NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES INC
8-K, EX-2.2, 2000-07-28
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                    AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 23, 2000 ("Agreement"), is
made by and between NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation ("NPB"), and COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT BANK, INC., a
Pennsylvania corporation ("CIB").


                                   BACKGROUND

         1. NPB and CIB  desire  for CIB to merge  with and into  NPB,  with NPB
surviving  such  merger,   in  accordance   with  the  applicable  laws  of  the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and this Agreement.

         2. As a condition and  inducement to NPB to enter into this  Agreement,
(a) the directors and certain officers of CIB are concurrently  executing Letter
Agreements  with NPB in the form  attached  hereto as  Exhibit 1, and (b) CIB is
concurrently  granting  to NPB an option to acquire up to 19.9% of CIB's  common
stock  (the  "NPB  Option")  pursuant  to a  Stock  Option  Agreement  which  is
concurrently  being executed between CIB and NPB, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.

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



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         Agreement  means this agreement,  which  constitutes a "plan of merger"
between NPB and CIB, including any amendment or supplement hereto.

         Application  means an  application  for  regulatory  approval  which is
required by the transactions contemplated hereby.

         Articles  of Merger  mean the  articles of merger to be executed by NPB
and CIB and to be filed in the PDS, in accordance  with the  applicable  laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         Bank Merger means the merger of BBank with and into NPBank, with NPBank
surviving such merger, contemplated by Section 1.03 of this Agreement.

         Bank Plan of Merger has the meaning  given to that term in Section 1.03
of this Agreement.

         BBank means Bernville Bank, N.A., a national banking  association,  all
the outstanding capital stock of which is owned by CIB.

         BCL  means  the  Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation  Law of  1988,  as
amended.

         BHC Act means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

         CIB means Community Independent Bank, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.

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

         CIB  Certificate  has  the  meaning  given  to  such  term  in  Section
1.02(g)(i) of this Agreement.

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

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

         CIB Financials means (i) the audited consolidated  financial statements
of CIB as of  December  31, 1999 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the
period ended  December 31, 1999,  and (ii) the  unaudited  interim  consolidated
financial  statements of CIB for each calendar  quarter after December 31, 1999,
including the quarter ended March 31, 2000.


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         CIB Nominee has the meaning given to that term in Section 1.02(d)(i) of
this Agreement.

         CIB  NPBank  Nominee  has the  meaning  given to that  term in  Section
4.07(c)(iii) of this Agreement.

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

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

         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.

         Confidentiality  Agreement  means the  confidentiality  agreement dated
July 13, 2000, between NPB and CIB.

         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
CIB Shareholders Meeting.

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

         Division has the meaning  given to that term in Section  4.07(c)(iv)(A)
of this Agreement.

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

         Effective  Date means the date upon which the  Articles of Merger shall
be filed in the PDS and shall be the same as the Closing 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

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<PAGE>



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(g)(v)
of this Agreement.

         Exchange   Ratio  means  the  exchange   ratio  set  forth  in  Section
1.02(e)(ii)(A), as it may be adjusted pursuant to Section 1.02(h).

         FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

         FRB means the Federal Reserve Board.

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

         IRS means the Internal Revenue Service.

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

         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 CIB on a consolidated
basis (when such term is used in Article 2 hereof or  otherwise  with respect to
CIB) or NPB on a consolidated  basis (when such term is used in Article 3 hereof
or  otherwise  with  respect  to NPB) other  than,  in each  case,  any  change,
circumstance  or effect  relating  to (i) the  economy or  financial  markets in
general,  (ii) the banking industry and not specifically  related to CIB or NPB,
or (iii) any action or omission of a party taken with the prior written  consent
of the  other  party to this  Agreement,  or (b) the  ability  of such  party to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         Merger means the merger of CIB with and into NPB,  contemplated by this
Agreement.

         Merger  Consideration  has the  meaning  given to such term in  Section
1.02(g)(i) of this Agreement.

         NASD means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

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<PAGE>




         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  Certificate  has  the  meaning  given  to  such  term  in  Section
1.02(g)(ii) of this Agreement.

         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 CIB 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, 1999 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the
period ended  December 31, 1999,  and (ii) the  unaudited  interim  consolidated
financial  statements of NPB for each calendar  quarter after December 31, 1999,
including the quarter ending March 31, 2000.

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

         NPB Option means the option granted to NPB to acquire certain shares of
CIB Common Stock referred to in the Background of this Agreement.

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

         OCC means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

         PDB  means  the   Department   of  Banking  of  the   Commonwealth   of
Pennsylvania.

         PDS means the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         Prospectus/Proxy   Statement  means  the  prospectus/proxy   statement,
together with any supplements thereto, to be sent to holders of CIB 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.

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<PAGE>




         Regulatory  Agreement  has the  meaning  given to that term in Sections
2.11(d) and 3.10(d) 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 FRB, the FDIC, the PDB, the OCC, the NASD, and
the respective staffs 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, as
amended August 21, 1999, 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.

         Securities  Documents  means all  registration  statements,  schedules,
statements,  forms, reports,  proxy material, and other documents required to be
filed under the Securities Laws.

         Securities  Laws means the  Securities Act and the Exchange Act 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.

         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 BCL, on the Effective Date:

                  (i)      CIB shall merge with and into NPB;


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<PAGE>



                  (ii)     the separate existence of CIB shall cease;

                  (iii)    NPB shall be the surviving corporation in the
Merger; and

                  (iv) all of the property (real,  personal and mixed),  rights,
powers, duties,  obligations and liabilities of CIB shall be taken and deemed to
be transferred to and vested in NPB, as the surviving corporation in the Merger,
without further act or deed;

all in accordance with the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.

         (c)  NPB's  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws.  On and after the
Effective  Date, the articles of  incorporation  and bylaws of NPB, as in effect
immediately  prior to the Effective Date, shall  automatically be and remain the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of NPB, as the surviving corporation in the
Merger, until thereafter altered, amended or repealed.

         (d) NPB's Board of Directors and Officers.

                  (i) On and after the Effective  Date, (A) the directors of NPB
duly elected and holding office immediately prior to the Effective Date, and (B)
one person (the "CIB Nominee") selected by CIB's Board of Directors  (consistent
with the 60 years age limitation  contained in NPB's Bylaws) and approved by NPB
(which  approval will not be  unreasonably  withheld)  shall be the directors of
NPB, as the surviving  corporation in the Merger,  each to hold office until his
successor is elected and  qualified or otherwise in accordance  with  applicable
law, the articles of  incorporation  and bylaws of NPB. NPB shall  designate the
CIB Nominee as a Class III director with a term of office through April 2002 and
NPB agrees to re-nominate  the CIB Nominee for at least one full three-year term
thereafter.

                  (ii) If the CIB Nominee, or any successor, resigns, dies or is
otherwise  removed from NPB's Board of  Directors  prior to the end of the Class
III term  ending  April  2005,  the former  CIB  directors  then  serving on the
Division Board, by a plurality vote, shall have the right to select  (consistent
with the 60 years age  limitation  contained in NPB's  Bylaws) the  successor to
such CIB Nominee,  or any  successor,  subject to approval of such person by NPB
(which  approval  will not be  unreasonably  withheld),  and NPB shall  take all
reasonable steps to elect such successor to the NPB Board of Directors.

                  (iii) On and after the  Effective  Date,  the  officers of NPB
duly elected and holding office immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be
the officers of NPB, as the surviving  corporation  in the Merger,  each to hold
office until his or her

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<PAGE>



successor is elected and  qualified or otherwise in accordance  with  applicable
law, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of NPB.

         (e)      Conversion of Shares.

                  (i)      NPB Common Stock.

                           (A)  Outstanding  Shares.  Each  share of NPB  Common
Stock issued and outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Date shall, on
and after the  Effective  Date,  continue  to be issued  and  outstanding  as an
identical share of NPB Common Stock.

                           (B)  Treasury  Stock.  Each share of NPB Common Stock
issued and held in the treasury of NPB immediately  prior to the Effective Date,
if any, shall,  on and after the Effective Date,  continue to be issued and held
in the treasury of NPB.

                  (ii)     CIB Common Stock.

                           (A)  Conversion.  Subject to Sections  1.02(e)(ii)(B)
and 1.02(e)(ii)(C)  hereof with respect to treasury stock and fractional shares,
each share of CIB 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
Section 1.02(h) hereof,  nine-tenths (9/10) share of NPB Common Stock, including
the associated rights to purchase securities pursuant to the Rights Agreement.

                           (B)  Treasury  Stock.  Each share of CIB Common Stock
issued and held in the treasury of CIB immediately  prior to the Effective Date,
if any, shall be cancelled on the Effective  Date,  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 CIB 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 (e)(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 ("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

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Determination  Period  shall not begin  prior to the ten days  after the date of
this Agreement.

         (f)      Stock Options.

                  (i) On the  Effective  Date,  each option (a "CIB  Option") to
purchase one or more shares of CIB Common Stock issued by CIB 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 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
CIB Option 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.

                  (ii) As soon as  practicable  after the  Effective  Date,  NPB
shall deliver to the holders of CIB Options  appropriate  notices  setting forth
such holders' rights pursuant to the CIB Stock Option Plans,  and the agreements
evidencing  the grants of such CIB Options shall  continue in effect on the same
terms and  conditions  (subject  to the  adjustments  required  by this  Section
1.02(f)  after giving effect to the Merger and the terms of the CIB Stock Option
Plans).  NPB shall comply with the terms of the CIB Stock Option Plans and shall
take such  reasonable  steps as are necessary or required by, and subject to the
provisions  of, such CIB Stock Option  Plans,  to have the CIB 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 CIB 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 CIB

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Stock Option Plans in a manner  consistent with the exemptions  provided by Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

         (g)      Surrender and Exchange of CIB Stock Certificates.

                  (i) Each holder of shares of CIB Common  Stock who  surrenders
to NPB the  certificate or certificates  representing  such shares (each, a "CIB
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 CIB Common Stock
have been converted by the Merger, together with a check for cash in lieu of any
fractional share in accordance with Section  1.02(e)(ii)(C)  hereof (the "Merger
Consideration").

                  (ii) Each certificate for shares of NPB Common Stock (each, an
"NPB Certificate")  issued in exchange for CIB Certificates  pursuant to Section
1.02(g)(i) hereof 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 CIB Certificate  shall, from and after
the  Effective  Date,  evidence  solely  the right to receive  NPB  Certificates
pursuant  to  Section  1.02(g)(i)  hereof  and a check  for  cash in lieu of any
fractional  share in accordance  with Section  1.02(e)(ii)(C)  hereof.  If a CIB
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
Section  1.02(g)(ii)  upon surrender of CIB  Certificates.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, no party hereto shall be liable to any holder of CIB 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 CIB
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 CIB  Certificate  delivered for exchange under this
Section  1.02(g) 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 CIB
Common  Stock will be closed and no further  transfers  of CIB Common Stock will
thereafter be made or recognized.  All CIB Certificates  surrendered pursuant to
this Section 1.02(g) will be cancelled.


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                  (v) As soon as  reasonably  practicable  after  the  Effective
Date, NPB shall cause NPBank or another institutional entity selected by NPB, as
exchange  agent  (the  "Exchange  Agent"),  to  mail  to  each  holder  of a CIB
Certificate:

                           (A) a letter of transmittal  which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected,  and risk of loss and title to the CIB  Certificates
shall pass,  only upon delivery of the CIB  Certificates  to the Exchange Agent,
and which letter shall be in customary  form and have such other  provisions  as
NPB reasonably may specify; and

                           (B)  instructions for effecting the surrender of such
CIB Certificates in exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration.

Upon  surrender of a CIB  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 CIB  Certificate  shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor:

                           (X)  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(e) (after taking into account all
shares of CIB Common Stock then held by such holder); and

                           (Y) 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(g)(ii).

In the  event of a  transfer  of  ownership  of CIB  Common  Stock  which is not
registered  in the  transfer  records  of  CIB,  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(g)(ii), may be issued with respect to such CIB Common Stock to such
a transferee if the CIB Certificate representing such shares of CIB 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.

         (h)      Anti-Dilution Provisions.  If NPB shall, at any time
before the Effective Date:

                  (i)      issue a dividend in shares of NPB Common Stock;

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                  (ii)     combine the outstanding shares of NPB Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares;

                  (iii) split or subdivide the outstanding shares of NPB
Common Stock; or

                  (iv)     reclassify the shares of NPB Common Stock;

then,  in any such  event,  the  number  of  shares  of NPB  Common  Stock to be
delivered to CIB  shareholders  who are entitled to receive shares of NPB Common
Stock in exchange  for shares of CIB Common Stock shall be adjusted so that each
CIB 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 Section
1.02(e)(ii)(A) hereof shall be adjusted upward by 7%.)

         1.03 Bank  Merger.  NPB and CIB shall  each use their  best  efforts to
cause BBank to merge with and into  NPBank,  with NPBank  surviving  such merger
(the  "Bank  Merger")  as  soon  as  practicable   after  the  Effective   Date.
Concurrently  with the  execution of this  Agreement,  NPB shall cause NPBank to
execute,  and CIB shall cause BBank to execute, the Bank Plan of Merger attached
hereto as Exhibit 3 (the "Bank Plan of  Merger").  The Bank Merger  shall not be
effected prior to the Effective Date.


