Valley Bank
VLY
#2533
Rank
$7.08 B
Marketcap
$12.82
Share price
1.18%
Change (1 day)
20.49%
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

-----------------

FORM 10-K

-----------------

(Mark One)

[X]ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001

[_]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to ______________

Commission File Number 1-11277

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey 22-2477875
(State or other
jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or
organization) Identification Number)

1455 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(Address of principal
executive office) (Zip Code)

973-305-8800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Name of exchange on which
Title of each class registered
------------------- ----------
Common Stock, no par value New York Stock Exchange

VNB Capital Trust I New York Stock Exchange
7.75% Trust Originated
Securities
(and the Guarantee by
Valley National Bancorp
with respect thereto)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [X] No [_]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant was approximately $2.3 billion on December 31, 2001.

There were 75,934,989 shares of Common Stock outstanding at February 8, 2002.

Documents incorporated by reference:

Certain portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement (the "2002
Proxy Statement") for the 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April
10, 2002 will be incorporated by reference in Part III.

================================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
PART I
Item 1. Business............................................................................. 3
Item 2. Properties........................................................................... 8
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.................................................................... 8
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................................. 8
Item 4A. Executive Officers of the Registrant................................................. 9

PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Shareholder Matters................. 10
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.............................................................. 11
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 12
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk........................... 32
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
Valley National Bancorp and Subsidiaries:
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.................................... 33
Consolidated Statements of Income................................................. 34
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity........................ 35
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows............................................. 36
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........................................ 37
Independent Auditors' Report...................................................... 66
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. 67

PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................................... 67
Item 11. Executive Compensation............................................................... 67
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....................... 67
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions....................................... 67

PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...................... 67
Signatures........................................................................... 71
</TABLE>

2
PART I

Item 1. Business

Valley National Bancorp ("Valley") is a New Jersey corporation registered as
a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended
("Holding Company Act"). At December 31, 2001, Valley had consolidated total
assets of $8.6 billion, total deposits of $6.3 billion and total shareholders'
equity of $678.4 million. In addition to its principal subsidiary, Valley
National Bank ("VNB"), Valley formed a subsidiary during 2001, VNB Capital
Trust I, through which it issued trust preferred securities.

VNB is a national banking association chartered in 1927 under the laws of
the United States. VNB provides a full range of commercial and retail banking
services. At December 31, 2001, VNB maintained 126 branch offices located in
northern New Jersey and Manhattan. These services include the following: the
acceptance of demand, savings and time deposits; extension of consumer, real
estate, Small Business Administration ("SBA") and other commercial credits;
equipment leasing; and personal and corporate trust, as well as pension and
fiduciary services. VNB also provides through wholly-owned subsidiaries the
services of a title insurance agency and Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC")-registered investment advisors.

VNB has several subsidiaries which are included in the consolidated
financial statements of Valley. The subsidiaries include a mortgage servicing
company, a company which holds, maintains and manages investment assets for
VNB, a subsidiary which owns and services auto loans, a title insurance agency,
asset management advisors which are SEC-registered investment advisors, an Edge
Act Corporation which is the holding company for a wholly-owned finance company
located in Toronto, Canada, a subsidiary which specializes in asset-based
lending, a real estate investment trust subsidiary which owns real estate
related investments, a subsidiary which owns some of the real estate utilized
by VNB and real estate related investments, and a subsidiary which offers both
commercial equipment leases and financing for general aviation aircraft. These
subsidiaries are wholly-owned by VNB, except Valley owns less than 1% of a
holding company for the real estate investment trust and the real estate
subsidiary and except the real estate investment trust subsidiary, which must
have 100 or more shareholders to qualify as a real estate investment trust, has
issued an immaterial amount of preferred stock to outside shareholders, many of
whom are Valley employees.

VNB has four business segments it monitors and reports on to manage its
business operations. These segments are consumer lending, commercial lending,
investment portfolio, and corporate and other adjustments. For financial data
on the four business segments see Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data--Note 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

Recent Developments

Valley restructured an existing subsidiary during December of 2001, by
contributing to it some of Valley's existing real estate owned properties and
some of its real estate related securities. Valley anticipates that it will
contribute additional real estate owned properties to the subsidiary during
2002*. The restructuring will provide substantial tax benefits during 2002.*
Beginning in 2003, there will be a smaller amount of recurring annual tax
benefits from this restructuring*. The benefits will reduce Valley's effective
tax rate below its historical rate of approximately 34 percent.

On November 7, 2001, Valley completed a $175.0 million public offering of
7.75 percent trust preferred securities. Valley issued the trust preferred
securities through its subsidiary VNB Capital Trust I, a Delaware business
trust. An additional $25.0 million in trust preferred securities was sold by
Valley on November 15, 2001 upon the exercise of the underwriters'
overallotment option. These trust preferred securities are traded on the New
York Stock Exchange preferred stock listing. Valley intends to use the net
proceeds for general corporate purposes, which include the repurchase of our
common stock and the repayment of debt, and may include investments in or
advances to our existing or future subsidiaries.

In late June 2001 Valley began operations of Valley Commercial Capital, LLC,
a new leasing company, which offers both commercial equipment leases and
financing for general aviation aircraft. This transaction involved the purchase
of approximately $44.0 million of small aircraft loans.

3
On January 19, 2001 Valley completed its merger with Merchants New York
Bancorp, Inc. ("Merchants"), parent of The Merchants Bank of New York
headquartered in Manhattan. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each
outstanding share of Merchants common stock was exchanged for 0.7634 shares of
Valley common stock. As a result, a total of approximately 14 million shares of
Valley common stock were exchanged (the exchange rate and number of shares
exchanged have not been restated for the 5 percent stock dividend issued May
18, 2001). This merger added seven branches in Manhattan. The transaction was
accounted for utilizing the pooling-of-interests method of accounting. The
consolidated financial statements of Valley have been restated to include
Merchants for all periods presented.

Competition

The market for banking and bank-related services is highly competitive.
Valley and VNB compete with other providers of financial services such as other
bank holding companies, commercial and savings banks, savings and loan
associations, credit unions, money market and mutual funds, mortgage companies,
title agencies, asset managers and a growing list of other local, regional and
national institutions which offer financial services. Mergers between financial
institutions within New Jersey and in neighboring states have added competitive
pressure. Competition is expected to intensify as a consequence of the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (discussed below) and interstate banking laws now in
effect or that may be in effect in the future. Valley and VNB compete by
offering quality products and convenient services at competitive prices. In
order to maintain and enhance its competitive position, Valley regularly
reviews its products, locations, alternative delivery channels and various
acquisition prospects and periodically engages in discussions regarding
possible acquisitions.

Employees

At December 31, 2001, VNB and its subsidiaries employed 2,129 full-time
equivalent persons. Management considers relations with its employees to be
satisfactory.

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

The banking industry is highly regulated. Statutory and regulatory controls
increase a bank holding company's cost of doing business and limit the options
of its management to deploy assets and maximize income. The following
discussion is not intended to be a complete list of all the activities
regulated by the banking laws or of the impact of such laws and regulations on
the bank. It is intended only to briefly summarize some material provisions.

Bank Holding Company Regulation

Valley is a bank holding company within the meaning of the Holding Company
Act. As a bank holding company, Valley is supervised by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") and is required to file reports with the
FRB and provide such additional information as the FRB may require.

The Holding Company Act prohibits Valley, with certain exceptions, from
acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than five percent of
the voting shares of any company which is not a bank and from engaging in any
business other than that of banking, managing and controlling banks or
furnishing services to subsidiary banks, except that it may, upon application,
engage in, and may own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found
by the FRB to be so closely related to banking "as to be a proper incident
thereto." The Holding Company Act requires prior approval by the FRB of the
acquisition by Valley of more than five percent of the voting stock of any
additional bank. Satisfactory capital ratios and Community Reinvestment Act
ratings and anti-money laundering policies are generally prerequisites to
obtaining federal regulatory approval to make acquisitions. The policy of the
FRB provides that a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of
financial strength to its subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support
the subsidiary bank in circumstances in which it might not do so absent that
policy. Acquisitions through VNB require approval of the office of the

4
Comptroller of the Currency of the United States ("OCC"). The Holding Company
Act does not place territorial restrictions on the activities of non-bank
subsidiaries of bank holding companies. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, discussed
below, allows Valley to expand into insurance, securities, merchant banking
activities, and other activities that are financial in nature. As of the date
hereof, Valley and VNB have not utilized such powers.

The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994
("Interstate Banking and Branching Act") enables bank holding companies to
acquire banks in states other than its home state, regardless of applicable
state law. The Interstate Banking and Branching Act also authorizes banks to
merge across state lines, thereby creating interstate branches. Under the
legislation, each state had the opportunity to "opt-out" of this provision.
Furthermore, a state may "opt-in" with respect to de novo branching, thereby
permitting a bank to open new branches in a state in which the bank does not
already have a branch. Without de novo branching, an out-of-state commercial
bank can enter the state only by acquiring an existing bank or branch. The vast
majority of states have allowed interstate banking by merger but have not
authorized de novo branching.

