PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP
DEF 14A, 1997-03-25
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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               PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
                OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-
  6(e)(2))
[X]Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) 
  or Section 240.14a-12


                PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.                
          (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


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


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]No fee required.
[ ]Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

  1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

_________________________________________________________________

  2)    Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

_________________________________________________________________

  3)    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
        the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

_________________________________________________________________

  4)    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

_________________________________________________________________


  5)    Total fee paid:

_________________________________________________________________


  [ ]   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. 

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

  1)    Amount Previously Paid:
        ________________________________________________

  2)    Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        ________________________________________________

  3)    Filing Party:
        ________________________________________________

  4)    Date Filed:
        ________________________________________________ 


<PAGE>
               NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                       TO BE HELD APRIL 22, 1997


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.:

  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the call of its
directors, the regular Annual Meeting of the shareholders of
PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP., will be held on Tuesday,
April 22, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. at Yoder's Restaurant, 14 South
Tower Road, New Holland, Pennsylvania for the purpose of
considering and voting upon the following matters:

        1.    ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.  To elect the four nominees
              listed in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

        2.    OTHER BUSINESS.  To consider such other business
              as may properly be brought before the meeting and
              any adjournments thereof.

  Only those shareholders of record at the close of business
on March 14, 1997, shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting.

  It is requested that you promptly execute the enclosed proxy
and  return it in the enclosed postpaid envelope.  You are
cordially invited  to attend the meeting.  Your proxy is
revocable and may be withdrawn if  you elect to attend the
meeting and wish to vote in person.

  A copy of the Annual Report of PennRock Financial Services
Corp. is enclosed.

                          BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                          GLENN H. WEAVER
                          President
Enclosures
March 27, 1997

  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE
MEETING.  PLEASE PROMPTLY DATE, SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY IN THE
ENVELOPE WHICH ACCOMPANIES THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

<PAGE>
                            PROXY STATEMENT

                = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
                 Dated and to be Mailed March 27, 1997
                = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

                   PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
                           1060 MAIN STREET
                             P.O. BOX 580
                    BLUE BALL, PENNSYLVANIA   17506
                            (717) 354-4541

      ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 22, 1997


                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                      PAGE

GENERAL.....................................................  1
  Introduction...........................................  1
  Date, Time and Place of Meeting........................  1
  Shareholders Entitled to Vote..........................  1
  Purpose of Meeting.....................................  1
  Solicitation of Proxies................................  1
  Revocability and Voting of Proxies.....................  1
  Voting of Shares and Principal Holders Thereof.........  2
  Shareholder Proposals..................................  3
  Recommendations of the Board of Directors..............  3

INFORMATION CONCERNING ELECTION OF DIRECTORS................  3
  General Information....................................  3
  Information About Nominees, Continuing Directors and
        Executive Officers................................  4
  Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors......  6
  Compensation of Directors..............................  7
  Executive Officers of PennRock Financial Services Corp.  7
  Executive Compensation and Related Matters.............  8
  Transactions with Directors and Executive Officers..... 15
  Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act...... 15

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS............ 16

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...................................... 16

OTHER MATTERS............................................... 16

<PAGE>
                                GENERAL

Introduction

  On July 31, 1986, Blue Ball National Bank became a wholly-
owned subsidiary of PennRock Financial Services Corp., a
Pennsylvania business corporation organized for the purpose of
becoming a bank holding company.  As of that date, the
shareholders of Blue Ball National Bank became shareholders of
PennRock Financial Services Corp.  The meeting to which this
Proxy Statement relates will be the eleventh Annual Meeting of
the shareholders of PennRock Financial Services Corp.

Date, Time and Place of Meeting

  The regular Annual Meeting of the shareholders of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 1997,
at 10:00 a.m. at Yoder's Restaurant, 14 South Tower Road, New
Holland, Pennsylvania.

Shareholders Entitled to Vote

  Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14,
1997, shall be entitled to vote at the meeting.

Purpose of Meeting

  The shareholders will be asked to consider the following
matters at the meeting:  (i) to elect four directors, and (ii) to
consider and vote upon such other business as may be properly
brought before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

Solicitation of Proxies

  This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies, in the accompanying form, by the Board
of Directors of PennRock Financial Services Corp. for use at the
Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, April 22, 1997, and any adjournments thereof.

  The expense of soliciting proxies will be borne by PennRock
Financial Services Corp.  In addition to the use of the mails,
directors, officers and employees of PennRock Financial Services
Corp. and Blue Ball National Bank may, without additional
compensation, solicit proxies personally or by telephone.