                                   ARTICLE II

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CIB

         CIB hereby represents and warrants to NPB as follows:

         2.01  Organization.

         (a) CIB is a corporation  duly  incorporated,  validly  existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  CIB is a bank
holding company duly  registered  under the BHC Act. CIB has the corporate power
and authority 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.  CIB 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  would not have a Material
Adverse Effect,  and all such licenses,  registrations and qualifications are in
full force and effect in all material respects.

                                       12

<PAGE>




         (b) BBank is a national  banking  association  duly organized,  validly
existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the United  States of America.
BBank  has the  corporate  power  and  authority  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. BBank 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
would not have a Material Adverse Effect,  and all such licenses,  registrations
and qualifications are in full force and effect in all material respects.

         (c) BBank is a  commercial  bank,  the deposits of which are insured by
the  Bank  Insurance  Fund of the FDIC to the  extent  provided  in the  Federal
Deposit Insurance Act.

         (d) CIB has no  Subsidiaries  other than BBank and those  identified in
CIB Disclosure Schedule 2.01(d).

         (e)  The  respective  minute  books  of CIB  and  each  CIB  Subsidiary
accurately record, in all material  respects,  all material corporate actions of
their respective shareholders and boards of directors,  including committees, in
each  case  in  accordance  with  normal  business  practice  of CIB and the CIB
Subsidiary.

         (f) CIB has delivered to NPB true and correct copies of the articles of
incorporation  and bylaws of CIB,  the  articles  of  association  and bylaws of
BBank,  and  the  articles  of  incorporation  and  bylaws  of  each  other  CIB
Subsidiary, each as in effect on the date hereof.

         2.02  Capitalization.

         (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of CIB  consists  of (i)  5,000,000
shares of common stock, par value $5 per share ("CIB Common Stock"), of which at
the date hereof 700,327 shares are validly  issued and  outstanding,  fully paid
and nonassessable,  and free of preemptive rights, and none are held as treasury
shares, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $5 per share, of
which at the date  hereof  none are  issued.  Except for the NPB Option and this
Agreement,  CIB has not  issued  nor is CIB 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 CIB Common Stock or any other security of CIB or
any securities representing the right to vote, purchase or otherwise receive any
shares of CIB  Common  Stock or any other  security  of CIB,  except (i) for CIB
Options for 22,600 shares of

                                       13

<PAGE>



CIB Common Stock issued and  outstanding  under the CIB Stock Option  Plans,  or
(ii) pursuant to CIB's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

         (b) CIB owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of BBank
and the other CIB Subsidiaries, free and clear of any liens, security interests,
pledges,  charges,  encumbrances,  agreements  and  restrictions  of any kind or
nature. Except for the Bank Plan of Merger, there are no subscriptions, options,
warrants,  calls,  commitments,  agreements  or other  Rights  outstanding  with
respect to the capital  stock of BBank or any other CIB  Subsidiary.  Except for
the CIB Subsidiaries, CIB does not possess, directly or indirectly, any material
equity  interest  in any  corporation,  except for equity  interests  in BBank's
investment  portfolio,  equity interests held by BBank in a fiduciary  capacity,
and equity interests held in connection with BBank's commercial loan activities.

         (c) To the  Knowledge  of CIB,  except as set  forth on CIB  Disclosure
Schedule  2.02(c),  no person or group is the beneficial  owner of 5% or more of
the  outstanding  shares of CIB Common  Stock (the terms  "person",  "group" and
"beneficial  owner" are as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the
rules and regulations thereunder).

         2.03  Authority; No Violation.

         (a) CIB 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 CIB and the  consummation  by CIB of
the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly approved by the
Board of Directors of CIB and, except for approval by the shareholders of CIB as
required  by the BCL,  no  other  corporate  proceedings  on the part of CIB are
necessary to  consummate  the Merger.  This  Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by CIB and,  subject to approval by the  shareholders  of
CIB and subject to the required approvals of Regulatory Authorities described in
Section  3.04  hereof,  constitutes  the valid and  binding  obligation  of CIB,
enforceable  against CIB 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 CIB,  (ii)
subject to receipt of approvals  from the CIB  shareholders  and the  Regulatory
Authorities  referred to in Section  3.04 hereof and CIB's and NPB's  compliance
with any conditions contained therein, the consummation of the Merger, and (iii)
compliance  by CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  with any of the  terms or  provisions
hereof, do not and will not:


                                       14

<PAGE>



                           (A)  conflict  with  or  result  in a  breach  of any
provision of the respective  articles of  incorporation or association or bylaws
of CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;

                           (B) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  judgment,
order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to CIB or any CIB Subsidiary or any
of their respective 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 CIB or any
CIB Subsidiary under any of the terms or conditions of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture,  license,  lease,  agreement,   commitment  or  other  instrument  or
obligation to which CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  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) 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 CIB or the Bank  Plan of  Merger  by BBank  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 CIB as required under the BCL, the consummation by CIB of
the transactions contemplated hereby or by BBank of the Bank Merger.

         2.05  Financial Statements.

         (a)  CIB  has  delivered  to  NPB  the  CIB  Financials,  except  those
pertaining to quarterly  periods  commencing after March 31, 2000, which it will
deliver  to NPB  within 45 days  after the end of the  respective  quarter.  The
delivered  CIB  Financials  fairly  present,  in  all  material  respects,   the
consolidated financial position,  results of operations and cash flows of CIB as
of and for the periods ended on the dates thereof,  in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, 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 CIB, CIB did not have any liabilities
or obligations of any nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent

                                       15

<PAGE>



or otherwise,  which are not fully reflected or reserved  against in the balance
sheets  included in the CIB  Financials at the date of such balance sheets which
would have been required to be reflected  therein in accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles 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. Neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary has
suffered any adverse  change in their  respective  assets,  business,  financial
condition or results of operations  since December 31, 1999 which change has had
a Material Adverse Effect, it being understood that (a) the expenses incurred by
CIB in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and the  Merger,  including,  without
limitation, the engagement of legal and financial advisors, and (b) any increase
in non-performing  assets or potential problem loans (as those terms are defined
in SEC guidelines)  through the date of this  Agreement,  shall not constitute a
Material Adverse Effect.

         2.07  Taxes.

         (a) CIB and the CIB  Subsidiaries  are  members of the same  affiliated
group within the meaning of IRC Section  1504(a).  CIB has filed, and will file,
in correct  form all federal,  state and local tax returns  required to be filed
by, or with respect to, CIB and the CIB  Subsidiaries 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 CIB or any CIB Subsidiary 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) No consent  pursuant to IRC Section 341(f) has been filed,  or will
be  filed  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  by or with  respect  to CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary.

         (c) To the Knowledge of CIB, there are no material disputes pending, or
claims  asserted  in  writing,  for  taxes  or  assessments  upon CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary,  nor has CIB or any CIB Subsidiary 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.


                                       16

<PAGE>



         (d) Proper and accurate  amounts have been withheld by CIB and each CIB
Subsidiary  from their  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 CIB  Disclosure  Schedule  2.08(a) or 2.12,
neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary is 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;

                  (iv)     any agreement which by its terms limits the payment
of dividends by CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;

                  (v) 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 CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary  is an  obligor  to  any  person,  other  than  deposits,  repurchase
agreements, bankers acceptances and "treasury tax and loan" accounts established
in the ordinary course of business, instruments relating to transactions entered
into in the customary  course of the banking business of BBank, and transactions
in "federal funds", 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;

                  (vi) any contract, other than this Agreement,  which restricts
or  prohibits  it from  engaging  in any  type  of  business  permissible  under
applicable law;

                  (vii) any contract,  plan or  arrangement  which  provides for
payments  or  benefits  in  certain  circumstances  which,  together  with other
payments or benefits payable to any participant therein or party thereto,  might
render any portion of any such payments or

                                       17

<PAGE>



benefits  subject  to  disallowance  of  deduction  therefor  as a result of the
application of Section 280G of the IRC; or

                  (viii) except in the ordinary course of business, any
lease for real property.

         (b) (i) All the contracts,  plans,  arrangements and instruments listed
in CIB Disclosure  Schedule  2.08(a) or 2.12 are in full force and effect on the
date hereof,  and neither CIB, any CIB Subsidiary  nor, to the Knowledge of CIB,
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.

                  (ii) Except as otherwise  described in CIB Disclosure Schedule
2.08(a) or 2.12, no plan, employment agreement, termination agreement or similar
agreement or  arrangement  to which CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  is a party or by
which CIB or any CIB Subsidiary may be bound:

                           (A) contains  provisions  which permit an employee or
an  independent  contractor to terminate it without cause and continue to accrue
future benefits thereunder;

                           (B)  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 CIB or any CIB Subsidiary; or

                           (C) requires CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  to provide a
benefit in the form of CIB Common Stock or  determined by reference to the value
of CIB Common Stock.

         2.09  Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.

         (a) CIB and each CIB  Subsidiary  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 CIB or such CIB  Subsidiary,
whether real or personal, tangible or intangible,  including securities,  assets
and properties  reflected in the balance sheets  contained in the CIB 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),

                                       18

<PAGE>



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 CIB Disclosure Schedule 2.09(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) pledges to secure  deposits  and other liens  incurred in
the ordinary course of banking business;

                  (v) such  imperfections of title,  easements and encumbrances,
if any, as are not material in character, amount or extent; and

                  (vi) dispositions and encumbrances for adequate  consideration
in the ordinary course of business.

CIB and each CIB Subsidiary  have the right under leases of material  properties
used by CIB or such CIB Subsidiary in the conduct of their respective businesses
to occupy and use all such  properties  in all  material  respects as  presently
occupied and used by them.

         (b) With  respect to all  agreements  pursuant  to which CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary has purchased  securities  subject to an agreement to resell, if any,
CIB or such  CIB  Subsidiary  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)  CIB  and  each  CIB  Subsidiary   maintain  insurance  in  amounts
considered by CIB to be reasonable  for their  respective  operations,  and such
insurance  is similar in scope and  coverage  in all  material  respects to that
maintained  by other  businesses  similarly  situated.  Neither  CIB nor any CIB
Subsidiary has 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.

                                       19

<PAGE>




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

         2.10 Legal  Proceedings.  Neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary is a party
to any, and there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of CIB, threatened, legal,
administrative,  arbitration or other  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  customer
complaints, or governmental investigations or inquiries of any nature:

         (a) against CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;

         (b) to which the assets of CIB or any CIB Subsidiary are subject;

         (c)  challenging  the validity or propriety of any of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; or

         (d) which could  materially  adversely affect the ability of CIB, BBank
or any other CIB Subsidiary to perform their respective  obligations  under this
Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger;

except  for any  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  investigations,  or  inquiries
referred to in clauses (a) or (b) which, individually or in the aggregate, would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         2.11  Compliance with Applicable Law.

         (a) CIB and each CIB Subsidiary 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  result in a limitation  in any material  respect on the conduct of
its businesses nor otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) CIB and each CIB Subsidiary  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, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                       20

<PAGE>



         (c) No Regulatory  Authority has  initiated any  proceeding  or, to the
Knowledge of CIB,  investigation  into the business or  operations of CIB or any
CIB Subsidiary,  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 CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary has received any notification or
communication from any Regulatory Authority:

                  (i)  asserting  that  CIB  or  any  CIB  Subsidiary  is not in
substantial compliance 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 CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;

                  (iii)  requiring  or  threatening  to  require  CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary,  or indicating  that CIB or any CIB 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 CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary,  including  without
limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends; or

                  (iv)  directing,  restricting  or limiting,  or  purporting to
direct,  restrict  or limit,  in any  manner  the  operations  of CIB or any CIB
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 heretofore disclosed to NPB.

         (e) Neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary  has received,  consented to, or
entered into any Regulatory Agreement, except as heretofore disclosed to NPB.

         (f)  To  the  Knowledge  of  CIB,  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 CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (g) There is no injunction,  order, judgment or decree imposed upon CIB
or any CIB Subsidiary or the assets of CIB or any CIB Subsidiary  which has had,
or, to the Knowledge of CIB, would have, a Material Adverse Effect.



                                       21

<PAGE>



         2.12  ERISA.

         (a) CIB 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 CIB Disclosure Schedule 2.12,  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 CIB
or any CIB Subsidiary (collectively, the "CIB Benefit Plans"), together with:

                  (i) the most recent  actuarial (if any) and financial  reports
relating to those CIB Benefit Plans which constitute "qualified plans" under IRC
Section 401(a);

                  (ii) the most recent  Form 5500 (if any)  relating to such CIB
Benefit Plans filed by them, respectively, with the IRS; and

                  (iii) the most recent IRS  determination  letter which pertain
to any such CIB Benefit Plans.

         (b) Neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary, and no pension plan (within the
meaning of ERISA Section  3(2))  maintained  by CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary,  has
incurred any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or to the IRS
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.

         (c) Neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary has incurred any liability under
ERISA Section 4201 for a complete or partial  withdrawal  from a  multi-employer
plan.

         (d)  Each  CIB  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.

         (e) As of the date hereof,  there is no existing,  or, to the Knowledge
of CIB, contemplated, audit of its employee benefit plans by the IRS or the U.S.
Department of Labor.