New Jersey enacted legislation to authorize interstate banking and branching
and the entry into New Jersey of foreign country banks. New Jersey did not
authorize de novo branching into the state. However, under federal law, federal
savings banks which meet certain conditions may branch de novo into a state,
regardless of state law.

Recent Legislation

As part of the USA Patriot Act, signed into law on October 26, 2001,
Congress adopted the International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 (the "Act"). The Act authorizes the Secretary of the
Treasury, in consultation with the heads of other government agencies, to adopt
special measures applicable to financial institutions such as banks, bank
holding companies, broker-dealers and insurance companies. Among its other
provisions, the Act requires each financial institution: (i) to establish an
anti-money laundering program; (ii) to establish due diligence policies,
procedures and controls that are reasonably designed to detect and report
instances of money laundering in United States private banking accounts and
correspondent accounts maintained for non-United States persons or their
representatives; and (iii) to avoid establishing, maintaining, administering,
or managing correspondent accounts in the United States for, or on behalf of, a
foreign shell bank that does not have a physical presence in any country. In
addition, the Act expands the circumstances under which funds in a bank account
may be forfeited and requires covered financial institutions to respond under
certain circumstances to requests for information from federal banking agencies
within 120 hours.

Treasury regulations implementing the due diligence requirements must be
issued no later than April 24, 2002. Whether or not regulations are adopted,
the law becomes effective July 23, 2002. Additional regulations are to be
adopted during 2002 to implement minimum standards to verify customer identity,
to encourage cooperation among financial institutions, federal banking
agencies, and law enforcement authorities regarding possible money laundering
or terrorist activities, to prohibit the anonymous use of "concentration
accounts," and to require all covered financial institutions to have in place a
Bank Secrecy Act compliance program.

The Act also amends the Bank Holding Company Act and the Bank Merger Act to
require the federal banking agencies to consider the effectiveness of a
financial institution's anti-money laundering activities when reviewing an
application under these acts.

In late 2000, the American Home Ownership and Economic Act of 2000
instituted a number of regulatory relief provisions applicable to national
banks, such as permitting national banks to have classified directors and to
merge their business subsidiaries into the bank.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999 became effective
in early 2000. The Modernization Act:

. allows bank holding companies meeting management, capital and Community
Reinvestment Act standards to engage in a substantially broader range of
non-banking activities than was previously permissible, including insurance
underwriting and making merchant banking investments in commercial and
financial companies;

5
.   allows insurers and other financial services companies to acquire banks;

. removes various restrictions that previously applied to bank holding
company ownership of securities firms and mutual fund advisory companies;
and

. establishes the overall regulatory structure applicable to bank holding
companies that also engage in insurance and securities operations.

If a bank holding company elects to become a financial holding company, it
files a certification, effective in 30 days, and thereafter may engage in
certain financial activities without further approvals.

The OCC has adopted rules to allow national banks to form subsidiaries to
engage in financial activities allowed for financial holding companies.
Electing national banks must meet the same management and capital standards as
financial holding companies but may not engage in insurance underwriting, real
estate development or merchant banking. Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal
Reserve Act apply to financial subsidiaries and the capital invested by a bank
in its financial subsidiaries will be eliminated from the bank's capital in
measuring all capital ratios.

The Modernization Act modified other financial laws, including laws related
to financial privacy and community reinvestment.

Additional proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the
banking and financial services industry are frequently introduced in Congress,
in the state legislatures and before the various bank regulatory agencies. The
likelihood and timing of any such changes and the impact such changes might
have on Valley cannot be determined at this time.

Regulation of Bank Subsidiary

VNB is subject to the supervision of, and to regular examination by, the OCC.

Various laws and the regulations thereunder applicable to Valley and its
bank subsidiary impose restrictions and requirements in many areas, including
capital requirements, the maintenance of reserves, establishment of new
offices, the making of loans and investments, consumer protection, employment
practices and entry into new types of business. There are various legal
limitations, including Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, which
govern the extent to which a bank subsidiary may finance or otherwise supply
funds to its holding company or its holding company's non-bank subsidiaries.
Under federal law, no bank subsidiary may, subject to certain limited
exceptions, make loans or extensions of credit to, or investments in the
securities of, its parent or the non-bank subsidiaries of its parent (other
than direct subsidiaries of such bank which are not financial subsidiaries) or
take their securities as collateral for loans to any borrower. Each bank
subsidiary is also subject to collateral security requirements for any loans or
extensions of credit permitted by such exceptions.

Dividend Limitations

Valley is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries.
Valley's revenues (on a parent company only basis) result in substantial part
from dividends paid to Valley by VNB. Payment of dividends to Valley by its
subsidiary bank, without prior regulatory approval, is subject to regulatory
limitations. Under the National Bank Act, dividends may be declared only if,
after payment thereof, capital would be unimpaired and remaining surplus would
equal 100 percent of capital. Moreover, a national bank may declare, in any one
year, dividends only in an amount aggregating not more than the sum of its net
profits for such year and its retained net profits for the preceding two years.
In addition, the bank regulatory agencies have the authority to prohibit a bank
subsidiary from paying dividends or otherwise supplying funds to Valley if the
supervising agency determines that such payment would constitute an unsafe or
unsound banking practice.

Loans to Related Parties

VNB's authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10
percent stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is
currently governed by the requirements of the National Bank Act and

6
Regulation O of the FRB thereunder. Among other things, these provisions
require that extensions of credit to insiders (i) be made on terms that are
substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are
not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with
unaffiliated persons and that do not involve more than the normal risk of
repayment or present other unfavorable features and (ii) not exceed certain
limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and
in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the bank's
capital. In addition, extensions of credit in excess of certain limits must be
approved by the bank's board of directors.

Community Reinvestment

Under the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA"), as implemented by OCC
regulations, a national bank has a continuing and affirmative obligation
consistent with its safe and sound operation to help meet the credit needs of
its entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. The CRA
does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial
institutions nor does it limit an institution's discretion to develop the types
of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular
community, consistent with the CRA. The CRA requires the OCC, in connection
with its examination of a national bank, to assess the association's record of
meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account
in its evaluation of certain applications by such association. The CRA also
requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings. VNB
received a "satisfactory" CRA rating in its most recent examination.

Restrictions on Activities Outside the United States

Valley's activities in Canada are conducted through VNB and in the United
States are subject to Sections 25 and 25A of the Federal Reserve Act, certain
regulations under the National Bank Act and, primarily, Regulation K
promulgated by the FRB. Under these provisions, VNB may invest no more than 10
percent of its capital in foreign banking operations. In addition to
investments, VNB may extend credit or guarantee loans for these entities and
such loans or guarantees are generally not subject to the loans to one person
limitation, although they are subject to prudent banking limitations. The
foreign banking operations of VNB are subject to supervision by the FRB, as
well as the OCC. In Canada, VNB's activities also are subject to the laws and
regulations of Canada and to regulation by Canadian banking authorities.
Regulation K generally restricts activities by United States banks outside of
the United States to activities that are permitted for banks within the United
States. As a consequence, activities by VNB through its subsidiaries outside of
the United States would generally be limited to banking and activities closely
related to banking with certain significant exceptions.

FIRREA

Under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of
1989 ("FIRREA"), a depository institution insured by the Federal Depository
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") can be held liable for any loss incurred by, or
reasonably expected to be incurred by, the FDIC in connection with (i) the
default of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution or (ii)
any assistance provided by the FDIC to a commonly controlled FDIC-insured
depository institution in danger of default. These provisions have commonly
been referred to as FIRREA's "cross guarantee" provisions. Further, under
FIRREA the failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank to a variety
of enforcement remedies available to federal regulatory authorities.

FIRREA also imposes certain independent appraisal requirements upon a bank's
real estate lending activities and further imposes certain loan-to-value
restrictions on a bank's real estate lending activities. The bank regulators
have promulgated regulations in these areas.

FDICIA

Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of
1991 ("FDICIA"), each federal banking agency has promulgated regulations,
specifying the levels at which a financial institution would be considered
"well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized,"
"significantly undercapitalized," or "critically undercapitalized," and to take
certain mandatory and discretionary supervisory actions based on the

7
capital level of the institution. To qualify to engage in financial activities
under the Modernization Act, all depository institutions must be "well
capitalized". The financial holding company of a national bank will be put
under directives to raise its capital levels or divest its activities if the
depository institution falls from that level.