Revocability and Voting of Proxies

  The execution and return of the enclosed proxy will not
affect a shareholder's right to attend the meeting and to vote in
person.  Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be
revoked by delivering written notice of revocation to Glenn H.
Weaver, President of PennRock Financial Services Corp., at any
time before the proxy is voted at the meeting.  Unless revoked,
any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at
the meeting in accordance with the instructions thereon of the
shareholder giving the proxy.  In the absence of instructions,
all proxies will be voted FOR the election of the four nominees
identified in this Proxy Statement.  Although the Board of
Directors knows of no other business to be presented, in the
event that any other matters are brought before the meeting, any
proxy given pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in
accordance with the recommendations of the management of PennRock
Financial Services Corp.

  Shares held for the account of shareholders who participate
in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be voted in accordance
with the instructions of each shareholder as set forth in his
proxy.  If a shareholder who participates in the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan does not return a proxy, the shares held for
his account by the Plan Agent will not be voted.

Voting of Shares and Principal Holders Thereof

  At the close of business on March 14, 1997, which is the
record date for determination of shareholders entitled to receive
notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments
thereof, PennRock Financial Services Corp. had outstanding
6,037,419 shares of $2.50 par value common stock.  There is no
other class of stock authorized or outstanding.  As of the record
date, 61,318 shares of PennRock Financial Services Corp. common
stock were held by the Trust Department of Blue Ball National
Bank as sole fiduciary (representing approximately one percent of
the shares outstanding) and will be voted FOR the election of the
four nominees identified in this Proxy Statement.

  A majority of the outstanding common stock present in person
or by proxy constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business. 
Each share is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a
vote of the shareholders.  A majority of the votes cast at a
meeting at which a quorum is present is required in order to
approve any matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders,
unless a greater vote is required by law or under the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws.  In the case of the election of
directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes
cast, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be
elected to the Board of Directors.  Abstentions and broker non-
votes will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to
vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but
will not be treated as votes cast.

  To the knowledge of PennRock Financial Services Corp., no
person owned of record or beneficially on the record date more
than five percent of the outstanding common stock of PennRock
Financial Services Corp.

Shareholder Proposals

  Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the 1998
Annual Meeting must be received at the executive offices of
PennRock Financial Services Corp. at 1060 Main Street, Blue Ball,
Pennsylvania not later than December 1, 1997 in order to be
included in the proxy statement and proxy form to be prepared by
PennRock Financial Services Corp. in connection with that
meeting.

Recommendations of the Board of Directors

  The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote
FOR the election of the four nominees identified in this Proxy
Statement.

             INFORMATION CONCERNING ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General Information

  The Bylaws of PennRock Financial Services Corp. provide that
the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than two nor
more than 25 persons and that the directors shall be classified
with respect to the time they shall severally hold office by
dividing them into three classes, each consisting as nearly as
possible of one-third of the number of the whole Board of
Directors.  The Bylaws further provide that the directors of each
class shall be elected for a term of three years.

  At each annual meeting  the successors to the class of
directors whose term shall expire that year shall be elected to
hold office for a term of three years, so that the term of office
of one class of directors shall expire in each year.  The number
of directors shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  Any
shareholder who owns not less than 100 shares of the stock of
PennRock Financial Services Corp. is eligible to be elected to
the Board of Directors.

  A majority of the Board of Directors may increase the number
of directors between meetings of the shareholders.  Any vacancy
occurring in the Board of Directors, whether due to an increase
in the number of directors, resignation, retirement, death or any
other reason, may be filled by appointment by the remaining
directors.  Any director who is appointed to fill a vacancy shall
hold office until his successor is duly elected by the
shareholders at the next Annual Meeting or at a special meeting
called for that purpose.

  The Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at
nine.  Of these nine directors, there are four directors whose
terms of office will expire at the 1997 Annual Meeting and five
continuing directors whose terms of office will expire at the
1998 or 1999 Annual Meeting.  The Board of Directors proposes to
nominate the following persons for election to the Board of
Directors for the term specified below:

                                Class A
                             For a Term of
                              Three Years 

                              Norman Hahn
                           Robert L. Spotts
                            Dale M. Weaver
                            Melvin Pankuch

  In the event that any of the foregoing nominees is unable to
accept nomination or election, any proxy given pursuant to this
solicitation will be voted in favor of such other persons as the
management of PennRock Financial Services Corp. may recommend. 
However, the Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any
of its nominees will be unable to accept nomination or to serve
as a director, if elected.

  Section 2.3 of Article II of the Bylaws of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. requires that nominations, other than
those made by or in behalf of the existing management of PennRock
Financial Services Corp., must be made in writing and must be
delivered or mailed to the Chairman of the Board of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. not less than 14 days nor more than 50
days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.  The chairman of
the meeting is required to determine whether nominations have
been made in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws and,
if he determines that a nomination is defective, the nomination
and any votes cast for the nominee shall be disregarded.

