FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP INC
S-8, 1999-06-25
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 1999
                                                Registration No. 333-_____


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

              Pennsylvania                                    23-2354007
              ------------                                    ----------
     (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

         133 North Centre Avenue
         Leesport, Pennsylvania                                  19533
         ----------------------                                  -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


         FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC. 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                            (Full title of the plan)


          Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.                              Copies To:
President and Chief Executive Officer             Nicholas Bybel, Jr., Esquire
     FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.                     SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
       133 North Centre Avenue                          Post Office Box 88
     Leesport, Pennsylvania  19533               Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108
         (610) 926-2161                                  (717) 763-1121
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)

<TABLE>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<CAPTION>

Title of Each Class              Amount               Proposed Maximum
 of Securities to                 to be                Offering Price
   be Registered              Registered(1)             Per Share(2)
______________________________________________________________________________
<S>                           <C>                     <C>

  Common Stock,
 $5.00 Par Value                200,000                   $20.3125
______________________________________________________________________________


Title of Each Class         Proposed Maximum              Amount of
 of Securities to               Aggregate               Registration
   be Registered            Offering Price(2)                Fee
______________________________________________________________________________
<S>                         <C>                         <C>

  Common Stock,
 $5.00 Par Value               $4,062,500                 $1,129.38
______________________________________________________________________________
<FN>

(1)  Based on the  maximum  number  of shares of First  Leesport  Bancorp,  Inc.
     common stock, par value $5.00 per share,  ("common  stock")  authorized for
     issuance under the plan set forth above. An indeterminate  number of shares
     of common  stock as may  become  issuable  by  reason of the  anti-dilution
     provisions of the plans are also hereby registered.

(2)  Estimated  pursuant  to Rule  457(c) and (h)(1)  solely for the  purpose of
     calculating  the amount of the  registration  fee based upon the average of
     the high and low prices of the common stock on June 23, 1999,  with respect
     to the shares of common stock issuable under the plans.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                    Page 1 of 31 Sequentially Numbered Pages
                       Index to Exhibits Found on Page 13


<PAGE>



                             TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE
                          FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.
                       1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


     First Leesport Bancorp, Inc. files this Registration  Statement on Form S-8
to register  the First  Leesport  common  stock  issuable  pursuant to the First
Leesport  Bancorp,  Inc. 1998 Employee Stock  Incentive Plan. This prospectus is
part of that  Registration  Statement  and  consists  of certain  documents  and
explanatory  memoranda  regarding the plan. As allowed by Commission rules, this
prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the Registration
Statement or the exhibits to the Registration Statement. Some of the information
is not  physically  included in this  prospectus but rather is  incorporated  by
reference  to  documents  that First  Leesport  filed with the  Commission.  The
information that is incorporated by reference  consists of the following:  (File
No. 0-14555)

     (a)  First  Leesport's  Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB  for the year  ended
          December 31, 1998, filed with the Commission on March 31, 1999;

     (b)  First Leesport's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
          March 31, 1999, filed with the Commission on May 17, 1999;

     (c)  First Leesport's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission
          on January 22, 1999; and

     (d)  description  of First  Leesport's  common  stock that appears in First
          Leesport's  prospectus filed with the Commission on or about April 27,
          1999,  which forms a part of First Leesport's  Registration  Statement
          No. 333-77075 on Form S-4.

     All documents  filed by First Leesport under Section  13(a),  13(c),  14 or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this  prospectus
are also  incorporated  by reference  into this  prospectus and deemed a part of
this prospectus from the date of filing.

     Any  statement  contained in a document that is  incorporated  by reference
will be modified or  superseded  for all purposes to the extent that a statement
contained in this  prospectus  (or in any other  document  that is  subsequently
filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference) modifies or is contrary
to that previous statement.




<PAGE>



     Documents  incorporated  by reference are available  without charge to each
participant  who requests,  a copy of any or all of the documents.  In addition,
you may obtain all  documentation  relating  to the plan that is  required to be
delivered to participants pursuant to the rules adopted under the Securities Act
of 1933 from First Leesport. Requests for copies should be addressed verbally or
in writing to:

                          First Leesport Bancorp, Inc.
                          Attention: Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                          133 North Centre Avenue
                          Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533
                          (610) 926-2161


June 25, 1999


<PAGE>



                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

     (a)  First  Leesport's  Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB  for the year  ended
          December 31, 1998, filed with the Commission on March 31, 1999;

     (b)  First Leesport's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
          March 31, 1999, filed with the Commission on May 17, 1999;

     (c)  First Leesport's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission
          on January 22, 1999; and

     (d)  description  of First  Leesport's  common  stock that appears in First
          Leesport's  prospectus filed with the Commission on or about April 27,
          1999,  which forms a part of First Leesport's  Registration  Statement
          No. 333-77075 on Form S-4.

     All documents  filed by First Leesport under Section  13(a),  13(c),  14 or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this  prospectus
are also  incorporated  by reference  into this  prospectus and deemed a part of
this prospectus from the date of filing.

     Any  statement  contained in a document that is  incorporated  by reference
will be modified or  superseded  for all purposes to the extent that a statement
contained in this  prospectus  (or in any other  document  that is  subsequently
filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference) modifies or is contrary
to that previous statement.

     The document(s)  containing the  information  specified in Items 1 and 2 of
Part I of this Form S-8 that will be sent or given to the plan participants,  as
specified in Rule 428(b)(1) and in accordance with the instructions to Part I of
Form S-8, are not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a part of
this Registration Statement.


Item 4. Description of Securities

     Not applicable.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The  general  corporate  law  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,   as
applicable to First Leesport, together with First Leesport's Bylaws, as amended,
provides  First  Leesport's  officers  and  directors  with  a  broad  range  of
limitation from liability and indemnification for actions and inactions in

                                      II-1

<PAGE>



connection with the performance of their duties. Generally,  Article II, Section
212 and Article V, Sections 501 and 502 of First Leesport's  Bylaws, as amended,
provide for  indemnification  of  directors  and  officers.  Aside from  matters
involving  criminal  statutes or tax laws, the Bylaws provide that the directors
are not personally  liable for monetary damages for any action or inaction taken
unless the  director  has  breached  or failed to  perform  his or her duties of
office and such breach or failure constitutes  self-dealing,  willful misconduct
or  recklessness.  First  Leesport's  officers and  directors are entitled to be
indemnified  if they are named as a party to any type of  proceeding as a result
of actions or  inactions  taken  while in the course of their  association  with
First Leesport  provided that such action or inaction was in good faith and in a
manner  reasonably  believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best  interests of
First Leesport.  Officers and directors of First Leesport will be presumed to be
entitled to this indemnification absent breaches of fiduciary duty, lack of good
faith or  self-dealing  and will be  entitled  to be  indemnified  unless  their
conduct is  determined  by a court to have  constituted  willful  misconduct  or
recklessness.

     The specific  provisions  of  Pennsylvania  corporate  law that provide for
indemnification of directors and officers are set forth herein.  Subchapter D of
Chapter 17 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (the
BCL), (15 Pa. C.S.A.  Sections 1741-1750)  provides that a business  corporation
shall  have the  power  under  certain  circumstances  to  indemnify  directors,
officers,  employees and agents  against  certain  expenses  incurred by them in
connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding.

