect to the  substance  and status of such  filings.  It is the intent of the
parties   hereto   to  cause   the   Registration   Statement   (including   the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement) to be declared  effective by the SEC with financial
information  included therein as of June 30, 1998,  subject to the terms of this
Agreement  (including  the  right  of ENB  to  designate  the  date  of the  ENB
Shareholders  Meeting  pursuant to Section  4.07(a)(i)) and provided further NPB
acknowledges that ENB is not a registrant under the Exchange Act and accordingly
preparation of additional information may be required.

     (b) ENB and NPB  shall  each  promptly  furnish  the other  with  copies of
written communications to, or received by them from, any Regulatory Authority in
respect of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (c) ENB and NPB shall  cooperate  with each other in the foregoing  matters
and shall  furnish the other with all  information  concerning  itself as may be
necessary or advisable in connection with any  Application or filing,  including
the  Registration  Statement  and any report  filed with the SEC,  made by or on
behalf of such party to or with any Regulatory  Authority in connection with the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and in  each  such  case,  such
information  shall  be  accurate  and  complete  in all  material  respects.  In
connection therewith,  ENB and NPB shall use their reasonable good faith efforts
to provide  each  other  certificates,  "comfort"  letters  and other  documents
reasonably requested by the other.

     4.04 Taking of Necessary Actions.  Through the Closing Date, in addition to
the specific agreements contained herein, each party hereto shall use reasonable
best  efforts  to take,  or in the case of NPB  cause to be taken by each of its
Subsidiaries,  all actions, and to do, or in the case of NPB cause to be done by
each of its  Subsidiaries,  all  things  necessary,  proper or  advisable  under
applicable   laws  and   regulations   to  consummate  and  make  effective  the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement including, if necessary,  appealing
any adverse ruling in respect of any Application.

     4.05 No  Solicitation.  ENB shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any
of its  officers,  directors or employees or any  investment  banker,  financial
advisor,  attorney,  accountant  or  other  representative  retained  by it  to,
initiate,  solicit,  encourage (including by way of furnishing information),  or
take any other action to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal
which constitutes any Acquisition  Proposal (as defined below), or enter into or
maintain or continue discussions or negotiate with

                                       37
<PAGE>

any person in furtherance of an Acquisition Proposal, or agree to or endorse any
Acquisition Proposal,  and ENB shall (unless it believes such notification could
violate the ENB Board of Directors'  fiduciary duties) notify NPB as promptly as
practicable, in reasonable detail, as to any inquiries and proposals which it or
any of its  representatives  or agents may  receive;  provided,  however,  that,
notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this Agreement,  (i) ENB
may furnish or cause to be furnished  confidential  and  non-public  information
concerning ENB and its businesses,  properties or assets to a third party,  (ii)
ENB  may  engage  in  discussions  or  negotiations  with a third  party,  (iii)
following receipt of an Acquisition  Proposal,  ENB may take and disclose to its
shareholders a position with respect to such Acquisition  Proposal,  and/or (iv)
following  receipt of an  Acquisition  Proposal,  the ENB Board of Directors may
withdraw or modify its recommendation of the Merger or terminate this Agreement,
but in  respect of the  foregoing  clause  (iv) only to the extent  that the ENB
Board of  Directors  shall  conclude in good faith after  consultation  with its
legal and financial  advisors that such  Acquisition  Proposal,  if  consummated
pursuant to its terms,  would result in an alternative  transaction that is more
favorable  to ENB  shareholders  than  the  Merger.  As used  herein,  the  term
"Acquisition  Proposal"  means: (x) any acquisition or purchase of a significant
amount of the assets of ENB, or any equity  interest in ENB or any take-over bid
or tender  offer  (including  an issuer bid or self  tender  offer) or  exchange
offer,  consolidation,  plan  or  arrangement,  reorganization,   consolidation,
business  combination,  sale  of  substantially  all  of  the  assets,  sale  of
securities,  recapitalization,  liquidation,  dissolution or similar transaction
involving ENB (other than the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement) or
(y) any proposal,  plan or intention to do any of the foregoing  either publicly
announced  or  communicated  to ENB or any  agreement  to  engage  in any of the
foregoing.

     4.06 Update of Disclosure  Schedules.  Through the Closing Date,  ENB shall
update the ENB  Disclosure  Schedule,  and NPB shall  update the NPB  Disclosure
Schedule, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of any event which, if
such event had occurred  prior to the date hereof,  would have been disclosed on
such schedule.

     4.07 Other Undertakings by NPB and ENB.

     (a) Undertakings of ENB.

          (i)  Shareholder  Approval.  ENB shall  submit this  Agreement  to its
shareholders  for approval at a meeting (the "ENB  Shareholders  Meeting") which
may, in ENB's sole  discretion,  be held after all  consents  of any  Regulatory
Authorities have been obtained.  In the event that any such consent has not been
obtained  prior to the date  established in the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement for
such meeting, such meeting may be postponed or adjourned at the

                                       38
<PAGE>

sole  discretion  of ENB. The ENB  Shareholders  Meeting shall be held not later
than 45 days after all consents of Regulatory Authorities have been received and
all other  conditions have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions
which are to be fulfilled at the Closing).

          (ii) Phase I Environmental  Audit. ENB shall permit NPB, if NPB elects
to do so, at its own cost and expense, to cause a "phase I environmental  audit"
to be  performed at any  physical  location  owned or occupied by ENB or any ENB
Subsidiary.

          (iii) Delivery of Financial  Statements.  ENB shall deliver to NPB, as
soon as  practicable  after  the end of each  month  and  after  the end of each
calendar  quarter prior to the Effective  Date,  commencing with the month ended
July 31,  1998,  an  unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet as of such date and
related  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of income  and cash  flows for the
periods then ended,  which financial  statements  shall fairly  present,  in all
material respects, ENB's consolidated financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows for the periods then ended in accordance with generally  accepted
accounting  principles,  except as noted  therein and subject to year-end  audit
adjustments and footnotes.

          (iv)  Reserves and  Merger-Related  Costs.  On or before the Effective
Date,  establish  such  additional  accruals and reserves as may be necessary to
conform ENB's accounting  reserve  practices and methods  (including credit loss
practices and methods) to those of NPB and  otherwise to reflect  Merger-related
expenses and costs incurred by ENB (including  professional  fees and expenses),
in each case on a mutually  satisfactory  basis and in accordance with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  and any  applicable  regulatory  requirements,
provided,  however,  that ENB shall not be required to take such  actions  until
such time as NPB shall  acknowledge  in writing that all conditions to NPB's and
ENB's  respective  obligations  to  consummate  the Merger  (and NPB's and ENB's
respective  rights to terminate  this Agreement for any reason) have been waived
or satisfied,  and that in all circumstances ENB shall take such actions at such
time  as  shall  be  mutually  agreed  to by NPB and  ENB  but  not  later  than
immediately prior to the time the Merger becomes  effective.  No action taken by
ENB in accordance with this Section 4.07(a)(iv) shall constitute or be deemed to
be a breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant, condition or
other provision of this  Agreement,  and NPB agrees to indemnify ENB's officers,
directors and agents with respect to such adjustments.

          (v) Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Within ten days after the date of this
Agreement,  suspend  through the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or
the  Closing  Date the  operation  of the ENB  Dividend  Reinvestment  and Stock
Purchase Plan.


                                       39
<PAGE>

     (b) Understandings of NPB and ENB.

          (i) Filings and Approvals. NPB and ENB shall cooperate with each other
in the preparation and filing, as soon as practicable,  of (A) the Applications,
(B) the Registration  Statement (including the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement) and
related filings, if any, under state securities laws relating to the Merger, (C)
all other  documents  necessary  to  obtain  any other  approvals  and  consents
required  to  effect  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement.

          (ii) Public  Announcements.  NPB and ENB shall agree upon the form and
substance of any press release  related to this  Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  but nothing contained herein shall prohibit either party,
following  notification to the other party, from making any disclosure which its
counsel deems necessary under applicable law.

          (iii) Maintenance of Insurance.  NPB and ENB shall maintain  insurance
in such amounts as NPB or ENB, as the insured,  believes are reasonable to cover
such risks as are  customary in relation to the  character and location of their
respective properties and the nature of their respective businesses.

          (iv)  Maintenance  of Books and  Records.  NPB and ENB shall  maintain
books of account and records on a basis consistent with past practice.

          (v) Taxes.  NPB and ENB shall each file all federal,  state, and local
tax returns  required  to be filed by it on or before the date such  returns are
due, including any extensions, and pay all taxes shown to be due on such returns
on or before the dates such  payments are due,  except those being  contested in
good faith.

          (vi) Integration  Team. NPB and ENB shall cooperate with each other in
the selection of an integration team, made up of an equal number of persons from
NPB's  senior  staff and from  ENB's  senior  staff,  which  team shall plan and
implement an orderly,  cost-effective  consolidation  of ENB's  operations  into
Bank's operations in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

          (vii) Outside  Service Bureau  Contracts.  NPB and ENB shall cooperate
with  each  other,  and if  mutually  agreed  in  the  interest  of an  orderly,
cost-effective   consolidation   of   operations,   terminate  any  contract  or
arrangement  ENB may have with an  outside  service  bureau  or other  vendor of
services and  substitute a contract or  arrangement  between NPB or Bank (as NPB
shall elect) and ENB for the  provision of similar  services to ENB on terms and
conditions mutually acceptable to ENB and NPB.