Information About Nominees, Continuing Directors and Executive
Officers

  Information concerning the four persons to be nominated for
election to the Board of Directors of PennRock Financial Services
Corp. at the 1997 Annual Meeting and concerning the five
continuing directors is set forth below.  The following table
also includes information concerning shares of PennRock Financial
Services Corp. common stock owned beneficially by executive
officers who are named in the Summary Compensation Table
appearing elsewhere herein and by all directors and executive
officers as a group.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Shares of PennRock
                                                 Financial Services Corp.                              Principal Occupation 
                             Director           Common Stock Beneficially               Percent of     for the Past 5 Years and
Name and Age                 Since(1)        Owned as of February 14, 1997(2)(3)          Class        Other Directorships(4)
                                                           
                           CLASS A (TERM EXPIRES IN 1997) - NOMINEES

<S>                   <C>                <C>                      <C>    <C>
Norman Hahn (60)      1976               126,378                  2.10%  Chairman of the Board and
                                                                         Chief Executive Officer,
                                                                         Conestoga Wood Specialties,
                                                                         Inc. (manufacturer of wood
                                                                         products)
Robert L. Spotts (66) 1985               16,126                   *      Retired.  Formerly President,
                                                                         Martin Limestone, Inc.
                                                                         (quarry)
Dale M. Weaver (58)   1977               117,220                  1.94%  President, New Holland Custom
                                                                         Woodwork, Ltd. (church
                                                                         furniture and millwork)
Melvin Pankuch (57)   1988               3,391                    *      Executive Vice President and
                                                                         Chief Executive Officer,
                                                                         PennRock Financial Services
                                                                         Corp. and President and Chief
                                                                         Executive Officer, Blue Ball
                                                                         National Bank
<CAPTION>
                     CLASS B (TERM EXPIRES IN 1998) - CONTINUING DIRECTORS

Elton Horning (65)    1989               28,367                   *      Auctioneer, Owner of Elton
                                                                         Horning Farm Agency and
                                                                         Partner of Horning Farm
                                                                         Agency (real estate agency)
Glenn H. Weaver (62)  1985               101,689                  1.68%  President, PennRock Financial
                                                                         Services Corp.; Partner R & G
                                                                         Associates (real estate
                                                                         investment); formerly
                                                                         President, Weaver & Witwer,
                                                                         Inc. (plumbing, heating, air
                                                                         conditioning, electrical
                                                                         contractors)
<CAPTION>
                     CLASS C (TERM EXPIRES IN 1999) - CONTINUING DIRECTORS
Aaron S. Kurtz (58)   1980               7,165                    *      President, Ludwig Office
                                                                         Furniture, Inc. (office
                                                                         furniture)
Robert K. Weaver (48) 1975               14,753                   *      Partner, Wentz, Weaver &
                                                                         Kling, LLP (law firm)
Lewis M. Good (38)    1991               3,476                    *      Owner, Original Good's Potato
                                                                         Chips (food products)
<CAPTION>
                        NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS
George B. Crisp                          360                      *      
Joseph C. Spada                          1,171                    *      
Michael H. Peuler                        470                      *      
All Directors and
  Executive Officers as
  a group (12 persons)                   420,566                  6.97%  
</TABLE>
   *  Less than one percent of the total number of shares of
common stock outstanding.

Footnotes

1 Includes service as a director of Blue Ball National Bank,
  predecessor to PennRock Financial Services Corp.

2 Beneficial ownership of shares of the common stock of
  PennRock Financial Services Corp. is determined in
  accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 13d-
  3(d)(1), which provides that a person shall be deemed to own
  any stock with respect to which he, directly or indirectly,
  through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
  relationship or otherwise has or shares:  (i) voting power,
  which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of
  the stock, or (ii) investment power, which includes the
  power to dispose or direct the disposition of the stock.
 
3 Each person named in this table has sole voting and
  investment power with respect to the shares listed above,
  except that voting and investment power with respect to a
  total of 69,929 shares is shared with spouses, children or
  other family members.  The shares shown above include a
  total of 96,785 shares which are held by spouses, children
  or other family members or by trusts or estates with respect
  to which a director or executive officer serves as trustee
  or executor, beneficial ownership of which is in each case
  disclaimed.  Also included in the shares shown above are a
  total of 750 shares which may be acquired pursuant to the
  exercise of stock options which are currently vested or
  which will vest within 60 days, which shares are treated as
  issued and outstanding for purposes of determining ownership
  percentage.