                                       22

<PAGE>




         (f) With respect to any services  which CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  may
provide as a sponsor, fiduciary,  trustee or otherwise for any plan, program, or
assignment  subject to ERISA (other than any CIB Benefit Plan), CIB and each CIB
Subsidiary:

                  (i) have  correctly  computed all  contributions,  payments or
other amounts for which it is responsible;

                  (ii)  have not  engaged  in any  prohibited  transactions  (as
defined in ERISA Section 406 for which an exemption does not exist); and

                  (iii) have 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 CIB, any CIB Subsidiary,  nor any of
their respective  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
Janney  Montgomery  Scott,  Inc.  ("JMS"),  whose engagement  letter with CIB is
included in CIB Disclosure Schedule 2.13.

         2.14  Environmental Matters.

         (a)  Except  as set  forth  on CIB  Disclosure  Schedule  2.14,  to the
Knowledge of CIB, neither CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary,  nor any property owned or
operated by CIB or any CIB 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 set forth on CIB 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 CIB, threatened, or any
investigation  pending,  relating to the liability of CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary
with  respect to any  property  owned or operated  by CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary
under any  Environmental  Law,  except as to any such  actions or other  matters
which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) Except as set forth on CIB  Disclosure  Schedule 2.14, no property,
now or formerly  owned or operated by CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary or on which CIB
or any CIB Subsidiary holds or held a mortgage or other security interest or has
foreclosed or taken a deed in lieu of  foreclosure,  has been listed or proposed
for listing on the National Priority List under the Comprehensive

                                       23

<PAGE>



Environmental  Response  Compensation  and  Liability  Act of 1980,  as  amended
("CERCLA"),  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 CIB or any CIB  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 CIB. Since December 31, 1999,  neither CIB nor any CIB
Subsidiary has, in any material respect:

         (a)  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);

         (b) eliminated employee benefits;

         (c) deferred routine maintenance of real property or leased premises;

         (d)  eliminated a reserve where the  liability  related to such reserve
has remained;

         (e)  failed  to  depreciate  capital  assets  in  accordance  with past
practice  or to  eliminate  capital  assets  which  are no  longer  used  in its
business; or

         (f) had  extraordinary  reduction  or deferral of ordinary or necessary
expenses.

         2.16 CRA Compliance.  CIB and BBank are in material compliance with the
applicable provisions of the CRA, and, as of the date hereof, BBank has received
a CRA rating of  "satisfactory" or better from the OCC. To the Knowledge of CIB,
there is no fact or  circumstance or set of facts or  circumstances  which would
cause CIB or BBank to fail to  comply  with such  provisions  in a manner  which
would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         2.17  Bank Merger.

         (a) BBank has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
the Bank Plan of Merger and to  consummate  the Bank Merger.  The  execution and
delivery  of the Bank Plan of Merger by BBank and the  consummation  by BBank of
the Bank Merger have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of
BBank  and by  CIB  as  sole  shareholder  of  BBank,  and  no  other  corporate
proceedings  on the part of BBank are necessary to  consummate  the Bank Merger.
The Bank Plan of Merger,  upon its execution and delivery by BBank  concurrently
with the execution and delivery of

                                       24

<PAGE>



this  Agreement,  will  constitute  the valid and binding  obligation  of BBank,
enforceable  against BBank 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) The  execution  and  delivery  of the Bank Plan of  Merger  and the
consummation of the Bank Merger will not:

                  (i)  conflict  with or result in a breach of any  provision of
the  respective  articles of  incorporation  or  association or bylaws of CIB or
BBank;

                  (ii) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  judgment,  order,
writ, decree or injunction applicable to CIB or BBank or any of their respective
properties or assets; or

                  (iii)  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 respective  properties or assets of
CIB or BBank under, any of the terms or conditions of any note, bond,  mortgage,
indenture,  license,  lease,  agreement,   commitment  or  other  instrument  or
obligation  to which CIB or BBank is a party,  or by which  they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected;

excluding  from clauses (ii) and (iii) any such items which,  in the  aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         2.18  Information to be Supplied.

         (a) The information  supplied by CIB 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 CIB,
and up to and including the date of the CIB  Shareholders  Meeting,  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.

         (b) The information  supplied by CIB for inclusion in the  Applications
will, at the time each such document is filed with any Regulatory  Authority and
up to and including the dates of any required regulatory  approvals or consents,
as such  Applications may be amended by subsequent  filings,  be accurate in all
material respects.

                                       25

<PAGE>




         2.19  Related Party Transactions.

         (a)  Except  as set forth on CIB  Disclosure  Schedule  2.19,  or as is
disclosed in the footnotes to the CIB Financials, as of the date hereof, neither
CIB nor any CIB Subsidiary is 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 CIB or any  CIB  Subsidiary,  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.

         (b) Except as set forth in CIB Disclosure Schedule 2.19, as of the date
hereof,  no loan or  credit  accommodation  to any  Affiliate  of CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary 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 the  Knowledge of CIB, 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.  All loans  reflected as assets in the CIB  Financials  are
evidenced by notes,  agreements  or other  evidences of  indebtedness  which are
true, genuine and correct, and to the extent secured, are secured by valid liens
and security  interests which have been  perfected,  excluding loans as to which
the failure to satisfy the foregoing standards would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.

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

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

         2.23 Year 2000 Compliance. All software,  hardware, embedded microchips
and other processing  capabilities utilized by and material to the operations of
CIB or any CIB Subsidiary are able to interpret,  process, manage and manipulate
data involving all calendar dates  correctly,  including single century formulas
and multi-century formulas, all leap years, and all dates on or after

                                       26

<PAGE>



January 1, 2000, including February 29, 2000. All computer systems of CIB or any
CIB Subsidiary function correctly for purposes of date and time calculations.

         2.24  Securities Documents.  CIB has delivered to NPB copies of:

         (a)  CIB's  annual  reports  on SEC Form  10-KSB  for the  years  ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998;

         (b) CIB's  quarterly  report on SEC Form 10-QSB for the  quarter  ended
March 31, 2000;

         (c) all other reports, registration statements and filings of CIB filed
with the SEC since January 1, 2000; and

         (d) CIB's  proxy  materials  used in  connection  with its  meetings of
shareholders held in 2000 and 1999.

Such reports and proxy materials  complied,  in all material  respects,  and all
future SEC reports,  filings,  and proxy materials will comply,  in all material
respects,  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 their  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.

         2.25  Quality  of   Representations.   To  the  Knowledge  of  CIB,  no
representation  made by CIB in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.


                                   ARTICLE III

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NPB

         NPB hereby represents and warrants to CIB 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 BHC Act. NPB has the corporate power
and authority 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

                                       27

<PAGE>



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  would not have a
Material Adverse Effect, and all such licenses, registrations and qualifications
are in full force and effect in all material respects.

         (b) NPBank is a national banking  association  duly organized,  validly
existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the United  States of America.
NPBank  has the  corporate  power and  authority  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. NPBank 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
would 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  each  NPB  Subsidiary
accurately record, in all material  respects,  all material corporate actions of
their respective shareholders and boards of directors,  including committees, in
each  case  in  accordance  with  normal  business  practice  of NPB and the NPB
Subsidiary.

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

         3.02  Capitalization.

         (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of NPB  consists of (i)  62,500,000
shares of common stock,  without par value ("NPB Common Stock"), of which at the
date hereof 17,661,609 shares are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
nonassessable,  and free of preemptive  rights, and 182,163 are held as treasury
shares,  and (ii) 1,000,000  shares of preferred  stock,  without par value,  of
which at the date hereof 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,

                                       28

<PAGE>



dividend  reinvestment  plan and  directors' fee plan, and (iii) pursuant to the
Rights Agreement.

         (b) NPB owns,  directly  or  indirectly,  all of the  capital  stock of
NPBank and the other NPB  Subsidiaries,  free and clear of any  liens,  security
interests,  pledges, charges,  encumbrances,  agreements and restrictions of any
kind  or  nature.  There  are  no  subscriptions,   options,   warrants,  calls,
commitments,  agreements or other Rights outstanding with respect to the capital
stock of NPBank or any other NPB  Subsidiary.  Except for the NPB  Subsidiaries,
NPB does not possess,  directly or indirectly,  any material  equity interest in
any  corporation,  except for equity  interests in the investment  portfolios of
NPB's  Subsidiaries,  equity interests held by NPB's Subsidiaries in a 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.  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 and no other corporate  proceedings on the part of NPB
are necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by NPB and, subject to 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.

         (b) (i) The  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by NPB,  (ii)
subject to receipt of approvals from the Regulatory  Authorities  referred to in
Section 3.04 hereof and NPB's and CIB's compliance with any conditions contained
therein,  the consummation of the Merger, and (iii) compliance by NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary 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 any NPB Subsidiary;

                           (B) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  judgment,
order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to NPB or any NPB Subsidiary or any
of their respective properties or assets; or


                                       29

<PAGE>



                           (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 NPB or any
NPB  Subsidiary  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 any NPB Subsidiary 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 FRB, the PDB, the NASD, the OCC, 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 and the Bank Plan of Merger by NPBank or the
consummation of the Merger.

         3.05  Financial Statements.

         (a)  NPB  has  delivered  to  CIB  the  NPB  Financials,  except  those
pertaining to quarterly  periods  commencing after March 31, 2000, which it will
deliver  to CIB  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, 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 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. Neither NPB nor any NPB Subsidiary has
suffered any adverse change in their respective

                                       30

<PAGE>

assets,  business,  financial  condition or results of operations since December
31, 1999 which change has had a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.07  Taxes.

         (a) NPB and the NPB  Subsidiaries  are  members of the same  affiliated
group within the meaning of IRC Section  1504(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 and the NPB  Subsidiaries 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 or any NPB Subsidiary 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 or any NPB
Subsidiary,  nor has NPB or any NPB Subsidiary 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 and each NPB
Subsidiary  from their  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 and each NPB  Subsidiary  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 or such NPB  Subsidiary,
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:


                                       31

<PAGE>



                  (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) pledges to secure  deposits  and other liens  incurred in
the ordinary course of banking business;

                  (v) such  imperfections of title,  easements and encumbrances,
if any, as are not material in character, amount or extent; and

                  (vi) dispositions and encumbrances for adequate
consideration in the ordinary course of business.

NPB and each NPB Subsidiary  have the right under leases of material  properties
used by NPB or such NPB Subsidiary in the conduct of their respective businesses
to occupy and use all such  properties  in all  material  respects as  presently
occupied and used by them.

         (b) With  respect to all  agreements  pursuant  to which NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary has purchased  securities  subject to an agreement to resell, if any,
NPB or such  NPB  Subsidiary  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  and  each  NPB  Subsidiary   maintain  insurance  in  amounts
considered by NPB to be reasonable  for their  respective  operations,  and such
insurance  is similar in scope and  coverage  in all  material  respects to that
maintained  by other  businesses  similarly  situated.  Neither  NPB nor any NPB
Subsidiary has 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.


                                       32

<PAGE>



         (d) NPB and each NPB Subsidiary maintain 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 the Knowledge of NPB, threatened, legal,
administrative,  arbitration or other  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  customer
complaints, or governmental investigations or inquiries of any nature:

         (a) against NPB or any NPB Subsidiary;

         (b) to which the assets of NPB or any NPB Subsidiary are subject;

         (c)  challenging  the validity or propriety of any of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; or

         (d) which could materially  adversely affect the ability of NPB, NPBank
or any other NPB Subsidiary to perform their respective  obligations  under this
Agreement and the Bank Plan of Merger;

except  for any  proceedings,  claims,  actions,  investigations,  or  inquiries
referred to in clauses (a) or (b) which, individually or in the aggregate, would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.10  Compliance with Applicable Law.

         (a) NPB and each NPB Subsidiary 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  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 each NPB Subsidiary  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, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                       33

<PAGE>



         (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  is not in
substantial compliance 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,  including  without
limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends; 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.

         (e) 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.

         (f)  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 or any NPB
Subsidiary would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (g) 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, would have, a Material Adverse Effect.



                                       34

<PAGE>

         3.11  ERISA.

         (a) NPB has  delivered to CIB 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
or any NPB Subsidiary (collectively, 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 IRS; and

                  (iii) the most recent IRS determination  letters which pertain
to any such NPB Benefit Plans.

         (b) Neither NPB nor any NPB Subsidiary, and no pension plan (within the
meaning of ERISA Section  3(2))  maintained  by NPB or any NPB  Subsidiary,  has
incurred any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or to the IRS
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.

         (c) Neither NPB nor any NPB Subsidiary has incurred any liability under
ERISA Section 4201 for a complete or partial  withdrawal  from a  multi-employer
plan.

         (d)  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.

         (e)      As of the date hereof, there is no existing, or,  to the
Knowledge of NPB, contemplated, audit of its employee benefit plans
by the IRS or the U.S. Department of Labor.

                                       35

<PAGE>




         (f) 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) have  correctly  computed all  contributions,  payments or
other amounts for which it is responsible;

                  (ii)  have not  engaged  in any  prohibited  transactions  (as
defined in ERISA Section 406 for which an exemption does not exist); and

                  (iii) have 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, any NPB Subsidiary,  nor any of
their respective  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.

         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 set forth on 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 would 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 or  foreclosure,  has been listed or proposed
for listing on the  National  Priority  List under  CERCLA on the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response Compensation and Liabilities  Information System, or any
similar state list, or which is the

                                       36

<PAGE>



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.

