CITY NATIONAL BANCSHARES CORP
DEF 14A, 1999-04-20
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                      CITY NATIONAL BANCSHARES CORPORATION
                                900 Broad Street
                            Newark, New Jersey 07102

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                      To be held on Thursday, May 20, 1999

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of City National
Bancshares Corporation (the "Corporation") will be held at City National Bank of
New Jersey located at 900 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday, May 20,
1999, at 6:00 p.m. for the following purposes:

   1.  To elect three (3) directors for a term of three (3) years or until their
       respective  successors are elected and qualified;

   2.  To ratify  the  appointment  of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent
       auditors for the fiscal year ending  December 31, 1999; and

Stockholders  of record at the close of business on April 22, 1999 are  entitled
to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

The  Corporation's  Proxy  Statement and its 1998 Annual Report to  Stockholders
accompany this Notice.

ALL  STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY  INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.  IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. ACCORDINGLY,  PLEASE SIGN, DATE
AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE,  WHETHER OR
NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. IF YOU DO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY REVOKE
YOUR PROXY AND VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.

                                            By order of the Board of Directors


                                            Lemar C. Whigham
                                            Secretary


Newark, New Jersey
April 23, 1999




                      CITY NATIONAL BANCSHARES CORPORATION
                                900 Broad Street
                            Newark, New Jersey 07102
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 1999
Introduction
The  enclosed  proxy is  solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of
City National  Bancshares  Corporation (the "Corporation") for use at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders  to be held on Thursday,  May 20, 1999, at 6:00 p.m., at
City National Bank of New Jersey located at 900 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey
or at any adjournment thereof.

Voting and Revocability of Proxy
The  enclosed  proxy is for use at the meeting if you do not attend the meeting,
or if you wish to vote your shares by proxy even if you attend the meeting.  You
may revoke your proxy anytime  before its exercise by (i) giving  written notice
to the  Secretary  of the  Corporation,  (ii)  submitting a proxy having a later
date, or (iii) appearing at the meeting and requesting to vote in person.  Where
a choice or  abstention  is  specified  in the form of proxy  with  respect to a
matter  being  voted  upon,  the  shares  represented  by proxy will be voted in
accordance with such specification. If a proxy is signed but no specification is
given,  the shares will be voted for the director  nominees  named herein and in
favor of the other proposal described below.

This  Proxy  Statement  and  the  enclosed  proxy  and  1998  Annual  Report  to
Stockholders  are being first mailed to our  stockholders  on or about April 23,
1999. The  Corporation  will bear the cost of preparing this Proxy Statement and
of  soliciting  proxies in the  enclosed  form.  Proxies may be solicited by our
employees, either personally, by letter or by telephone. Such employees will not
be specifically compensated for soliciting said proxies.

Only  holders  of  record  of the  Corporation's  common  stock at the  close of
business on April 22, 1999 (the "Record  Date"),  are entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were
outstanding and entitled to vote,  118,221 shares of common stock, each of which
is entitled to one vote. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the
outstanding  shares of common stock will constitute a quorum for the purposes of
the meeting.

For purposes of counting votes,  abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e.,  shares
held by brokers  that they can't  vote  because  they  haven't  received  voting
instructions  from their  customers  with  respect to matters  voted on) will be
treated  as  shares  that are  present  and  entitled  to vote for  purposes  of
determining the presence of a quorum. For purposes of determining the votes cast
on any matter at the meeting, only "FOR" and "AGAINST" votes are included.

                      BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The  following  table sets forth certain  information  with respect to each
person known to the Corporation to be a beneficial  owner of more than 5% of the
Corporation's  common stock as of March 15, 1999.  This  information is based on
Schedule 13G reports filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")
by each of the persons or entities  listed  below.  If you wish,  you may obtain
these reports from the SEC.