4 No nominee or continuing director is a director of any other
  company which has one or more classes of securities
  registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to Section 12 or which is required to file periodic
  reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
  to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

  The Board of Directors of PennRock Financial Services Corp.
does not have a standing Audit Committee, Nominating Committee,
or Compensation Committee.

  Blue Ball National Bank has a standing Audit Committee.
Since Blue Ball National Bank is presently the only subsidiary of
PennRock Financial Services Corp., the Audit Committee of Blue
Ball National Bank has been acting on behalf of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. and will continue to do so until
PennRock Financial Services Corp. committees are appointed.

  Members of the Audit Committee of Blue Ball National Bank
during 1996 were Robert L. Spotts, Chairman, and Lewis M. Good,
Norman Hahn, and Elton Horning. The principal duties of the Audit
Committee are to obtain and review such internal and external
financial information as may be necessary in order to assure that
the audit coverage is appropriate and that satisfactory internal
reporting procedures are maintained.  The Audit Committee met
four times during 1996.

  The Board of Directors met 27 times during 1996.  All
directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of
meetings of the Board of Directors and of the various committees
of the Board of Directors on which they served.

Compensation of Directors

  The directors of PennRock Financial Services Corp. do not
receive any additional compensation for their services as such,
beyond the compensation paid to them as directors of Blue Ball
National Bank.  Each member of the Board of Directors of Blue
Ball National Bank, other than the Chairman of the Board, is paid
an annual fee of $1,600 for his services as a director, a fee of
$295 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors which he
attends, and $125 for each meeting of a committee of the Board of
Directors which he attends.  In addition to the regular
directors' compensation, the Secretary of the Board of Directors
also receives an additional fee of $4,700. The Chairman of the
Board of Directors receives an annual fee of $11,500 and a fee of
$125 for each committee meeting of the Board of Directors which
he attends.  No directors' fees are paid to any director who is
also a full-time salaried officer of Blue Ball National Bank or
PennRock Financial Services Corp.

Executive Officers of PennRock Financial Services Corp.

  The following persons are the executive officers of PennRock
Financial Services Corp.:

Name              Age          Office Held and Term of Office

Norman Hahn       60           Chairman of the Board of PennRock
                               Financial Services Corp. since
                               1991; Chairman of Blue Ball
                               National Bank since 1990.

Glenn H. Weaver   62           President of PennRock Financial
                               Services Corp. since 1989.

Robert K. Weaver  48           Secretary of the Board of PennRock
                               Financial Services Corp. since
                               1986; Secretary of Blue Ball
                               National Bank since 1977.

Melvin Pankuch    57           Executive Vice President and Chief
                               Executive Officer of PennRock
                               Financial Services Corp. since
                               1989; President and Chief Executive
                               Officer of Blue Ball National Bank
                               since 1988.

George B. Crisp   49           Vice President and Treasurer of
                               PennRock Financial Services Corp.
                               since 1989; Senior Vice President
                               Operations of Blue Ball National
                               Bank since 1993, formerly Vice
                               President and Chief Financial
                               Officer of Blue Ball National Bank.
            
Joseph C. Spada   46           Senior Vice President Banking
                               Sales/Service of Blue Ball National
                               Bank since 1993.

Michael H. Peuler 46           Senior Vice President Trust
                               Sales/Service of Blue Ball National
                               Bank since 1995.

Executive Compensation and Related Matters

                             Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation

        The following table provides certain summary information
concerning compensation paid or accrued by PennRock Financial
Services Corp. and Blue Ball National Bank to the chief executive
officer of PennRock Financial Services Corp. and to each of the
other most highly compensated executive officers of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. whose combined salary and bonus
compensation exceeded $100,000 for the year ended December 31,
1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

                                                         Long Term Compensation   
                        Annual Compensation                     Awards            Payouts
(a)                  (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)           (g)          (h)        (i)
Name                                            Other                  Securities 
and                                             Annual   Restricted    Underlying              All Other
Principal                                       Compen-  Stock         Options/     LTIP       Compen-
Position             Year     Salary   Bonus    sation   Awards        SAR's(1)     Payouts    sation(2)
                              ($)      ($)      ($)      ($)           (#)          ($)        ($)
<S>                  <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>
Melvin Pankuch,      1996     225,000  11,588   None     None          1,000        None       24,205
  Executive Vice
  President and      1995     210,000   9,713   None     None          1,000        None       21,129
  Chief Executive
  Officer            1994     200,000  20,000   None     None          1,500        None       20,000

George B. Crisp,     1996     112,445  6,893    None     None          None         None       12,278
  Vice President
  and Treasurer      1995     110,240  5,099    None     None          None         None       11,504