         3.14 Business of NPB. Since December 31, 1999,  neither NPB nor any NPB
Subsidiary has, in any material respect:

         (a)  increased  the  wages,  salaries,  compensation,  pension or other
employee benefits payable to any executive officer, employee or director;

         (b) eliminated employee benefits;

         (c) deferred routine maintenance of real property or leased premises;

         (d)  eliminated a reserve where the  liability  related to such reserve
has remained;

         (e)  failed  to  depreciate  capital  assets  in  accordance  with past
practice  or to  eliminate  capital  assets  which  are no  longer  used  in its
business; or

         (f) had  extraordinary  reduction  or deferral of ordinary or necessary
expenses.

         3.15 CRA Compliance. NPB and NPBank are in material compliance with the
applicable  provisions  of the CRA,  and,  as of the  date  hereof,  NPBank  has
received a CRA rating of "satisfactory" or better from the OCC. To the Knowledge
of NPB, there is no fact or circumstance or set of facts or circumstances  which
would cause  NPBank to fail to comply  with such  provisions  in a manner  which
would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.16  Bank Merger.

         (a) NPBank  has full  corporate  power and  authority  to  execute  and
deliver the Bank Plan of Merger and to consummate the Bank Merger. The execution
and delivery of the Bank Plan of Merger by NPBank and the consummation by NPBank
of the Bank Merger have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors
of NPBank  and by NPB as sole  shareholder  of  NPBank,  and no other  corporate
proceedings  on the part of NPBank are necessary to consummate  the Bank Merger.
The Bank Plan of Merger,  upon its execution and delivery by NPBank concurrently
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, will constitute the valid and
binding obligation of NPBank,  enforceable against NPBank in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws

                                       37

<PAGE>

affecting  creditors'  rights generally and subject,  as to  enforceability,  to
general principles of equity.

         (b) The  execution  and  delivery  of the Bank Plan of  Merger  and the
consummation of the Bank Merger will not:

                  (i)  conflict  with or result in a breach of any  provision of
the  respective  articles of  incorporation  or  association or bylaws of NPB or
NPBank;

                  (ii) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  judgment,  order,
writ,  decree  or  injunction  applicable  to NPB  or  NPBank  or  any of  their
respective properties or assets; or

                  (iii)  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 respective  properties or assets of
NPB or NPBank 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 NPBank is a party,  or by which they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected;

excluding  from clauses (ii) and (iii) any such items which,  in the  aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         3.17  Information to be Supplied.

         (a) 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 CIB,
and up to and including the date of the CIB  Shareholders  Meeting,  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.

         (b) The information  supplied by NPB for inclusion in the  Applications
will, at the time each such document is filed with any Regulatory  Authority and
up to and including the dates of any required regulatory  approvals or consents,
as such  Applications may be amended by subsequent  filings,  be accurate in all
material respects.



                                       38

<PAGE>



         3.18  Related Party Transactions.

         (a)  Except  as set  forth on NPB  Disclosure  Schedule  3.18 or in the
footnotes to the NPB Financials,  as of the date hereof, neither NPB nor any NPB
Subsidiary  is 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 or any NPB Subsidiary,  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.

         (b) 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 or any NPB
Subsidiary 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 the  Knowledge of NPB, 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.  All loans  reflected as assets in the NPB  Financials  are
evidenced by notes,  agreements  or other  evidences of  indebtedness  which are
true, genuine and correct, and to the extent secured, are secured by valid liens
and security  interests which have been  perfected,  excluding loans as to which
the failure to satisfy the foregoing standards would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         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 for
"pooling of interests"  accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles, or as a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the IRC.

         3.21 Year 2000 Compliance. All software,  hardware, embedded microchips
and other processing  capabilities utilized by and material to the operations of
NPB or any NPB Subsidiary are able to interpret,  process, manage and manipulate
data involving all calendar dates  correctly,  including single century formulas
and multi-century formulas, all leap years, and all dates on or after January 1,
2000,  including  February  29,  2000.  All  computer  systems of NPB or any NPB
Subsidiary function correctly for purposes of date and time calculations.


                                       39

<PAGE>



         3.22 NPB Common Stock.  The shares of NPB Common Stock to be issued and
delivered to CIB 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 preemptive  right with
respect thereto.

         3.23 Securities Documents. NPB has delivered to CIB copies of:

         (a) NPB's annual  reports on SEC Form 10-K for the years ended December
31, 1999 and 1998;

         (b) NPB's quarterly report on SEC Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2000;

         (c) all other reports, registration statements and filings of NPB filed
with the SEC since January 1, 2000; and

         (d) NPB's  proxy  materials  used in  connection  with its  meetings of
shareholders held in 2000 and 1999.

Such reports and proxy materials  complied,  in all material  respects,  and all
future SEC reports,  filings,  and proxy materials will comply,  in all material
respects,  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 their  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.

         3.24  Quality  of   Representations.   To  the  Knowledge  of  NPB,  no
representation  made by NPB in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                            COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

         4.01 Conduct of CIB's  Business.  Through the Closing Date,  CIB shall,
and shall cause each CIB  Subsidiary to, 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. CIB shall,  and shall cause each CIB Subsidiary to, 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 CIB  or  the  CIB  Subsidiaries  and  others  with  whom  business
relationships exist. Through the Closing

                                       40

<PAGE>



Date, except as otherwise consented to in writing by NPB (such consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld) or as permitted by this Agreement,  CIB shall not, and
CIB shall not permit any CIB Subsidiary to:

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

         (b) change the number of  authorized  or issued  shares of its  capital
stock;  repurchase  any  shares of  capital  stock;  issue or grant any  option,
warrant,  call,  commitment,  subscription,  Right or agreement of any character
relating to its authorized or issued capital stock or any securities convertible
into shares of capital  stock;  declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution  in respect of capital  stock;  or redeem or otherwise  acquire any
shares of capital  stock;  except that (i) CIB may issue up to an  aggregate  of
22,600  shares of CIB Common  Stock upon the valid  exercise  of any CIB Options
issued and  outstanding  on the date  hereof,  and (ii) CIB may pay its  regular
quarterly cash dividend of $.07 per share of CIB Common Stock;

         (c) grant any  severance or  termination  pay,  other than  pursuant to
policies  or  agreements  of CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  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 CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;

         (d) except for (i) routine periodic pay increases,  merit pay increases
and  pay-raises  in connection  with  promotions,  all in  accordance  with past
practice,  and (ii) retention  bonuses on account of the Merger to be granted in
good faith  reasonable  amounts not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate and to be
payable to  designated  persons not earlier  than 30 days after the  operational
merger of BBank and NPBank,  increase  the rate of  compensation  of, or pay any
bonus to, any director,  officer,  employee,  independent  contractor,  agent or
other person associated with CIB or any CIB Subsidiary;  or grant job promotions
other than in accordance with past practice;

         (e) merge or consolidate with any other corporation;  sell or lease all
or any substantial portion of its assets or businesses;  make any acquisition of
all or any  substantial  portion of the business or assets of any other  person,
firm, association,  corporation or business organization;  enter into a purchase
and  assumption  transaction  with  respect to deposits,  loans or  liabilities;
permit BBank to relocate or surrender its  certificate of authority to maintain,
or file an application  for the relocation  of, any existing  branch office;  or
permit BBank to file an application  for a certificate of authority to establish
a new branch office;

                                       41

<PAGE>




         (f) sell or otherwise dispose of any material asset,  other than in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice; subject any asset 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 it 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;

         (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 it 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;

         (k) amend or  otherwise  modify  its  underwriting  and  other  lending
guidelines  and  policies 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;

         (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;


                                       42

<PAGE>



         (p) make any capital  expenditure  of $50,000 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 of more
than $25,000, or extending beyond twelve (12) months from the date hereof;

         (q) take any action that 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;

         (r) terminate any in-house  back office,  support,  processing or other
operational  activities or services,  including without  limitation  accounting,
loan processing and deposit services;  or substitute any contract or arrangement
with any person or entity for the provision of such activities or services; or

         (s) agree to do any of the foregoing.

         4.02  Access; Confidentiality.

         (a)  Through  the  Closing  Date,  CIB and NPB shall each afford to the
other, including its authorized agents and representatives, reasonable access to
its and its Subsidiaries' businesses,  properties, assets, books and records and
personnel,  at reasonable hours and after reasonable notice; and the officers of
CIB and NPB shall  each  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  such  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) NPB and CIB each  agree  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 CIB 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 CIB 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

                                       43

<PAGE>

accordance with, the  confidentiality  agreement dated July 13, 2000 between NPB
and CIB (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

         4.03  Regulatory Matters.  Through the Closing Date:

         (a) NPB and CIB 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.  NPB and CIB shall each 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.

         (b) CIB 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) CIB and NPB shall each  cooperate  with the 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,  CIB 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  cause  to be  taken  by  each  of  its
Subsidiaries,  all  actions,  and to do,  or  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.  CIB 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:


                                       44

<PAGE>



         (a)  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
herein);

         (b) enter into or maintain or continue  discussions  or negotiate  with
any person in furtherance of an Acquisition Proposal; or

         (c) agree to or endorse any Acquisition Proposal.

CIB shall (unless it believes,  based upon written  advice of its counsel,  such
notification would violate the CIB 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) CIB may furnish or cause to be furnished  confidential and
non-public information  concerning CIB and its businesses,  properties or assets
to a third party;

                  (ii) CIB may  engage in  discussions  or  negotiations  with a
third party;

                  (iii) following  receipt of an Acquisition  Proposal,  CIB 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 CIB
Board of Directors may withdraw or modify its recommendation of the Merger;

but in respect of the  foregoing  clauses (i) through (iv) only if the CIB Board
of Directors shall conclude in good faith after  consultation with its legal and
financial advisors,  and based upon written advice of its counsel,  that failure
to do so would result in a breach by such directors of their fiduciary duties to
CIB's shareholders.

As used herein, the term "Acquisition Proposal" means the public announcement of
a bona fide proposal  (including a written  communication that is or becomes the
subject of public disclosure) for: (x) any merger,  consolidation or acquisition
of all or  substantially  all the assets or liabilities of CIB,  BBank,  any CIB
Subsidiary,  or any other business  combination  involving CIB, BBank or any CIB
Subsidiary;  or (y) a transaction involving the transfer of beneficial ownership
of securities  representing,  or the right to acquire beneficial ownership or to
vote securities representing,  10% or more of the then outstanding shares of CIB
Common Stock, the

                                       45

<PAGE>



then outstanding shares of common stock of BBank, or the then outstanding shares
of common stock of any CIB Subsidiary.

         4.06 Update of  Disclosure  Schedules.  Through the Closing  Date,  CIB
shall  update  the  CIB  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 CIB.

         (a)      Undertakings of CIB.

                  (i) Shareholder  Approval.  CIB shall submit this Agreement to
its  shareholders  for  approval  at  the  CIB  Shareholders  Meeting  with  the
recommendation  of its Board of Directors to such  shareholders  to approve this
Agreement.  The CIB Shareholders Meeting may, in CIB's sole discretion,  be held
after  all  consents  of any  Regulatory  Authorities  to the  Merger  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 sole discretion of CIB.

                  (ii) Phase I Environmental Audit. CIB 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 CIB or any
CIB Subsidiary.

                  (iii) Updated Fairness  Opinion.  CIB shall use its reasonable
best  efforts to obtain an updated  written  opinion from JMS to the effect that
the  consideration  to be  received  by  shareholders  of CIB  pursuant  to this
Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such  shareholders,  dated
not more  than ten days  prior to the date of  mailing  of the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement to the  shareholders  of CIB, for  inclusion in such  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement.

                  (iv)  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan.  Within ten days after the
date of this Agreement, CIB shall suspend,  effective the date of this Agreement
and  through  the  earlier  of the  Closing  Date  or the  termination  of  this
Agreement, the operation of CIB's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

         (b)      Undertakings of NPB and CIB.

                  (i) Filings and  Approvals.  NPB and CIB shall each  cooperate
with the other in the preparation and filing, as soon as practicable, of:

                           (A)      the Applications;

                                       46

<PAGE>




                           (B)      the Registration Statement (including the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement) and related filings, if any, under
state securities laws relating to the Merger; and

                           (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 CIB 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  CIB  shall  each
maintain  insurance in such amounts as NPB or CIB, as the insured,  believes are
reasonable to cover such risks as are customary in relation to the character and
location of its and its  Subsidiaries'  properties and the nature of its and its
Subsidiaries' businesses.

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

                  (v) Taxes. NPB and CIB 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) Delivery of Financial Statements.  NPB and CIB shall each
deliver to the  other,  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,  2000 and the  quarter  ended June 30,  2000,  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,  its
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.

                  (vii)  Delivery  of SEC  Documents.  NPB  and CIB  shall  each
deliver to the other copies of all reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange
Act promptly upon the filing thereof.



                                       47

<PAGE>



         (c)      Undertakings of NPB.

                  (i)      Employees, Severance Policy.

                           (A) NPB will  endeavor to continue the  employment of
all  current  employees  of CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  in  positions  that will
contribute to the  successful  performance of the combined  organization.  Where
there  is a  coincidence  of  responsibilities,  NPB will  try to  reassign  the
affected  individual to a needed position that utilizes the skills and abilities
of the  individual.  If that is  impracticable  or if NPB elects to  eliminate a
position,  NPB will make  severance  payments to the  displaced  employee as set
forth in this Section  4.07(c)(i).  NPB will also make severance  payments to an
employee who declines a position  that  requires re- location more than 40 miles
from his current place of employment.