                                Number of Shares      Percentage of Total
Name                            Beneficially Owned    Shares Outstanding
- ------------------------------- ------------------  -----------------------
Louis E. Prezeau                     18,655(1)              15.53%
  900 Broad Street
  Newark, NJ  07102

Lemar C. Whigham                      9,362(2)               7.79%
  34 Mountain Way
  West Orange, NJ 07052

Carolyn M. Whigham                    8,495                  7.07%
  11620 Registerstown Rd
  Registerstown, MD 21136

Eugene Giscombe                        8,170                 6.80%
  1825 Park Avenue
  New York, NY  10035

United Negro College Fund, Inc.       6,800                  5.66%
  82-60 Willow Oaks Corp. Dr.
  Fairfax, VA 22031
- ---------------------------------
(1)  Includes  unexercised stock options to acquire 1,900 shares of common stock
     and 1,133 shares held by his sons, 40 shares held by his daughter and 1,152
     shares held by his wife.
(2)  Includes 1,000 shares held by his wife.

                                   PROPOSAL 1
                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  is divided  into three  classes of
approximately  equal  size.  Directors  are elected  for  three-year  terms on a
staggered  basis,  so that the term of office of one class will expire each year
at the annual meeting of stockholders  when a successor is elected and qualified
and terms of office of the other classes will extend for  additional  periods of
one and two years, respectively.

Voting Procedures
Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast. Shares cannot be voted for a
greater number of persons than the number of nominees  named herein.  Should any
nominee  be  unavailable  for  election  by reason of death or other  unexpected
occurrence,  the enclosed proxy, to the extent  permitted by applicable law, may
be voted with  discretionary  authority in connection with the nomination by the
Board and the election of any substitute nominee.  PROXIES,  UNLESS INDICATED TO
THE CONTRARY,  WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE THREE (3) NOMINEES  NAMED
BELOW TO SERVE FOR A THREE (3) YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2002 ANNUAL  MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS.

Douglas E.  Anderson,  Eugene  Giscombe  and Louis E.  Prezeau,  each of whom is
currently serving as a director of the Corporation, are being nominated to serve
as directors with terms expiring at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  and
until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.


Information  is presented  below as of March 15, 1999, as to age,  business
experience,  the number of shares of the Corporation  beneficially owned and the
period  during  which each  director has served on the Board of Directors of the
Corporation  and the Board of Directors of City National Bank of New Jersey (the
"Bank"), as well as the number of shares of such common stock beneficially owned
by all directors and executive officers as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    Percentage of
                                      Director    Term                                                Number         Total Shares
Name of Director              Age     Since       Ends    Business Experience                         of Shares      Outstanding
- ----------------              ---     ----------  ----    ---------------------------------           ---------      -----------
<S>                           <C>     <C>         <C>     <C>                                           <C>              <C>
Douglas E. Anderson           49      1989        1999    Senior Vice President, The Chase                 226              *
                                                          Manhattan Bank

Barbara Bell Coleman          48      1995        2001    President, BBC Associates, L.L.C.                734              *

Leon Ewing                    70      1973        2000    President, Ewing Bonding Agency                2,425(1)         2.02%

Eugene Giscombe               58      1991        1999    President, Giscombe Henderson, Inc.            8,170           6.80%
                                                          (property management firm) President, 103
                                                          East 125th Street Corporation (property
                                                          holding company)

Norman Jeffries               56      1989        2001    Fiscal Manager, Newark Preschool Council,        214              *
                                                          Inc.

Louis E. Prezeau              56      1989        1999    President and Chief Executive Officer,        18,655(2)        15.53%
                                                          City National Bank of New Jersey and City
                                                          National Bancshares Corporation

Lemar C. Whigham              55      1989        2001    President, L & W Enterprises (vending          9,362(3)         7.79%
                                                          machine operations)
- ----------------------------- ------- ----------- ------- ------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------------
Directors and executive                                                                                 43,279           36.03%(4)
officers as a group (9
persons)
- ------------------------
<FN>
(1) Includes  1,875 shares held by Mr.  Ewing  individually  and 550 shares held
    jointly with his wife.
(2) Includes  unexercised stock options to acquire 1,900 shares of common stock
    and 1,133 shares held by his sons, 40 shares held by his daughter and 1,152
    shares held by his wife.
(3) Includes 1,000 shares held by his wife.
(4) The number of shares of common stock used in calculating  the percentage of
    total shares owned includes  118,221 shares of common stock  outstanding as
    of March 15, 1999 plus 1,900 shares of exercisable options.
</FN>
</TABLE>
Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees
During 1998,  the Board of Directors  held 12 regular  monthly  meetings and one
special  meeting.  A quorum was present at all  meetings.  No director  attended
fewer than 75% of the meetings  held by the Board and  committees  of which such
director was a member.