                                       40
<PAGE>

          (viii) In-House  Operations.  NPB and ENB shall, subject to applicable
legal  requirements,  cooperate with each other,  and if mutually  agreed in the
interest of an orderly,  cost-effective  consolidation of operations,  terminate
any in-house back office, support, processing or other operational activities of
ENB, and substitute a contract or arrangement  between NPB or Bank (as NPB shall
select)  and ENB for the  provision  of  similar  services  to ENB on terms  and
conditions mutually acceptable to ENB and NPB.

          (ix)  Dividends.  NPB and ENB shall  coordinate  with  each  other the
payment of  dividends  with respect to NPB Common Stock and ENB Common Stock and
the record dates and payment dates relating  thereto,  it being the intention of
the parties  hereto that the  holders of NPB Common  Stock and ENB Common  Stock
shall not receive two dividends, or fail to receive one dividend, for any single
calendar quarter with respect to their shares of NPB Common Stock and ENB Common
Stock or any shares of NPB Common Stock  received in exchange for such shares of
ENB Common Stock in the Merger.

     (c) Undertakings of NPB.

          (i)  Shareholders'  Meeting.  NPB shall  submit this  Agreement to its
shareholders for approval at the NPB Shareholders  Meeting to be held as soon as
practicable,  or,  in the  discretion  of  NPB,  at any  time  prior  to the ENB
Shareholders  Meeting, with the recommendation of its Board of Directors to such
shareholders  to approve this Agreement and the issuance of the NPB Common Stock
for purposes of the Nasdaq requirements.

          (ii) Delivery of SEC Documents. NPB shall deliver to ENB copies of all
reports  filed  with the SEC under the  Exchange  Act  promptly  upon the filing
thereof.

          (iii) Delivery of Financial  Statements.  NPB shall deliver to ENB, as
soon as  practicable  after  the end of each  month  and  after  the end of each
calendar  quarter prior to the Effective  Date,  commencing with the month ended
July 31,  1998,  an  unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet as of such date and
related  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of income  and cash  flows for the
periods then ended,  which financial  statements  shall fairly  present,  in all
material respects, NPB's consolidated financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows for the periods then ended in accordance with generally  accepted
accounting  principles,  except as noted  therein and subject to year-end  audit
adjustments and footnotes.

          (iv) Employees, Severance Policy. Upon consummation of the Merger, NPB
shall offer,  or cause Bank or another NPB  Subsidiary  to offer,  employment to
each person who is then an ENB employee,  in accordance  with the employment and
severance policies set forth on NPB Disclosure Schedule 4.07(c)(iv) (the "Merger
Employment Policies"). As provided in the Merger Employment

                                       41
<PAGE>

Policies,  NPB shall provide severance  benefits to each ENB employee who is not
offered  employment with NPB, who does not accept employment with NPB (except as
provided in clause (A) or (B) below), or whose employment with NPB is terminated
by NPB without  "cause"  within one year after the  Effective  Date,  excluding,
however, any ENB employee who is a party to an employment, "change- in-control",
or similar  agreement.  Severance  benefits  shall consist of one week's pay (at
current levels) for each year of service (to be paid as salary continuation),  a
lump sum payment of all unused  vacation time (to be paid as soon as practicable
following  termination)  and the  continuation  of all  applicable  welfare plan
benefits until the last day of the month during which the last week of severance
is paid. All eligible employees shall be entitled to a minimum of eight weeks of
severance  benefits and shall be given full credit for each year of service with
ENB. Any partial year of service shall be treated as a full year for purposes of
severance benefit  calculations.  Except as provided below,  severance  benefits
shall not be payable to: (A) any  non-exempt ENB employee who receives and turns
down two job offers of equal or higher  salary  grade at a location  within a 15
mile radius of the employee's home; and (B) any exempt ENB employee who receives
and turns down a job offer of equal or higher salary grade at a location  within
a 25 mile radius of the employee's home. NPB shall also make severance  benefits
available  to ENB  personnel  whose  employment  with NPB is  terminated  by NPB
without "cause" within one year after the Effective Date, in accordance with the
Merger Employment  Policies.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  each full-time ENB
non-community office and lending staff employee who has received the offer(s) of
employment  specified in clause (A) or (B) above and who elects not to accept an
offer of  employment  with NPB (or who elects to terminate  employment  with NPB
within  90 days of the  Effective  Date)  shall  be  entitled  to four  weeks of
severance  benefits.  Any person whose  employment with NPB is terminated by NPB
without  "cause"  after one year from the  Effective  Date  shall  receive  such
severance  benefit from NPB as is provided for in NPB's general severance policy
for such  terminations  (with full  credit  being given for each year of service
with ENB).  For purposes of this  Section  4.07(c)(iv),  "cause"  shall mean the
employer's  good faith  reasonable  belief that the  employee  committed  fraud,
theft,  embezzlement,  falsified  corporate records,  disseminated  confidential
information  concerning  customers,  NPB, Bank or its employees,  had documented
unsatisfactory job performance under Bank's dismissal policy, or violated Bank's
Code of  Conduct.  The  foregoing  definition  of "cause" is the  definition  of
"cause" used by Bank in the ordinary course of its business.

          (v) Employee  Benefits.  As of the Effective  Date,  ENB employees who
become  employees  of NPB or of any NPB  Subsidiary  shall be  entitled  to full
credit for each year of service with ENB for purposes of determining eligibility
for  participation  and  vesting,  but not benefit  accrual,  in NPB's  employee
benefit plans, programs and policies. The employee benefits provided to former

                                       42
<PAGE>

employees of ENB after the Effective Date shall be substantially  similar to the
employee  benefits,  in the aggregate,  provided by NPB or its  Subsidiaries  to
their similarly situated employees.  The NPB medical,  dental and life insurance
plans,  programs  or  policies,  if any,  that become  applicable  to former ENB
employees  shall not contain any  exclusion  or  limitation  with respect to any
pre-existing condition of any such employees or their dependents. Subject to the
foregoing, after the Effective Date, NPB may discontinue, amend or convert to an
NPB plan any particular  benefit or welfare plan of ENB,  subject to such plan's
provisions and applicable law.

          (vi) Qualified  Plans. As of the Effective Date, the account  balances
of ENB  employees  under the ENB 401(k)  Profit  Sharing  Plan and under the ENB
Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan shall  become  100  percent  vested,  provided,
however,  such  vesting  shall not take place if such  vesting  would  cause the
Merger to fail to qualify for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment.

          (vii)  Management  Incentive  Plan.  If the  Merger  occurs  prior  to
December 31, 1998, the annual portion of the ENB Management  Incentive Plan (the
"MIP") shall be continued  through December 31, 1998. If the Merger occurs after
December 31, 1998, the MIP may be continued or discontinued as determined by the
NPB Board of Directors. In any event, the ENB Board of Directors shall determine
in good faith,  with the consent of NPB (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld),  the appropriate  level of payouts to be made under the MIP for 1998.
In making its  determination,  the ENB Board of Directors  shall  disregard  any
extraordinary  expenses or charges  related to the Merger  that would  otherwise
cause a reduction in payouts under the MIP.

          (viii) Calculations of ESOP, MIP and Profit Sharing.  The calculations
determining the amounts to be included in the ESOP, MIP and profit sharing plans
for 1998 shall be done prior to making any deductions for reserves to be created
or expenses incurred in connection with the Merger.

          (ix) Deferred  Compensation  Arrangement.  On the Effective Date or on
January 1, 1999 if the  Effective  Date shall precede  January 1, 1999,  the ENB
Deferred  Compensation  Arrangement  shall be  terminated,  and  subject  to any
applicable  income  tax  withholding  requirements,  all  deferred  compensation
account balances shall be paid out in cash to plan participants.

          (x) Election of NPB  Directors.  Upon  consummation  of the Merger and
subject to compliance with all applicable  legal  requirements,  NPB shall elect
two  persons  selected by ENB's Board of  Directors  and  approved by NPB (which
approval will not be unreasonably  withheld) as directors of NPB,  effective the
Effective  Date,  one to serve as a Class I director  with a term through  April
2000 and the other to serve as a Class II director with a term

                                       43
<PAGE>

through April 2001, and each to be re-nominated for at least one full three-year
term  thereafter  (each,  an "ENB NPB  Nominee").  In the event that any ENB NPB
Nominee,  or any  successor,  resigns,  dies or is otherwise  removed from NPB's
Board of Directors prior to the end of such person's full  three-year  term, the
Elverson  Continuing  Directors,  by a plurality  vote,  shall have the right to
select such person's  successor,  subject to NPB's approval (which approval will
not be unreasonably withheld), and NPB shall take all reasonable steps necessary
to elect such successor to the NPB Board of Directors.

          (xi) Elverson Division, Elverson Board.