                           (B)  Subject to the  following  minimum  and  maximum
benefits,  NPB will grant an eligible employee one week of severance pay (at his
then  current pay rate) for each year of an  employee's  service with CIB or any
CIB Subsidiary  prior to the employment  termination  date. The minimum  benefit
shall be four weeks' salary for full-time exempt and nonexempt employees,  which
will be pro- rated for part-time  employees.  The maximum severance benefit will
be 26 weeks' salary.

                           (C) All employees of CIB or of any CIB  Subsidiary on
the date  hereof  will be  eligible  for  severance  benefits  set forth in this
Section 4.07(c)(i), except that:

                                    (1)     No employee of CIB or of any CIB
Subsidiary who shall receive any payments or benefits pursuant to any "change in
control"  agreement or similar plan or right shall be eligible for any severance
benefits; and

                                    (2)     No employee of CIB or of any CIB
Subsidiary with an operating systems  conversion  support role of any kind shall
be eligible  for any  severance  benefits  unless  such  employee  continues  in
employment  for 30 days  following the actual  consolidation  and  conversion of
BBank's operating systems with and into NPBank's operating systems, which, as of
the date hereof, is scheduled to be completed not later than June 30, 2001.

                           (D) Persons  eligible  for  severance  benefits  will
remain eligible for such benefits in the event of any termination of employment,
other than for  "cause",  within six months of the  Effective  Date.  Any person
whose  employment with NPB is terminated by NPB without "cause" after six months
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 CIB or any CIB Subsidiary).


                                       48

<PAGE>



                           (E) For purposes of this Section 4.07(c)(i),  "cause"
means  the  employer's  good  faith  reasonable  belief  that the  employee  (1)
committed fraud, theft or embezzlement;  (2) falsified  corporate  records;  (3)
disseminated   confidential  information  concerning  customers,  NPB,  any  NPB
Subsidiary or any of its or their employees;  (4) had documented  unsatisfactory
job  performance  under NPB's  dismissal  policy;  or (5) violated NPB's Code of
Conduct.  The foregoing  definition of "cause" is the definition of "cause" used
by NPB and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business.

                  (ii)     Employee Benefits.

                           (A) As of the Effective Date, each employee of CIB or
of any CIB  Subsidiary  who becomes an employee of NPB or of any NPB  Subsidiary
shall be entitled  to full  credit for each year of service  with CIB or the CIB
Subsidiary  for  purposes  of  determining  eligibility  for  participation  and
vesting,  but  not  benefit  accrual,  in  NPB's,  or as  appropriate,  the  NPB
Subsidiary's, employee benefit plans, programs and policies.

                           (B)  The   employee   benefits   provided  to  former
employees  of  CIB  or a CIB  Subsidiary  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 medical,
dental and life  insurance  plans,  programs or  policies,  if any,  that become
applicable to former  employees of CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  shall not contain
any exclusion or limitation  with respect to any  pre-existing  condition of any
such employees or their dependents.

                           (C)  Subject to the  foregoing,  after the  Effective
Date, NPB or any NPB Subsidiary may  discontinue,  amend or convert to an NPB or
an NPB Subsidiary plan any particular  benefit or welfare plan of CIB or any CIB
Subsidiary, subject to such plan's provisions and applicable law.

                  (iii) Election of NPBank Directors.

                           (A) Upon  consummation  of the Merger and  subject to
compliance  with all applicable  legal  requirements,  NPB shall cause NPBank to
elect the CIB Nominee (selected  pursuant to Section  1.02(d)(i) hereof) and one
other person selected by CIB's Board of Directors  (consistent with the 60 years
age limitation contained in NPBank's Bylaws) and approved by NPB (which approval
will not be unreasonably  withheld)  (each, a "CIB NPBank Nominee") as directors
of NPBank,  effective the Effective Date, to hold office until their  successors
are elected and qualified or otherwise in accordance  with  applicable  law, the
articles of association and bylaws of NPBank;  and NPB and NPBank shall take all
steps necessary to insure that each CIB NPBank Nominee is re-elected to NPBank's
Board of Directors for each of the five years following the Effective Date

                                       49

<PAGE>



if such person is in office as director of NPBank on the annual
election dates.

                           (B) If either CIB NPBank  Nominee,  or any successor,
resigns,  dies or is otherwise removed from NPBank's Board of Directors prior to
the end of the fifth one-year term, the former CIB directors then serving on the
Division Board, by a plurality vote, shall have the right to select  (consistent
with the 60 years age limitation  contained in NPBank's Bylaws) the successor to
such CIB NPBank Nominee, or any successor, subject to approval of such person by
NPB (which approval will not be unreasonably  withheld),  and NPB shall take all
reasonable steps to elect such successor to the NPBank Board of Directors.

                  (iv)     Banking Division, Division Board.

                           (A) Upon  consummation of the Bank Merger and subject
to compliance with all applicable legal requirements,  NPB shall cause NPBank to
combine the assets,  branches  and  operations  of BBank with those of NPBank in
Berks County,  to create the Berks County Division (the  "Division").  The BBank
branches located in Bernville and  Shartlesville  shall each be operated under a
local identity sign, "Bernville Bank, Division of National Penn Bank".

                           (B) Upon consummation of the Bank Merger, and subject
to compliance with all applicable legal requirements,  NPB shall cause NPBank to
establish the "Berks County Division Board of Directors" (the "Division Board").
The  Division  Board  shall  initially  consist of the members of CIB's Board of
Directors  immediately  preceding the Effective  Date and various NPB and NPBank
executive officers and other persons as selected by NPB. The Division Board will
have authority to add additional members from time to time. NPB anticipates that
the Division Board will emphasize sales, marketing and expansion relating to the
Division.

                           (C)  Non-employee  members of the Division  Board who
are former  directors of CIB shall receive annual cash  compensation for service
on the Division  Board,  in a  combination  of an annual fee and Division  Board
attendance  fees, in an aggregate  amount not less than the aggregate  amount of
directors'  fees paid in cash to them by CIB or any CIB  Subsidiary  in the year
preceding the Effective  Date.  Other persons who may be selected for service as
non-employee  members of the Division  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.  The former
CIB  directors  shall have the option of electing to receive  such NPB  standard
compensation.  Employee  members of the Division  Board shall not be  separately
compensated   for  serving  on  such  Board.   The  Division  Board  shall  have
indemnification  and  insurance  coverage  no less  favorable  than  members  of
NPBank's other divisional advisory boards.


                                       50

<PAGE>



                           (D) NPB shall operate the Division,  and maintain the
Division  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.

                  (v)      Indemnification, Insurance.

                           (A) NPB shall  indemnify,  defend,  and hold harmless
the  directors,  officers,  employees and agents of CIB (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 by the BCL,
including provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in the defense of
any  proceeding to the fullest  extent  permitted by the BCL upon receipt of any
undertaking  required by the BCL. 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,  and it shall cause NPBank to, keep in
effect  provisions in its articles of  incorporation  or association  and bylaws
providing   for   exculpation   of  director  and  officer   liability  and  its
indemnification  of the Indemnified  Parties to the fullest extent  permitted by
the BCL, 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
CIB shall cooperate and assist prior to the Effective Date in these efforts), at
no expense to the beneficiaries, to:

                                    (1)  maintain   directors'   and   officers'
liability  insurance ("D&O Insurance") for the Indemnified  Parties with respect
to matters  occurring  at or prior to the  Effective  Date,  issued by a carrier
assigned a claims-paying ability rating by A.M. Best & Co. of "A (Excellent)" or
higher; or

                                    (2) obtain  coverage  for Prior Acts for the
Indemnified  Parties  under the  directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance
policy currently maintained by NPB;


                                       51

<PAGE>



in either  case,  providing  at least  the same  coverage  as the D&O  Insurance
currently  maintained by CIB 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 which exceed,
for the portion  related to CIB's  directors  and  officers,  150 percent of the
annual premium payments  ($6,812) at the date hereof) of CIB'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) If any claim is made  against  present  or former
directors, officers or employees of CIB or any CIB Subsidiary who are covered or
potentially  covered by insurance,  neither NPB nor any NPB Subsidiary  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)(v).

                           (F) The  provisions  of this Section  4.07(c)(v)  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)(v).

                  (vi) Pooling of Interests; Reorganization. Through the Closing
Date,  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.

                  (vii) 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.



                                       52

<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE V

                                   CONDITIONS

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

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

         (b)  Covenants;  Representations.  The  obligations  of NPB and  NPBank
required by this  Agreement  to be performed by NPB or NPBank 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,  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 CIB 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  CIB 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  CIB  a
certificate,  dated the Closing Date and signed, without personal liability,  by
its  Chairman  or  President,  to the effect  that the  conditions  set forth in
Section 5.01(a) through (d) have been satisfied.


                                       53

<PAGE>



         (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,  if any,  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. CIB shall have received an opinion of Rhoads
& Sinon LLP,  special  counsel to CIB, or a letter  from Beard & Company,  Inc.,
CIB's independent  certified public accountants,  dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that (1) the Merger constitutes a reorganization  under Section 368(a) of
the IRC, and (2) no gain or loss will be recognized by  shareholders  of CIB who
receive  shares of NPB Common  Stock in exchange  for their shares of CIB 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  or
accountants may require and rely upon representations and agreements,  including
those contained in certificates of officers of CIB, NPB and others.

         (h)  Approval by CIB's  Shareholders.  This  Agreement  shall have been
approved by the  shareholders of CIB by such vote as is required by the articles
of incorporation and bylaws of CIB and by the BCL.

         (i) Pooling of Interests. CIB shall have received a letter from Beard &
Company,  Inc., CIB's independent  certified public accountants,  and from 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.

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

         (k)  Nasdaq  Listing.  The  NPB  Common  Stock  shall  continue  to  be
authorized for quotation on Nasdaq.

         (l) 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 CIB Common Stock.


                                       54

<PAGE>



         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, CIB and BBank to authorize the execution,  delivery and performance
of  this  Agreement  and  the  Bank  Plan  of  Merger,  respectively,   and  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been
duly and  validly  taken by CIB and  BBank,  respectively;  and NPB  shall  have
received certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such authorizations.

         (b)  Covenants;  Representations.  The  obligations  of CIB  and  BBank
required by this  Agreement  to be  performed by CIB or BBank 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 CIB 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 CIB 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 CIB 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.   CIB  shall  have  delivered  to  NPB  a
certificate,  dated the Closing Date and signed, without personal liability,  by
its  Chairman  or  President,  to the effect  that the  conditions  set forth in
Sections 5.01(a) through (d) 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, if any, deemed

                                       55

<PAGE>



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,  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 (1) the Merger  constitutes  a  reorganization
under  Section  368(a) of the IRC, and (2) no gain or loss will be recognized by
shareholders of CIB who receive shares of NPB Common Stock in exchange for their
shares of CIB 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 or  accountants  may  require  and rely upon  representations  and
agreements,  including  those  contained in certificates of officers of CIB, NPB
and others.

         (h)  Approval by CIB's  Shareholders.  This  Agreement  shall have been
approved  by the  shareholders  of CIB by such  vote as is  required  under  the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of CIB and by the BCL.

         (i) Pooling of  Interests.  NPB shall have received a letter from Grant
Thornton  LLP,  NPB's  independent  certified  public  accountants,  and Beard &
Company, Inc., CIB'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.

         (j) Other Documents.  NPB shall have received such other  certificates,
documents  or  instruments  from CIB 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.

         (k) 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.


                                   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 CIB:


                                       56

<PAGE>



                  (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
cannot 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
March 15, 2001 (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 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 the shareholder vote contemplated by this
Agreement is not obtained at the CIB Shareholders Meeting.

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

                  (i)  the NPB Market Value shall be less than $17.00 per
share; and

                  (ii) (A) the  quotient  obtained  by  dividing  the NPB Market
Value by  $21.875  per share  shall be less than (B) the  quotient  obtained  by
dividing  the Average  Index Price by the Index Price on the  Starting  Date and
subtracting 0.15 from the quotient in this clause (ii)(B);

subject,  however,  to the  following:  If CIB  shall  elect to  terminate  this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.01(c), it shall 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 to ninety-five  hundredths  (95/100) share of NPB
Common Stock in exchange for each share of CIB 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 CIB 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).


                                       57

<PAGE>



         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) Susquehanna  Bancshares,  Inc.; (2) Fulton
Financial Corporation; (3) Commerce Bancorp, Inc.; (4) BT Financial Corporation;
(5)  Hudson  United  Bancorp;   (6)  Wilmington  Trust   Corporation;   and  (7)
Harleysville National Corporation.

         "Index  Price" on a given date means the  average of the  closing  sale
prices of the common stocks 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 21, 2000.

         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).

         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 CIB to the
other,  except  for any  liability  of NPB or CIB 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.  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.


                                       58

<PAGE>



         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  Agreement.  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
CIB Nominee may enforce  Section  1.02(d);  the CIB NPBank  Nominees may enforce
Section 4.07(c)(iii); and any Indemnified Party may enforce Section 4.07(c)(v).

         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.