All  directors  of the  Corporation  are also  directors  of the  Bank.  Regular
meetings  of the  Corporation's  and the  Bank's  Boards of  Directors  are held
monthly.  Additional  meetings  are held when deemed  necessary.  In addition to
meeting as a group to review the Corporation's business,  certain members of the
Board also devote their time and talents to certain  standing  committees of the
Bank's Board of Directors.  These committees,  which are described below,  serve
similar functions for the Corporation.

The  Audit/Examining  Committee reviews (i) significant  auditing and accounting
matters,  (ii) the  adequacy  of the  system  of  internal  controls,  and (iii)
examination reports of the internal auditor, regulatory agencies and independent
accountants.  Messrs.  Jeffries, Ewing and Whigham currently serve as members of
the  Committee.  Mr.  Jeffries  serves  as  Chairperson  of the  Committee.  The
Committee met four times during 1998.

The Loan and Discount Committee reviews all loan policy changes and requests for
policy  exceptions and loans approved by management.  Messrs.  Anderson,  Ewing,
Giscombe,  Jeffries,  Prezeau  and Whigham and Ms.  Coleman  currently  serve as
members of the Committee.  Mr.  Anderson serves as Chairperson of the Committee.
The Committee met 12 times during 1998.

The Investment  Committee  reviews overall interest rate risk management and all
investment  policy  changes,  along  with  purchases  and sales of  investments.
Messrs.  Prezeau,  Anderson,  Ewing,  Giscombe  and Whigham  currently  serve as
members of the  Committee.  Mr.  Prezeau serves as Chairperson of the Committee.
The Committee met four times during 1998.

The Personnel/Director and Management Review Committee deals in broad terms with
personnel  matters  and  reviews  director  and  officer  compensation.  Messrs.
Giscombe,  Jeffries, Prezeau, Whigham and Ms. Coleman currently serve as members
of the Committee.  Mr.  Giscombe  serves as  Chairperson  of the Committee.  The
Committee met two times
during 1998.

The  Building  and Grounds  Committee  considers  branch  expansion  and matters
concerning Bank premises. Messrs. Ewing, Giscombe, Prezeau and Whigham currently
serve as  members of the  Committee.  Mr.  Ewing  serves as  Chairperson  of the
Committee. The Committee did not meet during 1998.

The Marketing  Committee oversees the Bank's marketing plan and strategies.  Ms.
Coleman and Messrs. Anderson,  Giscombe,  Prezeau and Whigham currently serve as
members of the  Committee.  Ms.  Coleman serves as Chairperson of the Committee.
The Committee held one meeting during 1998.

Director Compensation
Each  director of the  Corporation  receives an annual  retainer of $1,500 and a
$400 fee for  each  board  meeting  attended  except  for the  chairperson,  who
receives  $550, and the secretary,  who receives  $500.  Committee  chairpersons
receive $200 for each meeting  attended  other than the  chairperson of the Loan
and Discount Committee,  who receives $250 per meeting.  Other committee members
receive $150 for each meeting attended,  except for Audit Committee members, who
receive $175 for each meeting attended.

Director Retirement Plan
Effective  January 1, 1997,  the  Corporation  instituted a director  retirement
plan.  Under this plan,  a director  who  attains the age of at least 65 and has
completed  five years of service on the Board,  shall receive an annual  benefit
equal  to 50% of the  aggregate  amount  of the  director's  fees  paid  to such
director during the then last full fiscal year of the  Corporation  (the "normal
retirement benefit").  This annual benefit is to be paid each year for ten years
beginning  on the date the director  retires  from service on the Board.  If the
director  ceases service on the Board prior to attaining the age of 65 but after
completing  at least five years of service  on the  Board,  the  director  shall
receive an annual benefit equal to a percentage of the normal retirement benefit
determined under this table.