The OCC's regulations implementing these provisions of FDICIA provide that
an institution will be classified as "well capitalized" if it (i) has a total
risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0 percent, (ii) has a Tier 1 risk-based
capital ratio of at least 6.0 percent, (iii) has a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at
least 5.0 percent, and (iv) meets certain other requirements. An institution
will be classified as "adequately capitalized" if it (i) has a total risk-based
capital ratio of at least 8.0 percent, (ii) has a Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratio of at least 4.0 percent, (iii) has Tier 1 leverage ratio of (a) at least
4.0 percent or (b) at least 3.0 percent if the institution was rated 1 in its
most recent examination, and (iv) does not meet the definition of "well
capitalized." An institution will be classified as "undercapitalized" if it (i)
has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0 percent, (ii) has a Tier
1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0 percent, or (iii) has a Tier 1
leverage ratio of (a) less than 4.0 percent or (b) less than 3.0 percent if the
institution was rated 1 in its most recent examination. An institution will be
classified as "significantly undercapitalized" if it (i) has a total risk-based
capital ratio of less than 6.0 percent, (ii) has a Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratio of less than 3.0 percent, or (iii) has a Tier 1 leverage ratio of less
than 3.0 percent. An institution will be classified as "critically
undercapitalized" if it has a tangible equity to total assets ratio that is
equal to or less than 2.0 percent. An insured depository institution may be
deemed to be in a lower capitalization category if it receives an
unsatisfactory examination rating.

In addition, significant provisions of FDICIA required federal banking
regulators to impose standards in a number of other important areas to assure
bank safety and soundness, including internal controls, information systems and
internal audit systems, credit underwriting, asset growth, compensation, loan
documentation and interest rate exposure.

Item 2. Properties

VNB's corporate headquarters consist of three office buildings located
adjacent to each other in Wayne, New Jersey. These headquarters encompass
commercial, mortgage and consumer lending, the operations and data processing
center, and the executive offices of both Valley and VNB. Two of the three
buildings are owned by a subsidiary of VNB and leased to VNB, the other
building is leased by VNB from an independent third party.

VNB owns another office building in Wayne, New Jersey which is occupied by
those departments and subsidiaries providing trust and investment management
services. A subsidiary of VNB also owns an office building and condominium
office in Manhattan, which are leased to VNB and which house a portion of its
New York lending and operations.

VNB provides banking services at 126 locations of which 54 locations are
owned by VNB or a subsidiary of VNB and leased to VNB, and 72 locations are
leased from independent third parties.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

There were no material pending legal proceedings to which Valley or any of
its direct or indirect subsidiaries were a party, or to which their property
was subject, other than ordinary routine litigations incidental to business and
which are not expected to have any material effect on the business or financial
condition of Valley.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

8
Item 4A.  Executive Officers of the Registrant

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Age at Executive
December 31, Officer
Names 2001 Since Office
----- ------------ --------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Gerald H. Lipkin..... 60 1975 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Valley and VNB
Spencer B. Witty..... 87 2001 Vice Chairman of Valley and VNB
Peter Crocitto....... 44 1991 Executive Vice President of Valley and VNB
Alan D. Eskow........ 53 1993 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Valley and VNB
James G. Lawrence.... 58 2001 Executive Vice President of Valley and VNB
Robert M. Meyer...... 55 1997 Executive Vice President of Valley and VNB
Peter John Southway.. 41 1989 Executive Vice President of Valley and VNB
William J. Cardew.... 75 2001 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Kermit R. Dyke....... 54 2001 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Albert L. Engel...... 53 1998 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Robert J. Farnon..... 63 1998 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Robert E. Farrell.... 55 1990 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Richard P. Garber.... 58 1992 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Eric W. Gould........ 33 2001 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Robert J. Mulligan... 54 1991 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Garret G. Nieuwenhuis 61 2001 First Senior Vice President of VNB
John H. Prol......... 64 1992 First Senior Vice President of VNB
Jack M. Blackin...... 59 1993 Senior Vice President of Valley and VNB
</TABLE>

All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

9
PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Shareholder Matters

Valley's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under
the symbol VLY. The following table sets forth for each quarter period
indicated the high and low sales prices for the common stock of Valley, as
reported by the NYSE, and the cash dividends paid per share for each quarter.
The amounts shown in the table below have been adjusted for all stock dividends.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year 2001 Year 2000
---------------------- ----------------------
High Low Dividend High Low Dividend
------ ------ -------- ------ ------ --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
First Quarter. $31.67 $23.86 $0.248 $25.41 $19.22 $0.236
Second Quarter 28.35 25.71 0.265 25.73 22.68 0.248
Third Quarter. 29.80 25.60 0.265 26.31 22.38 0.248
Fourth Quarter 32.95 28.00 0.265 32.03 24.65 0.248
</TABLE>

Federal laws and regulations contain restrictions on the ability of Valley
and VNB to pay dividends. For information regarding restrictions on dividends,
see Part I, Item 1, "Business--Dividend Limitations" and Part II, Item 8,
"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data--Note 16 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements."

There were 9,359 shareholders of record as of December 31, 2001.

In 2000, Valley issued 60,507 shares of its common stock to the shareholders
of Hallmark Capital Management, Inc. pursuant to a merger of Hallmark into a
subsidiary of Valley, and in 2001 issued 26,329 shares of Valley common stock
pursuant to subsequent earn-out payments. These shares were exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 because they were issued in a
Private Placement under Section 4(2) of the Act and Regulation D thereunder.
These shares have been subsequently registered for resale on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act.

10
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with
Valley's Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes presented
elsewhere herein.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Summary of Operations:
Interest income (taxable equivalent). $ 559,557 $ 575,003 $ 524,758 $ 505,096 $ 498,424
Interest expense..................... 218,653 252,648 208,792 208,531 212,436
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income (taxable
equivalent)........................ 340,904 322,355 315,966 296,565 285,988
Less: tax equivalent adjustment...... 6,071 6,797 6,940 7,535 8,785
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income................. 334,833 315,558 309,026 289,030 277,203
Provision for loan losses............ 15,706 10,755 11,035 14,070 14,830
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income after provision
for loan losses................... 319,127 304,803 297,991 274,960 262,373
Gains on securities transactions, net 3,564 355 2,625 1,480 2,158
Non-interest income.................. 64,912 58,745 51,178 49,342 48,219
Non-interest expense................. 188,248 171,139 164,719 170,097 163,579
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes........... 199,355 192,764 187,075 155,685 149,171
Income tax expense................... 64,151 66,027 61,734 38,512 44,458
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income.......................... $ 135,204 $ 126,737 $ 125,341 $ 117,173 $ 104,713
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Per Common Share (1):
Earnings per share:
Basic............................. $ 1.74 $ 1.61 $ 1.52 $ 1.41 $ 1.26
Diluted........................... 1.73 1.60 1.51 1.39 1.24
Dividends............................ 1.04 0.98 0.93 0.85 0.73
Book value........................... 8.87 8.41 8.04 8.41 7.75
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic............................. 77,626,780 78,612,928 82,383,289 83,218,702 83,246,901
Diluted........................... 78,038,664 79,235,570 83,162,607 84,361,995 84,111,102
Ratios:
Return on average assets............. 1.68% 1.66% 1.70% 1.70% 1.54%
Return on average shareholders'
equity............................. 19.70 20.24 18.30 17.72 16.88
Average shareholders' equity to
average assets..................... 8.53 8.22 9.31 9.58 9.12
Dividend payout...................... 56.40 56.59 53.30 50.33 51.16
Risk-based capital:
Tier 1 capital.................... 14.09 11.26 12.03 13.82 14.03
Total capital..................... 15.15 12.33 13.17 15.05 15.15
Leverage capital..................... 10.26 8.48 8.81 9.71 9.15
Financial Condition at Year-End:
Assets............................... $ 8,583,765 $ 7,901,260 $ 7,755,707 $ 7,168,540 $ 6,882,167
Loans, net of allowance.............. 5,268,004 5,127,115 4,927,621 4,446,806 4,245,011
Deposits............................. 6,306,974 6,136,828 6,010,233 5,904,473 5,756,168
Shareholders' equity................. 678,375 655,982 652,708 702,787 646,794
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) All per share amounts have been restated to reflect the 5 percent stock
dividend issued May 18, 2001, and all prior stock splits and dividends.

11
Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations

The purpose of this analysis is to provide the reader with information
relevant to understanding and assessing Valley's results of operations for each
of the past three years and financial condition for each of the past two years.
In order to fully appreciate this analysis the reader is encouraged to review
the consolidated financial statements and statistical data presented in this
document.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-K, both in the MD & A and elsewhere, contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about
management's confidence and strategies and management's expectations about new
and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, taxation,
technology and market conditions. These statements may be identified by an
"asterisk" (*) or such forward-looking terminology as "expect," "look,"
"believe," "anticipate," "may," "will," or similar statements or variations of
such terms. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and
uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, the direction of interest
rates, loan prepayment assumptions, cash flows, deposit growth, the direction
of the economy in New Jersey and New York especially as it has been affected by
recent developments, continued levels of loan quality and origination volume,
continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, as
well as the effects of general economic conditions and legal and regulatory
barriers and structure. Actual results may differ materially from such
forward-looking statements. Valley assumes no obligation for updating any such
forward-looking statement at any time.

Recent Developments

Valley restructured an existing subsidiary during December of 2001, by
contributing to it some of Valley's existing real estate owned properties and
some of its real estate related securities. Valley anticipates that it will
contribute additional real estate owned properties to the subsidiary during
2002*. The restructuring will provide substantial tax benefits during 2002.*
Beginning in 2003, there will be a smaller amount of recurring annual tax
benefits from this restructuring.* The benefits will reduce Valley's effective
tax rate below its historical rate of approximately 34 percent.