                                       59

<PAGE>



         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:

         (a)      If to NPB, to:

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

                  Attention:  Wayne R. Weidner, President

                  Telecopy No.: 610-369-6236

                  with a copy to:

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

                  Telecopy No.: 610-371-9510

         (b)      If to CIB, to:

                  Community Independent Bank, Inc.
                  201 North Main Street
                  Bernville, Pennsylvania 19506

                  Attention:  Frederick P. Krott, Chairman

                  Telecopy No.: 610-488-0952

                  with a copy to:

                  Charles J. Ferry
                  Rhoads & Sinon LLP
                  One South Market Square, 12th Floor
                  P.O. Box 1146
                  Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146

                  Telecopy No.: 717-231-6669

         7.07  Disclosure  Schedules.  Information  contained  on either the CIB
Disclosure  Schedule or the NPB Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to cover the
express disclosure requirement contained in a

                                       60

<PAGE>



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 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.




            [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       61

<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.

         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
                              ----------------------------
                                    Name:  Wayne R. Weidner
                                      Title: President



                          Attest:/s/ Sandra L. Spayd
                          ---------------------------
                                    Name:  Sandra L. Spayd
                                      Title: Secretary



                           COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT BANK, INC.



(Corporate Seal)           By:/s/ Frederick P. Krott
                              ---------------------------
                                    Name:  Frederick P. Krott
                                       Title: Chairman



                          Attest:/s/ Karl D. Gerhart
                          ---------------------------
                                    Name:  Karl D. Gerhart
                                    Title: President and CEO




                                       62

<PAGE>
                                                     July 23, 2000


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

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         National Penn Bancshares,  Inc. ("NPB") and Community Independent Bank,
Inc. ("CIB") are considering  execution of an Agreement dated July 23, 2000 (the
"Agreement").

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

         NPB has required as a condition to its execution and delivery to CIB of
the  Agreement,  that the  undersigned,  being a director  of CIB,  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 CIB common stock over which the  undersigned  exercises
sole voting power.

         2. Through the record date for the meeting of CIB  shareholders to vote
upon the Merger and for the period and to the extent  provided  in  Paragraph  6
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 CIB common stock over which the undersigned exercises sole voting power.

         3. The  undersigned  has sole voting power over the number of shares of
CIB common stock, and holds stock options for the number of shares of CIB 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 23, 2000
Page 2



         4. The  undersigned  agrees not to offer,  sell,  transfer or otherwise
dispose of any shares of NPB  common  stock  received  pursuant  to the  Merger,
except:

                  (a)  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;

                  (b) within the limits,  and in accordance  with the applicable
provisions of, Rule 145 under the Securities Act ("Rule 145"); or

                  (c)  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 the undersigned  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.

         5.  NPB  shall  take  all  steps  necessary  to  ensure  that NPB is in
compliance 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.

         6.  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 CIB 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 CIB 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 CIB 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.

         7. The  undersigned  agrees that  neither CIB nor NPB shall be bound by
any  attempted  sale of any  shares of CIB  common  stock or NPB  common  stock,
respectively, and CIB's and NPB's transfer agents


<PAGE>


National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
July 23, 2000
Page 3



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 the undersigned further
agrees that the  certificates  representing  shares of NPB common stock owned by
the undersigned  may be endorsed with  restrictive  legends  consistent with the
terms of this Letter Agreement.

         8.  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 6 hereof.

         9. The undersigned  agrees,  if he is an optionholder,  to exchange his
options to acquire  shares of common  stock of CIB 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 CIB options  (unless
the undersigned shall have exercised any such option prior to the Merger).

         10. 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 CIB, and
not in any other  capacity  (including as a director of CIB), 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.

         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


<PAGE>


National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
July 23, 2000
Page 4


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:



                                                     Name:





Accepted:
--------


NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.



By:___________________________
   Name:
   Title:


<PAGE>

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Stock Option Agreement") dated as of July
23, 2000,  is by and between  NATIONAL  PENN  BANCSHARES,  INC., a  Pennsylvania
corporation  ("NPB"),  and  COMMUNITY  INDEPENDENT  BANK,  INC., a  Pennsylvania
corporation ("CIB").

                                   BACKGROUND

         1. NPB and CIB desire to enter into an Agreement,  dated as of July 23,
2000 (the  "Agreement"),  providing,  among other things, for the acquisition by
NPB of CIB through the merger of CIB with and into NPB,  with NPB  surviving the
merger (the "Merger").

         2. As a condition and  inducement  to NPB to enter into the  Agreement,
CIB is  granting  to NPB an option to  purchase  up to that  number of shares of
common stock,  par value $5.00 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  of CIB as shall
equal 19.9% of shares of Common  Stock of CIB issued and  outstanding  as of the
date hereof, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         3. By  resolution  of the  Board  of  Directors  of CIB,  the  Board of
Directors of CIB has explicitly authorized and determined that it is in the best
interests  of CIB,  pursuant  to  Sections  8(A) and 9(A) of CIB's  Amended  and
Restated Articles of Incorporation ("Amended Articles"),  that the provisions of
Articles  8, 9 and 10 of CIB's  Amended  Articles  shall not apply to NPB if NPB
purchases any shares of CIB Common Stock by reason of the exercise of the option
to purchase shares of CIB Common Stock set forth in this Stock Option Agreement,
nor shall such provisions apply to any other Person (as defined in Article 15 of
the Amended  Articles)  who purchases any such shares from NPB. By resolution of
the Board of Directors of CIB, the Board of Directors of CIB has also explicitly
authorized  and  determined  that no  conditions,  other than  those  conditions
imposed by this Stock  Option  Agreement,  shall be imposed on NPB's  ability to
vote or hold any shares of CIB Common  Stock  purchased  by NPB by reason of the
exercise of the option to purchase  shares of CIB Common Stock set forth in this
Stock  Option  Agreement,  nor shall any  conditions  be imposed  upon any other
Person (as defined in Article 15 of the Amended Articles) who purchases any such
shares from NPB.

                                    AGREEMENT

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


                                        1

<PAGE>



         1.  Grant of  Option.  CIB  hereby  grants  to NPB,  on the  terms  and
conditions set forth herein, the option to purchase (the "Option") up to 139,200
shares of Common  Stock of CIB (as  adjusted  as set forth  herein,  the "Option
Shares")  at a price per share (as  adjusted  as set forth  herein,  the "Option
Price") equal to $10.00, provided, however, that in no event shall the aggregate
number of Option Shares for which the Option is exercisable  exceed 19.9% of the
issued and  outstanding  shares of CIB Common Stock without giving effect to any
shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.

         2.       Exercise of Option.

                  (a)      Provided that:

                           (i)     NPB shall not be, on the date of exercise, in
         material breach of the agreements or covenants contained in
         the Agreement or this Stock Option Agreement; and

                           (ii) no preliminary or permanent  injunction or other
         order  against the delivery of shares  covered by the Option  issued by
         any court of competent  jurisdiction  in the United  States shall be in
         effect on the date of exercise;

upon or after the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event  (defined  below) NPB may
exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any time or one or more times, from
time to time;

provided  that the Option shall  terminate and be of no further force and effect
upon the earliest to occur of:

                                    (A)     the Effective Date of the Merger, as
                  provided in the Agreement;

                                    (B)   termination   of  the   Agreement   in
                  accordance with the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a
                  Triggering  Event or a Preliminary  Triggering  Event (defined
                  below),  other  than a  termination  of the  Agreement  by NPB
                  pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(i) as a result of a willful breach
                  of  the  Agreement  by  CIB  (such  a  termination  by  NPB is
                  hereinafter referred to as a "Default Termination");

                                    (C) 12 months after the termination of the
                  Agreement by NPB pursuant to a Default Termination; and

                                    (D)  12  months  after  termination  of  the
                  Agreement  (other  than  pursuant  to a  Default  Termination)
                  following  the   occurrence   of  a  Triggering   Event  or  a
                  Preliminary Triggering Event; and


                                        2

<PAGE>



provided, further, that any purchase of shares upon exercise of the Option shall
be subject to compliance with applicable securities and banking laws. The rights
set forth in Section 3 hereof  shall  terminate  when the right to exercise  the
Option  terminates (other than as a result of a complete exercise of the Option)
as set forth above.

                  (b)      As used herein, the term "Triggering Event" means
the occurrence of either of the following events:

                           (i) a person or group (as those  terms are defined or
         used in  Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as
         amended  (the   "Exchange   Act"),   and  the  rules  and   regulations
         thereunder), other than NPB or an affiliate of NPB, acquires beneficial
         ownership  (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
         25% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock (excluding
         any shares  eligible to be reported on Schedule  13G of the  Securities
         and Exchange Commission ("SEC")); or

                           (ii)  a  person  or  group,  other  than  NPB  or  an
         affiliate  of NPB,  enters  into an  agreement  or  letter of intent or
         memorandum of  understanding  with CIB pursuant to which such person or
         group or any affiliate of such person or group would:

                                    (A)  merge or consolidate, or enter into any
                  similar transaction, with CIB;

                                    (B)  acquire all or substantially all of the
                  assets or liabilities of CIB or all or substantially all
                  of the assets or liabilities of Bernville Bank, N.A., a
                  wholly-owned subsidiary of CIB ("BBank"); or

                                    (C)   acquire   beneficial    ownership   of
                  securities  representing,  or the right to acquire  beneficial
                  ownership or to vote securities  representing,  25% or more of
                  the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock  (excluding  any
                  shares  eligible to be reported on Schedule 13G of the SEC) or
                  the then outstanding shares of common stock of BBank; or

         CIB  shall  have  authorized,  recommended  or  publicly  proposed,  or
         publicly  announced an intention  to  authorize,  recommend or propose,
         such an agreement or letter of intent or memorandum of understanding.

                  (c)      As used herein, the term "Preliminary Triggering
Event" means the occurrence of any of the following events:

                           (i)     a person or group (as those terms are defined
         or used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and

                                        3

<PAGE>



         regulations  thereunder),  other  than  NPB  or an  affiliate  of  NPB,
         acquires  beneficial  ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
         the  Exchange  Act) of 10% or more of the then  outstanding  shares  of
         Common Stock  (excluding any shares eligible to be reported on Schedule
         13G of the SEC);

                           (ii)  a  person  or  group,  other  than  NPB  or  an
         affiliate of NPB, publicly announces a bona fide proposal  (including a
         written  communication  that  is  or  becomes  the  subject  of  public
         disclosure) for:

                                    (A) any merger, consolidation or acquisition
                  of all or substantially  all the assets or liabilities of CIB,
                  BBank,  or any other  business  combination  involving  CIB or
                  BBank; or

                                    (B) a transaction  involving the transfer of
                  beneficial ownership of securities representing,  or the right
                  to  acquire   beneficial   ownership  or  to  vote  securities
                  representing,  10% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of
                  Common Stock or the then outstanding shares of common stock of
                  BBank, (collectively, a "Proposal");

         and  thereafter,  if such  Proposal  has not  been  Publicly  Withdrawn
         (defined  below) at least 30 days prior to the meeting of  shareholders
         of CIB called to vote on the Merger, CIB's shareholders fail to approve
         the Merger by the vote  required  by  applicable  law at the meeting of
         shareholders   called  for  such  purpose  or  such  meeting  has  been
         cancelled;

                           (iii) the Board of Directors of CIB shall:

                                    (A)     fail to recommend the Merger;

                                    (B)     recommend a Proposal; or

                                    (C) have  withdrawn  or modified in a manner
                  adverse to NPB the recommendation of the Board of Directors of
                  CIB  with  respect  to  the  Agreement  and  thereafter  CIB's
                  shareholders  fail to approve the Merger by the vote  required
                  by applicable  law at the meeting of  shareholders  called for
                  such  purpose  or such  meeting is not  scheduled  or has been
                  cancelled; or

                           (iv)  a  person  or  group,  other  than  NPB  or  an
         affiliate of NPB, makes a bona fide Proposal and thereafter, but before
         such Proposal has been Publicly Withdrawn,  CIB shall have breached any
         representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  obligation  contained  in the
         Agreement  and such breach would entitle NPB to terminate the Agreement
         under Section  6.01(b)(i) of the Agreement  (without regard to the cure
         period

                                        4

<PAGE>



         provided  for therein  unless such cure is  promptly  effected  without
         jeopardizing consummation of the Merger pursuant to the Agreement).

         If more than one of the transactions  giving rise to a Triggering Event
or a  Preliminary  Triggering  Event  under  this  Section  2 is  undertaken  or
effected,  then all such  transactions  shall  give rise only to one  Triggering
Event or Preliminary Triggering Event, as applicable,  which Triggering Event or
Preliminary  Triggering  Event  shall  be  deemed  continuing  for all  purposes
hereunder until all such transactions are abandoned.

         For  purposes of this  Section 2,  "Publicly  Withdrawn"  shall mean an
unconditional  bona  fide  withdrawal  of the  Proposal  coupled  with a  public
announcement  of no further  interest in pursuing  such Proposal or in acquiring
any controlling influence over CIB or in soliciting or inducing any other person
(other than NPB or an affiliate of NPB) to do so.

         Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the obligation of CIB to issue Option
Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be deferred (but shall not terminate):

                  (i)  until  the  receipt  of  all  required   governmental  or
         regulatory  approvals or consents necessary for CIB to issue the Option
         Shares  or NPB to  exercise  the  Option,  or until the  expiration  or
         termination of any waiting period required by law, or

                  (ii) so long as any  injunction  or  other  order,  decree  or
         ruling  issued by any federal or state court of competent  jurisdiction
         is in effect which prohibits the sale or delivery of the Option Shares,
         and,  in each case,  notwithstanding  any other  provision,  the Option
         shall not expire or otherwise terminate.