         ------------------------ ----------------------
                 Years                Applicable
                  Of              Percentage of Normal
                Service            Retirement Benefit
         ------------------------ ----------------------
              => 5 < 7                     20%
         ------------------------ ----------------------
              => 7 < 8                     40%
         ------------------------ ----------------------
              => 8 < 9                     60%
         ------------------------ ----------------------
              => 9 < 10                    80%
         ------------------------ ----------------------
                >10                       100%
         ------------------------ ----------------------

Upon a  change  in  control  of  the  Corporation  (as  defined)  followed  by a
termination of the director's  status as a member of the Board for any reason or
a failure for whatever reason for the director to be nominated and elected to an
immediately  succeeding  term, the director shall receive a benefit equal to the
present  value  (discounted  at the rate of 4%) of a  theoretical  series of 120
monthly  payments,  with each  payment  equal to 1/12 of the  normal  retirement
benefit  without regard as to whether the director  otherwise  qualified for the
normal retirement benefit.

If a  director  dies  while in  active  service  on the  Board,  the  designated
beneficiary  of such director  shall receive the greater of (a) that part of the
normal retirement benefit accrued by the Corporation for such director as of the
date of such director's death (determined based on the formula described above),
and (b) a projected  retirement  benefit calculated in January 1997 based on the
director's age and assumed  increases in director's  fees prior to such director
attaining  the age of 65. This death  benefit is payable to the  beneficiary  in
monthly installments over ten years.

The  Corporation  may  amend  or  terminate  this  plan  at any  time  prior  to
termination  of service by the director,  provided that all benefits  accrued by
the  Corporation as of the date of such  termination or amendment shall be fully
vested;  and, provided  further,  that the plan may not be amended or terminated
after a change of control (as defined) unless the director consents thereto.

                             THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Listed below is certain information concerning the current executive officers of
the Corporation.
                              IN OFFICE                            
NAME               AGE  SINCE OFFICE AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
- ------------------ ---  ----- --------------------------------------------------
Louis E. Prezeau    56  1989  President and Chief Executive Officer, City
                              National Bancshares Corporation and City National 
                              Bank of New Jersey

Stanley Weeks       42  1994  Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer,
                              City National Bank of New Jersey 1984-1994, Vice 
                              President, First Fidelity Bank, N.A.

Edward R. Wright    53  1994  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
                              City National Bancshares Corporation and City 
                              National Bank of New Jersey 1978-1994, Executive 
                              Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Rock 
                              Financial Corporation