               (A) Upon  consummation  of the Merger and  subject to  compliance
with all applicable  legal  requirements,  NPB shall cause Bank to establish and
operate a separate banking  division called "Elverson  National Bank, a Division
of National Penn Bank" (the  "Elverson  Division").  The Elverson  Division will
consist of all ENB's present  branch  offices with the  following  additions and
deletion:  (1) Bank's Lionville office would become an Elverson Division office;
(2) Bank's Gay Street,  West Chester  office would be combined into ENB's office
at High Street, West Chester; and (3) ENB's Sinking Spring office would become a
Bank  office.  It is NPB's  intent  to  utilize  the  Elverson  Division  in the
expansion of NPB's branch banking system in Chester County, Pennsylvania, either
by the opening of de novo branches or by the acquisition of deposits and assets,
such branches to be operated under the "Elverson  Division"  banner.  Subject to
NPB's approval of the planned capital  expenditures and operating budget for the
proposed branches, the Elverson Division may open two branches in Chester County
in the three  years  following  the  Effective  Date;  provided,  however,  that
approval  of the  second  branch  will be  subject  to the first  branch  having
achieved $10 million in deposits.  NPB  anticipates  that the Elverson  Division
will have the same lending  authority  limits as ENB has at the date hereof,  in
accordance with NPB's credit quality standards.

               (B) Upon  consummation  of the  Merger,  NPB shall  cause Bank to
establish the "Elverson Division Board of Directors" (the "Elverson Board"). The
Elverson  Board shall  consist of the members of ENB's Board of Directors at the
Effective Date, an NPB executive officer selected by NPB, and such other persons
as the Elverson Board shall select from time to time. NPB  anticipates  that the
Elverson Board will  emphasize  sales,  marketing and  expansion.  ENB's current
non-employee  directors who become  members of the Elverson  Board shall receive
annual director  compensation equal to the annual director compensation received
by them at the date hereof. Other persons who may be selected for service on the
Elverson  Board  shall  be   compensated  in  accordance   with  NPB's  standard
compensation arrangements for divisional board members, which is partially fixed
and partially incentive-based compensation. ENB's current non-employee directors
who become

                                       44
<PAGE>

members of the Elverson  Board shall have the option of electing to receive such
NPB standard  compensation.  The Elverson Board shall have  indemnification  and
insurance  coverage no less  favorable than members of the Board of Directors of
Bank.

               (C) NPB shall  operate the  Elverson  Division,  and maintain the
Elverson  Board at the foregoing  compensation  level,  for a period of at least
five years after the Effective  Date,  except that this covenant shall expire if
and when NPB shall be acquired or otherwise  sold and  thereafter the members of
NPB's Board of  Directors do not  constitute  at least 50% of the members of the
surviving corporation's board of directors.

          (xii) Indemnification, Insurance.

               (A) NPB shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the directors,
officers, employees and agents of ENB (each, an "Indemnified Party") against all
losses,  expenses (including  reasonable  attorneys' fees),  claims,  damages or
liabilities  and amounts paid in settlement  arising out of actions or omissions
or alleged acts or omissions (collectively,  "Prior Acts") occurring at or prior
to  the  Effective  Date  (including  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this
Agreement)  to the fullest  extent  permitted  under the  Pennsylvania  Business
Corporation Law ("PBCL"),  including provisions relating to advances of expenses
incurred in the defense of any  proceeding  to the full extent  permitted by the
PBCL upon receipt of any undertaking  required by the PBCL. Without limiting the
foregoing,  in a case (if any) in which a  determination  by NPB is  required to
effectuate  any  indemnification,  NPB  shall  direct,  at the  election  of the
Indemnified Party, that the determination  shall be made by independent  counsel
mutually agreed upon between NPB and the Indemnified Party.

               (B) NPB  shall  cause  Bank to keep in effect  provisions  in its
Articles  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of Bank  providing  for  exculpation  of
director  and  officer  liability  and its  indemnification  of the  Indemnified
Parties to the fullest extent  permitted under the PBCL,  which provisions shall
not be amended  except as required by  applicable  law or except to make changes
permitted  by  law  that  would  enlarge  the  Indemnified   Parties'  right  to
indemnification.

               (C) NPB  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts  (and ENB shall
cooperate  and  assist  prior to the  Effective  Date in these  efforts),  at no
expense to the  beneficiaries,  (i) to maintain  (x)  directors'  and  officers'
liability  insurance ("D&O Insurance") for the Indemnified  Parties with respect
to  matters  occurring  at or prior to the  Effective  Date,  and (y)  fiduciary
liability  insurance   ("Fiduciary   Insurance")  for  the  present  and  former
fiduciaries of ENB's  profit-sharing plan and employee stock ownership plan (the
"Fiduciary  Insurance"),  each  issued  by a  carrier  or  carriers  assigned  a
claims-paying ability rating by A.M. Best & Co. of "A

                                       45
<PAGE>

(Excellent)"  or  higher,  or (ii) to obtain  coverage  for  Prior  Acts for the
Indemnified  Parties under the fiduciary and directors' and officers'  liability
insurance  policies  currently  maintained by NPB, in either case,  providing at
least  the  same  coverage  as  the  D&O  Insurance  and  Fiduciary   Insurance,
respectively,  currently  maintained by ENB and containing  terms and conditions
which are no less favorable to the  beneficiaries,  for a period of at least six
(6) years from the Effective Date; provided,  that NPB shall not be obligated to
make premium  payments for such six-year  period in respect of the D&O Insurance
and the  Fiduciary  Insurance  which  exceed,  for the portion  related to ENB's
directors and officers,  150 percent of the annual premium payments  ($18,083.00
at the date  hereof)  of ENB's  current  policy in effect as of the date of this
Agreement  (the "Maximum  Amount").  If the amount of the premiums  necessary to
maintain or procure such  insurance  coverage  exceeds the Maximum  Amount,  NPB
shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the most advantageous policies
of directors' and officers' liability  insurance  obtainable for a premium equal
to the Maximum Amount.

               (D) In the  event  any claim is made  against  present  or former
directors, officers or employees of ENB or any of the Fiduciaries who is covered
or potentially covered by insurance, neither Bank nor NPB shall do anything that
would forfeit,  jeopardize,  restrict or limit the insurance  coverage available
for that claim until the final disposition thereof.

               (E) If NPB or any of its successors or assigns shall  consolidate
with or merge into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving
person of such  consolidation  or merger or shall transfer all or  substantially
all of its assets to any person,  then and in each case,  proper provision shall
be made so that the successors  and assigns of NPB shall assume the  obligations
set forth in this Section 4.07(c)(xi).

               (F) The provisions of this Section 4.07(c)(xi) are intended to be
for the benefit of and shall be enforceable by, each  Indemnified  Party, his or
her heirs and representatives.

               (G) NPB shall pay all expenses,  including reasonable  attorneys'
fees, that may be incurred by any  Indemnified  Party in enforcing the indemnity
and other obligations provided for in this Section 4.07(c)(xi).

          (xiii) Publication of Post-Merger Results of Operations. NPB shall use
its reasonable best efforts to publish (if necessary,  on Form 8-K) no more than
twenty days after the end of the first month after the  Effective  Date in which
there are at least thirty days of post-Merger  combined  operations (which month
may be the month in which the Effective Date occurs), the financial  information
contemplated  by and in  accordance  with  the  terms of SEC  Accounting  Series
Releases No. 130 and 135 and Section 201.01 of

                                       46
<PAGE>

the SEC's  Codification  of Financial  Reporting  Policies and other  applicable
accounting rules.

          (xiv)  Repurchases  of NPB Common  Stock.  Through the  Closing  Date,
except as otherwise  consented to in writing by ENB (which  consent shall not be
unreasonably  withheld),  NPB shall not repurchase,  redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of NPB Common Stock.

          (xv) Conduct of NPB's  Business.  Through the Closing Date,  NPB shall
use its  reasonable  good faith  efforts to preserve its  business  organization
intact,  maintain good relationships with employees,  and preserve the good will
of customers of NPB and others with whom business  relationships  exist,  and in
all material  respects  conduct its businesses and engage in transactions in the
ordinary course without radical change.

          (xvi)  Other  Transactions.   Through  the  Closing  Date,  except  as
otherwise   consented  to  in  writing  by  ENB  (which  consent  shall  not  be
unreasonably  withheld),  NPB shall not enter  into any  agreement  with a third
party  concerning  any  acquisition  of  such  third  party  by,  or  merger  or
consolidation of such third party with, NPB if (A) under applicable regulations,
NPB would be required to present pro forma financial information reflecting that
transaction  in the  Registration  Statement,  or (B) NPB would propose to issue
shares of NPB Common Stock in such  transaction  in an amount  exceeding  twenty
percent of the outstanding shares of NPB Common Stock on the date hereof.


                                    ARTICLE V

                                   CONDITIONS

     5.01 Conditions to ENB's Obligations under this Agreement.  The obligations
of ENB  hereunder  shall be subject to  satisfaction  at or prior to the Closing
Date of each of the  following  conditions,  unless  waived by ENB  pursuant  to
Section 7.03 hereof:

     (a) Corporate  Proceedings.  All action  required to be taken by, or on the
part of, NPB and Bank to authorize the  execution,  delivery and  performance of
this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the Merger,  shall have been duly and
validly taken by NPB and Bank; and ENB shall have received  certified  copies of
the resolutions evidencing such authorizations.