On November 7, 2001, Valley completed a $175.0 million public offering of
7.75 percent trust preferred securities. Valley issued the trust preferred
securities through its subsidiary VNB Capital Trust I, a Delaware business
trust. An additional $25.0 million in trust preferred securities was sold by
Valley on November 15, 2001 upon the exercise of the underwriters'
overallotment option. These trust preferred securities are traded on the New
York Stock Exchange preferred stock listing. Valley intends to use the net
proceeds for general corporate purposes, which include the repurchase of our
common stock and the repayment of debt, and may include investments in or
advances to our existing or future subsidiaries.

In late June 2001 Valley began operations of Valley Commercial Capital, LLC,
a new leasing company, which offers both commercial equipment leases and
financing for general aviation aircraft. This transaction involved the purchase
of approximately $44.0 million of small aircraft loans.

On January 19, 2001 Valley completed its merger with Merchants New York
Bancorp, Inc. ("Merchants"), parent of The Merchants Bank of New York
headquartered in Manhattan. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each
outstanding share of Merchants common stock was exchanged for 0.7634 shares of
Valley common stock. As a result, a total of approximately 14 million shares of
Valley common stock were exchanged (the exchange rate and number of shares
exchanged have not been restated for the 5 percent stock dividend issued May
18, 2001). This merger added seven branches in Manhattan. The transaction was
accounted for utilizing the pooling-of-interest method of accounting. The
consolidated financial statements of Valley have been restated to include
Merchants for all periods presented.

Earnings Summary

Net income was $135.2 million, or $1.73 per diluted share in 2001 compared
with $126.7 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, in 2000 (2000 earnings per
share amounts have been restated to give effect to the 5 percent

12
stock dividend issued May 18, 2001). Net income includes a net, after tax
charge of $7.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, recorded in connection with
the first quarter acquisition of Merchants. Excluding the merger charge, net
income for the year ended December 31, 2001 was $142.2 million, or $1.82
diluted share. Return on average assets for 2001 rose to 1.68 percent compared
with 1.66 percent in 2000, while the return on average equity was 19.70 percent
in 2001 compared with 20.24 percent in 2000. Excluding the merger charge, the
return on average assets and the return on average equity would have been 1.77
percent and 20.73 percent, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2001.

Although interest rates declined throughout 2001, Valley's net interest
income increased $19.3 million, contributing to increased earnings per share.
An increase in loan volume helped offset the decline in interest rates.
Earnings for 2001 were also impacted by the pre-tax $4.9 million gain recorded
relating to the sale of the cobranded ShopRite MasterCard credit card portfolio
offset by the pre-tax merger-related charge of $9.0 million from the
acquisition of Merchants and $2.3 million of distributions on the recently
issued trust preferred securities.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income continues to be the largest source of Valley's operating
income. Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased to $340.9
million for 2001 compared with $322.4 million for 2000. Higher average balances
of total interest earning assets, primarily loans and taxable investments, were
offset partially by lower average interest rates for these interest earning
assets during 2001. For 2001 total interest bearing liabilities increased
causing interest expense to increase, but was more than offset by declining
rates associated with the liabilities compared to 2000. The net interest margin
increased to 4.45 percent for 2001 compared with 4.40 percent for 2000.
Beginning in January 2001 the Federal Reserve decreased short-term interest
rates eleven times during the year amounting to 475 basis points due to the
general weakness in the economy. As the prime rate declined, Valley was able to
reduce liability costs contributing to an increase in its net interest margin
and net interest income. There can be no assurances how future changes in
interest rates will affect net interest income.

Average interest earning assets increased $349.5 million or 4.8 percent in
2001 over the 2000 amount. This was mainly the result of the increase in
average balance of loans of $134.1 million or 2.6 percent and the increase in
average balance of taxable investments of $197.3 million or 10.2 percent.

Average interest bearing liabilities for 2001 increased $289.9 million or
5.1 percent from 2000. Average savings deposits increased $128.8 million or 5.7
percent and average time deposits increased $35.1 million or 1.4 percent from
2000. Average short-term borrowings decreased $169.4 million or 39.1 percent
over 2000 balances. Average long-term debt, which includes primarily Federal
Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances, increased $295.4 million, or 50.7 percent.
During 2001, in conjunction with declining interest rates, Valley began to
extend maturities on its short-term borrowings by converting to longer term
FHLB advances resulting in a large increase in long-term debt and decrease in
short-term borrowings. The extension of maturities is part of an effort to more
closely match Valley's funding sources with its loan portfolio and reduce
future interest rate risk.*

Average interest rates, in all categories of interest earning assets and
interest bearing liabilities, decreased during 2001 compared to 2000. The
average interest rate for loans decreased 62 basis points to 7.68 percent and
the average interest rate for taxable investments decreased 30 basis points to
6.53 percent. Average interest rates on total interest earning assets decreased
56 basis points to 7.30 percent. Average interest rates also decreased on total
interest bearing liabilities by 78 basis points to 3.65 percent from 4.43
percent. Average interest rates on deposits decreased by 81 basis points to
3.26 percent. The increase in the net interest margin from 4.40 percent in 2000
to 4.45 percent in 2001 resulted from a larger increase in net interest income
in relationship to the growth in average interest earning assets and from
reduced liability costs in conjunction with reduced yields in a declining
interest rate environment. Valley will generally be able to increase the net
interest margin in a declining rate environment, as there are a greater amount
of liabilities tied to short-term rates than assets.* Conversely, in a rising
interest rate environment, Valley may have some reduction in net interest
income.* For further information, see the caption Interest Rate Sensitivity
discussed in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations.

13
The following table reflects the components of net interest income for each
of the three years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

ANALYSIS OF AVERAGE ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND
NET INTEREST INCOME ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
Average Average Average Average Average Average
Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate Balance Interest Rate
---------- -------- ------- ---------- -------- ------- ---------- -------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Assets
Interest earning assets
Loans (1)(2)....................... $5,199,999 $399,330 7.68% $5,065,852 $420,500 8.30% $4,682,882 $374,829 8.00%
Taxable investments (3)............ 2,136,459 139,511 6.53 1,939,191 132,400 6.83 2,000,861 126,858 6.34
Tax-exempt investments(1)(3)....... 221,752 16,100 7.26 244,833 17,851 7.29 252,632 18,370 7.27
Federal funds sold and other
short-term investments............ 109,768 4,616 4.21 68,615 4,252 6.20 93,856 4,701 5.01
---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ----
Total interest earning assets...... 7,667,978 $559,557 7.30 7,318,491 $575,003 7.86 7,030,231 $524,758 7.46
-------- ---- -------- ---- -------- ----
Allowance for loan losses.......... (63,564) (65,706) (63,505)
Cash and due from banks............ 182,955 187,625 194,104
Other assets....................... 229,067 217,160 201,110
Unrealized gain(loss) on
securities available for sale..... 25,962 (36,774) (2,614)
---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets....................... $8,042,398 $7,620,796 $7,359,326
========== ========== ==========
Liabilities and
Shareholders' Equity
Interest bearing liabilities
Savings deposits................... $2,389,179 $ 45,742 1.91% $2,260,379 $ 57,470 2.54% $2,276,031 $ 49,170 2.16%
Time deposits...................... 2,458,168 112,417 4.57 2,423,099 133,156 5.50 2,456,289 120,531 4.91
---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ----
Total interest bearing deposits.... 4,847,347 158,159 3.26 4,683,478 190,626 4.07 4,732,320 169,701 3.59
Short-term borrowings.............. 263,497 11,424 4.34 432,849 26,598 6.14 321,144 16,394 5.10
Long-term debt..................... 878,364 49,070 5.59 582,980 35,424 6.08 387,571 22,697 5.86
---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ---- ---------- -------- ----
Total interest bearing liabilities. 5,989,208 218,653 3.65 5,699,307 252,648 4.43 5,441,035 208,792 3.84
-------- ---- -------- ---- -------- ----
Demand deposits.................... 1,301,231 1,254,103 1,174,621
Other liabilities.................. 36,114 41,190 58,657
Capital securities................. 29,686 -- --
Shareholders' equity............... 686,159 626,196 685,013
---------- ---------- ----------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity............................ $8,042,398 $7,620,796 $7,359,326
========== ========== ==========
Net interest income (tax
equivalent basis)................. 340,904 322,355 315,966
Tax equivalent adjustment.......... (6,071) (6,797) (6,940)
-------- -------- --------
Net interest income................ $334,833 $315,558 $309,026
======== ======== ========
Net interest rate differential..... 3.65% 3.43% 3.62%
==== ==== ====
Net interest margin (4)............ 4.45% 4.40% 4.49%
==== ==== ====
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Interest income is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 35 percent
tax rate.
(2) Loans are stated net of unearned income and include non-accrual loans.
(3) The yield for securities that are classified as available for sale is based
on the average historical amortized cost.
(4) Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis as a percentage of total
average interest earning assets.