     Section 1721 of the BCL (relating to the Board of Directors)  declares that
unless otherwise provided by statute or in a by-law adopted by the shareholders,
all powers enumerated in Section 1502 (relating to general powers) and elsewhere
in the  BCL or  otherwise  vested  by law in a  business  corporation  shall  be
exercised  by or under the  authority  of, and the business and affairs of every
business  corporation  shall  be  managed  under  the  direction  of, a board of
directors.  If any such provision is made in the by-laws,  the powers and duties
conferred  or  imposed  upon  the  board of  directors  under  the BCL  shall be
exercised  or performed to such extent and by such person or persons as shall be
provided in the by-laws.

     Section 1712 of the BCL provides that a director shall stand in a fiduciary
relation  to the  corporation  and  shall  perform  his  duties  as a  director,
including his duties as a member of any committee of the board upon which he may
serve,  in good  faith,  in a manner he  reasonably  believes  to be in the best
interests of the corporation and with such care,  including  reasonable inquiry,
skill and  diligence,  as a person of ordinary  prudence would use under similar
circumstances. In performing his duties, a director shall be entitled to rely in
good faith on information,  opinions, reports or statements, including financial
statements and other  financial  data, in each case prepared or presented by any
of the following:

     (1)  one or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director
          reasonably  believes  to be  reliable  and  competent  in the  matters
          presented;

     (2)  counsel,  public  accountants or other persons as to matters which the
          director  reasonably  believes to be within the professional or expert
          competence of such person; or

     (3)  a committee of the board upon which he does not serve, duly designated
          in accordance with law, as to matters within its designated authority,
          which committee the director reasonably believes to merit confidence.

A  director  shall  not be  considered  to be acting  in good  faith,  if he has
knowledge  concerning the matter in question that would cause his reliance to be
unwarranted.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>



     Section 1716 also states that in discharging the duties of their respective
positions,  the board of  directors,  committees  of the  board  and  individual
directors may, in considering  the best interests of the  corporation,  consider
the effects of any action upon  employees,  upon  suppliers and customers of the
corporation and upon communities in which offices or other establishments of the
corporation are located,  and all other pertinent factors.  The consideration of
those  factors  shall not  constitute a violation of Section  1712. In addition,
absent breach of fiduciary  duty,  lack of good faith or  self-dealing,  actions
taken as a director or any failure to take any action shall be presumed to be in
the best interests of the corporation.

     Moreover,  Section 1713  addresses the personal  liability of directors and
states that if a by-law  adopted by the  shareholders  so  provides,  a director
shall not be personally  liable,  as such,  for monetary  damages for any action
taken, or any failure to take any action, unless:

     (1)  the  director  has  breached  or failed to  perform  the duties of his
          office under this section; and

     (2)  the breach or failure to  perform  constitutes  self-dealing,  willful
          misconduct or recklessness.

     The provisions discussed above shall not apply to:

     (1)  the responsibility or liability of a director pursuant to any criminal
          statute; or

     (2)  the  liability  of a director  for the  payment of taxes  pursuant  to
          local, state or federal law.

     Finally,  Section  1714  states  that a director  of a  corporation  who is
present at a meeting of its board of directors,  or of a committee of the board,
at which  action on any  corporate  matter is taken  shall be  presumed  to have
assented to the action taken unless his dissent is entered in the minutes of the
meeting or unless he files his written  dissent to the action with the secretary
of the  meeting  before the  adjournment  thereof or  transmits  the  dissent in
writing to the secretary of the corporation immediately after the adjournment of
the  meeting.  The right to dissent  shall not apply to a director  who voted in
favor of the  action.  Nothing in this  Section  1721 shall bar a director  from
asserting  that  minutes of the  meeting  incorrectly  omitted  his  dissent if,
promptly upon receipt of a copy of such minutes,  he notified the secretary,  in
writing, of the asserted omission or inaccuracy.

     Section 1741 of the BCL  (relating to third party  actions)  provides  that
unless otherwise  restricted in its by-laws,  a business  corporation shall have
the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party,  or is threatened to be
made a party to any  threatened,  pending  or  completed  action or  proceeding,
whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the  corporation),  by reason of the fact that such person
is or was a  representative  of the  corporation,  or is or was  serving  at the
request of the corporation as a  representative  of another  domestic or foreign
corporation for profit or not-for-profit,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person
in  connection  with the action or proceeding if such person acted in good faith
and in a manner he  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not  opposed to, the best
interests of the corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any
action or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea
of nolo  contendere or its  equivalent  shall not of itself create a presumption
that the  person did not act in good  faith and in a manner  that he  reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and
with respect to any criminal  proceeding,  had reasonable  cause to believe that
his conduct was not unlawful.

                                      II-3

<PAGE>



     Section 1742 of the BCL  (relating to  derivative  actions)  provides  that
unless otherwise  restricted in its by-laws,  a business  corporation shall have
the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party,  or is threatened to be
made a party, to any threatened,  pending or completed action by or in the right
of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that
such person is or was a representative of the corporation,  or is or was serving
at the request of the  corporation as a  representative  of another  domestic or
foreign  corporation for profit or not-for-profit,  partnership,  joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and  reasonably  incurred  by such  person in  connection  with the  defense  or
settlement  of the action if such person  acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably  believed  to be in, or not  opposed  to, the best  interests  of the
corporation.  Indemnification shall not be made under this section in respect of
any claim,  issue or matter as to which  such  person  has been  adjudged  to be
liable to the  corporation  unless,  and only to the extent  that,  the court of
common  pleas of the  judicial  district  embracing  the  county  in  which  the
registered  office of the  corporation  is  located  or the court in which  such
action was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability  but in view of all the  circumstances  of the  case,  such  person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court of
common pleas or such other court shall deem proper.

     Section 1743 of the BCL  (relating to mandatory  indemnification)  provides
for mandatory  indemnification of directors and officers such that to the extent
that a  representative  of the business  corporation  has been successful on the
merits or  otherwise  in  defense  of any action or  proceeding  referred  to in
Sections 1741  (relating to third party actions) or 1742 (relating to derivative
actions), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall
be  indemnified  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  actually  and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

     Section   1744  of  the  BCL   (relating   to   procedure   for   effecting
indemnification)  provides the procedure for  effecting  indemnification.  Under
this section unless ordered by a court, any  indemnification  under Section 1741
(relating to third party actions) or 1742 (relating to derivative actions) shall
be made by the business corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon
a determination  that  indemnification  of the  representative  is proper in the
circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in those sections. The determination shall be made:

     (1)  by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
          directors who were not parties to the action or proceeding;

     (2)  if such quorum is not  obtainable,  or, if  obtainable  and a majority
          vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent
          legal counsel in a written opinion; or

     (3)  by the shareholders.