                     1994     106,000  9,300    None     None          None         None       10,600

Joseph C. Spada,     1996     113,547  5,848    None     None          None         None       12,278
  Senior Vice
  President, Blue    1995     110,240  5,099    None     None          None         None       11,504
  Ball National
  Bank               1994     106,000  9,300    None     None          None         None       10,600
    
Michael H. Peuler,   1996     104,000  5,356    None     None          None         None       11,238
  Senior Vice 
  President, Blue    1995     100,000  4,625    None     None          None         None        9,286
  Ball National
  Bank               1994      74,200  7,910    None     None          None         None        7,420
</TABLE>
Footnotes

        1       Adjusted to reflect stock splits since date of grant.

        2       Consists of contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan
                maintained by Blue Ball National Bank.

                                       Stock Options Granted in 1996

        The following table sets forth certain information relating
to stock options granted during 1996 to the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table appearing above.  No
executive officer, other than the chief executive officer, was
granted a stock option in 1996 and no stock appreciation rights
("SAR's") were granted in 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN 1996 


                                             Individual Grants                

Name               Number of              Percent of                                         Potential Realizable Value 
                   Shares                 Total Options/                                     at Assumed Annual
                   Underlying             SAR's Granted                                      Rates of Stock Price 
                   Options/SAR's          to Employees        Exercise or      Expiration    Appreciation for Option 
                   Granted in 1996        in Fiscal Year      Base Price       Date          Term(3) 
                        (#)                    (%)            ($/Share)                          5%            10%
                                                                                                 ($)           ($)
<S>                <C>                    <C>                  <C>             <C>            <C>            <C> 
Melvin Pankuch       1,000(1)                 100%             $19.00(2)       3-11-06        $11,949        $30,281
</TABLE>

                                                   NOTES

1       Represents the grant of an incentive stock option on March
        12, 1996 pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Stock Plan.
        This option vests and becomes exercisable one-half after the
        expiration of three years from the date of grant and the
        balance after the expiration of five years from the date of
        grant.  The option expires, to the extent not previously
        exercised, upon termination of employment for reasons other
        than retirement, disability or death.

2       Exercise price is equal to 100% of fair market value on the
        date of grant.

3       The dollar amounts set forth in these columns are based upon
        assumed annual appreciation rates of 5% and 10% as required
        under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission
        regulations and are not intended to indicate the possible
        future price appreciation, if any, of PennRock Financial
        Services Corp. common stock.  No gain will be realized by
        the option holder in the absence of an increase in the
        market price of PennRock Financial Services Corp. common
        stock, which will benefit all shareholders.

                              Stock Option Exercises and 1996 Year-End Values

        The following table sets forth with respect to the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table appearing above
certain information relating to the exercise of stock options
during 1996 and relating to the number and value of unexercised
stock options and SAR's held as of December 31, 1996.  No
executive officer, other than the chief executive officer, holds
any PennRock Financial Services Corp. stock options.  No SAR's
were either granted or exercised in 1996 and none were
outstanding on December 31, 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     1996 OPTION EXERCISE AND YEAR-END VALUES


               Shares Acquired   Value Realized                                           Value of Unexercised
                on Exercise      (Market Value           Number of                           In-The-Money
                                 at Exercise,            Unexercised                         Options/SARs at
                                 Less Exercise          Options/SARs at                      Fiscal Year-End
Name                             Price)                Fiscal Year-End                          12-31-96
                    (#)               ($)                     (#)                                 ($)
 
                                                   Exercisable    Unexercisable        Exercisable    Unexercisable
<S>            <C>               <C>               <C>            <C>                  <C>            <C>
Melvin Pankuch     1,125            $8,809             None           4,625                N/A          $5,012
</TABLE>

          Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        The Board of Directors of PennRock Financial Services Corp.
has no standing Compensation Committee. Instead, decisions
relating to the compensation of executive officers of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. are generally made by the Board of
Directors as a whole, except that Melvin Pankuch, who is a member
of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President and Chief
Executive Officer, does not participate in deliberations relating
to his compensation.  Mr. Pankuch is the only director who is
also an employee; Glenn H. Weaver, a former employee, is not now
an employee, but serves as President of PennRock Financial
Services Corp.  Robert K. Weaver is a member of the law firm of
Wentz, Weaver & Kling, LLP, which has for many years served as
general counsel to PennRock Financial Services Corp. and Blue
Ball National Bank and is expected to continue to do so in the
future.  

        There were no compensation committee "interlocks" during
1996, which in general terms means that no executive officer or
director of PennRock Financial Services Corp. served as a
director or member of the Compensation Committee of another
entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of
PennRock Financial Services Corp.