14
The following table demonstrates the relative impact on net interest income
of changes in volume of interest earning assets and interest bearing
liabilities and changes in rates earned and paid by Valley on such assets and
liabilities.

CHANGE IN NET INTEREST INCOME ON A TAX EQUIVALENT BASIS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 Compared to 2000 2000 Compared to 1999
Increase(Decrease)(2) Increase(Decrease)(2)
--------------------------- -------------------------
Interest Volume Rate Interest Volume Rate
-------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest income:
Loans (1)...................... $(21,172) $10,917 $(32,089) $45,671 $31,435 $14,236
Taxable investments............ 7,113 13,058 (5,945) 5,542 (3,996) 9,538
Tax-exempt investments(1)...... (1,751) (1,676) (75) (519) (569) 50
Federal funds sold and
other short-term investments. 364 2,017 (1,653) (449) (1,424) 975
-------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------
(15,446) 24,316 (39,762) 50,245 25,446 24,799
-------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Interest expense:
Savings deposits............... (11,728) 3,123 (14,851) 8,300 (340) 8,640
Time deposits.................. (20,739) 1,901 (22,640) 12,625 (1,648) 14,273
Short-term borrowings.......... (15,174) (8,658) (6,516) 10,204 6,435 3,769
Long-term debt................. 13,646 16,700 (3,054) 12,727 11,844 883
-------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------
(33,995) 13,066 (47,061) 43,856 16,291 27,565
-------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Net interest income
(tax equivalent basis)....... $ 18,549 $11,250 $ 7,299 $ 6,389 $ 9,155 $(2,766)
======== ======= ======== ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Interest income is adjusted to a tax equivalent basis using a 35 percent
tax rate.
(2) Variances resulting from a combination of changes in volume and rates are
allocated to the categories in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of
the change in each category.

15
Non-Interest Income

The following table presents the components of non-interest income for the
years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

NON-INTEREST INCOME

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
------------------------
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Trust and investment services........ $ 4,404 $ 3,563 $ 2,414
Service charges on deposit accounts.. 19,171 18,180 15,864
Gains on securities transactions, net 3,564 355 2,625
Fees from loan servicing............. 10,818 10,902 8,387
Credit card fee income............... 3,535 8,403 8,655
Gains on sales of loans, net......... 10,601 2,227 2,491
Bank owned life insurance............ 2,120 -- --
Other................................ 14,263 15,470 13,367
------- ------- -------
Total non-interest income......... $68,476 $59,100 $53,803
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

Non-interest income continues to represent a considerable source of income
for Valley. Excluding gains on securities transactions, total non-interest
income amounted to $64.9 million for 2001 compared with $58.7 million for 2000.

Trust and investment services includes income from trust operations,
brokerage commissions, and asset management fees. Additional fee income to
Valley during 2000 and 2001 resulted primarily from the July 6, 2000
acquisition of Hallmark Capital Management, Inc. ("Hallmark"), a New Jersey
based investment management firm. The acquisition was accounted for as a
purchase accounting transaction. Fee income from asset management and brokerage
commissions were negatively impacted by the equity market decline during 2001.

Service charges on deposit accounts increased $991 thousand or 5.5 percent
from $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2000 to $19.2 million in
2001. A majority of this increase was due to an increase in service fees
charged.

Gains on securities transactions, net increased $3.2 million to $3.6 million
for the year ended December 31, 2001 as compared to $355 thousand for the year
ended December 31, 2000. The majority of securities sold during 2001 were
mortgage backed securities, which, in the current economic environment of heavy
refinancing activity, were experiencing above normal prepayments. Additional
sales may take place with changes in interest rates to adjust for portfolio
yields and duration.*

Included in fees from loan servicing are fees for servicing residential
mortgage loans and SBA loans. For the year ended December 31, 2001, fees from
servicing residential mortgage loans totaled $9.5 million and fees from
servicing SBA loans totaled $1.3 million, relatively unchanged from the prior
year. The aggregate principal balances of mortgage loans serviced by VNB's
subsidiary VNB Mortgage Services, Inc. ("MSI") for others approximated $2.4
billion, $2.5 billion and $2.2 billion at December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999,
respectively. The heavy prepayment activity resulted in less fee income from
the serviced mortgage loan portfolio. If long-term interest rates remain low,
then this level of prepayments and reduced fee income may continue.*

Credit card fee income decreased $4.9 million for the year ended December
31, 2001 as compared to the prior year due to the sale of the $66.6 million
co-branded ShopRite MasterCard credit card portfolio in January 2001. Valley
will continue to maintain its own credit card portfolio, due to customer
relationships, which had a balance of $12.7 million at December 31, 2001.


16
Gains on sales of loans were $10.6 million for the year 2001 compared to
$2.2 million for the prior year. A $4.9 million gain was recorded in January
2001 on the ShopRite Mastercard credit card portfolio sale described above.
Also included in the gain on sale of loans for 2001 is a $3.7 million gain on
the sale of newly originated low interest rate, 15 and 30 year fixed rate
residential mortgages, as well as some mortgages with higher interest rates and
with a greater likelihood of prepayment in a declining interest rate
environment. Management sells most new long-term fixed rate loans with low
interest rates to reduce future interest rate risk.* Approximately $2.0 million
of gain was recorded on the sale of SBA loans by VNB into the secondary market
in 2001. The comparable gain amounts for the year ended December 31, 2000 for
the sale of residential mortgage loans and SBA loans were $244 thousand and
$2.0 million, respectively. The increase in the gain on sale of residential
mortgage loans was due to the increase in the volume of loans sold and changes
in interest rates.

During the third quarter of 2001, Valley invested $100.0 million in Bank
Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and added another $50.0 million during the first
quarter of 2002 to help offset the rising cost of employee benefits. The
investment portfolio was reduced by the like amount, causing net interest
income to decline. Income of $2.1 million was recorded from the BOLI during the
year ended December 31, 2001 and was reported as other income. BOLI income is
exempt from federal and state taxes. The BOLI is invested in investment
securities similar to Valley's investment portfolio and is managed by two
investment firms.

Other non-interest income decreased $1.2 million to $14.3 million in 2001 as
compared to 2000. This decrease is primarily attributed to the gain recorded on
two bank buildings sold by Valley during 2000 acquired in previous
acquisitions.

Non-Interest Expense

The following table presents the components of non-interest expense for the
years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
--------------------------
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Salary expense.................... $ 79,826 $ 76,116 $ 70,596
Employee benefit expense.......... 18,200 18,037 17,406
FDIC insurance premiums........... 1,151 1,239 1,350
Net occupancy expense............. 17,775 15,469 14,641
Furniture and equipment expense... 10,700 10,731 9,299
Credit card expense............... 1,538 5,032 5,070
Amortization of intangible assets. 10,170 7,725 5,369
Advertising....................... 6,392 4,682 5,336
Merger-related charges............ 9,017 -- 3,005
Distribution on capital securities 2,282 -- --
Other............................. 31,197 32,108 32,647
-------- -------- --------
Total non-interest expense..... $188,248 $171,139 $164,719
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>

Excluding merger-related charges, non-interest expense totaled $179.2
million for 2001, an increase of $8.1 million or 4.7 percent from the 2000
level. The largest components of non-interest expense were salaries and
employee benefit expense which totaled $98.0 million in 2001 compared to $94.2
million in 2000, an increase of 4.1 percent. At December 31, 2001, full-time
equivalent staff was 2,129 compared to 2,087 at the end of 2000. The increase
in salary expense includes Valley's new leasing subsidiary, new branches, and
other expanded operations.

The efficiency ratio measures a bank's gross operating expense as a
percentage of fully-taxable equivalent net interest income and other
non-interest income without taking into account security gains and losses and
other non-recurring items. Valley's efficiency ratio for the year ended
December 31, 2001 was 44.4 percent, one of the lowest in the industry, compared
with an efficiency ratio for 2000 of 45.2 percent. Valley strives to control
its efficiency ratio and expenses as a means of producing increased earnings
for its shareholders.*

17
Net occupancy expense increased $2.3 million or 14.9 percent during 2001 in
comparison to 2000. The increase in this expense can be attributed to an
overall increase in the cost of operating bank facilities and from new branch
locations.

Credit card expense includes processing expenses and fraud losses for both
the co-branded ShopRite credit card portfolio and Valley's own credit card
portfolio, and cardmember rebates for the co-branded ShopRite credit card
portfolio. The decrease in credit card expense was the result of the sale of
the ShopRite credit card portfolio in January 2001.

Amortization of intangible assets, consisting primarily of amortization of
loan servicing rights, increased $2.4 million or 31.7 percent to $10.2 million.
An analysis is completed quarterly to determine the adequacy of the mortgage
servicing asset. A valuation of $2.0 million was recorded in the third and
fourth quarters of 2001 as a result of a large volume of prepayments on higher
interest rate mortgages. Additional increases to the reserve may be recorded
during 2002 should high levels of prepayments continue.* Also included in
amortization of intangible assets is $650 thousand of goodwill amortization
recorded during 2001. Under the new accounting rules, annual amortization of
goodwill will cease. Instead, Valley will periodically review the goodwill
asset for impairment, and record an impairment reserve for any decline in value.