     (b) Covenants; Representations. The obligations of NPB and Bank required by
this  Agreement  to be  performed by NPB or Bank at or prior to the Closing Date
shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material  respects;  and
the  representations  and warranties of NPB set forth in this Agreement shall be
true and correct in all material respects, as of the date of this Agreement,

                                       47
<PAGE>

and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date,  except
as to any  representation or warranty which  specifically  relates to an earlier
date and except as to any representation or warranty to the extent the breach of
such representation or warranty does not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Approvals of Regulatory Authorities.  Procurement by ENB and NPB of all
requisite approvals and consents of Regulatory Authorities and the expiration of
the  statutory  waiting  period or  periods  relating  thereto  for the  Merger;
provided,  however,  that no such  approval  or consent  shall have  imposed any
condition or  requirement  (other than  conditions  or  requirements  previously
disclosed)  which  would so  materially  and  adversely  impact the  economic or
business  benefits  to  ENB or NPB of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement that, had such condition or requirement  been known,  such party would
not, in its reasonable judgment, have entered into this Agreement.

     (d) No  Injunction.  There  shall not be in  effect  any  order,  decree or
injunction  of a court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which  enjoins  or
prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (e) Officer's  Certificate.  NPB shall have delivered to ENB a certificate,
dated the Closing Date and signed, without personal liability,  by its President
or a Vice President,  to the effect that the conditions set forth in subsections
(a) through (d) of this Section 5.01 have been satisfied.

     (f) Registration  Statement.  The Registration Statement shall be effective
under the Securities  Act, and no proceedings  shall be pending or threatened by
the SEC to suspend the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement;  and all
approvals  deemed necessary by NPB's counsel from state securities or "blue sky"
authorities  with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement
shall have been obtained.

     (g) Tax  Opinion or Letter.  ENB shall have  received an opinion of Dechert
Price & Rhoads,  special counsel to ENB, or a letter from Beard & Company, Inc.,
ENB's independent  certified public accountants,  dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that (a) the Merger constitutes a reorganization  under Section 368(a) of
the IRC, and (b) no gain or loss will be recognized by  shareholders  of ENB who
receive  shares of NPB Common  Stock in exchange  for their shares of ENB Common
Stock, except that gain or loss may be recognized as to cash received in lieu of
fractional share interests; in rendering their opinion, such counsel may require
and rely upon  representations  and  agreements,  including  those  contained in
certificates of officers of ENB, NPB and others.

     (h) Approval by ENB's Shareholders. This Agreement shall have been approved
by the shareholders of ENB by such vote as is

                                       48
<PAGE>

required  under the  National  Bank Act and by the articles of  association  and
bylaws of ENB.

     (i) Approval by NPB's Shareholders. This Agreement shall have been approved
by the  shareholders  of NPB by such  vote as is  required  by the  articles  of
incorporation and bylaws of NPB and by Nasdaq requirements applicable to it.

     (j) Nasdaq  Listing.  The NPB Common Stock shall  continue to be authorized
for quotation on the National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

     (k) Accountants' Comfort Letters. ENB shall have received "comfort" letters
from ENB's and NPB's respective independent certified public accountants,  dated
the date of mailing of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and dated shortly prior to
the  Effective  Date,  covering  such  matters  as are usual and  customary  for
transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement,  which letters shall be
satisfactory in form and content to ENB.

     (l)  Pooling of  Interests.  ENB shall have  received a letter from Beard &
Company,  Inc.,  ENB's  independent  certified  public  accountants,  and  Grant
Thornton, LLP, NPB's independent certified public accountants, dated the Closing
Date,  to the effect  that the Merger  shall be  accounted  for on a "pooling of
interests" basis under generally accepted accounting principles.

     (m) Other  Documents.  ENB shall have  received  such  other  certificates,
documents  or  instruments  from NPB or its officers or others as ENB shall have
reasonably  requested in connection  with  accounting or income tax treatment of
the Merger, or related securities law compliance.

     (n) Rights  Agreement.  No event shall have occurred  which shall result in
the grant,  issuance or triggering of any right or entitlement or the obligation
to grant or issue any  interest in NPB Common Stock or enable or allow any right
or  other  interest  associated  with  the  Rights  Agreement  to be  exercised,
distributed  or  triggered,  and no other  event shall have  occurred  under the
Rights Agreement which would  materially  adversely affect any current or future
right or interest of any holders of ENB Common Stock.

     5.02 Conditions to NPB's Obligations under this Agreement.  The obligations
of NPB  hereunder  shall be subject to  satisfaction  at or prior to the Closing
Date of each of the  following  conditions,  unless  waived by NPB  pursuant  to
Section 7.03 hereof:

     (a) Corporate  Proceedings.  All action  required to be taken by, or on the
part of, ENB to  authorize  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement and the  consummation of the Merger,  shall have been duly and validly
taken by ENB; and NPB shall have

                                       49
<PAGE>

received certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such authorizations.

     (b)  Covenants;  Representations.  The  obligations of ENB required by this
Agreement to be performed by ENB at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been
duly   performed   and  complied  with  in  all  material   respects;   and  the
representations  and warranties of ENB set forth in this Agreement shall be true
and correct in all material respects,  as of the date of this Agreement,  and as
of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing  Date,  except as to
any representation or warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date and
except as to any  representation  or  warranty  to the extent the breach of such
representation or warranty does not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Approvals of Regulatory Authorities.  Procurement by NPB and ENB of all
requisite approvals and consents of Regulatory Authorities and the expiration of
the  statutory  waiting  period or  periods  relating  thereto  for the  Merger;
provided,  however,  that no such  approval  or consent  shall have  imposed any
condition or  requirement  (other than  conditions  or  requirements  previously
disclosed)  which  would so  materially  and  adversely  impact the  economic or
business  benefits  to  NPB or ENB of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement that, had such condition or requirement  been known,  such party would
not, in its reasonable judgment, have entered into this Agreement.

     (d) No  Injunction.  There  shall not be in  effect  any  order,  decree or
injunction  of a court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which  enjoins  or
prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (e) Officer's  Certificate.  ENB shall have delivered to NPB a certificate,
dated the Closing Date and signed, without personal liability,  by its President
or a Vice President,  to the effect that the conditions set forth in subsections
(a) through (d) of this Section 5.02 have been satisfied.

     (f) Registration  Statement.  The Registration Statement shall be effective
under the Securities  Act, and no proceedings  shall be pending or threatened by
the SEC to suspend the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement;  and all
approvals  deemed necessary by NPB's counsel from state securities or "blue sky"
authorities  with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement
shall have been obtained.

     (g) Tax Opinion or Letter. NPB shall have received an opinion of Ellsworth,
Wiles,  Carlton & Waldman,  P.C., special counsel to NPB, or a letter from Grant
Thornton LLP, NPB's independent certified public accountants,  dated the Closing
Date,  to the effect  that (a) the Merger  constitutes  a  reorganization  under
Section 368(a) of the IRC, and (b) no gain or loss will be

                                       50
<PAGE>

recognized  by  shareholders  of ENB who receive  shares of NPB Common  Stock in
exchange for their shares of ENB Common  Stock,  except that gain or loss may be
recognized  as to cash  received  in  lieu of  fractional  share  interests;  in
rendering their opinion,  such counsel may require and rely upon representations
and  agreements,  including  those contained in certificates of officers of ENB,
NPB and others.

     (h) Approval by NPB's Shareholders. This Agreement shall have been approved
by the  shareholders  of NPB by such  vote as is  required  by the  articles  of
incorporation and bylaws of NPB and by Nasdaq requirements applicable to it.

     (i) Approval by ENB's Shareholders. This Agreement shall have been approved
by the  shareholders  of ENB by such vote as is required under the National Bank
Act and by the articles of association and bylaws of ENB.

     (j) Accountants' Comfort Letters. NPB shall have received "comfort" letters
from NPB's and ENB's respective independent certified public accountants,  dated
the date of mailing of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and dated shortly prior to
the  Effective  Date,  covering  such  matters  as are usual and  customary  for
transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement,  which letters shall be
satisfactory in form and content to NPB.

     (k)  Pooling  of  Interests.  NPB shall have  received a letter  from Grant
Thornton,  LLP, NPB's  independent  certified  public  accountants,  and Beard &
Company, Inc., ENB's independent certified public accountants, dated the Closing
Date,  to the effect  that the Merger  shall be  accounted  for on a "pooling of
interests" basis under generally accepted accounting principles.

     (l) Other  Documents.  NPB shall have  received  such  other  certificates,
documents  or  instruments  from ENB or its officers or others as NPB shall have
reasonably  requested in connection  with  accounting or income tax treatment of
the Merger, or related securities law compliance.

     (m)  Phase I  Environmental  Audit  Results.  The  results  of any  Phase I
environmental  audit conducted pursuant to Section  4.07(a)(ii) hereof shall not
result in a Material Adverse Effect on ENB.