        The following report is submitted by the Board of Directors
(exclusive of Mr. Pankuch) and addresses the compensation
policies of PennRock Financial Services Corp. for 1996 as
applicable to executive officers generally and to Mr. Pankuch,
the chief executive officer. 

                                  Board Report on Executive Compensation

        The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing an
appropriate compensation policy applicable to the executive
officers of PennRock Financial Services Corp. and for overseeing
the administration of that policy.  The overall objective of the
Board's policy is to provide competitive levels of compensation
that integrate pay with annual and long term performance goals,
reward above average performance, recognize individual initiative
and achievements and assist PennRock Financial Services Corp. in
attracting, motivating and retaining capable senior executive
officers.  The Board's policy provides for competitive base
salary compensation which reflects individual performance and for
annual performance incentive compensation opportunities earned
through the achievement of financial performance and other goals
established by the Board and management.  In addition, the Board
intends in the future to place greater emphasis upon longer term
stock-based incentive opportunities through the implementation of
the Omnibus Stock Plan, which was approved by the shareholders at
the 1992 Annual Meeting.  The Board is of the view that stock
ownership by senior executive officers and stock-based incentive
compensation arrangements are beneficial in aligning the
interests of management and shareholders in the overall
enhancement of profitability and shareholder value.  The Board
believes for this reason that it may in the future rely more
heavily upon stock-based incentive compensation arrangements in
designing the compensation packages of the executive officers of
PennRock Financial Services Corp.

        In designing and administering the individual elements of
its executive compensation policy, the Board of Directors strives
to balance short term and long term incentive objectives and to
employ prudent judgement in establishing performance criteria,
evaluating performance and in determining the amount of overall
compensation.  What follows is a discussion of each of the
elements of the Board's compensation policy, together with a
summary of decisions made by the Board in 1996 with respect to
the compensation of Mr. Pankuch.

        The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (the "Act")
imposes certain limitations on the deductibility for federal
income tax purposes of annual compensation in excess of $1
million payable to certain officers of PennRock Financial
Services Corp.  Because the Board of Directors does not
anticipate that the annual compensation of any officer will
exceed $ 1 million, it does not intend to modify the compensation
policy of PennRock Financial Services Corp. in response to the
provisions of the Act.

                                                Base Salary

        The base salary component of an executive officer's
compensation is determined annually by the Board of Directors by
reference to salary surveys and other data and is adjusted as
necessary to be competitive with average salaries paid to
executive officers at other banks and bank holding companies of
equivalent size and characteristics.  The actual salary paid to
an executive officer is  determined through an annual performance
appraisal, which evaluates performance by reference to the 
following factors:  supervisory and management performance,
marketing and sales plan performance, internal cooperation,
reporting and communication, customer and public relations,
strategic and business plan development and achievement, and
profit planning and budgeting.  The Board also considers the
financial goals that were set at the beginning of the year by the
Board and management and relates them to year-end results.  Some
of these goals are growth in assets, growth in deposits,
percentage increase in net income for the year, growth in loans,
return on equity and return on assets.

                                          Bonus Compensation Plan

        The Bonus Compensation Plan is an annual incentive program
for all employees, including executive officers and other key
management employees.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide a
direct financial incentive in the form of an annual bonus which
is related to return on equity. Bonuses under the Bonus
Compensation Plan are paid partly in cash and partly in the form
of a contribution to an employee's account under the Blue Ball
National Bank Profit Sharing Plan.

                                   Executive Incentive Compensation Plan

        The Executive Incentive Compensation Plan is a compensation
plan under which key officers (vice presidents and above) of
PennRock Financial Services Corp. and Blue Ball National Bank are
eligible to receive bonuses equal to a percentage of salary.  The
Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1994.  The amount
of bonus, if any, awarded under the Plan is determined on the
basis of an objective two-part formula.  The first part of the
formula is based upon return on equity relative to peer group
bank holding company performance.  (The peer group used for this
purpose consists of the approximately 156 bank holding companies
comprising Peer Group No. 4 as published by the Federal Reserve
Board in its annual Bank Holding Company Performance Report.) 
The second part of the formula is based upon year-to-year
comparative growth in PennRock Financial Services Corp. net
income.  A bonus earned under the Plan in respect of current year
performance is paid in the spring of the following year. Bonuses
are payable 70% in cash and 30% in shares of PennRock Financial
Services Corp. common stock valued at fair market value.