During the first quarter of 2001, Valley recorded merger-related charges of
$9.0 million related to the acquisition of Merchants. On an after tax basis,
these charges totaled $7.0 million or $0.09 per diluted share. These charges
include only identified direct and incremental costs associated with this
acquisition. Items included in these charges were the following: personnel
expenses which include severance payments for terminated directors of
Merchants; professional fees which include investment banking, accounting and
legal fees; and other expenses which include the disposal of data processing
equipment and the write-off of supplies and other assets not considered useful
in the operation of the combined entities. The major components of the
merger-related charge, consisting of professional fees, personnel and the
disposal of data processing equipment, totaled $4.4 million, $3.2 million and
$486 thousand, respectively. Of the total merger-related charge, $5.9 million
or 65.5 percent was paid or charged to the reserve through December 31, 2001.
The remaining balance of $3.1 million is expected to be paid based on existing
contractual arrangements.*

Distributions on capital securities consist primarily of amounts required to
be paid or accrued on the $200 million of 7.75 percent trust preferred
securities issued in November of 2001. The interest cost for the full year 2002
will approximate $15.5 million.

The significant components of other non-interest expense include data
processing, professional fees, postage, telephone and stationery expense which
totaled approximately $14.9 million for 2001, compared to $15.7 million for
2000.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was 32.2 percent for
the year ended December 31, 2001 compared to 34.3 percent in 2000. The
effective tax rate was impacted by the effect of nondeductible merger expenses,
tax benefits associated with loan charge-offs, additional state tax benefits
and non taxable income from a $100.0 million investment in BOLI. After
adjusting for these items, the effective tax rate for the year 2001 would have
been approximately 33.6 percent. Valley restructured an existing subsidiary
during December of 2001, by contributing to it some of Valley's existing real
estate owned properties and some of its real estate related securities. Valley
anticipates that it will contribute additional real estate owned properties to
the subsidiary during 2002.* The restructuring will provide substantial tax
benefits during 2002.* Beginning in 2003, there will be a smaller amount of
recurring annual benefits from this restructuring.* The benefits will reduce
Valley's effective tax rate below its historical rate of approximately 34
percent.*


18
Business Segments

VNB has four business segments it monitors and reports on to manage its
business operations. These segments are consumer lending, commercial lending,
investment portfolio and corporate and other adjustments. Lines of business and
actual structure of operations determine each segment. Each is reviewed
routinely for its asset growth, contribution to pre-tax net income and return
on average interest-earning assets. Expenses related to the branch network, all
other components of retail banking, along with the back office departments of
the bank are allocated from the corporate and other adjustments segment to each
of the other three business segments. The financial reporting for each segment
contains allocations and reporting in line with VNB's operations, which may not
necessarily be compared to any other financial institution. The accounting for
each segment includes internal accounting policies designed to measure
consistent and reasonable financial reporting. For financial data on the four
business segments see Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data--Note 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

The consumer lending segment had a return on average interest earning assets
before taxes of 3.12 percent for the year ended December 31, 2001 compared to
2.54 percent for the year ended December 31, 2000. Average interest earning
assets decreased $129.7 million, which is attributable to a decrease in
automobile lending offset partially by an increase in home equity and
residential mortgage lending. Average interest rates on consumer loans
decreased by 18 basis points, while the cost of funds decreased by 60 basis
points. The majority of the rates on these loans are fixed and do not adjust
with changes in short term interest rates. Normal cash flow, high prepayment
volume and new loans at lower rates caused the decline in yield. Income before
income taxes increased $12.2 million primarily as a result of increased
non-interest income of $3.7 million associated with the sale of residential
mortgage loans. In addition, the sale of $66.6 million of credit card
receivables during the first quarter of 2001 reduced non-interest expense by
$4.6 million compared to the prior year.

The return on average interest earning assets before taxes for the
commercial lending segment decreased 64 basis points to 2.85 percent for the
year ended December 31, 2001. Average interest earning assets increased $246.7
million as a result of an increased volume of loans and the purchase of
approximately $44.0 million in small aircraft loans. Interest rates on
commercial loans decreased by 112 basis points due to a decline in interest
rates on a large number of adjustable rate loans, while the cost of funds
decreased by 60 basis points. Income before income taxes decreased $7.8 million
primarily as a result of a decline in the yield on loans offset by an increase
in average interest earning assets.

The investment portfolio segment had a return on average interest earning
assets, before taxes, of 2.46 percent for the year ended December 31, 2001, 35
basis points more than the year ended December 31, 2000. Average interest
earning assets increased by $232.5 million. The yield on interest earning
assets decreased by 34 basis points to 6.46 percent. Cash flows from
investments, specifically mortgage backed securities, prepaid at a faster pace
during 2001 due to lower long term interest rates on mortgage loans, and these
funds were reinvested in lower rate alternatives causing the decline in yield.
This can be expected to continue during 2002 if long-term interest rates remain
low.* Income before income taxes increased 28.5 percent to $60.2 million.

The corporate segment represents income and expense items not directly
attributable to a specific segment including merger-related charges,
non-recurring gains on sales of loans, and service charges on deposit accounts.
The loss before taxes for the corporate segment increased to $16.8 million for
the year ended December 31, 2001 and was due primarily to the pre-tax merger
related charges of $9.0 million incurred during 2001.

ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Valley's success is largely dependent upon its ability to manage interest
rate risk. Interest rate risk can be defined as the exposure of Valley's net
interest income to the movement in interest rates. Valley does not currently
use derivatives to manage market and interest rate risks. Valley's interest
rate risk management is the responsibility of the Asset/Liability Management
Committee ("ALCO"), which reports to the Board of Directors. ALCO establishes
policies that monitor and coordinate Valley's sources, uses and pricing of
funds.

19
Valley uses a simulation model to analyze net interest income sensitivity to
movements in interest rates. The simulation model projects net interest income
based on various interest rate scenarios over a twelve and twenty-four month
period. The model is based on the maturity and repricing characteristics of
rate sensitive assets and liabilities. The model incorporates certain
assumptions which management believes to be reasonable regarding the impact of
changing interest rates, the prepayment assumptions of certain assets and
liability retention. According to the model run for year end 2001, over a
twelve month period, an interest rate increase of 100 basis points resulted in
a decrease in net interest income of approximately $2.9 million while an
interest rate decrease of 100 basis points resulted in an increase in net
interest income of approximately $5.0 million. Management cannot provide any
assurance about the actual effect of changes in interest rates on Valley's net
interest income.* The model assumes changes in interest rates without any
proactive change in the balance sheet by managment.

Valley's net interest margin is affected by changes in interest rates and
cash flow from its loan and investment portfolio. In a low interest rate
environment, greater cash flow is received from mortgage loans and investments
due to greater refinancing activity. These larger cash flows are then
reinvested into alternative investments at lower interest rates causing net
interest margin pressure. Valley actively manages these cash flows in
conjunction with its liability rates to maximize net interest margin.

The following table shows the financial instruments that are sensitive to
changes in interest rates, categorized by expected maturity, and the
instruments' fair value at December 31, 2001. Market risk sensitive instruments
are generally defined as on-and-off balance sheet financial instruments.

INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Fair
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Thereafter Balance Value
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest sensitive assets:
Investment securities held to maturity........ $ 14,450 $ 1,572 $ 9,873 $ 8,542 $ 7,752 $ 450,872 $ 503,061 $ 476,872
Investment securities available for sale...... 855,902 349,939 231,054 137,937 82,682 514,181 2,171,695 2,171,695
Loans:
Commercial................................... 792,492 92,148 67,241 38,776 20,986 69,209 1,080,852 1,073,347
Mortgage..................................... 595,857 434,609 321,685 235,117 203,887 1,104,855 2,896,010 2,862,473
Consumer..................................... 680,126 305,084 198,794 100,971 39,211 30,759 1,354,945 1,460,358
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest sensitive assets............... $2,938,827 $1,193,352 $828,647 $521,343 $354,518 $2,169,876 $8,006,563 $8,044,745
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Interest sensitive liabilities:
Deposits:
Savings...................................... $ 478,457 $ 535,031 $535,031 $299,939 $149,969 $ 449,908 $2,448,335 $2,448,335
Time......................................... 1,983,952 268,440 79,002 51,257 23,646 6,321 2,412,618 2,437,233
Short-term borrowings......................... 304,262 -- -- -- -- -- 304,262 304,262
Long-term debt................................ 167,039 127,030 142,033 53,012 154,036 332,578 975,728 971,567
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total interest sensitive liabilities.......... $2,933,710 $ 930,501 $756,066 $404,208 $327,651 $ 788,807 $6,140,943 $6,161,397
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Interest sensitivity gap...................... $ 5,117 $ 262,851 $ 72,581 $117,135 $ 26,867 $1,381,069 $1,865,620 $1,883,348
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ratio of interest sensitive assets to interest
sensitive liabilities........................ 1.00:1 1.28:1 1.10:1 1.29:1 1.08:1 2.75:1 1.30:1 1.31:1
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
</TABLE>

Expected maturities are contractual maturities adjusted for all payments of
principal. Valley uses certain assumptions to estimate fair values. For
investment securities and loans, expected maturities are based upon contractual
maturity, projected repayments and prepayments of principal. The prepayment
experience reflected herein is based on historical experience. The actual
maturities of these instruments could vary substantially if future prepayments
differ from historical experience. For non maturity deposit liabilities, in
accordance with standard industry practice and Valley's own historical
experience, "decay factors" were used to estimate deposit runoff.