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                                       51

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                        TERMINATION, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT

     6.01 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated on or at any time prior
to the Closing Date:

     (a) By the mutual written consent of the parties hereto;

     (b) By NPB or ENB:

          (i) If  there  shall  have  been  any  breach  of any  representation,
warranty or obligation of the other party hereto  (subject to the same standards
as set forth in Sections 5.01(b) or 5.02(b), as the case may be) and such breach
can not be, or shall not have been,  remedied  within 30 days  after  receipt by
such party of written notice specifying the nature of such breach and requesting
that it be remedied;

          (ii) If the Closing Date shall not have occurred prior to February 28,
1999  (except  that if the  Closing  Date shall not have  occurred  by such date
because of a breach of this Agreement by a party hereto,  such  breaching  party
(or Bank in NPB's case) shall not be entitled to  terminate  this  Agreement  in
accordance with this provision);

          (iii)  If any  Regulatory  Authority  whose  approval  or  consent  is
required for consummation of the Merger shall issue a definitive  written denial
of such  approval or consent and the time  period for appeals and  requests  for
reconsideration has run; or

          (iv) If any  shareholder  vote  contemplated  by this Agreement is not
obtained at the ENB Shareholders Meeting or the NPB Shareholders Meeting.

     (c)  By  ENB,  at  any  time  during  the  ten-day  period   following  the
Determination   Date,  if  both  of  the  following   conditions  occur  on  the
Determination Date:

          (1) the NPB  Market  Value  shall be less than  $27.00  per share [the
     dollar amount $27.00 shall be adjusted to $21.60 upon completion of the NPB
     Stock Split]; and

          (2)(i) the  quotient  obtained  by  dividing  the NPB Market  Value by
     $33.75 per share [the dollar amount $33.75 shall be adjusted to $27.00 upon
     completion  of the NPB Stock  Split]  shall be less than (ii) the  quotient
     obtained  by  dividing  the  Average  Index Price by the Index Price on the
     Starting  Date and  subtracting  0.05  from  the  quotient  in this  clause
     (2)(ii);

subject,  however,  to the  following:  If ENB  shall  elect to  terminate  this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.01(c), it shall

                                       52

<PAGE>

give written  notice  thereof to NPB  (provided  that such notice of election to
terminate  may be  withdrawn  at any  time  within  the  aforementioned  ten-day
period).  During the five-day period commencing with its receipt of such notice,
NPB shall have the option to elect to increase the  exchange  ratio set forth in
Section 1.02(f)(ii)(A),  as adjusted pursuant to Section 1.02(f)(ii)(E), to 1.25
shares of NPB Common  Stock [the  number  1.25 shall be  adjusted to 1.5625 upon
completion  of the NPB Stock  Split] in  exchange  for each  share of ENB Common
Stock and the Closing  Date shall be  postponed  by the  minimum  amount of time
necessary,  if any, to accommodate  NPB's election of such option (i.e., up to a
five-day  period).  If NPB so elects within such five-day period,  it shall give
prompt written notice to ENB of such  election,  whereupon no termination  shall
have occurred  pursuant to this Section  6.01(c) and this Agreement shall remain
in effect in accordance  with its terms (except as the Exchange Ratio shall have
been so modified).

     For purposes of this Section 6.01(c), the following terms have the meanings
indicated.

     "Index Group" means the bank or thrift holding  companies listed below, the
common  stocks of all of which  shall be  publicly  traded and as to which there
shall not have been, since the Starting Date and before the Determination  Date,
any public  announcement  of a proposal  for such  company to be acquired or for
such company to acquire  another  company or companies  in  transactions  with a
value exceeding 25% of the acquiror's market capitalization.  The bank or thrift
holding  companies  are as  follows:  (1)  Wilmington  Trust  Company;  (2) WSFS
Financial Corporation; (3) PNC Financial Corp.; (4) Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.; (5)
Commerce  Bancorp,  Inc.; (6) Fulton Financial  Corp.;  (7) Keystone  Financial,
Inc.; and (8) JeffBanks, Inc.

     "Index  Price" on a given date means the average of the closing sale prices
of the companies comprising the Index Group.

     "Average  Index Price" means the average of the Index Prices for the twenty
trading days ending on the Determination Date.

     "Starting Date" means July 20, 1998.

     If any company  belonging  to the Index  Group  declares or effects a stock
dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of
shares, or similar  transaction  between the Starting Date and the Determination
Date,  the prices for the common  stock of such company  shall be  appropriately
adjusted for the purposes of applying this Section 6.01(c).

     (d)  By  ENB,  at  any  time  during  the  ten-day  period   following  the
Determination  Date, if the NPB Market Value shall be less than $25.31 per share
[the dollar amount $25.31 shall be adjusted to $20.25 upon completion of the NPB
Stock Split];

                                       53

<PAGE>

     (e) By ENB pursuant to Section 4.05 hereof; or

     (f) By ENB if NPB or any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any agreement
with a third party  concerning any merger or  consolidation  of NPB with or into
such third party or the  acquisition of all or  substantially  all the assets of
NPB,  or any  person  or  entity  shall  have  acquired  at  least  19.9% of the
outstanding shares of NPB Common Stock.

     6.02 Effect of  Termination.  If this  Agreement is terminated  pursuant to
Section 6.01 hereof or otherwise,  this Agreement shall  forthwith  become void,
other than Sections 4.02(c) and 7.01 hereof which shall remain in full force and
effect, and there shall be no further liability on the part of NPB or ENB to the
other,  except  for any  liability  of NPB or ENB under  such  sections  of this
Agreement and except for any liability  arising out of a willful  breach of this
Agreement giving rise to such termination.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     7.01 Expenses and Other Fees.

     (a)  Except  for the cost of  printing  and  mailing  the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement  which  shall be shared  equally  and  except as set forth in  Section
7.01(b), each party hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by
it in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby,  including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, accountants and counsel.

     (b) If ENB fails to complete the transactions contemplated herein after the
occurrence  of one of the  following two events and NPB shall not be in material
breach of this  Agreement,  ENB shall  immediately pay NPB a fee of five million
dollars ($5,000,000.00):

          (i) ENB exercises its  termination  rights pursuant to Section 6.01(e)
of this Agreement; or

          (ii) the  failure  of ENB  shareholders  to  approve  the  Merger at a
meeting called for such purpose if at the time of such meeting there has been an
announcement  by a person or group of  persons  (other  than NPB) of an offer or
proposal to acquire 19.9% or more of the ENB Common Stock then  outstanding,  or
to acquire,  merge, or consolidate with ENB, or to purchase all or substantially
all of ENB's assets.

     (c) If NPB fails to complete the transactions contemplated herein after the
failure of NPB  shareholders  to approve the Merger at a meeting called for such
purpose and ENB shall not be in

                                       54

<PAGE>

material  breach of this Agreement,  NPB shall  immediately pay ENB a fee of one
million dollars ($1,000,000.00).

     7.02 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties;  Disclosure Schedules.
All representations,  warranties and, except to the extent specifically provided
otherwise herein, agreements and covenants shall terminate on the Closing Date.

     7.03  Amendment,  Extension and Waiver.  Subject to applicable  law, at any
time prior to the Closing Date,  the parties may (a) amend this  Agreement,  (b)
extend the time for the  performance of any of the  obligations or other acts of
either party  hereto,  (c) waive any  inaccuracies  in the  representations  and
warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, or (d)
to the extent  permitted by law, waive  compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions  contained in Articles IV and V hereof or otherwise.  This  Agreement
may not be amended  except by an  instrument  in writing  signed,  by authorized
officers,  on behalf of the parties hereto. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto  to any  extension  or  waiver  shall  be valid  only if set  forth in an
instrument  in  writing  signed by a duly  authorized  officer on behalf of such
party,  but such  waiver or  failure  to insist on strict  compliance  with such
obligation,  covenant,  agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of,
or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

     7.04 Entire Agreement. This Agreement,  including the documents referred to
herein  or  delivered  pursuant  hereto,   contains  the  entire  agreement  and
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter.  This Agreement
supersedes all prior arrangements and understandings  between the parties,  both
written  and  oral,   with  respect  to  its  subject   matter  other  than  the
Confidentiality  Agreements. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties  hereto and its  successors;  provided,  however,  that
nothing in this Agreement,  expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party,  other than the  parties  hereto  and their  respective  successors,  any
rights, remedies,  obligations or liabilities,  and provided,  further, that the
Elverson  Continuing  Directors may enforce the provisions of Sections  1.02(e),
4.07(c)(ix) and (x) and any Indemnified Party may enforce Section 4.07(c)(xii).

     7.05 No  Assignment.  Neither  party hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations hereunder to any other person,  without the prior written consent of
the other party hereto.