                                            Omnibus Stock Plan

        The Omnibus Stock Plan, which was approved by the
shareholders at the 1992 Annual Meeting, is a long-term incentive
plan for senior executives of PennRock Financial Services Corp. 
The objectives to be achieved by the grant of awards under the
Omnibus Stock Plan are to align executive and shareholder long-
term interests by creating a strong and direct link between
overall executive compensation and shareholder return and to
enable senior officers to develop and maintain a significant,
long-term stock ownership position in PennRock Financial Services
Corp. common stock.  Awards may be granted under the Omnibus
Stock Plan in the form of non-qualified stock options, incentive
stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares,
performance units and restricted stock.  On March 12, 1996, Mr.
Pankuch was granted an incentive stock option to purchase 1,000
shares of the common stock of PennRock Financial Services Corp.
at an exercise price equal to 100% of the market price per share
on the date of grant.  This incentive stock option vests and
becomes exercisable one-half after three years and the balance
after five years, provided that Mr. Pankuch remains an employee
of PennRock Financial Services Corp.  

                                  Compensation of Chief Executive Officer

        Mr. Pankuch's compensation is determined in accordance with
the compensation policy of the Board of Directors summarized
above and he is eligible to participate in the compensation plans
described above.  The general approach adopted by the Board of
Directors in determining Mr. Pankuch's annual compensation is to
seek to be competitive with other bank holding companies of
equivalent size and characteristics, but to have a significant
percentage of his total compensation based upon the achievement
of short-term and long-term performance goals.  This approach
provides a strong incentive to achieve or surpass the goals
established by the Board of Directors, while simultaneously
providing an element of stability in Mr. Pankuch's compensation.

        Mr. Pankuch's base salary during 1995 was $200,000 and was
set by the Board of Directors at $225,000 for 1996 (an increase
of approximately 7%), based upon the factors discussed above and
upon an evaluation conducted by the Board of Directors.

        Mr. Pankuch received a bonus of $35,793 under the Bonus
Compensation Plan in 1996, which is reflected in the Summary
Compensation Table set forth above.  The amount of this bonus was
determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms
of the Bonus Compensation Plan.  Specifically, $11,588 was paid
in cash and $24,205 was contributed to Mr. Pankuch's account in
the Blue Ball National Bank Profit Sharing Plan.  No bonus is
payable to Mr. Pankuch in 1997 in respect of 1996 performance
under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan because PennRock
Financial Services Corp. did not achieve its targeted rate of
return on equity in 1996.

                         The foregoing report is furnished by
                Norman Hahn, Chairman of the Board and by
                Messrs. Elton Horning, Lewis M. Good, Aaron
                S. Kurtz, Robert L. Spotts, Dale M. Weaver,
                Glenn H. Weaver and Robert K. Weaver.

                                          Stock Performance Graph

        The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that a
publicly held company include in its proxy statement a graph
comparing five year cumulative total shareholder returns
(assuming the reinvestment of dividends) with a broad market
index and with a published industry or line-of-business index or
an index of peer group companies. The graph appearing below
illustrates the five year cumulative return to a shareholder of
PennRock Financial Services Corp. as compared to the S&P 500
Index and to a peer group of ten other comparable banks and bank
holding companies, in each case weighted by market capitalization
and assuming an initial investment of $100.00 and the
reinvestment of dividends over the periods indicated.


                               COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
                                 AMONG PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.,
                                   S & P 500 INDEX, AND PEER GROUP INDEX

                                                  [graph]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    1991            1992         1993             1994            1995           1996
<S>                 <C>             <C>          <C>              <C>             <C>            <C>
PennRock            $100.00         $130.04      $191.35          $282.02         $201.34        $200.18
S&P 500             $100.00         $104.46      $111.83          $110.11         $147.67        $117.60
Peer Group          $100.00         $124.86      $178.68          $201.11         $228.49        $255.04
</TABLE>


                                         PEER GROUP SPECIFICATIONS

1.  Total assets of $256 to $748 million.

2.  Market capitalization of at least $48 million.

3.  Headquartered in Pennsylvania.

Institution                                                       Headquarters

ACNB Corporation                                                  Gettysburg
CNB Financial Corporation                                         Clearfield
Citizens & Northern Corporation                                   Wellsboro
Drovers Bancshares                                                York
First West Chester Corporation                                    West Chester
Franklin Financial Services Corporation                           Chambersburg
Hanover Bancorp, Inc.                                             Hanover
Penn Security Bank and Trust Company                              Scranton
PennRock Financial Services Corp.                                 Blue Ball
Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc.                                         Jersey Shore
Sterling Financial Corporation                                    Lancaster


Transactions with Directors and Executive Officers

        Some of the directors and executive officers of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. and Blue Ball National Bank and the
companies with which they are associated were customers of and
had banking transactions with Blue Ball National Bank in the
ordinary course of the Bank's business during 1996.