The total positive gap repricing within 1 year as of December 31, 2001 was
$5.1 million, representing a ratio of interest sensitive assets to interest
sensitive liabilities of 1.00:1. Management does not view this amount as
presenting an unusually high risk potential, although no assurances can be
given that Valley is not at risk from interest rate increases or decreases.*

20
Liquidity

Liquidity measures the ability to satisfy current and future cash flow needs
as they become due. Maintaining a level of liquid funds through asset/liability
management seeks to ensure that these needs are met at a reasonable cost. On
the asset side, liquid funds are maintained in the form of cash and due from
banks, federal funds sold, investments securities held to maturity maturing
within one year, securities available for sale and loans held for sale. Liquid
assets amounted to $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion at December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively. This represents 31.7 percent and 26.7 percent of earning assets,
and 29.6 percent and 25.5 percent of total assets at December 31, 2001 and
2000, respectively.

On the liability side, the primary source of funds available to meet
liquidity needs is Valley's core deposit base, which generally excludes
certificates of deposit over $100 thousand. Core deposits averaged
approximately $5.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2001 and $5.0
billion for the year ended December 31, 2000, representing 66.8 percent and
68.5 percent of average earning assets. Demand deposits have continued to
increase, while savings deposits have shown recent increases as a result of low
interest rates on other deposits and the effects of a declining equity market.
The level of time deposits is affected by interest rates offered, which is
often influenced by Valley's need for funds. During 2001, Valley utilized the
brokered certificate of deposit ("CD") market in an attempt to attract longer
term deposits and will continue to utilize this source as needed. At December
31, 2001, brokered CD's totaled $68.9 million. Short-term and long-term
borrowings through Federal funds lines, repurchase agreements, Federal Home
Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances and large dollar certificates of deposit, generally
those over $100 thousand, are used as funding sources. Additional liquidity is
derived from scheduled loan and investment payments of principal and interest,
as well as prepayments received. In 2001, proceeds from the sales of investment
securities available for sale were $357.1 million, and proceeds of $1.2 billion
were generated from investment maturities. Purchases of investment securities
in 2001 were $2.0 billion. Short-term borrowings and certificates of deposit
over $100 thousand amounted to $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion, on average, for
the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

During 2001, a substantial amount of loan growth was funded from a
combination of deposit growth, normal loan payments and prepayments, and
borrowings. Valley anticipates using funds from all of the above sources to
fund loan growth during 2002.*

The following table lists, by maturity, all certificates of deposit of $100
thousand and over at December 31, 2001. These certificates of deposit are
generated primarily from core deposit customers.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
Less than three months. $ 888,580
Three to six months.... 76,894
Six to twelve months... 122,541
More than twelve months 11,281
----------
$1,099,296
==========
</TABLE>

Valley's recurring cash requirements consist primarily of dividends to
shareholders and distributions on trust preferred securities. This cash need is
routinely satisfied by dividends collected from its subsidiary bank along with
cash and investments owned. Projected cash flows from this source are expected
to be adequate to pay dividends and distributions on trust preferred
securities, given the current capital levels and current profitable operations
of its subsidiary.* In addition, Valley has, as approved by the Board of
Directors, repurchased shares of its outstanding common stock. The cash
required for these purchases of shares has been met by using its own funds,
dividends received from its subsidiary bank as well as borrowed funds and the
proceeds from the issuance of $200 million capital securities. At December 31,
2001 Valley maintained a floating rate line with a third party in the amount of
$35 million of which $4.0 million was outstanding. This line is available for
general corporate purposes and expires June 14, 2002. Borrowings under this
facility are collateralized by investment securities of no less than 120
percent of the loan balance. In addition, Valley has available a 120 day
unsecured line in the amount of $20 million which matures January 25, 2002, of
which none was drawn as of December 31, 2001.

21
Investment Securities

The amortized cost of securities held to maturity at December 31, 2001, 2000
and 1999 were as follows:

INVESTMENT SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 99,757 $ 78,062 $ 88,220
Mortgage-backed securities...................... 25,912 209,836 184,746
Other debt securities........................... 324,918 249,414 250,286
-------- -------- --------
Total debt securities........................ 450,587 537,312 523,252
FRB & FHLB stock................................ 52,474 40,138 37,421
-------- -------- --------
Total investment securities held to maturity. $503,061 $577,450 $560,673
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>


The fair value of securities available for sale at December 31, 2001, 2000
and 1999 were as follows:

INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Treasury securities and other government
agencies and corporations....................... $ 195,608 $ 150,621 $ 117,211
Obligations of states and political subdivisions.. 121,242 143,944 160,280
Mortgage-backed securities........................ 1,812,888 1,285,395 1,281,739
Other debt securities............................. -- -- 39,885
---------- ---------- ----------
Total debt securities.......................... 2,129,738 1,579,960 1,599,115
Equity securities................................. 41,957 46,126 45,052
---------- ---------- ----------
Total investment securities available for sale. $2,171,695 $1,626,086 $1,644,167
========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>


22
MATURITY DISTRIBUTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY AT DECEMBER 31,
2001

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Obligations of Mortgage-
States and Political Backed Other Debt
Subdivisions Securities(5) Securities Total(4)
------------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Amortized Yield Amortized Yield Amortized Yield Amortized Yield
Cost(1) (2)(3) Cost(1) (2) Cost(1) (2) Cost(1) (2)
--------- ------ --------- ----- --------- ----- --------- -----
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
0-1 years........... $ 4,516 6.62% $ -- -- % $ 525 3.75% $ 5,041 6.32%
1-5 years........... 16,139 7.69 8,004 7.35 10,611 7.65 34,754 7.60
5-10 years.......... 42,357 7.48 17,568 7.34 15,719 7.73 75,644 7.50
Over 10 years....... 36,745 6.78 340 7.98 298,063 7.32 335,148 7.26
------- ---- ------- ---- -------- ---- -------- ----
Total securities. $99,757 7.22% $25,912 7.35% $324,918 7.34% $450,587 7.31%
======= ==== ======= ==== ======== ==== ======== ====
</TABLE>

MATURITY DISTRIBUTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT DECEMBER
31, 2001

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
US Treasury
Securities and
Other Government Obligations of
Agencies and States and Political Mortgage-
Corporations Subdivisions Backed Securities(5) Total(4)
--------------- ------------------- ------------------- ---------------
Amortized Yield Amortized Yield Amortized Yield Amortized Yield
Cost(1) (2) Cost(1) (2)(3) Cost(1) (2) Cost(1) (2)
--------- ----- --------- ------ ---------- ----- ---------- -----
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
0-1 years........... $187,907 1.67% $ 13,469 6.80% $ 182,664 4.94% $ 384,040 3.41%
1-5 years........... 4,542 5.39 30,505 6.00 29,942 8.51 64,989 7.11
5-10 years.......... -- -- 67,890 7.22 196,532 6.36 264,422 6.58
Over 10 years....... 3,105 6.78 7,890 8.49 1,381,848 6.20 1,392,843 6.21
-------- ---- -------- ---- ---------- ---- ---------- ----
Total securities. $195,554 1.84% $119,754 6.95% $1,790,986 6.13% $2,106,294 5.77%
======== ==== ======== ==== ========== ==== ========== ====
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Amortized costs are stated at cost less principal reductions, if any, and
adjusted for accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums.
(2) Average yields are calculated on a yield-to-maturity basis.
(3) Average yields on obligations of states and political subdivisions are
generally tax-exempt and calculated on a tax-equivalent basis using a
statutory federal income tax rate of 35 percent.
(4) Excludes equity securities which have indefinite maturities.
(5) Mortgage-backed securities are shown using stated final maturity.

23
Valley's investment portfolio is comprised of U.S. government and federal
agency securities, tax-exempt issues of states and political subdivisions,
mortgage-backed securities, equity and other securities. There were no
securities in the name of any one issuer exceeding 10 percent of shareholders'
equity, except for securities issued by the United States and its political
subdivisions and agencies. The decision to purchase or sell securities is based
upon the current assessment of long and short term economic and financial
conditions, including the interest rate environment and other statement of
financial condition components.