     Section  1745 of the BCL  (relating to advancing  expenses)  provides  that
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred  in  defending  any  action or
proceeding referred to above may be paid by the business  corporation in advance
of the  final  disposition  of the  action  or  proceeding  upon  receipt  of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the  representative to repay such amount if it is
ultimately  determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation as authorized by the BCL or otherwise.

     Section 1746 of the BCL (relating to supplementary  coverage) provides that
the  indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant
to the other  sections  of the BCL shall  not be deemed  exclusive  of any other
rights to which a person seeking  indemnification or advancement of expenses may
be  entitled  under  any  other  by-law,  agreement,  vote  of  shareholders  or
disinterested

                                      II-4

<PAGE>



directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and
as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

     Section  1746 of the BCL also  provides  that  indemnification  referred to
above  shall not be made in any case where the act or failure to act giving rise
to the claim for  indemnification  is determined by a court to have  constituted
willful misconduct or recklessness.

     Section  1746  further  declares  that  indemnification  under any  by-law,
agreement,  vote of shareholders  or directors or otherwise,  may be granted for
any action  taken or any  failure to take any action and may be made  whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person under any other
provision  of law except as  provided  in this  section  and  whether or not the
indemnified liability arises or arose from any threatened,  pending or completed
action by or in the right of the corporation.  Such  indemnification is declared
to be consistent with the public policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     Section  1747 of the BCL  (relating  to the  power to  purchase  insurance)
provides that unless otherwise restricted in its by-laws, a business corporation
shall have power to purchase and maintain  insurance on behalf of any person who
is or was a  representative  of the  corporation  or is or  was  serving  at the
request of the corporation as a  representative  of another  domestic or foreign
corporation for profit or not-for-profit,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or
other enterprise  against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him
in any such capacity,  or arising out of his status as such,  whether or not the
corporation  would have the power to indemnify him against that liability  under
the provisions of the BCL. Such insurance is declared to be consistent  with the
public policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     Section  1750 of the BCL  (relating  to  duration  and extent of  coverage)
declares that the  indemnification  and advancement of expenses  provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the BCL shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified,  continue as to a person who has ceased to be a representative  of the
corporation   and  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  heirs  and  personal
representative of that person.

     Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the 1933 Act may
be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling  persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions  or otherwise,  the  Registrant  has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission  such  indemnification  is against
public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than
the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by a director,  officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the manner has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed

     Not applicable.



                                      II-5

<PAGE>



Items 8. Exhibits

     Exhibit No.

     4.1  Articles of Incorporation of First Leesport Bancorp, Inc., as amended.
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the  Registrant's  Annual
          Report on Form  10-KSB for the year  ended  December  31,  1998 and to
          Exhibit 4.1 of this Registration Statement on Form S-8.)

     4.2  Bylaws of First Leesport Bancorp, Inc., as restated.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
          for the year ended December 31, 1998.)

     4.3  First Leesport Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.

     5    Opinion of Shumaker Williams, P.C.

     23.1 Consent of Beard & Company, Inc.

     23.2 Consent of Shumaker  Williams,  P.C.  (contained  at Exhibit 5 of this
          Registration Statement).

     24   Power of Attorney of  Directors  and  Officers  (included on Signature
          Pages).

Item 9. Undertakings

     (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i)  To include any  prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of
                    the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
                    after the effective date of the  Registration  Statement (or
                    the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,
                    individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent a fundamental
                    change  in the  information  set  forth in the  Registration
                    Statement; and

               (iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan
                    of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
                    Statement or any material change to such  information in the
                    registration statement;  provided,  however, that paragraphs
                    (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii)  shall not apply if the information
                    required  to be included in a  post-effective  amendment  by
                    those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with
                    or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to
                    Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act
                    of  1934  that  are   incorporated   by   reference  in  the
                    Registration Statement.


                                      II-6

<PAGE>



          (2)  That,  for the purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
               Securities Act of 1933,  each  post-effective  amendment shall be
               deemed  to  be a  new  registration  statement  relating  to  the
               securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
               at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide  offering
               thereof.

          (3)  To  remove  from   registration  by  means  of  a  post-effective
               amendment any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain
               unsold at the termination of the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
          determining  any  liability  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  each
          filing of the Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
          Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  and,  where
          applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit  plan's annual report
          pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that
          is  incorporated by reference in the  Registration  Statement shall be
          deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities
          offered  therein,  and the  offering of such  securities  at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (h)  Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
          Securities  Act of 1933 may be  permitted to  directors,  officers and
          controlling  persons  of the  Registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing
          provisions,  or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
          opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
          is against  public policy as expressed in the  Securities  Act of 1933
          and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a  claim  for
          indemnification  against such  liabilities,  other than the payment of
          the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,  officer or
          controlling  person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
          action suit or  proceeding  as asserted by such  director,  officer or
          controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
          the Registrant  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
          has  been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a court of
          appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933
          and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-7

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized in the City of Leesport,  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  on May 11,
1999.


                                        FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.


                               By:      /s/ Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints Raymond H. Melcher, Jr. and Frederick P. Henrich,
and each of them,  his or her true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact,  as agent with
full power of substitution and  resubstitution  for him or her and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, to sign any or all amendments to
this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting  unto said  attorney-in-fact  and  agents  full  power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully and to all intents and purposes
as they might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all that
said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or their  substitute or  substitutes,  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following person in the capacities
and on the date indicated.

Name                                        Capacity                 Date


/s/ John T. Connelly            Chairman of the Board             May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------   Director
John T. Connelly


/s/ Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.     President and Chief               May 11, 1999
- ---------------------------     Executive Officer
Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.         (Principal Executive Officer),
                                Director



/s/ Frederick P. Henrich        Treasurer, Vice President         May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------   and Chief Financial Officer
Frederick P. Henrich            (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)





<PAGE>



/s/ Richard L. Henry            Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Richard L. Henry


/s/ William Keller              Director                          May 11, 1999
William Keller


/s/ Charles J. Hopkins          Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Charles J. Hopkins


                                Director                          May __, 1999
Edward C. Barrett


/s/ Karen A. Rightmire          Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Karen A. Rightmire


/s/ Harry J. O'Neill, III       Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Harry J. O'Neill, III


/s/ Alfred J. Weber             Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Alfred J. Weber


/s/ Daniel W. Weist             Director                          May 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Daniel W. Weist


<PAGE>



                                  Exhibit Index
                                                                  Page Number
                                                                 In Sequential
Exhibit                                                            Numbering
   No.                                                               System

4.1       Articles of Incorporation of First Leesport Bancorp,         14
          Inc., as amended.(Incorporated  by reference to
          Exhibit 3.1 to the  Registrant's  Annual Report
          on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1998
          and to Exhibit 4.1 of this Registration Statement on
          Form S-8.)

4.2       Bylaws of First Leesport Bancorp, Inc., as restated.         *
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's
          Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December
          31, 1998.)

4.3       First Leesport Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock             17
          Incentive Plan.

5         Opinion of Shumaker Williams, P.C.                           27

23.1      Consent of Beard & Company, Inc.                             30

23.2      Consent of Shumaker Williams, P.C.
          (Contained at Exhibit 5 of this Registration Statement).

24        Power of Attorney of Directors and Officers.
          (Included on Signature Pages).





* Incorporated by reference.