        All loans and commitments to loan made to such persons and
to the companies with which they are associated were made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates,
collateral and repayment terms, as those prevailing at the time
for comparable transactions with other persons and did not
involve more than a normal risk of collectibility or present
other unfavorable features.  It is anticipated that the Bank will
enter into similar transactions in the future.

        As a matter of policy and as an employee benefit, Blue Ball
National Bank makes available home mortgage loans and other loans
on a nondiscriminatory basis to all employees at interest rates
below those prevailing for comparable transactions with other
persons.  The amount of these loans is not considered material
and it is anticipated that the Bank will continue its present
policy.  Loans at preferential rates are not, however, extended
to any executive officer or director of PennRock Financial
Services Corp. or Blue Ball National Bank.

        Robert K. Weaver, Secretary of PennRock Financial Services
Corp., is a member of the law firm of Wentz, Weaver & Kling, LLP,
New Holland, Pennsylvania.  Wentz, Weaver & Kling, LLP has for
many years served as general counsel to PennRock Financial
Services Corp. and Blue Ball National Bank and is expected to
continue to do so in the future.

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires that the directors and certain officers of PennRock
Financial Services Corp. file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission reports of ownership and changes in ownership with
respect to shares of PennRock Financial Services Corp. common
stock beneficially owned by them.  Based solely upon its review
of copies of such reports furnished to it and written
representations made by its directors and those officers who are
subject to such reporting requirements, PennRock Financial
Services Corp. believes that during the calendar year ended
December 31, 1996, all filing requirements applicable to its
directors and officers were complied with.

                             RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

        For the year ended December 31, 1996, PennRock Financial
Services Corp. engaged Simon  Lever and Co., independent
certified public accountants, to certify its financial statements
and those of Blue Ball National Bank.  It is anticipated that
Simon Lever and Co. will be similarly engaged in 1997. 
Representatives of Simon Lever and Co. are expected to be present
at the shareholder meeting with the opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so and to be available to respond
to appropriate questions.

                                          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        A copy of the Annual Report of PennRock Financial Services
Corp. for the year ended December 31, 1996 on Form 10-K as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission is available without
charge to shareholders, depositors and other interested persons
upon request from Glenn H. Weaver, President, PennRock Financial
Services Corp., 1060 Main Street, P.O. Box 580, Blue Ball,
Pennsylvania 17506.

                                               OTHER MATTERS

        The Board of Directors of PennRock Financial Services Corp.
knows of no other matters other than those discussed in this
Proxy Statement which will be presented at the 1997 Annual
Meeting.  However, if any other matters are properly brought
before the meeting, any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation
will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the
management of PennRock Financial Services Corp.

                                         BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                         GLENN H. WEAVER
                                         President
Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
March 27, 1997
<PAGE>
                                                 APPENDIX

                                     PENNROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
PROXY
              ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD APRIL 22, 1997
             THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The undersigned hereby appoints Susan E. Ewell, Raymond
Newswanger and Edgar H. Martin, or any one of them, as proxies,
with full power of substitution, to vote as directed below all of
the shares of PennRock Financial Services Corp. common stock held
of record on March 14, 1997, by the undersigned and by the Plan
Agent for the account of the undersigned under the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on Tuesday, April 22, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. and at any
adjournment thereof, with all of the powers the undersigned would
possess if personally present.

1.  ELECTION OF FOUR DIRECTORS FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS

[  ]    FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the
        contrary below)

                                 Norman Hahn
                                 Robert L. Spotts

[  ]    WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below

                                 Dale M. Weaver
                                 Melvin Pankuch

(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee, strike a line through the nominee's name).

        It is important that your shares be represented at the
meeting.  Please sign, date and return this proxy as promptly as
possible, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.  This
proxy is revocable at any time before it is exercised and may be
withdrawn if you elect to attend the meeting and wish to vote in
person.



                                      (To be signed on reverse side)
<PAGE>
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED.  IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN.

        This proxy also confers authority as to any other business
which may be brought before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof.  The Board of Directors at present knows of no other
business to be brought before the meeting, but if any other
business is presented at the meeting, the shares represented by
this proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendations
of the management of PennRock Financial Services Corp.

        The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated
March 27, 1997 and hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given.


                                         
Dated:______________________________,1997


                                         ________________________________
                                         Signature

                                         ________________________________
                                         Signature

                                         IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as your
                                         name or names appear hereon.  Joint
                                         owners should each sign.  If you sign
                                         as agent or in any other 
                                         representative capacity, please
                                         state the capacity in which you sign.


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