                           Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes  compensation for services to the Corporation and
the Bank for the years ended December 31, 1998,  1997 and 1996 paid to or earned
by Mr. Prezeau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the Bank. Mr.
Prezeau was the only executive officer of the Corporation whose salary and bonus
exceeded $100,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Annual Compensation                                  Long-Term Compensation
                                                                                            Awards:         Payouts:
                                                                                            Securities      All Other
Name and                                                                Other               Underlying      Compensation
Principal Position                     Year    Salary        Bonus      Compensation (1)    Options         (4)
- -------------------------------------- ------- ------------- ---------- ------------------- --------------- -------------------
<S>                                    <C>     <C>           <C>         <C>                 <C>             <C>     
Louis E. Prezeau                       1998    $150,000      $26,943     $ 8,906 (2)         5700 (3)        $ 29,387
  President and Chief Executive        1997     137,500        8,177       8,790 (2)
  Officer, City National Bancshares    1996     125,000       27,500       6,102 (2)
  Corporation and City National Bank
  of New Jersey
- -------------------------------------- ------- ------------- ---------- ------------------- --------------- -------------------
<FN>
(1)  Perquisites and other personal benefits paid to any named executive officer
     did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the annual  salary and bonus
     reported  in  the  table  for  that  individual  and  are,  therefore,  not
     presented.
(2)  Includes  payments  made under the  Corporation's  profit  sharing  plan of
     $5,706,  $5,220  and  $2,197  in 1998,  1997 and  1996,  respectively,  and
     insurance  premiums  paid on a life  insurance  policy  on the  life of Mr.
     Prezeau of $3,200, 3,570 and $3905, in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
(3)  For more information on this grant, see "Prezeau Employment Agreement".
(4)  These  amounts  represent  accrual of benefits  for Mr.  Prezeau  under the
     Salary Continuation Plan described below.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Aggregated Option Exercises During 1998
                          and Year-End Option Values(1)
- --------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
                      Shares                      Number of Securities Underlying     Value of Unexercised
                      Acquired on    Value        Unexercised Options Held at         In-the-Money Options Held at
Name                  Exercise       Realized     December 31, 1998                   December 31, 1998
                                                  ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
                                                  Exercisable      Unexercisable      Exercisable    Unexercisable
- --------------------- -------------- ------------ ---------------- ------------------ -------------- -------------------
<S>                       <C>        <C>                  <C>             <C>                <C>     <C>
Louis E. Prezeau          1900       (2)                  0               1900               0       (2)
- ------------------------
<FN>
(1)      All options  described in this table were granted Mr. Prezeau under his
         employment  agreement.  For more information  concerning these options,
         see "Prezeau Employment Agreement".
(2)      Both  Value  Realized  and  Value of the  Unexercised  Options  Held at
         December 31, 1998 should  represent the  difference  between the market
         value of the stock acquired upon exercise or underlying the unexercised
         options,  respectively, and the applicable exercise price of such stock
         options.  Since there is no active trading market for the Corporation's
         common  stock,  any  determination  of these  values  would  be  highly
         subjective.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Prezeau Employment Agreement
In May 1997, the Bank and the Corporation  entered into an employment  agreement
with Mr. Prezeau to serve as the President and Chief  Executive  Officer of both
entities.  The agreement is for a term of three years. Under the agreement,  Mr.
Prezeau  is to  receive  an  annual  salary  of at least  $150,000,  subject  to
increases in the second and third year of the agreement in the discretion of the
Board. Additionally, Mr. Prezeau is to receive an annual performance bonus equal
to:

     10% of the amount of earnings of the  Corporation for each year that exceed
     10% but  are  less  than  15% of the  amount  of the  Corporation's  common
     stockholders' equity, plus;

     20% of the amount of earnings of the Corporation for such year that exceed
     15% of the amount of the Corporation's common stockholders' equity.

The  performance  bonus  shall  be  paid in cash  or  common  stock  of the
Corporation, at the election of Mr. Prezeau.

Under the  agreement,  Mr. Prezeau was granted an option to purchase up to 5,700
shares of the Corporation's  common stock at a price per share of $20. One-third
of the options were immediately  vested,  one-third of the options vested on May
1, 1998,  and the final  third of the options  will vest on May 1, 1999.  If the
Corporation  and  the  Bank  do not  offer  to  renew  the  agreement  upon  its
termination  under terms  satisfactory to Mr. Prezeau,  or if the Corporation or
the Bank terminates Mr. Prezeau's  employment  without cause (as defined),  then
Mr.  Prezeau  shall  receive a lump sum amount  equal to his then  current  base
salary and a limited continuation of his life and health insurance coverage.  If
Mr.  Prezeau  terminates  his  employment  due to a  change  in  control  of the
Corporation (as defined),  or if the Bank or the Corporation fail to comply with
their obligations under the agreement or upon the failure of the stockholders of
the  Corporation  to elect Mr.  Prezeau  as a  director,  Mr.  Prezeau  shall be
entitled to receive  liquidated  damages and full  satisfaction of claims he may
have under the  agreement.  Mr.  Prezeau is also  entitled  to fringe,  medical,
health and life insurance benefits, including life insurance for an amount of up
to three times his base salary then in effect and the use of an automobile.