                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                            ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF

                          FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.
<PAGE>


Microfilm Number_________  Filed with the Department of State on   May 11, 1999

Entity Number_________     ____________________________________________________
                                                  Secretary of the Commonwealth


              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT - DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
                              DSCB:15-1915 (Rev 90)

     In compliance  with the  requirements  of 15 Pa.C.S.  ss.1915  (relating to
Articles of Amendment), the undersigned business corporation,  desiring to amend
its Articles, does hereby certify and state that:

1.   The name of the Corporation is: First Leesport Bancorp, Inc.

2.   The (a) address of this  corporation's  current  registered  office in this
     Commonwealth or (b) name of its commercial  registered  office provider and
     the county of venue is (the Department is hereby  authorized to correct the
     following information to conform to the records of the Department):

     (a)133 Centre Avenue          Leesport      PA      19533           Berks
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Number and Street           City        State     Zip           County

     (b) c/o:

        Name of Commercial Registered Office Provider                  County

3.   The statute by or under which the Corporation was Incorporated is: Business
     Corporation Law, Act of May 5, 1933, P.L. 364, as amended.

4.   The date of its Incorporation is: July 26, 1985

5.   (Check, and if appropriate complete, one of the following):

      X   The amendment shall be effective upon filing these Articles of
     ---  Amendment in the Department of State.

          The  amendment shall be effective on  :__________________at_________
     ---                                               Date             Hour

6. (Check one of the following):

      X   The amendment was adopted by the shareholders (or members) pursuant
     ---  to 15 Pa.C.S.ss.1914(a) and

(b).
          The amendment was adopted by the board of directors pursuant to
     ---  15 Pa.C.S. ss. 1914(c).

7.   (Check, and if appropriate complete, one of the following):

      X   The amendment  adopted by the  corporation set forth in full, is
     ---  as follows:

          Article Fifth of the corporation's  articles of incorporation is
          amended to read in its entirety as follows:

          "Fifth.  The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the
          Corporation shall have authority to issue is 10,000,000 shares of
          common stock, par value $5.00 per share."

      X   The amendment adopted by the corporation is set forth in full in
     ---  Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.


<PAGE>




8.   (Check if the amendment restates the Articles):

     _____ The restated Articles of Incorporation supersede the original
           Articles and all amendments thereto.

     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the undersigned Corporation has caused these Articles
of Amendment to be signed by a duly authorized officer thereof and its corporate
seal, duly attested by another such officer, to be hereunto affixed this 7th day
of May, 1999.

                                    FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.


                                 BY:/s/ Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
                                    ------------------------------
                                    Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
                                 TITLE:   President and Chief Executive Officer

(CORPORATE SEAL)



                                   EXHIBIT 4.3

                          FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.

                       1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


<PAGE>



                          FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.

                       1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.   Purpose.  The purpose of this Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is
     to  advance  the  development,  growth  and  financial  condition  of First
     Leesport Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Corporation") and each subsidiary thereof, as
     defined in Section 424 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended
     (the  "Code"),  by  providing  incentives  through   participation  in  the
     appreciation of the common stock of the  Corporation to secure,  retain and
     motivate  personnel  who  may be  responsible  for  the  operation  and for
     management  of the affairs of the  Corporation  and any  subsidiary  now or
     hereafter existing ("Subsidiary").

2.   Term.  The Plan shall become  effective as of the date it is adopted by the
     Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board"),  and shall be presented for
     approval at the next meeting of the Corporation's shareholders. Any and all
     options  and  rights  awarded  under the Plan (the  "Awards")  before it is
     approved by the Corporation's  shareholders  shall be conditioned upon, and
     may not be exercised  before,  receipt of shareholder  approval,  and shall
     lapse upon failure to receive such approval.  Unless previously  terminated
     by the Board,  the Plan shall terminate on, and no options shall be granted
     after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

3.   Stock. Shares of the Corporation's common stock (the "Stock"),  that may be
     issued under the Plan shall not exceed,  in the aggregate,  200,000 shares,
     as may be  adjusted  pursuant  to Section  19 hereof.  Shares may be either
     authorized  and  unissued  shares,  or  authorized  shares,  issued  by and
     subsequently  reacquired by the  Corporation  as treasury  stock.  Under no
     circumstances shall any fractional shares be awarded under the Plan. Except
     as may be  otherwise  provided in the Plan,  any Stock  subject to an Award
     that, for any reason,  lapses or terminates prior to exercise,  shall again
     become available for grant under the Plan. While the Plan is in effect, the
     Corporation  shall reserve and keep available the number of shares of Stock
     needed to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The Corporation shall apply
     for any  requisite  governmental  authority to issue shares under the Plan.
     The Corporation's failure to obtain any such governmental authority, deemed
     necessary by the  Corporation's  legal counsel for the lawful  issuance and
     sale of Stock under the Plan, shall relieve the Corporation of any duty, or
     liability for the failure to issue or sell the Stock.

4.   Administration.  The  ability to  control  and  manage  the  operation  and
     administration  of the Plan shall be vested in the Board or in a  committee
     of  two  or  more  members  of  the  Board,  selected  by  the  Board  (the
     "Committee").  The Committee  shall have the  authority  and  discretion to
     interpret  the  Plan,  to  establish,  amend  and  rescind  any  rules  and
     regulations  relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of
     any  agreements  made  pursuant  to the  Plan,  and to  make  any  and  all
     determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of
     the Plan. Any  interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision
     made by the Committee under the Plan is final and binding.

          The Committee shall be responsible  and shall have full,  absolute and
     final power of authority to determine  what,  to whom,  when and under what
     facts and  circumstances  Awards shall be made,  the form,  number,  terms,
     conditions  and  duration  thereof,  including  but  not  limited  to  when
     exercisable,  the number of shares of Stock subject thereto,  and the stock
     option exercise prices.  The Committee shall make all other  determinations
     and decisions,  take all actions and do all things necessary or appropriate
     in and for the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee or of
     the Board shall be liable for any decision, determination or action made or
     taken in good faith by such person under or with respect to the Plan or its
     administration.


                                        1

<PAGE>



5.   Awards.  Awards may be made  under the Plan in the form of: (a)  "Qualified
     Options" to purchase  Stock,  which are intended to qualify for certain tax
     treatment  as incentive  stock  options  under  Sections 421 and 422 of the
     Code, (b) "Non-Qualified Options" to purchase Stock, which are not intended
     to  qualify  under  Sections  421  through  424  of  the  Code,  (c)  Stock
     Appreciation  Rights  ("SARs"),  or (d) "Restricted  Stock".  More than one
     Award may be  granted  to an  eligible  person,  and the grant of any Award
     shall not prohibit the grant of another Award, either to the same person or
     otherwise,  or impose any  obligation to exercise on the  participant.  All
     Awards and the terms and  conditions  thereof shall be set forth in written
     agreements, in such form and content as approved by the Committee from time
     to time,  and shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan whether or not
     contained in such agreements.  Multiple Awards for a particular  person may
     be set forth in a single written  agreement or in multiple  agreements,  as
     determined  by the  Committee,  but in all cases each  agreement for one or
     more Awards shall  identify  each of the Awards  thereby  represented  as a
     Qualified  Option,   Non-Qualified  Option,  Stock  Appreciation  Right  or
     Restricted Stock, as the case may be.