         CIB shall  notify NPB  promptly  in writing  of the  occurrence  of any
Triggering  Event  or  Preliminary  Triggering  Event  known  to  it,  it  being
understood that the giving of such notice by CIB shall not be a condition to the
right of NPB to exercise  the Option.  CIB will not take any action  which would
have the effect of preventing or disabling CIB from delivering the Option Shares
to NPB upon exercise of the Option or otherwise performing its obligations under
this  Stock  Option  Agreement,  except to the  extent  required  by  applicable
securities and banking laws and regulations. In the event NPB wishes to exercise
the  Option,  NPB  shall  send a  written  notice  to CIB (the  date of which is
hereinafter  referred to as the "Notice  Date")  specifying  the total number of
Option  Shares it wishes to  purchase  and a place and date  between two and ten
business days  inclusive from the Notice Date for the closing of such a purchase
(a "Closing");  provided,  however,  that a Closing shall not occur prior to two
days after the later of receipt of any

                                        5

<PAGE>



necessary  regulatory approvals or the expiration of any legally required notice
or waiting period, if any.

         3.       Repurchase of Option by CIB.

                  (a)  Subject  to the last  sentence  of Section  2(a),  at the
request of NPB at any time commencing upon the first  occurrence of a Repurchase
Event (defined  below) and ending 12 months  immediately  thereafter,  CIB shall
repurchase  from NPB (x) the Option and (y) all shares of Common Stock purchased
by NPB pursuant hereto with respect to which NPB then has beneficial  ownership.
The date on which NPB  exercises  its rights under this Section 3 is referred to
as the "Request  Date".  Such  repurchase  shall be at an  aggregate  price (the
"Section 3 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

                           (i) the  aggregate  Option  Price paid by NPB for any
         shares of Common Stock acquired  pursuant to the Option with respect to
         which NPB then has beneficial ownership;

                           (ii)     the excess, if any, of:

                                    (A) the Applicable Price (defined below) for
                  each share of Common Stock over:

                                    (B)  the Option Price (subject to adjustment
                  pursuant to Section 6);

         multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock with
         respect to which the Option has not been exercised; and

                           (iii) the  excess,  if any, of the  Applicable  Price
         over the Option  Price  (subject to  adjustment  pursuant to Section 6)
         paid (or, in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option
         has been exercised,  but the Closing has not occurred,  payable) by NPB
         for each  share of Common  Stock  with  respect to which the Option has
         been  exercised  and  with  respect  to which  NPB then has  beneficial
         ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.

                  (b) (i) If NPB  exercises  it rights under this Section 3, CIB
shall,  within ten (10) business days after the Request Date,  pay the Section 3
Repurchase   Consideration   to  NPB  in  immediately   available   funds,   and
contemporaneously  with such payment,  NPB shall surrender to CIB the Option and
the certificate evidencing the shares of Common Stock purchased under the Option
with respect to which NPB then has beneficial  ownership,  and NPB shall warrant
that it has sole record and  beneficial  ownership of such shares,  and that the
same are then free and clear of all liens,  claims,  charges and encumbrances of
any kind whatsoever.


                                        6

<PAGE>



                           (ii)  Notwithstanding Section 3(b)((i), to the extent
that prior  notification  to or approval of any banking  agency or department of
any federal or state government,  including without limitation the OCC, the FRB,
or the respective  staffs thereof (the "Regulatory  Authority"),  is required in
connection  with the payment of all or any  portion of the Section 3  Repurchase
Consideration,  NPB shall  have the  ongoing  option to revoke its  request  for
repurchase  pursuant to Section 3, in whole or in part,  or to require  that CIB
deliver from time to time that portion of the Section 3 Repurchase Consideration
that it is not then so  prohibited  from paying and  promptly  file the required
notice or  application  for approval and  expeditiously  process the same.  Each
party  shall  cooperate  with the  other in the  filing  of any such  notice  or
application  and the obtaining of any such  approval.  In any such case, the ten
(10)  business day period of time that would  otherwise  run pursuant to Section
3(b)(i) for the payment of the portion of the Section 3 Repurchase Consideration
shall run  instead  from the date on  which,  as the case may be,  any  required
notification  period has expired or been  terminated  or such  approval has been
obtained and, in either event, any requisite waiting period shall have passed.

                           (iii) If any Regulatory Authority disapproves of any
part of CIB's proposed repurchase pursuant to this Section 3, CIB shall promptly
give  notice of such fact to NPB.  If any  Regulatory  Authority  prohibits  the
repurchase  pursuant to this Section 3, CIB shall  promptly  give notice of such
fact to NPB. If any  Regulatory  Authority  prohibits the repurchase in part but
not in whole,  then NPB  shall  have the  right  (x) to  revoke  the  repurchase
request,  or (y) to the  extent  permitted  by  such  Regulatory  Authority,  to
determine whether the repurchase should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares
and to what extent to each,  and NPB shall  thereupon have the right to exercise
the  Option  as to the  number  of  Option  Shares  for  which  the  Option  was
exercisable  at the Request Date less the sum of the number of shares covered by
the  Option in  respect  of which  payment  has been made  pursuant  to  Section
3(a)(ii) and the number of shares  covered by the portion of the Option (if any)
that has been repurchased.  NPB shall notify CIB of its determination  under the
preceding  sentence  within  five (5)  business  days of  receipt  of  notice of
disapproval of the repurchase.

                  (c)      For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable
Price" means the highest of:

                           (i)      the highest price per share of Common Stock
         paid for any such share by the person or group described in
         Section 3(d)(i);

                           (ii) the price per share of Common Stock  received by
         a holder  of  Common  Stock in  connection  with  any  merger  or other
         business combination  transaction described in Section 3(d)(ii),  (iii)
         or (iv); or

                                        7

<PAGE>




                           (iii) the  highest  closing  sales price per share of
         Common  Stock  quoted on the  American  Stock  Exchange  during  the 15
         business days preceding the Request Date;

provided, however, that in the event of a sale of less than all of CIB's assets,
the  Applicable  Price  shall be the sum of the price paid in such sale for such
assets and the current market value of the remaining assets of CIB as determined
by a nationally-  recognized investment banking firm selected by NPB, divided by
the number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  at the time of such sale.  If
the consideration to be offered,  paid or received pursuant to either of clauses
(i) or (ii) shall be other than in cash, the value of such  consideration  shall
be determined in good faith by an independent  nationally-recognized  investment
banking  firm  selected  by  NPB  and   reasonably   acceptable  to  CIB,  which
determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

                  (d)      As used herein, a "Repurchase Event" shall occur if:

                           (i) any person or group (as those  terms are  defined
         or used in  Section  13(d)  of the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and
         regulations  thereunder),  other  than  NPB  or an  affiliate  of  NPB,
         acquires  beneficial  ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
         the Exchange Act) of, or the right to acquire beneficial  ownership of,
         25% or more of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock;

                           (ii) CIB shall have merged or  consolidated  with any
         person,  other than NPB or an  affiliate  of NPB,  and shall not be the
         surviving or continuing corporation of such merger or consolidation;

                           (iii) any person,  other than NPB or an  affiliate of
         NPB,  shall  have  merged  into  CIB and  CIB  shall  be the  surviving
         corporation,  but, in connection with such merger, the then-outstanding
         shares of Common Stock have been changed into or exchanged for stock or
         other  securities  of CIB or any  other  person  or cash  or any  other
         property or the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to
         such  merger  shall after such  merger  represent  less than 50% of the
         outstanding shares and share equivalents of the surviving  corporation;
         or

                           (iv) CIB  shall  have sold or  otherwise  transferred
         more than 25% of its consolidated assets to any person,  other than NPB
         or an affiliate of NPB.

         4.       Payment and Delivery of Certificates.  At any Closing
hereunder:


                                        8

<PAGE>



                  (a) NPB will make  payment to CIB of the  aggregate  price for
the Option Shares so purchased by wire transfer of immediately  available  funds
to an account designated by CIB;

                  (b)  CIB  will   deliver  to  NPB  a  stock   certificate   or
certificates  representing the number of Option Shares so purchased,  registered
in the name of NPB or its designee,  in such  denominations as were specified by
NPB in its notice of exercise; and

                  (c)      NPB will pay any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the issuance of the Option Shares so purchased.

         A legend  will be placed on each stock  certificate  evidencing  Option
Shares issued  pursuant to this Stock Option  Agreement,  which legend will read
substantially as follows:

                  "The shares of stock  evidenced by this  certificate  have not
         been the subject of a registration statement filed under the Securities
         Act of 1933,  as amended  (the "Act"),  and  declared  effective by the
         Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  These  shares  may not be sold,
         transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of  prior  to  such  time  unless
         Community  Independent  Bank,  Inc.  receives  an  opinion  of  counsel
         acceptable  to it  stating  that an  exemption  from  the  registration
         provisions of the Act is available for such transfer."

         5.       Registration Rights.

                  (a) Upon or after the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event and
upon receipt of a written  request from NPB, CIB shall  prepare and file as soon
as  practicable a registration  statement  under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities  Act") with the SEC  covering  such  number of Option  Shares as NPB
shall  specify in its request,  and CIB shall use its best efforts to cause such
registration  statement to be declared  effective in order to permit the sale or
other disposition of the Option Shares; provided that:

                           (i)      NPB shall in no event have the right to have
         more than one such registration statement become effective;

                           (ii) CIB shall not be  required  to prepare  and file
         any such  registration  statement in connection  with any proposed sale
         with  respect to which  counsel to CIB  delivers  to CIB and to NPB its
         opinion to the effect that no such filing is required under  applicable
         laws and regulations with respect to such sale or disposition; and

                           (iii) CIB may delay any registration of Option Shares
         for a period not  exceeding 90 days in the event that CIB shall in good
         faith determine that any such  registration  would adversely  affect an
         offering or contemplated offering of

                                        9

<PAGE>



         securities  by  CIB.  NPB  shall  provide  all  information  reasonably
         requested  by CIB for  inclusion  in any  registration  statement to be
         filed hereunder.

In connection  with such filing,  CIB shall use its  reasonable  best efforts to
cause to be delivered to NPB such certificates,  opinions,  accountant's letters
and other  documents  as NPB shall  reasonably  request  and as are  customarily
provided in connection with the  registration of securities under the Securities
Act.  CIB  shall  provide  to NPB  such  number  of  copies  of the  preliminary
prospectus and final  prospectus and any amendments and  supplements  thereto as
NPB may reasonably request.

                  (b) All reasonable  expenses incurred by CIB in complying with
the  provisions  of  this  Section  5,  including,   without   limitation,   all
registration and filing fees, reasonable printing expenses,  reasonable fees and
disbursements  of counsel for CIB and blue sky fees and expenses,  shall be paid
by CIB.  Underwriting  discounts and commissions to brokers and dealers relating
to the Option  Shares,  fees and  disbursements  of counsel to NPB and any other
expenses incurred by NPB in connection with such filing shall be borne by NPB.

                  (c) In  connection  with any filing  under this Section 5, CIB
shall  indemnify and hold NPB harmless  against any losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities,  joint or several, to which NPB may become subject, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement of any
material fact contained in any  preliminary or final  registration  statement or
any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are based  upon the
omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material  fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading;  and
CIB will reimburse NPB for any legal or other expense reasonably incurred by NPB
in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,  claim,  damage,
liability or action; provided,  however, that CIB will not be liable in any case
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  or
alleged  omission made in such  preliminary or final  registration  statement or
such  amendment or supplement  thereto in reliance  upon and in conformity  with
written information furnished by or on behalf of NPB specifically for use in the
preparation  of  such  preliminary  or  final  registration  statement  or  such
amendment or supplement thereto.

                  (d) NPB  will  indemnify  and  hold  harmless  CIB to the same
extent  as set  forth  in the  immediately  preceding  sentence  but  only  with
reference to written information furnished by or on behalf of NPB for use in the
preparation  of  such  preliminary  or  final  registration  statement  or  such
amendment or supplement thereto; and

                                       10

<PAGE>



NPB will reimburse CIB for any legal or other expense reasonably incurred by CIB
in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,  claim,  damage,
liability or action.

                  (e) Notwithstanding any provision of Sections 5(c) or 5(d), no
indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement effected without its prior
written consent.

         6.  Adjustment  Upon  Changes  in  Capitalization.  In the event of any
change  in  the  Common   Stock  by  reason  of  stock   dividends,   split-ups,
recapitalizations,  combinations, conversions, divisions, exchanges of shares or
the like,  then the number and kind of Option  Shares and the Option Price shall
be appropriately adjusted.

         7. Filings and  Consents.  Each of NPB and CIB will use its  reasonable
best  efforts to make all filings  with,  and to obtain  consents  of, all third
parties  and  governmental  authorities  necessary  to the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this Stock Option  Agreement.  Within 10 days from
the date  hereof,  NPB shall file a report of  beneficial  ownership on Form 13D
with the SEC under the Exchange Act which discloses the rights of NPB hereunder.