     7.06 Notices.  All notices or other  communications  hereunder  shall be in
writing and shall be deemed  given upon  delivery if delivered  personally,  two
business days after mailing if mailed by prepaid  registered or certified  mail,
return receipt  requested,  or upon confirmation of good transmission if sent by
telecopy, addressed as follows:

                                       55
<PAGE>

     (a) If to NPB or Bank, to:

         National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
         National Penn Bank
         Philadelphia and Reading Avenues
         P.O. Box 547
         Boyertown, Pennsylvania  19512-0547

         Attention:  Wayne R. Weidner, President
         Telecopy No.:  610-369-6349

         with a copy to:

         H. Anderson Ellsworth
         Jay W. Waldman
         Ellsworth, Wiles, Carlton & Waldman, P.C.
         1105 Berkshire Boulevard
         Suite 320
         Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610

         Telecopy No.:  610-371-9510

     (b) If to ENB, to:

         Elverson National Bank
         83 West Main Street
         Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520-9403

         Attention:  Glenn E. Moyer

         Telecopy No.:  610-286-8226

         with a copy to:

         William G. Lawlor
         Dechert Price & Rhoads
         4000 Bell Atlantic Tower
         1717 Arch Street
         Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103-2793

         Telecopy No.:  215-994-2222

     7.07  Disclosure  Schedules.   Information  contained  on  either  the  ENB
Disclosure  Schedule or the NPB Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to cover the
express disclosure requirement contained in a representation or warranty of this
Agreement  and any other  representation  or warranty of this  Agreement of such
party  where it is  readily  apparent  it applies  to such  provision.  The mere
inclusion  of  an  item  in  a   Disclosure   Schedule  as  an  exception  to  a
representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by a party that such
item represents a material exception or fact, event

                                       56
<PAGE>

or  circumstance  or that such item is or could  result  in a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     7.08 Captions.  The captions  contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and are not part of this Agreement.

     7.09  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts,  and each  such  counterpart  shall be  deemed  to be an  original
instrument,  but  all  such  counterparts  together  shall  constitute  but  one
agreement.

     7.10  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the  application
thereof to any person or circumstance  shall be invalid or  unenforceable to any
extent,  the remainder of this Agreement and the  application of such provisions
to other  persons or  circumstances  shall not be affected  thereby and shall be
enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

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                                       57

<PAGE>

     7.11 Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic  internal law of the  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
except to the extent the National Bank Act is applicable by its terms.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

                                       NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.


(Corporate Seal)                       By:/s/ Wayne R. Weidner
                                          Wayne R. Weidner
                                          President


                                       Attest:/s/ Sandra L. Spayd
                                              Sandra L. Spayd
                                              Secretary

                                       NATIONAL PENN BANK


(Corporate Seal)                       By:/s/ Wayne R. Weidner
                                          Wayne R. Weidner
                                          President


                                       Attest:/s/ Sandra L. Spayd
                                              Sandra L. Spayd
                                              Secretary


                                       ELVERSON NATIONAL BANK


(Corporate Seal)                       By:/s/ Joseph A. Rigg
                                          Joseph A. Rigg
                                          Chairman


                                       Attest:/s/ John A. Koury, Jr.
                                              John A. Koury, Jr.
                                              Secretary

                                       58
<PAGE>


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA  :
                              :ss.
COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY          :

     On this 21st day of July,  1998,  before me, a notary public for this state
and county, personally came WAYNE R. WEIDNER, as president, and SANDRA L. SPAYD,
as secretary, of NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES,  INC., and each, in his/her capacity,
acknowledged  this  instrument to be the act and deed of the corporation and the
seal affixed to it to be its seal.

     WITNESS my official seal and signature this day and year.

                              /s/ Cherolyn K. Drake
(Seal of Notary)              Notary Public
                              My commission expires Dec. 10, 1998


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA  :
                              :ss.
COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY          :

     On this 21st day of July,  1998,  before me, a notary public for this state
and county, personally came WAYNE R. WEIDNER, as president, and SANDRA L. SPAYD,
as secretary, of NATIONAL PENN BANK, and each, in his/her capacity, acknowledged
this  instrument to be the act and deed of the  corporation and the seal affixed
to it to be its seal.

     WITNESS my official seal and signature this day and year.

                              /s/ Cherolyn K. Drake
(Seal of Notary)              Notary Public
                              My commission expiresDec. 10, 1998


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA  :
                              :ss.
COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY          :

     On this 21st day of July,  1998,  before me, a notary public for this state
and county, personally came JOSEPH A. RIGG, as chairman, and JOHN A. KOURY, JR.,
as  secretary,  of  ELVERSON  NATIONAL  BANK,  and each,  in  his/her  capacity,
acknowledged  this  instrument to be the act and deed of the association and the
seal affixed to it to be its seal.

     WITNESS my official seal and signature this day and year.

                              /s/ Cherolyn K. Drake
(Seal of Notary)              Notary Public
                              My commission expiresDec. 10, 1998

                                       59
<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT "1-A"

                                         July 21, 1998

National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
Philadelphia and Reading Avenues
Boyertown, Pennsylvania 19512

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     National Penn Bancshares,  Inc. ("NPB") and Elverson  National Bank ("ENB")
are considering execution of an Agreement dated July 21, 1998 (the "Agreement").

     Pursuant to the proposed Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions
set forth  therein,  (a) NPB will  acquire  ENB by a merger of ENB with and into
National Penn Bank, a wholly-owned  subsidiary of NPB, (b)  shareholders  of ENB
will  receive  shares of NPB common  stock in exchange  for their  shares of ENB
common  stock  owned on the  closing  date,  and (c)  optionholders  of ENB will
receive  stock  options  exercisable  for common  stock of NPB in  exchange  for
options exercisable for common stock of ENB outstanding on the closing date (the
foregoing, collectively, the "Merger").

     NPB has required as a condition to its execution and delivery to ENB of the
Agreement, that the undersigned, being a director of ENB, execute and deliver to
NPB this Letter Agreement.

     The  undersigned,  in order to induce NPB to  execute  the  Agreement,  and
intending to be legally  bound  hereby,  irrevocably  agrees and  represents  as
follows:

     1. The undersigned  agrees to vote or cause to be voted for approval of the
Merger all shares of ENB common stock over which the undersigned  exercises sole
voting power.

     2. Through the record date for the meeting of ENB shareholders to vote upon
the Merger and for the period and to the extent  provided in Paragraph 7 hereof,
the undersigned agrees not to offer, sell,  transfer or otherwise dispose of, or
to permit the offer,  sale,  transfer or other disposition of, any shares of ENB
common stock over which the undersigned exercises sole voting power.

     3. The  undersigned  has sole voting power over the number of shares of ENB
common  stock,  and holds  stock  options for the number of shares of ENB common
stock, if any, set forth below opposite the signature line for the  undersigned.
NPB recognizes that with respect to any such shares which have been pledged to a
third  party,  the  undersigned  will  not be  able to  control  the  voting  or
disposition of such shares in the event of a default.



<PAGE>

National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
July 21, 1998
Page 2



     4. The  undersigned  hereby  waives the right to assert  dissenters  rights
under the  National  Bank Act,  as  amended,  and any  other  applicable  law or
regulation.

     5. The undersigned agrees not to offer, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any shares of NPB Common Stock received pursuant to the Merger, except (i) at
such time as a  registration  statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended ("Securities Act"), covering sales of such NPB common stock is effective
and a prospectus is made  available  under the  Securities  Act, (ii) within the
limits, and in accordance with the applicable  provisions of, Rule 145 under the
Securities Act ("Rule 145"), or (iii) in a transaction  which, in the opinion of
counsel  satisfactory  to NPB or as described in a "no-action"  or  interpretive
letter from the staff of the Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC"), is not
required to be registered  under the Securities Act; and acknowledges and agrees
that NPB is  under  no  obligation  to  register  the  sale,  transfer  or other
disposition  of  NPB  common  stock  by  the  undersigned  or on  behalf  of the
undersigned,  or to take any other action  necessary  to make an exemption  from
registration available.

     6. NPB shall take all steps  necessary to ensure that NPB is in  compliance
(i) with all those  requirements of Rule 145 with which NPB must comply in order
for the resale  provisions of Rule 145(d) to be available to the undersigned and
(ii) with the requirements of Section 4.07(c)(x) of the Agreement concerning the
publication of financial information  contemplated by and in accordance with the
terms of the SEC Accounting  Series Releases Nos. 130 and 135 and Section 201.01
of the SEC's  Codification of Financial  Reporting Policies and other applicable
accounting rules.

     7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned agrees not to sell, or in
any other way  reduce  the risk of the  undersigned  relative  to, any shares of
common  stock of ENB or of common  stock of NPB,  during the  period  commencing
thirty  (30) days  prior to the  effective  date of the Merger and ending on the
date  on  which  financial  results  covering  at  least  thirty  (30)  days  of
post-Merger  combined  operations of NPB and ENB have been published  within the
meaning of  Section  201.01 of the SEC's  Codification  of  Financial  Reporting
Policies,  provided, however, that excluded from the foregoing undertaking shall
be such sales, pledges,  transfers or other dispositions of shares of ENB common
stock or shares of NPB common stock which,  in NPB's  reasonable  judgment,  are
individually  and in the aggregate de minimis within the meaning of Topic 2-E of
the Staff Accounting Bulletin Series of the SEC.


<PAGE>
National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
July 21, 1998
Page 3



     8. The  undersigned  agrees that  neither ENB nor NPB shall be bound by any
attempted  sale  of any  shares  of  ENB  common  stock  or  NPB  common  stock,
respectively,  and ENB's and NPB's  transfer  agents shall be given  appropriate
stop  transfer  orders and shall not be required to register any such  attempted
sale,  unless the sale has been  effected in  compliance  with the terms of this
Letter Agreement; and further agrees that the certificate representing shares of
NPB common stock owned by the  undersigned  may be endorsed  with a  restrictive
legend consistent with the terms of this Letter Agreement.