6.   Eligibility. Persons eligible to receive Awards shall be those key officers
     and other employees of the Corporation and each  Subsidiary,  as determined
     by the  Committee.  A person's  eligibility  to receive an Award  shall not
     confer upon him or her any right to receive an Award.  Except as  otherwise
     provided,  a person's eligibility to receive, or actual receipt of an Award
     under  the Plan  shall not limit or  affect  his or her  benefits  under or
     eligibility  to  participate  in any other  incentive  or  benefit  plan or
     program of the Corporation or any of its affiliates.

7.   Qualified Options. In addition to other applicable  provisions of the Plan,
     all Qualified  Options and Awards thereof shall be under and subject to the
     following terms and conditions:

     (a)  The  maximum  number of shares of Stock  that may be issued by options
          intended to be Qualified Options shall be 200,000 shares.

     (b)  No  Qualified  Option  shall be awarded more than ten (10) years after
          the  date  the Plan is  adopted  by the  Board or the date the Plan is
          approved by the Corporation's shareholders, whichever is earlier;

     (c)  The time period during which any Qualified  Option is exercisable,  as
          determined by the Committee,  shall not commence before the expiration
          of six (6) months or continue  beyond the expiration of ten (10) years
          after the date the Qualified Option is awarded;

     (d)  If a  participant,  who was awarded a Qualified  Option,  ceases to be
          employed by the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary  for any reason other
          than his or her  death,  the  Committee  may  permit  the  participant
          thereafter  to exercise  the option  during its  remaining  term for a
          period of not more than three (3) months after cessation of employment
          to  the  extent  that  the  Qualified  Option  was  then  and  remains
          exercisable,   unless  such  employment   cessation  was  due  to  the
          participant's  disability, as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code,
          in which case the three (3) month  period shall be twelve (12) months;
          if  the  participant  dies  while  employed  by the  Corporation  or a
          Subsidiary,  the  Committee  may  permit the  participant's  qualified
          personal  representatives,  or any persons  who acquire the  Qualified
          Option   pursuant   to  his  or  her  Will  or  laws  of  descent  and
          distribution,  to exercise the  Qualified  Option during its remaining
          term for a period  of not more  than  twelve  (12)  months  after  the
          participant's  death to the extent that the Qualified  Option was then
          and remains exercisable; the Committee may impose terms and conditions
          upon and for the exercise of a Qualified Option after the cessation of
          the participant's employment or his or her death;


                                        2

<PAGE>



     (e)  The purchase price of Stock subject to any Qualified  Option shall not
          be less than the Stock's fair market  value at the time the  Qualified
          Option is awarded  and shall not be less than the  Stock's  par value;
          and

     (f)  Qualified  Options  may not be sold,  transferred  or  assigned by the
          participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

8.   Non-Qualified  Options.  In addition to other applicable  provisions of the
     Plan,  all  Non-Qualified  Options  and Awards  thereof  shall be under and
     subject to the following terms and conditions:

     (a)  The time period during which any  Non-Qualified  Option is exercisable
          shall not commence before the expiration of six (6) months or continue
          beyond  the   expiration   of  ten  (10)  years  after  the  date  the
          Non-Qualified Option is awarded;

     (b)  If a participant, who was awarded a Non-Qualified Option, ceases to be
          eligible under the Plan,  before lapse or full exercise of the option,
          the Committee may permit the participant to exercise the option during
          its remaining term, to the extent that the option was then and remains
          exercisable,  or for  such  time  period  and  under  such  terms  and
          conditions as may be prescribed by the Committee;

     (c)  The purchase  price of a share of Stock  subject to any  Non-Qualified
          Option shall not be less than the Stock's par value; and

     (d)  Except as otherwise  provided by the  Committee,  Non-Qualified  Stock
          Options  granted  under  the  Plan  are  not  transferable  except  as
          designated  by the  participant  by Will and the laws of  descent  and
          distribution.


9.   Stock  Appreciation  Rights. In addition to other applicable  provisions of
     the Plan,  all SARs and Awards  thereof  shall be under and  subject to the
     following terms and conditions:

     (a)  SARs may be  granted  either  alone,  or in  connection  with  another
          previously or contemporaneously granted Award (other than another SAR)
          so as to operate in tandem  therewith  by having the  exercise  of one
          affect the right to exercise the other,  as and when the Committee may
          determine;  however,  no SAR shall be  awarded  in  connection  with a
          Qualified  Option  more than ten (10) years after the date the Plan is
          adopted  by  the  Board  or the  date  the  Plan  is  approved  by the
          Corporation's stockholders, whichever date is earlier;

     (b)  Each SAR shall entitle the participant to receive upon exercise of the
          SAR all or a portion of the excess of (i) the fair market value at the
          time of such  exercise  of a  specified  number  of shares of Stock as
          determined by the Committee, over (ii) a specified price as determined
          by the  Committee  of such  number of shares of Stock  that,  on a per
          share  basis,  is not less than the Stock's  fair market  value at the
          time  the SAR is  awarded,  or if the SAR is  connected  with  another
          Award,  such lesser  percentage of the Stock purchase price thereunder
          as may be determined by the Committee;

     (c)  Upon exercise of any SAR, the participant shall be paid either in cash
          or in Stock,  or in any  combination  thereof,  as the Committee shall
          determine;  if such  payment  is to be made in  Stock,  the  number of
          shares  thereof  to be  issued  pursuant  to  the  exercise  shall  be
          determined by dividing the amount payable upon exercise by the Stock's
          fair market value at the time of exercise;

                                        3

<PAGE>



     (d)  The time period during which any SAR is exercisable,  as determined by
          the  Committee,  shall not commence  before the  expiration of six (6)
          months;  however,  no  SAR  connected  with  another  Award  shall  be
          exercisable  beyond the last date that such other  connected Award may
          be exercised;

     (e)  If a  participant  holding a SAR,  before its lapse or full  exercise,
          ceases to be eligible  under the Plan,  the  Committee  may permit the
          participant thereafter to exercise such SAR during its remaining term,
          to the extent that the SAR was then and remains exercisable,  for such
          time period and under such terms and  conditions  as may be prescribed
          by the Committee;

     (f)  No SAR shall be awarded in connection with any Qualified Option unless
          the SAR (i) lapses no later than the expiration date of such connected
          Option,  (ii) is for not more than the  difference  between  the Stock
          purchase price under such connected Option and the Stock's fair market
          value at the time the SAR is  exercised,  (iii) is  transferable  only
          when and as such connected  Option is transferable  and under the same
          conditions,  (iv) may be exercised only when such connected Option may
          be  exercised,  and (v) may be  exercised  only when the Stock's  fair
          market value  exceeds the Stock  purchase  price under such  connected
          Option.

