Press Releases

HOPEWELL VALLEY COMMUNITY BANK
PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release, Hopewell Township, NJ

HVCBANK TO OPEN FIRST BRANCH IN HUNTERDON COUNTY

Hopewell Township, NJ – April 24, 2006 – Hopewell Valley Community Bank (PinkSheets - HWDY) has announced plans for a new branch on Route 179, East Amwell Township in the former Ringoes Post Office site. The new office will represent the bank’s fifth full service banking center and its first location in Hunterdon County.

The community has been without a bank since the former Bank of America branch was closed last year. The Bank’s newest branch will occupy the 2,000 square foot location of the former post office, a site that is already well familiar to customers. The high visibility location is centrally located and is expected to help establish the Bank as a landmark in town. HVCBank will be leasing the location.

According to James Hyman, President and CEO of HVCBank, “Many areas in New Jersey are inundated with banks, while others like southern Hunterdon County are truly under-served. We saw that when the bank in Ringoes closed, we experienced an influx of new customers at our County Line office on Routes 31 and 518, from Ringoes and the surrounding communities. This is a natural move for us and one in which I take great personal pleasure. We’re a community bank, and customers will see a positive difference in the way they are treated. HVCBank focuses on delivering the best value people can get for their money. Rates on loans and deposits will be highly competitive and services like free checking, internet banking, and online bill payment will all be available. What’s more, friendly service and extraordinary attention to customer satisfaction are the hallmarks of the Bank. We’re a community bank, and our success is based on the fact that we’re very familiar with the area in which we are locating. We know our customers and we know the marketplace.” Hyman himself is a former bank president in Hunterdon County, and is a resident of nearby Delaware Township.

According to Patrick Ryan, Chairman of HVCBank, “Opening a new branch for a small bank like ourselves is always an exciting experience. When we started the Bank seven years ago, our mission provided we reward our customers for their trust and confidence. It’s what we do, and bringing that commitment to Ringoes is the continuation of that mission. We believe that because markets differ, customers require special attention to develop solutions to their personal financial needs. That belief distinguishes us from our competitors and is consistent with our commitment to be a competitive, socially conscious financial institution.”

The bank plans to staff the branch with local people, offer extended hours, safe deposit boxes, free coffee, free coin counting, and local loan decisions. HVCBank has announced record earnings for the year 2005, and paid its first cash dividend to shareholders of record on February 1, 2006. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased 51.1 percent or $.20 per share over the equivalent of 2004 of $.16 per share. Hopewell Valley Community Bank has more than $200 million in assets, and is a locally owned and managed full service, FDIC insured commercial bank. Founded in 1998, HVCBank provides a friendly, personalized banking experience for residents and small business owners through its four branch banking offices in Hopewell, Pennington, and Hamilton, a loan production office in Cranbury, and through its fully interactive website at www.hvcbonline.com.

For further information, please contact:
James Hyman, President & CEO
Hopewell Valley Community Bank
609 466-2900
jhyman@hvcbonline.com
www.hvcbonline.com