     9. The  undersigned  represents  that he has no plan or intention to offer,
sell, exchange,  or otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock of NPB prior
to expiration of the time period referred to in subparagraph 7 hereof.

     10. The  undersigned  agrees,  if he is an  optionholder,  to exchange  his
options to acquire  shares of common  stock of ENB for  options to acquire  such
number  of shares of common  stock of NPB as he would  have  acquired  if he had
exercised such options  immediately  prior to  consummation  of the Merger,  and
otherwise on the same terms and conditions as the exchanged ENB options  (unless
the undersigned shall have exercised any such option prior to the Merger).

     11. The undersigned  represents that he has the capacity to enter into this
Letter  Agreement  and that it is a valid  and  binding  obligation  enforceable
against the  undersigned  in accordance  with its terms,  subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency  and other laws  affecting  creditors'  rights and general  equitable
principles.

     The parties hereto acknowledge that this Letter Agreement is being executed
by the  undersigned  in his capacity  solely as a shareholder of ENB, and not in
any  other  capacity  (including  as a  director  of ENB),  and  nothing  herein
contained  shall  derogate from the  undersigned's  ability to act in such other
capacity, including the exercise of fiduciary duty, even if in conflict with the
foregoing.

     This Letter Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to constitute an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same Letter.

     This Letter Agreement shall be effective upon acceptance by NPB.


<PAGE>

National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
July 21, 1998
Page 4


     This Letter Agreement shall terminate  concurrently with, and automatically
upon, any termination of the Agreement in accordance with its terms, except that
any such termination  shall be without  prejudice to NPB's rights arising out of
any willful breach or any covenant or representation contained herein.

                                    Very truly yours,

Number of Shares,
and Shares Subject
to Stock Options,
Held:



________________________________     ______________________________________


Accepted:


NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.


By:___________________________

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT "1-B"

                                     July 21, 1998

Elverson National Bank
83 West Main Street
Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     National Penn Bancshares,  Inc. ("NPB") and Elverson  National Bank ("ENB")
are considering execution of an Agreement dated July 21, 1998 (the "Agreement").

     Pursuant to the proposed Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions
set forth  therein,  (a) NPB will  acquire  ENB by a merger of ENB with and into
National Penn Bank, a wholly-owned  subsidiary of NPB, (b)  shareholders  of ENB
will  receive  shares of NPB common  stock in exchange  for their  shares of ENB
common  stock  owned on the  closing  date,  and (c)  optionholders  of ENB will
receive  stock  options  exercisable  for common  stock of NPB in  exchange  for
options exercisable for common stock of ENB outstanding on the closing date (the
foregoing, collectively, the "Merger").

     ENB has required as a condition to its execution and delivery to NPB of the
Agreement, that the undersigned, being a director of NPB, execute and deliver to
ENB this Letter Agreement.

     The  undersigned,  in order to induce ENB to  execute  the  Agreement,  and
intending to be legally  bound  hereby,  severally  and  irrevocably  agrees and
represents as follows:

     1. The undersigned  agrees to vote or cause to be voted for approval of the
Merger all shares of NPB common stock over which the undersigned  exercises sole
voting power.

     2. Through the record date for the meeting of NPB shareholders to vote upon
the Merger and for the period and to the extent  provided in Paragraph 4 hereof,
the undersigned agrees not to offer, sell,  transfer or otherwise dispose of, or
to permit the offer,  sale,  transfer or other disposition of, any shares of NPB
common stock over which the undersigned exercises sole voting power.

     3. The  undersigned  has sole voting power over the number of shares of NPB
common stock set forth below  opposite the signature  line for the  undersigned.
ENB recognizes that with respect to any such shares which have been pledged to a
third  party,  the  undersigned  will  not be  able to  control  the  voting  or
disposition of such shares in the event of a default.

     4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned agrees not to sell, or in
any other way reduce the risk of the undersigned


<PAGE>

Elverson National Bank
July 21, 1998
Page 2



relative to, any shares of common stock of NPB or of common stock of ENB, during
the period commencing thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the Merger
and ending on the date on which financial  results covering at least thirty (30)
days of  post-Merger  combined  operations  of NPB and ENB have  been  published
within the  meaning of Section  201.01 of the SEC's  Codification  of  Financial
Reporting  Policies,   provided,  however,  that  excluded  from  the  foregoing
undertaking  shall be such sales,  pledges,  transfers or other  dispositions of
shares of NPB  common  stock or  shares  of ENB  common  stock  which,  in NPB's
reasonable judgment, are individually and in the aggregate de minimis within the
meaning of Topic 2-E of the Staff Accounting Bulletin Series of the SEC.

     5. The  undersigned  agrees that  neither NPB nor ENB shall be bound by any
attempted  sale  of any  shares  of  NPB  common  stock  or  ENB  common  stock,
respectively,  and NPB's and ENB's  transfer  agents shall be given  appropriate
stop  transfer  orders and shall not be required to register any such  attempted
sale,  unless the sale has been  effected in  compliance  with the terms of this
Letter Agreement; and further agrees that the certificate representing shares of
NPB common stock owned by the  undersigned  may be endorsed  with a  restrictive
legend consistent with the terms of this Letter Agreement.

     6. The  undersigned  represents  that he or she has no plan or intention to
offer, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock of ENB
prior to expiration of the time period referred to in subparagraph 4 hereof.

     7. The undersigned represents that he or she has the capacity to enter into
this Letter Agreement and that it is a valid and binding obligation  enforceable
against the  undersigned  in accordance  with its terms,  subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency  and other laws  affecting  creditors'  rights and general  equitable
principles.

     The parties hereto acknowledge that this Letter Agreement is being executed
by the  undersigned  in his capacity  solely as a shareholder of NPB, and not in
any  other  capacity  (including  as a  director  of NPB),  and  nothing  herein
contained  shall  derogate from the  undersigned's  ability to act in such other
capacity, including the exercise of fiduciary duty, even if in conflict with the
foregoing.

     This Letter Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to constitute an


<PAGE>

Elverson National Bank
July 21, 1998
Page 3


original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Letter.

     This Letter Agreement shall be effective upon acceptance by ENB.

     This Letter Agreement shall terminate  concurrently with, and automatically
upon, any termination of the Agreement in accordance with its terms, except that
any such termination  shall be without  prejudice to ENB's rights arising out of
any willful breach or any covenant or representation contained herein.

                                   Very truly yours,

Number of Shares
Held:

______________________________     _____________________________________



Accepted:


ELVERSON NATIONAL BANK


By:____________________



                         NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:      Immediate

CONTACT:
                  Wayne R. Weidner, President, National Penn Bank -
                  (610) 369-6282

                  Glenn E. Moyer, President, Elverson National Bank -
                  (610) 286-8219

           NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES TO ACQUIRE ELVERSON NATIONAL BANK

     BOYERTOWN,   PA...National   Penn  Bancshares,   Inc.   ("National  Penn"),
(NASDAQ/NMS:NPBC),  parent company of National Penn Bank, and Elverson  National
Bank  ("ELVN")  announced  today the  execution  of a definitive  agreement  for
National Penn Bancshares to acquire Elverson  National Bank.  Elverson  National
Bank is a $300 million bank  headquartered in Elverson,  Pennsylvania  operating
nine community  offices in Chester,  Berks,  and Lancaster  Counties.  The joint
announcement  was made  today by  Lawrence  T.  Jilk,  Jr.,  Chairman  and Chief
Executive Officer, and Wayne R. Weidner,  President, of National Penn and Joseph
A. Rigg, Chairman, and Glenn E. Moyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, of
Elverson National Bank.

     The basic terms of the  Agreement  call for the tax-free  exchange of 1.175
shares of National  Penn common stock for each share of Elverson  common  stock.
Based on the $33.625 per share  closing  price of National  Penn common stock on
July 17, 1998,  the value per share of Elverson  National  Bank is $39.51.  This
price  equates  to 30.10  times  Elverson's  estimated  trailing  twelve  months
earnings, and a multiple of 3.77 times Elverson's tangible book value as of June
30, 1998.

     A 5-for-4  split of National  Penn  Bancshares  common  stock is  currently
pending and will be completed  on July 31. Upon its  completion,  the  Agreement
provides for proportionate adjustment of all the exchange ratio provisions so as
to preserve the same economic terms as at present.

     As of June 30, 1998,  Elverson had 2,597,995 million shares of Common Stock
outstanding and options for approximately 44,424 additional shares.

     Upon completion of the merger,  Elverson National Bank will retain its name
and operate as a division of National Penn Bank.  Elverson's  present  directors
will be  appointed  to the  divisional  board of  directors.  Two members of the
Elverson  Board will be mutually  selected to become  directors of National Penn
Bancshares and National Penn Bank. Elverson's President and CEO, Glenn


<PAGE>

Moyer,  will  become  President  of the  Elverson  National  Bank  Division  and
President of the Berks County and  Montgomery  County  regions of National  Penn
Bank.  He will also be an Executive  Vice  President of National  Penn Bank with
additional  corporate  responsibilities  and  will  be a  member  of the  Bank's
Executive Management, Asset/Liability, and Loan Committees.