10.  Restricted  Stock. In addition to other applicable  provisions of the Plan,
     all  Restricted  Stock and Awards thereof shall be under and subject to the
     following terms and conditions:

     (a)  Restricted Stock shall consist of shares of Stock that may be acquired
          by and issued to a participant  at such time,  for such or no purchase
          price,  and under and subject to such  transfer,  forfeiture and other
          restrictions,  conditions  or  terms as  shall  be  determined  by the
          Committee, including but not limited to prohibitions against transfer,
          substantial  risks of  forfeiture  within the meaning of Section 83 of
          the Code, and attainment of performance or other goals,  objectives or
          standards, all for or applicable to such time periods as determined by
          the Committee;

     (b)  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in the Plan or the  Restricted  Stock
          Award, a participant holding shares of Restricted Stock shall have all
          the rights as does a holder of Stock, including without limitation the
          right to vote such shares and receive  dividends with respect thereto;
          however,  during the time period of any  restrictions,  conditions  or
          terms applicable to such Restricted  Stock, the shares thereof and the
          right to vote the same and  receive  dividends  thereon  shall  not be
          sold,  assigned,   transferred,   exchanged,  pledged,   hypothecated,
          encumbered or otherwise disposed of except as permitted by the Plan or
          the Restricted Stock Award;

     (c)  Each  certificate  issued  for  shares of  Restricted  Stock  shall be
          deposited  with  the  Secretary  of the  Corporation,  or  the  office
          thereof,  and shall bear a legend in substantially  the following form
          and content:

               This  Certificate and the shares of Stock hereby  represented are
               subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Corporation's  1998  Stock
               Incentive Plan and a certain  agreement  entered into between the
               holder and the  Corporation  pursuant to the Plan. The release of
               this Certificate and the shares of Stock hereby  represented from
               such  provisions  shall  occur only as  provided  by the Plan and
               agreement,  a copy of  which  are on file  in the  office  of the
               Secretary of the Corporation.

               Upon the lapse or  satisfaction of the  restrictions,  conditions
               and terms  applicable to the Restricted  Stock, a certificate for
               the shares of Stock free of  restrictions  and without the legend
               shall be issued to the participant;

                                        4

<PAGE>



     (d)  If a  participant's  employment  with the  Corporation or a Subsidiary
          ceases  for  any  reason  prior  to the  lapse  of  the  restrictions,
          conditions or terms applicable to his or her Restricted  Stock, all of
          the   participant's   Restricted  Stock  still  subject  to  unexpired
          restrictions, conditions or terms shall be forfeited absolutely by the
          participant  to the  Corporation  without  payment or  delivery of any
          consideration  or  other  thing of  value  by the  Corporation  or its
          affiliates,  and thereupon and thereafter  neither the participant nor
          his or her  heirs,  personal  or  legal  representatives,  successors,
          assigns,  beneficiaries, or any claimants under the participant's Will
          or laws of descent and  distribution,  shall have any rights or claims
          to or interests in the forfeited  Restricted Stock or any certificates
          representing  shares thereof, or claims against the Corporation or its
          affiliates with respect thereto.

11.  Exercise. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, Awards may be exercised
     in whole or in part by giving  written  notice  thereof to the Secretary of
     the  Corporation,  or his or her  designee,  identifying  the  Award  to be
     exercised,  the number of shares of Stock with respect  thereto,  and other
     information  pertinent to exercise of the Award.  The purchase price of the
     shares of Stock with respect to which an Award is  exercised  shall be paid
     with the written notice of exercise, either in cash or in securities of the
     Corporation,  including securities issuable hereunder,  at its then current
     fair market value,  or in any combination  thereof,  as the Committee shall
     determine. Funds received by the Corporation from the exercise of any Award
     shall be used for its general corporate purposes.

          The number of shares of Stock  subject to an Award shall be reduced by
     the number of shares of Stock with  respect  to which the  participant  has
     exercised  rights under the Award.  If a SAR is awarded in connection  with
     another  Award,  the number of shares of Stock that may be  acquired by the
     participant  under the other connected Award shall be reduced by the number
     of shares of Stock with respect to which the  participant has exercised his
     or her SAR, and the number of shares of Stock subject to the  participant's
     SAR shall be  reduced  by the  number of  shares of Stock  acquired  by the
     participant pursuant to the other connected Award.

          The Committee  may permit an  acceleration  of previously  established
     exercise terms of any Awards as, when, under such facts and  circumstances,
     and subject to such other or further  requirements  and  conditions  as the
     Committee may deem necessary or appropriate. In addition:

     (a)  if the Corporation or its shareholders execute an agreement to dispose
          of all or substantially  all of the  Corporation's  assets or stock by
          means of sale, merger, consolidation,  reorganization,  liquidation or
          otherwise,  as a  result  of  which  the  Corporation's  shareholders,
          immediately  before  the  transaction,  will  not own at  least  fifty
          percent  (50%) of the total  combined  voting  power of all classes of
          voting  stock  of the  surviving  entity  (be it  the  Corporation  or
          otherwise) immediately after the consummation of the transaction, then
          any and all  outstanding  Awards shall  immediately  become and remain
          exercisable  or,  if the  transaction  is not  consummated,  until the
          agreement  relating to the  transaction  expires or is terminated,  in
          which case,  all Awards shall be treated as if the agreement was never
          executed;

     (b)  if there is an actual, attempted or threatened change in the ownership
          of at least  twenty-five  percent (25%) of all classes of voting stock
          of the Corporation  through the acquisition of, or an offer to acquire
          such  percentage  of the  Corporation's  voting stock by any person or
          entity,  or persons or entities  acting in concert or as a group,  and
          such  acquisition  or offer has not been duly  approved  by the Board,
          then any and all  outstanding  Awards  shall  immediately  become  and
          remain exercisable; or

     (c)  if during any period of two (2) consecutive years, the individuals who
          at the beginning of such period  constituted the Board cease,  for any
          reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board

                                        5

<PAGE>



          (unless  the  election of each  director  of the Board,  who was not a
          director of the Board at the beginning of such period, was approved by
          a vote of at least  two-thirds of the  directors  then still in office
          who were  directors at the  beginning of such period) then any and all
          Awards shall immediately become and remain exercisable.

12.  Right of First Refusal.  Each written  agreement for an Award may contain a
     provision that requires as a condition to exercising a Qualified  Option or
     a  Non-Qualified  Option  that the  participant  agree  prior  to  selling,
     transferring or otherwise disposing of any shares of Stock obtained through
     the  exercise  of the  Award to first  offer  such  shares  of Stock to the
     Corporation  for purchase.  The terms and conditions of such right of first
     refusal  shall be  determined  by the  Committee  in its sole and  absolute
     discretion, provided that the purchase price shall be at least equal to the
     Stock's fair market value as determined under paragraph 14 below, and shall
     be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

13.  Withholding.   When  a  participant  exercises  a  stock  option  or  Stock
     Appreciation  Right  awarded  under  the  Plan,  the  Corporation,  in  its
     discretion and as required by law, may require the  participant to remit to
     the  Corporation an amount  sufficient to satisfy fully any federal,  state
     and other  jurisdictions'  income  and other tax  withholding  requirements
     prior to the  delivery  of any  certificates  for  shares of Stock.  At the
     Committee's discretion, remittance may be made in cash, shares already held
     by the  participant or by the  withholding by the Corporation of sufficient
     shares  issuable  pursuant  to the  option  to  satisfy  the  participant's
     withholding obligation.