Salary Continuation Plan
Effective in January 1997, the  Corporation and the Bank entered into Agreements
with  Messrs.  Prezeau  and Weeks to  encourage  each  executive  to remain as a
employee of the Corporation by agreeing to pay salary  continuation  benefits to
each executive. Specifically, if the executive's employment with the Corporation
is terminated for whatever reason (other than death) after he attains the age of
65, he will  receive an annual  benefit  equal to 40% of the annual  base salary
received by the executive during the last complete fiscal year of his service as
an employee (the "normal retirement benefit").  Such benefit shall be payable to
the executive in equal monthly  installments  over 15 years.  If the executive's
employment  with the Corporation is terminated for any reason (other than death)
prior to the executive  attaining the age of 65, the executive shall receive the
same benefit  payable over the same period of time  multiplied by a fraction the
numerator of which is the  executive's  years of service prior to termination of
employment  and the  denominator  of which is the years of service the executive
would have had had the executive's employment terminated when he was 65.

Upon a change of control of the  Corporation  (as defined)  followed at any time
during the succeeding 12 months by a cessation in the executive's employment for
reasons other than death, disability or retirement,  the executive shall receive
a lump sum payment equal to the present value  (discounted at the rate of 4%) of
the stream of payments the  executive  would have  received had he qualified for
the normal retirement  benefit. If the executive dies while in active service to
the  Corporation,  the beneficiary of the executive will receive an amount equal
to the  greater of that part of the  normal  retirement  benefit  accrued by the
Corporation  for the  executive as of the date of the  executive's  death or the
projected retirement benefit calculated in January 1997 based on the executive's
age and other assumptions regarding increases in base salary. This death benefit
is payable to the beneficiary in equal monthly installments over 15 years.

As of  December  31,  1998,  the  Corporation  had accrued  salary  continuation
benefits for Mr. Prezeau of $51,271.

Life Insurance Plan
The Bank has a plan  which  provides  Messrs.  Prezeau,  Weeks and  Wright  with
certain life  insurance  benefits.  Under the plan,  the Bank has purchased life
insurance  policies on the lives of each executive and has agreed to provide the
designated beneficiary of each executive with death benefits equal to the lesser
of (i) two times such  executive's  annual  base salary most recent to his death
and (ii) the excess of the total death  proceeds  under the policy over the cash
surrender value of such policy on the date of death.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board  recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of all three (3) nominees
for director.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Transactions with Management
Certain  directors  of the  Corporation  had loans with the Bank in 1998.  These
loans  were on  substantially  the  same  terms  including  interest  rates  and
collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with others and
did not involve  more than the normal risk of  collectibility  or present  other
unfavorable features. The Bank may have similar transactions in the future.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended,  requires
Corporation's  executive  officers  and  directors,  and any persons  owning ten
percent  or more of  Corporation's  common  stock,  to  file in  their  personal
capacities initial statements of beneficial ownership,  statements of changes in
beneficial ownership and annual statements of beneficial ownership with the SEC.
The rules of the SEC regarding the filing of such  statements  require that late
filings of such statements be disclosed in the proxy  statement.  To the best of
management's knowledge, all such statements were timely filed in 1998.


                                   PROPOSAL 2
                       APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The  accounting  firm of KPMG LLP  served as the  independent  auditors  for the
Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1998. Services provided included the
examination of the consolidated  financial statements and preparation of the tax
returns.

The Board has appointed KPMG LLP as the independent auditors for the Corporation
and the  Bank for  1999.  Stockholder  ratification  of the  appointment  is not
required under the laws of the State of New Jersey, but the Board has decided to
ascertain the position of the  stockholders  on the  appointment.  The Board may
reconsider the  appointment  if it is not ratified.  The  affirmative  vote of a
majority of the shares voted at the meeting is required for ratification.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board recommends that you vote "FOR" ratification of the Section of KPMG LLP
as independent auditors for 1999.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be preset at the meeting and will be
allowed  to make a  statement  if they so  desire.  Additionally,  they  will be
available  to respond to  appropriate  questions  from  stockholders  during the
meeting.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Stockholders  who  intend to present  proposals  at the 2000  Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders  must present a written proposal to the Corporation by December 23,
1999, for inclusion in the Corporation's proxy statement.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

Management  knows  of no  other  business  scheduled  for  consideration  at the
meeting.  Should any matter  properly come before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof,  it is intended  that proxies will vote in  accordance  with their best
judgment.

                       By order of the Board of Directors


                                                     Lemar C. Whigham
                                                     Secretary

April 23, 1999



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