     National  Penn  Bancshares  will have  assets of $2 billion  following  the
acquisition  which is subject to  regulatory  approval,  as well as  approval of
shareholders of Elverson  National Bank and National Penn  Bancshares.  National
Penn  anticipates  that the transaction will close in either late fourth quarter
of 1998 or the first quarter of 1999,  and will be accounted for as a pooling of
interests.  Effective  immediately,  National Penn  Bancshares has rescinded its
existing  authorization  to repurchase  its common stock,  which  authorized the
repurchase  of up to 530,000  shares (or 662,500  shares when  adjusted  for the
stock  split).   During  1998,   National  Penn   Bancshares   has   repurchased
approximately  233,267 shares under the authorization (or approximately  291,584
on a post-split basis).

     The merger is expected to be  accretive  to National  Penn  earnings in the
second year. As with any earnings  estimate,  there are factors that could cause
the actual  results  to differ  materially,  such as the  factors  discussed  in
National Penn's 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "The  addition  of  Elverson is highly  complementary  to  National  Penn's
existing  franchise  and will provide an excellent  opportunity  to increase our
marketshare  in Chester  County,  southern  Berks  County and eastern  Lancaster
County,"  said  Wayne  R.  Weidner,   president  of  National  Penn  Bancshares.
Elverson's longevity in Chester County and deep-seated commitment to be aware of
customers'  needs,  is a  natural  fit with  National  Penn  Bank's  philosophy.
National Penn Bank's existing  Chester County retail delivery system  (excluding
Phoenixville),  as well as its commercial lending office,  will be combined with
and marketed as Elverson  National  Bank, a division of National Penn Bank.  Mr.
Weidner  continued,  "We have been serving the Chester County market for over 10
years with a full-service loan office and several branch offices. Chester County
continues to be a fast- growing, very appealing region and this acquisition will
enable us to aggressively expand our market presence."

     Elverson's President, Glenn Moyer, said "the affiliation with National Penn
offers us an expanded  opportunity to enhance our product  offerings,  services,
and delivery  channels to both current and  prospective  customers.  Positioning
Elverson as a division of National Penn Bank will provide our customers with the
continued  benefit  of a  community  bank  philosophy,  which  has  made  us  an
outstanding performer. The expanded services and products available through this
affiliation  will enable us to increase the  expansion  of our customer  base in
many respects. The increased level of total resources of the merged companies


<PAGE>


will enable the Elverson  franchise to better  service small and large  business
customers,  as well as individual  consumers,  by immediately  adding electronic
banking  services,  trust services and commercial cash management  products.  We
have  gained an  excellent  reputation  for our  willingness  to serve the local
community with  competitive  products while enhancing the quality of life in the
markets we service," stated Moyer.

     National  Penn  Bancshares  currently  operates 52 offices in  southeastern
Pennsylvania  through its  subsidiary  National  Penn Bank,  and its  divisional
banks, 1st Main Line Bank, Chestnut Hill National Bank, and National Asian Bank.
Investors Trust Company, a subsidiary of National Penn Bancshares, provides full
service  fiduciary  services.  National Penn  Bancshares  expects to open a full
service  broker/dealer  firm, Penn  Securities,  Inc., a new subsidiary,  and to
begin offering insurance products through Link Financial Services,  Inc., also a
new subsidiary, in the near future.

     National Penn Bancshares  common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market
under the symbol "NPBC."



                                     - 30 -

                         NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.

                                                   July 21, 1998

Dear Shareholder:

     We are pleased to  announce we have  executed a  definitive  agreement  for
National Penn Bancshares to acquire Elverson  National Bank.  Elverson is a $300
million bank headquartered in Elverson,  Pennsylvania, and operates nine offices
in Chester, Berks, and Lancaster Counties.

     The terms of the Agreement  call for the tax-free  exchange of 1.175 shares
of National Penn common stock for each share of Elverson common stock.  Based on
the $33.625 per share  closing  price of National  Penn common stock on July 17,
1998,  the value per share of  Elverson  National  Bank is  $39.51.  This  price
equates to 30.10 times Elverson's estimated trailing twelve months earnings, and
a multiple of 3.77 times Elverson's tangible book value as of June 30, 1998.

     The exchange  ratio is subject to  adjustment if the price of National Penn
Bancshares common stock declines to less than $30.38 as calculated by the 20 day
average of its stock price  during a period  ending 31 days prior to  Elverson's
shareholder  meeting to approve the transaction.  In that event, the ratio would
adjust to a ratio of 1.2 shares for each Elverson share. Should a decline exceed
20%,  Elverson would have the right to terminate the transaction if that decline
also was 5% more  than the  decline  in an index of stock  prices  of a group of
comparable  regional bank holding  companies  over the same time period,  unless
National Penn  Bancshares  chooses to increase the exchange ratio to 1.25 shares
for each Elverson  share. A decline in National  Penn's stock price in excess of
25% would permit Elverson to terminate the transaction.

     As of June 30, 1998,  Elverson had 2,597,995 million shares of Common Stock
outstanding and options for approximately 44,424 additional shares.

     As we previously  announced,  a 5-for-4  split of National Penn  Bancshares
common  stock is  currently  pending and will be  completed on July 31. Upon its
completion,  the  Agreement  provides for  proportionate  adjustment  of all the
exchange  ratio  provisions  so as to  preserve  the same  economic  terms as at
present.

     Upon  completion  of the  merger,  Elverson  will  operate as a division of
National  Penn Bank.  Elverson's  present  directors  will be  appointed  to the
divisional  board of  directors.  Two  members  of the  Elverson  Board  will be
mutually  selected to become  directors of National Penn Bancshares and National
Penn Bank.  Elverson's  president and CEO, Glenn E. Moyer, will become president
of the


<PAGE>


Page 2                                                             July 21, 1998



Elverson National Bank Division and President of the Berks County and Montgomery
County  regions  of  National  Penn  Bank.  He will  also be an  Executive  Vice
President of National Penn Bank with additional corporate responsibilities.

     National  Penn  Bancshares  will have  assets of $2 billion  following  the
acquisition  which is subject to  regulatory  approval,  as well as  approval of
shareholders  of  Elverson  and  National  Penn.   Elverson's   directors,   who
beneficially own approximately 21% of the outstanding  shares of Elverson common
stock, have agreed to vote their shares for approval;  likewise, National Penn's
directors,  who beneficially own approximately 10% of the outstanding  shares of
National Penn's common stock, have agreed to vote their shares for approval.  We
anticipate  the  transaction  will close in either the fourth quarter of 1998 or
the first quarter of 1999. The transaction will be accounted for as a pooling of
interests  and is expected to be  accretive  to  National  Penn  earnings in the
second year.  As with any earnings  estimate  there are factors that could cause
the actual  results  to differ  materially,  such as the  factors  discussed  in
National Penn's 8-K filing with the SEC.

     Effective immediately,  we have rescinded our existing authorization to buy
back National Penn stock which authorized the repurchase of up to 530,000 shares
(or 662,500  shares when  adjusted for the stock split).  During 1998,  National
Penn  repurchased  approximately  233,267  shares  under the  authorization  (or
approximately 291,584 on a post-split basis).

     The  addition  of  Elverson  is highly  complementary  to  National  Penn's
existing  franchise  and will provide an excellent  opportunity  to increase our
market share in Chester  County,  southern  Berks  County and eastern  Lancaster
County.  Elverson's  longevity in Chester County and  deep-seated  commitment to
customer's needs is a natural fit with National Penn Bank's philosophy. National
Penn's existing Chester County retail delivery system (excluding  Phoenixville),
as well as its commercial lending office,  will be combined with and marketed as
Elverson  National  Bank, a division of National Penn Bank. We have been serving
the Chester County market for over 10 years with a full-service  loan office and
several branch  offices.  Chester County  continues to be a  fast-growing,  very
appealing region and this acquisition will enable us to aggressively  expand our
market presence.

     According to Elverson's  President,  Glenn E. Moyer,  "the affiliation with
National  Penn  offers  us  an  expanded  opportunity  to  enhance  our  product
offerings,  services,  and  delivery  channels to both  current and  prospective
customers. Positioning Elverson as a division of National Penn Bank will provide
our customers with the continued  benefit of a community bank philosophy,  which
has made us an outstanding performer. The expanded services and products


<PAGE>


Page 3                                                             July 21, 1998


available  through this  affiliation will enable us to increase the expansion of
our customer base in many respects.  The increased  level of total  resources of
the merged companies will enable the Elverson  franchise to better service small
and  large  business  customers,  as  well as  individual  consumers  by  adding
electronic  banking  services,  trust  services and commercial  cash  management
products.  We have gained an excellent  reputation for our  willingness to serve
the local community with  competitive  products while  contributing to enhancing
the quality of life in the markets we service."

     We view this  affiliation  as an  excellent  strategic  fit for your  bank.
Although the price we are paying is high, the resulting  combination should bode
well for our successful and profitable growth in Chester County.

     You will be asked to vote on this  acquisition  later this  year.  Prior to
such vote,  you will  receive a proxy  statement  outlining in detail the entire
transaction.  At that time, we would ask that you give this proposal your utmost
attention.



/s/ Lawrence T. Jilk, Jr.                             /s/ Wayne R. Weidner
LAWRENCE T. JILK, Jr.                                 WAYNE R. WEIDNER
Chairman                                              President



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