14.  Value.  Where  used in the Plan,  the "fair  market  value" of Stock or any
     options or rights with respect thereto, including Awards, shall mean and be
     determined  by (a) the  average of the highest  and lowest  reported  sales
     prices thereof on the principal established domestic securities exchange on
     which listed,  and if not listed,  then (b) the average of the dealer "bid"
     and "ask" prices thereof on the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
     National  Association  of Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation  System
     ("NASDAQ"),  in either case as of the  specified or  otherwise  required or
     relevant time, or if not traded as of such specified,  required or relevant
     time,  then based upon such reported sales or "bid" and "ask" prices before
     and/or  after such time in  accordance  with  pertinent  provisions  of and
     principles under the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

15.  Amendment.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may amend,
     suspend, or terminate the Plan at any time. The amendment or termination of
     this Plan shall not,  without  the  consent of the  participants,  alter or
     impair  any  rights  or  obligations  under any  Award  previously  granted
     hereunder.

          From time to time, the Committee may rescind, revise and add to any of
     the  terms,  conditions  and  provisions  of the  Plan  or of an  Award  as
     necessary,  or appropriate to have the Plan and any Awards thereunder be or
     remain  qualified and in compliance  with all  applicable  laws,  rules and
     regulations,  and the Committee may delete,  omit or waive any of the terms
     conditions or provisions  that are no longer  required by reason of changes
     of applicable laws, rules or regulations, including but not limited to, the
     provisions  of  Sections  421  and  422  of  the  Code,  Section  16 of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "1934 Act") and the rules
     and  regulations  promulgated by the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.
     Without limiting the generality of the preceding  sentence,  each Qualified
     Option shall be subject to such other and additional terms,  conditions and
     provisions as the Committee may deem  necessary or  appropriate in order to
     qualify as a Qualified Option under Section 422 of the Code, including, but
     not limited to, the following provisions:

     (a)  At the time a Qualified  Option is awarded,  the aggregate fair market
          value of the Stock  subject  thereto and of any Stock or other capital
          stock with respect to which incentive stock options  qualifying  under
          Sections 421 and 422 of the Code are exercisable for the first time by
          the

                                        6

<PAGE>



          participant  during  any  calendar  year  under the Plan and any other
          plans  of  the  Corporation  or  its  affiliates,   shall  not  exceed
          $100,000.00; and

     (b)  No Qualified Option, shall be awarded to any person if, at the time of
          the Award,  the  person  owns  shares of the stock of the  Corporation
          possessing  more than ten percent (10%) of the total  combined  voting
          power of all classes of stock of the  Corporation  or its  affiliates,
          unless,  at the time the  Qualified  Option is awarded,  the  exercise
          price of the Qualified  Option is at least one hundred and ten percent
          (110%) of the fair market  value of the Stock on the date of grant and
          the option,  by its terms, is not exercisable  after the expiration of
          five (5) years from the date it is awarded.

16.  Continued  Employment.  Nothing in the Plan or any Award shall  confer upon
     any participant or other persons any right to continue in the employ of, or
     maintain  any  particular   relationship   with,  the  Corporation  or  its
     affiliates,  or limit or affect any rights,  powers or privileges  that the
     Corporation  or its  affiliates  may  have  to  supervise,  discipline  and
     terminate  the  participant.  However,  the  Committee  may  require,  as a
     condition of making and/or  exercising any Award,  that a participant agree
     to,  and in fact  provide  services,  either as an  employee  or in another
     capacity,  to or for the Corporation or any Subsidiary for such time period
     as the Committee may prescribe.  The immediately  preceding  sentence shall
     not apply to any Qualified  Option,  to the extent such  application  would
     result in  disqualification of the option under Sections 421 and 422 of the
     Code.

17.  General  Restrictions.  If the  Committee  or Board  determines  that it is
     necessary or desirable to: (a) list,  register or qualify the Stock subject
     to the Award,  or the Award itself,  upon any securities  exchange or under
     any federal or state  securities or other laws,  (b) obtain the approval of
     any  governmental  authority,  or (c)  enter  into an  agreement  with  the
     participant  with respect to disposition of any Stock  (including,  without
     limitation, an agreement that, at the time of the participant's exercise of
     the Award,  any Stock thereby  acquired is and will be acquired  solely for
     investment  purposes and without any  intention to sell or  distribute  the
     Stock),  then such  Award  shall not be  consummated,  in whole or in part,
     unless the listing, registration,  qualification, approval or agreement, as
     the case may be, shall have been appropriately  effected or obtained to the
     satisfaction of the Committee and legal counsel for the Corporation.

18.  Rights.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan,  participants shall have
     no  rights  as a  holder  of  the  Stock  unless  and  until  one  or  more
     certificates  for the  shares  of Stock are  issued  and  delivered  to the
     participant.

19.  Adjustments.  In  the  event  that  the  shares  of  common  stock  of  the
     Corporation,  as presently constituted,  shall be changed into or exchanged
     for a  different  number  or  kind of  shares  of  common  stock  or  other
     securities of the Corporation or of other  securities of the Corporation or
     of  another  corporation  (whether  by  reason  of  merger,  consolidation,
     recapitalization,  reclassification,  split-up,  combination  of  shares or
     otherwise)  or if the  number  of such  shares  of  common  stock  shall be
     increased  through the payment of a stock dividend,  stock split or similar
     transaction, then, there shall be substituted for or added to each share of
     common stock of the Corporation that was theretofore appropriated, or which
     thereafter  may become  subject to an option under the Plan, the number and
     kind of  shares  of  common  stock  or other  securities  into  which  each
     outstanding  share  of the  common  stock  of the  Corporation  shall be so
     changed or for which each such share  shall be  exchanged  or to which each
     such shares shall be entitled,  as the case may be. Each outstanding  Award
     shall be  appropriately  amended  as to price  and other  terms,  as may be
     necessary to reflect the foregoing events.

          If there  shall  be any  other  change  in the  number  or kind of the
     outstanding shares of the common stock of the Corporation, or of any common
     stock or other securities in which such common

                                        7

<PAGE>



     stock shall have been changed,  or for which it shall have been  exchanged,
     and if a majority of the  disinterested  members of the Committee shall, in
     its sole  discretion,  determine  that such  change  equitably  requires an
     adjustment in any Award that was theretofore granted or that may thereafter
     be granted under the Plan, then such adjustment shall be made in accordance
     with such determination.

          The grant of an Award  under the Plan  shall not affect in any way the
     right or power of the Corporation to make  adjustments,  reclassifications,
     reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure,  to merge,
     to consolidate, to dissolve, to liquidate or to sell or transfer all or any
     part of its business or assets.