         8.       Representations and Warranties of CIB.  CIB hereby
represents and warrants to NPB as follows:

                  (a)  Due  Authorization.  CIB has  full  corporate  power  and
authority to execute,  deliver and perform this Stock Option  Agreement  and all
corporate action necessary for execution, delivery and performance of this Stock
Option  Agreement  has been  duly  taken by CIB.  This  Stock  Option  Agreement
constitutes a legal,  valid and binding obligation of CIB,  enforceable  against
CIB in  accordance  with its  terms  (except  as may be  limited  by  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity).

                  (b)      Authorized Shares.  CIB has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize and reserve for issuance all shares
of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to any exercise of the
Option.

         9.  Representations  and  Warranties of NPB. NPB hereby  represents and
warrants  to CIB that NPB has full  corporate  power and  authority  to execute,
deliver  and  perform  this Stock  Option  Agreement  and all  corporate  action
necessary for execution, delivery and performance of this Stock Option Agreement
has been duly taken by NPB.  This Stock Option  Agreement  constitutes  a legal,
valid and binding obligation of NPB,  enforceable against NPB in accordance with
its terms (except as may be limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and
similar laws affecting

                                       11

<PAGE>



creditors' rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to
general principles of equity).

         10. Specific  Performance.  The parties hereto acknowledge that damages
would be an  inadequate  remedy for a breach of this Stock Option  Agreement and
that the obligations of the parties hereto shall be specifically enforceable.

         11.  Entire  Agreement.  This Stock Option  Agreement and the Agreement
constitute the entire agreement  between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings,  both
written and oral,  among the parties or any of them with  respect to the subject
matter hereof.

         12.  Assignment  or  Transfer.  NPB may not sell,  assign or  otherwise
transfer  its  rights and  obligations  hereunder,  in whole or in part,  to any
person or group of persons other than to an NPB subsidiary.  NPB represents that
it is acquiring  the Option for NPB's own account and not with a view to, or for
sale in connection  with, any  distribution  of the Option or the Option Shares.
NPB is aware that  neither the Option nor the Option  Shares is the subject of a
registration  statement filed with, and declared  effective by, the SEC pursuant
to  Section 5 of the  Securities  Act,  but  instead  each is being  offered  in
reliance  upon the  exemption  from the  registration  requirement  provided  by
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the  representations  and warranties made
by NPB in connection therewith.

         13.  Amendment  of Stock  Option  Agreement.  By mutual  consent of the
parties  hereto,  this Stock Option  Agreement  may be amended in writing at any
time, for the purpose of  facilitating  performance  hereunder or to comply with
any applicable regulation of any governmental  authority or any applicable order
of any court or for any other purpose.

         14. Validity.  The invalidity or  unenforceability  of any provision of
this Stock Option Agreement shall not affect the validity or  enforceability  of
any other provisions of this Stock Option Agreement,  which shall remain in full
force and effect.

         15. 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:



                                       12

<PAGE>



                  (a)      If to NPB, to:

                           National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
                           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, Carlton & Waldman, P.C.
                           1105 Berkshire Boulevard
                           Suite 320
                           Wyomissing, Pennsylvania 19610

                           Telecopy No.:  610-371-9510

                  (b)      If to CIB, to:

                           Community Independent Bank, Inc.
                           201 North Main Street
                           Bernville, Pennsylvania 19506

                           Attention:  Frederick P. Krott, Chairman

                           Telecopy No.: 610-488-0952

                           with a copy to:

                           Charles J. Ferry
                           Rhoads & Sinon LLP
                           One South Market Square, 12th Floor
                           P.O. Box 1146
                           Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146

                           Telecopy No.: 717-231-6669

         16. Governing Law. This Stock Option Agreement shall be governed by and
construed  in  accordance  with the  domestic  internal  law (but not the law of
conflicts of law) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         17. Captions.  The captions in this Stock Option Agreement are inserted
for convenience and reference purposes,  and shall not limit or otherwise affect
any of the terms or provisions hereof.

         18. Waivers and Extensions.  The parties hereto may, by mutual consent,
extend the time for performance of any of the

                                       13

<PAGE>


obligations or acts of either party hereto.  Each party may waive (i) compliance
with any of the  covenants  of the other party  contained  in this Stock  Option
Agreement  and/or (ii) the other party's  performance of any of its  obligations
set forth in this Stock Option Agreement.

         19. Parties in Interest.  This Stock Option  Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto,  and, nothing in this
Stock Option Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other
person any rights or  remedies  of any nature  whatsoever  under or by reason of
this Stock Option Agreement.

         20. Counterparts. This Stock Option Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         21.  Expenses.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  herein,  all costs and
expenses  incurred by the parties  hereto in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  by this Stock Option  Agreement or the Option shall be paid by the
party incurring such cost or expense.

         22.  Defined  Terms.  Capitalized  terms which are used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers and have caused their
corporate seal to be affixed hereunto and to be duly attested, all as of the day
and year first above written.

                                      NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.


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

                                     Attest:/s/ Sandra L. Spayd
                                            ---------------------------
                                               Name:  Sandra L. Spayd
                                                 Title: Secretary

                                      COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT BANK, INC.


(Corporate Seal)                      By:/s/ Frederick P. Krott
                                         ---------------------------
                                               Name:  Frederick P. Krott
                                                  Title: Chairman

                                      Attest:/s/ Karl D. Gerhart
                                             ---------------------------
                                               Name:  Karl D. Gerhart
                                               Title: President and CEO

                                       14

<PAGE>


                               BANK PLAN OF MERGER

         THIS BANK PLAN OF MERGER  ("Bank Plan of Merger")  dated July 23, 2000,
is by and between NATIONAL PENN BANK, a national banking association ("NPBank"),
and BERNVILLE BANK, N.A., a national banking association ("BBank").


                                   BACKGROUND

         1. NPBank is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of National  Penn  Bancshares,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("NPB").

         2. BBank is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Community  Independent  Bank,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("CIB").

         3. NPB and CIB have  executed  an  Agreement  dated July 23,  2000 (the
"Agreement").  The  Agreement  provides  for the  merger of BBank  with and into
NPBank,  with  NPBank  surviving  such  merger,  but only  after  closing of the
"Merger"  provided for in the Agreement.  After closing of the "Merger",  NPBank
and BBank will each be direct  wholly-owned  subsidiaries of NPB. This Bank Plan
of Merger is being executed by NPBank and BBank pursuant to the Agreement.


                                    AGREEMENT

         In  consideration  of the  premises  and of the  mutual  covenants  and
agreements  herein  contained,  and in accordance  with the applicable  laws and
regulations of the United States of America,  NPBank and BBank,  intending to be
legally bound hereby, agree:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                     MERGER

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Bank Plan of Merger, and in
accordance  with the  applicable  laws and  regulations  of the United States of
America, on the Effective Date (as that term is defined in Article V hereof):

         (a) BBank  shall  merge  with and into  NPBank,  under the  charter  of
NPBank;

         (b) the separate existence of BBank shall cease; and

         (c) NPBank shall be the surviving bank.


                                        1

<PAGE>



Such transaction is referred to herein as the "Bank Merger",  and NPBank, as the
surviving  bank in the Bank  Merger,  is  referred  to herein as the  "Surviving
Bank".


                                   ARTICLE II

                        NAME AND BUSINESS OF ASSOCIATION

         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.
This business  shall be conducted by the Surviving Bank at its main office which
shall be located at Reading and Philadelphia  Avenues,  Boyertown,  Pennsylvania
19512, and its legally established branches and other facilities.


                                   ARTICLE III

                       ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND BYLAWS

         3.1  Articles of  Association.  On and after the  Effective  Date,  the
articles of  association  of the Surviving  Bank shall read in their entirety as
set forth on Schedule 3.1 attached hereto and made a part hereof,  until changed
in  accordance  with  applicable  law,  such  articles of  association,  and the
Surviving Bank's bylaws.

         3.2 Bylaws.  On and after the Effective Date, the bylaws of NPBank,  as
in effect  immediately  prior to the Effective Date, 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.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                         BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         4.1  Board of Directors.

         (a) On and after the Effective  Date,  (1) the directors of NPBank duly
elected and holding office  immediately  prior to the Effective Date and (2) two
persons  (each a "CIB NPBank  Nominee")  selected  by CIB's  Board of  Directors
(consistent  with the 60 years age limitation  contained in NPBank's Bylaws) 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 CIB  NPBank  Nominees,  NPB and NPBank  shall take all
steps necessary to ensure that such persons are re-elected to NPBank's Board of

                                        2

<PAGE>



Directors  for each of the  five  years  following  the  Effective  Date if such
persons are in office as directors of NPBank on the annual election dates.

         (b) If either CIB NPBank Nominee, or any successor, resigns, dies or is
otherwise removed from NPBank's Board of Directors prior to the end of the fifth
one-year  term,  the former CIB directors then serving on the Division Board (as
defined in the Agreement),  by a plurality vote,  shall have the right to select
(consistent  with the 60 years age limitation  contained in NPBank's Bylaws) the
successor to such CIB NPBank Nominee,  or any successor,  subject to approval of
such person by NPB (which approval will not be unreasonably  withheld),  and NPB
shall take all  reasonable  steps to elect such successor to the NPBank Board of
Directors.

         4.2 Officers.  On and after the Effective  Date, the officers of NPBank
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.


                                    ARTICLE V

                              CONVERSION OF SHARES

         5.1 NPBank Capital Stock. Each share of NPBank capital stock issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Date shall,  on and after the
Effective  Date,  continue to be issued and  outstanding as a share of identical
capital stock of the Surviving Bank.

         5.2 BBank Capital  Stock.  Each share of BBank capital stock issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Date shall,  on the Effective
Date, be cancelled,  and no cash,  stock or other property shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                          EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER

         The Bank Merger shall be  effective  at the time  specified in a merger
approval to be issued by the Office of the  Comptroller  of the  Currency of the
United States of America (the "Effective Date").




                                        3

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE VII

                              EFFECT OF THE MERGER

         On the Effective Date: the separate existence of BBank shall cease; and
all of the property  (real,  personal  and mixed),  rights,  powers,  duties and
obligations  of NPBank and BBank shall be taken and deemed to be  transferred to
and vested in the Surviving  Bank,  without  further act or deed, as provided by
applicable laws and regulations.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         The  obligations of NPBank and BBank to effect the Bank Merger shall be
subject to closing of the "Merger" provided for in the Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   TERMINATION

         This  Bank  Plan of  Merger  shall  terminate  automatically  upon  any
termination of the Agreement in accordance  with its terms;  provided,  however,
that any such  termination  of this Bank Plan of Merger  shall not  relieve  any
party  hereto from  liability on account of a breach by such party of any of the
terms hereof or thereof.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                    AMENDMENT

         This  Bank  Plan  of  Merger  may be  amended  at  any  time  prior  to
consummation of the Bank Merger,  but only by an instrument in writing signed by
duly authorized officers on behalf of the parties hereto.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         11.1 Extensions; Waivers. Each party, by a written instrument signed by
a duly authorized officer, may extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations  or other acts of the other  party  hereto and may waive  compliance
with any of the  covenants,  or performance  of any of the  obligations,  of the
other party contained in this Bank Plan of Merger.

                                        4

<PAGE>




         11.2 Notices.  Any notice or other communication  required or permitted
under  this Bank  Plan of Merger  shall be  given,  and shall be  effective,  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7.06 of the Agreement.

         11.3 Captions. The headings of the several Articles herein are intended
for  convenience  of  reference  only and are not  intended to be part of, or to
affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Bank Plan of Merger.

         11.4 Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Bank
Plan of Merger may be executed in several  counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed the original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

         11.5  Governing  Law. This Bank Plan of Merger shall be governed by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the United  States of America and, in
the  absence of  controlling  Federal  law, in  accordance  with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  National Penn Bank and Bernville Bank, N.A., have
caused this Bank Plan of Merger to be executed by their duly authorized officers
and their  corporate  seals to be  hereunto  affixed on the date  first  written
above,  each  pursuant to a resolution  of its board of  directors,  acting by a
majority.


                                      NATIONAL PENN BANK


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


                                      Attest:/s/ Sandra L. Spayd
                                           ---------------------------
                                           Name:  Sandra L. Spayd
                                           Title: Secretary


                                      BERNVILLE BANK, N.A.


(Corporate Seal)                      By:/s/ Frederick P. Krott
                                         ---------------------------
                                         Name:  Frederick P. Krott
                                         Title: Chairman


                                      Attest:/s/ Karl D. Gerhart
                                             ---------------------------
                                             Name:  Karl D. Gerhart
                                             Title: President and CEO

                                        5

<PAGE>




COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA  :
                                      :ss.
COUNTY OF BERKS               :

         On this 23rd day of July,  2000,  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 association and the
seal affixed to it to be its seal.

         WITNESS my official seal and signature this day and year.


                              /s/ Deborah M. Johnson
(Seal of Notary)              Notary Public
                              My commission expires 7/14/01
                                                   ---------




COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA  :
                                      :ss.
COUNTY OF BERKS               :

         On this 23rd day of July,  2000,  before  me, a notary  public for this
state and county,  personally came Karl Gerhart, as President,  and Frederick P.
Krott,  as Chairman of the Board,  of BERNVILLE  BANK, N.A. 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/ Tamara D. Galan
(Seal of Notary)              Notary Public
                              My commission expires 6/30/03
                                                   ---------


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