          Fractional  shares resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to
     this Section 19 may be settled as a majority of the members of the Board of
     Directors or of the Committee, as the case may be, shall determine.

          To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to common stock or
     securities of the Corporation, such adjustments shall be made by a majority
     of the members of the Board or of the Committee,  as the case may be, whose
     determination  in that  respect  shall be final,  binding  and  conclusive.
     Notice of any adjustment  shall be given by the  Corporation to each holder
     of an Award that is so adjusted.

20.  Forfeiture.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Plan, if the
     Committee finds,  after full consideration of the facts presented on behalf
     of the  Corporation and the involved  participant,  that he or she has been
     engaged  in  fraud,  embezzlement,   theft,  commission  of  a  felony,  or
     dishonesty in the course of his or her employment by the  Corporation or by
     any  Subsidiary  and  such  action  has  damaged  the  Corporation  or  the
     Subsidiary, as the case may be, or that the participant has disclosed trade
     secrets of the Corporation or its affiliates, the participant shall forfeit
     all  rights  under  and to all  unexercised  Awards,  and  under and to all
     exercised Awards under which the Corporation has not yet delivered  payment
     or  certificates  for  shares of Stock  (as the case may be),  all of which
     Awards and rights  shall be  automatically  canceled.  The  decision of the
     Committee as to the cause of the  participant's  discharge from  employment
     with the  Corporation or any  Subsidiary  and the damage  thereby  suffered
     shall be final for purposes of the Plan,  but shall not affect the finality
     of the  participant's  discharge by the  Corporation  or Subsidiary for any
     other purposes.  The preceding provisions of this paragraph shall not apply
     to any  Qualified  Option to the extent such  application  would  result in
     disqualification  of the option as an incentive stock option under Sections
     421 and 422 of the Code.

21.  Indemnification. In and with respect to the administration of the Plan, the
     Corporation  shall  indemnify  each member of the  Committee  and/or of the
     Board, each of whom shall be entitled, without further action on his or her
     part, to  indemnification  from the  Corporation  for all damages,  losses,
     judgments,  settlement  amounts,  punitive  damages,  excise taxes,  fines,
     penalties, costs and expenses (including without limitation attorneys' fees
     and   disbursements)   incurred  by  the  member  in  connection  with  any
     threatened,  pending or completed action,  suit or other proceedings of any
     nature, whether civil,  administrative,  investigative or criminal, whether
     formal  or  informal,  and  whether  by or in  the  right  or  name  of the
     Corporation,  any class of its security holders, or otherwise, in which the
     member may be or may have been involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason
     of his or her being or having been a member of the Committee  and/or of the
     Board,  whether or not he or she  continues to be a member of the Committee
     or of the Board.  The  provisions,  protection and benefits of this Section
     shall apply and exist to the fullest extent  permitted by applicable law to
     and for the  benefit of all  present  and future  members of the  Committee
     and/or  of the  Board  and  their  respective  heirs,  personal  and  legal
     representatives,  successors  and assigns,  in addition to all other rights
     that they may have as a matter of law, by contract,  or  otherwise,  except
     (a)  to the  extent  there  is  entitlement  to  insurance  proceeds  under
     insurance  coverages  provided  by the  Corporation  on account of the same
     matter or proceeding for which

                                        8

<PAGE>



     indemnification  hereunder  is  claimed,  or  (b) to the  extent  there  is
     entitlement to indemnification from the Corporation,  other than under this
     Section,   on  account  of  the  same  matter  or   proceeding   for  which
     indemnification hereunder is claimed.

22.  Taxes.  The  issuance  of shares of Common  Stock  under the Plan  shall be
     subject to any applicable  taxes or other laws or regulations of the United
     States of  America  and any state or local  authority  having  jurisdiction
     there over.

23.  Miscellaneous.

     (a)  Any  reference  contained  in  this  Plan  to  particular  section  or
          provision of law, rule or regulation, including but not limited to the
          Code and the 1934 Act,  shall  include  any  subsequently  enacted  or
          promulgated  section or provision of law, rule or  regulation,  as the
          case may be. With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934
          Act,  transactions  under this Plan are  intended  to comply  with all
          applicable  conditions  of  Section  16 and the rules and  regulations
          promulgated  thereunder,  or any successor rules and regulations  that
          may be promulgated by the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  and to
          the extent any provision of this Plan or action by the Committee fails
          to so  comply,  it  shall  be  deemed  null and  void,  to the  extent
          permitted by applicable law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

     (b)  Where used in this Plan:  the plural shall include the  singular,  and
          unless the context  otherwise  clearly  requires,  the singular  shall
          include  the  plural;  and the term  "affiliates"  shall mean each and
          every Subsidiary and any parent of the Corporation.

     (c)  The captions of the numbered  Sections  contained in this Plan are for
          convenience   only,  and  shall  not  limit  or  affect  the  meaning,
          interpretation or construction of any of the provisions of the Plan.

                             - - - - - - - - - - - -
                                       END
                             - - - - - - - - - - - -




                                        9



                                    EXHIBIT 5

                       OPINION OF SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.


<PAGE>


SHUMAKER WILLIAMS, P.C.
3425 Simpson Ferry Road
Camp Hill, PA  17011

                                  June 25, 1999





Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.
133 North Centre Avenue
Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533

           RE:      First Leesport Bancorp, Inc. ("Corporation")
                    Registration Statement on Form S-8
                    Our File No.: 620-99

Dear Mr. Melcher:

     We have acted as Special Corporate Counsel to the Corporation in connection
with  preparation  of the  Corporation's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8
relating to the Corporation's 1998 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.

     In connection  with this matter,  we, as counsel to the  Corporation,  have
reviewed the following:

     1.   the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended;
     2.   the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, as amended;
     3.   the Corporation's By-Laws, as amended;
     4.   Resolutions adopted by the Corporation's Board of Directors; and
     5.   the Plan.

     Based upon such  review,  it is our opinion that the  Corporation's  common
stock,  $5.00  par  value,  issuable  under  the  plan,  when and as  issued  in
accordance  with the  provisions of the plan,  will be duly and validly  issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.  In giving the foregoing opinion,  we have assumed
that the  Corporation  will have,  at the time of the  issuance of common  stock
under the plan, a sufficient number of authorized shares available for issue.




<PAGE>


Raymond H. Melcher, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
FIRST LEESPORT BANCORP, INC.
June 25, 1999
Page 2


     We  hereby  consent  to the  use  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement on Form S-8, filed by the  Corporation,  relating to the
plan.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     /s/ Nicholas Bybel, Jr.
                                     ----------------------------
                                     By Nicholas Bybel, Jr.
NB\py:95877



                                  EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF BEARD & COMPANY, INC.


<PAGE>



We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement (Form  S-8) pertaining to the First Leesport Bancorp, Inc. 1998
Employee Stock Incentive Plan of our report, dated January 12, 1999,
relating to the consolidated financial statements of First Leesport Bancorp,
Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-KSB) for the year ended December 31,
1998.



                                                     /s/ Beard & Company, Inc.
                                                     BEARD & COMPANY, INC.

Reading, Pennsylvania
June 24, 1999



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