At December 31, 2001, Valley had $25.9 million of mortgaged-backed
securities classified as held to maturity and $1.8 billion of mortgage-backed
securities classified as available for sale. Substantially all the
mortgage-backed securities held by Valley are issued or backed by federal
agencies. The mortgage-backed securities portfolio is a source of significant
liquidity to Valley through the monthly cash flow of principal and interest.
Mortgage-backed securities, like all securities, are sensitive to changes in
the interest rate environment, increasing and decreasing in value as interest
rates fall and rise. As interest rates fall, the increase in prepayments can
reduce the yield on the mortgage-backed securities portfolio, and reinvestment
of the proceeds will be at lower yields. Conversely, rising interest rates will
reduce cash flows from prepayments and extend anticipated duration of these
assets. Valley monitors the changes in interest rates, cash flows and duration,
to determine its investment policies.

Included in the mortgage-backed securities portfolio at December 31, 2001
were $495.8 million of collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMO's") of which
$143.9 million were privately issued. CMO's had a yield of 5.65 percent and an
unrealized gain of $791 thousand at December 31, 2001. Substantially all of the
CMO portfolio was classified as available for sale.

As of December 31, 2001, Valley had $2.2 billion of securities available for
sale, an increase of $546 thousand from December 31, 2000. These securities are
recorded at their fair value. As of December 31, 2001, the investment
securities available for sale had an unrealized gain of $20.8 million, net of
deferred taxes, compared to an unrealized loss of $1.7 million, net of deferred
taxes, at December 31, 2000. This change was primarily due to an increase in
prices resulting from a decreasing interest rate environment for these
investments. These securities are not considered trading account securities,
which may be sold on a continuous basis, but rather are securities which may be
sold to meet the various liquidity and interest rate requirements of Valley. In
2001, in connection with the Merchants acquisition, Valley reassessed the
classification of securities held in the Merchants portfolio and transferred
$162.4 million of securities from held to maturity to available for sale and
transferred $50.0 million of securities from available for sale to held to
maturity to conform with Valley's investment objectives. In 1999, in connection
with the Ramapo acquisition, Valley reassessed the classification of securities
held in the Ramapo portfolio and transferred $42.4 million of securities held
to maturity to securities available for sale to conform with Valley's
investment objectives.

24
Loan Portfolio

As of December 31, 2001, total loans were $5.3 billion, compared to $5.2
billion at December 31, 2000, an increase of 2.7 percent. The following table
reflects the composition of the loan portfolio for the five years ended
December 31, 2001.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial.................. $1,080,852 $1,026,793 $ 929,673 $ 817,213 $ 781,914
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total commercial loans... 1,080,852 1,026,793 929,673 817,213 781,914
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Construction................ 206,789 160,932 123,531 112,819 94,162
Residential mortgage........ 1,323,877 1,301,851 1,250,551 1,055,232 1,056,286
Commercial mortgage......... 1,365,344 1,258,549 1,178,734 1,069,727 970,775
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total mortgage loans..... 2,896,010 2,721,332 2,552,816 2,237,778 2,121,223
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Home equity................. 398,102 306,038 276,261 226,231 225,899
Credit card................. 12,740 83,894 92,097 108,180 146,151
Automobile.................. 842,247 976,177 1,054,542 1,033,938 931,579
Other consumer.............. 101,856 74,876 86,460 86,072 97,582
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total consumer loans..... 1,354,945 1,440,985 1,509,360 1,454,421 1,401,211
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total loans.............. $5,331,807 $5,189,110 $4,991,849 $4,509,412 $4,304,348
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
As a percent of total loans:
Commercial loans............ 20.3% 19.8% 18.6% 18.1% 18.2%
Mortgage loans.............. 54.3 52.4 51.2 49.6 49.3
Consumer loans.............. 25.4 27.8 30.2 32.3 32.5
--- --- --- --- ---
Total.................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
</TABLE>

The majority of the increase in loans for 2001 was divided among commercial
loans, commercial mortgage loans and home equity loans. It is not known if the
trend of increased lending in these loan types will continue.*

The commercial loan and commercial mortgage loan portfolio has continued its
steady increase. Valley targets small-to-medium size businesses within the
market area of the bank for this type of lending. The increase in the
commercial mortgage loan portfolio resulted primarily from new growth
opportunities in the Manhattan market area, resulting from the Merchants
acquisition.

The home equity loan portfolio increased $92.1 million or 30.1 percent
during 2001 resulting primarily from the decrease in interest rates and
increased marketing efforts by Valley of its customer base.

The decrease in credit card loans resulted from the sale of the $66.6
million cobranded ShopRite MasterCard credit card portfolio in January 2001.
Valley will continue to maintain its own credit card portfolio.

For many years, VNB had maintained an automobile loan program with State
Farm Insurance Company. While the loans generated by this program have been
important to Valley, recent changes in market conditions for automobile lending
have reduced the volume and profitablility of the program relative to other
loans and investments available to the bank. Combined with the expansion of
State Farm's banking activities, Valley has decided to phase out the
origination of loans under this program during 2001, resulting in a decrease in
outstanding automobile loans. Valley has increased its automobile lending
through other sources including originations through the American Automobile
Association, increased dealer activity and other insurance companies.

25
All loans originated by Valley through the State Farm program will remain
under the bank's ownership, and Valley expects the portfolio to amortize in its
normal course. As of December 31, 2001, this portfolio represented 6.3 percent
of Valley's earning assets and the amount of the portfolio had decreased by
24.6 percent during the last twelve-month period. The gross yield of the
portfolio for the year 2001 was 8.6 percent, prior to marketing payments to an
affiliate of the insurance company, loan losses and all costs associated with
originating and maintaining the portfolio. Management anticipates that the
phasing out of this program should not have a material adverse effect on future
net income.*

VNB has a finance company in Toronto, Canada which makes auto loans referred
through State Farm Insurance Company. This Canadian subsidiary had interest
income of approximately $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, and
auto loans of $28.9 million at December 31, 2001. These loans are partially
funded by a capital investment by VNB of $7.4 million, with additional funding
requirements satisfied by lines of credit in Canadian funds. Any foreign
exchange risk is limited to the capital investment by VNB. Valley is reviewing
its options with respect to this company in light of its phasing out of the
State Farm program.

Much of Valley's lending is in northern New Jersey and Manhattan, with the
exception of the out-of-state auto loan portfolio. However, efforts are made to
maintain a diversified portfolio as to type of borrower and loan to guard
against a downward turn in any one economic sector.* These loans are
diversified as to type of borrower and loan. As a result of Valley's lending,
this could present a geographical and credit risk if there was a significant
broad based downturn of the economy within the region.

The following table reflects the contractual maturity distribution of the
commercial and construction loan portfolios as of December 31, 2001:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Yr. or less Over 1 to 5 Yrs. Over 5 Yrs. Total
------------- ---------------- ----------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial--fixed rate....... $185,760 $ 51,369 $16,223 $ 253,352
Commercial--adjustable rate.. 606,731 167,782 52,987 827,500
Construction--fixed rate..... 19,961 8,745 -- 28,706
Construction--adjustable rate 82,240 95,843 -- 178,083
-------- -------- ------- ----------
$894,692 $323,739 $69,210 $1,287,641
======== ======== ======= ==========
</TABLE>

Prior to maturity of each loan with a balloon payment and if the borrower
requests an extension, Valley generally conducts a review which normally
includes an analysis of the borrower's financial condition and, if applicable,
a review of the adequacy of collateral. A rollover of the loan at maturity may
require a principal paydown.

VNB is a preferred U. S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") lender with
authority to make loans without the prior approval of the SBA. VNB currently
has approval to make SBA loans in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware,
Maryland, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut and the District of
Columbia. Between 75 percent and 80 percent of each loan is guaranteed by the
SBA and is generally sold into the secondary market, with the balance retained
in VNB's portfolio. VNB intends to continue expanding this area of lending
because it provides a good source of fee income and loans with floating
interest rates tied to the prime lending rate.*

During 2001 and 2000, VNB originated approximately $31.1 million and $30.6
million of SBA loans, respectively, and sold $20.9 million and $21.9 million,
respectively. At December 31, 2001 and 2000, $47.5 million and $42.6 million,
respectively, of SBA loans were held in VNB's portfolio and VNB serviced for
others approximately $91.8 million and $92.2 million, respectively, of SBA
loans.

Non-performing Assets

Non-performing assets include non-accrual loans and other real estate owned
("OREO"). Loans are generally placed on a non-accrual status when they become
past due in excess of 90 days as to payment of principal or interest.
Exceptions to the non-accrual policy may be permitted if the loan is
sufficiently

26
collateralized and in the process of collection. OREO is acquired through
foreclosure on loans secured by land or real estate. OREO is reported at the
lower of cost or fair value at the time of acquisition and at the lower of fair
value, less estimated costs to sell, or cost thereafter.

Non-performing assets totaled $18.8 million at December 31, 2001, compared
with $4.0 million at December 31, 2000, an increase of $14.8 million.
Non-performing assets at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, amounted to
0.35 percent and 0.08 percent of loans and OREO. Non-performing assets have
increased during the current economic downturn, mostly from commercial lines of
credit, of which approximately half are from the Merchants portfolio of loans.
The state of the economy may result in higher non-accrual loans.* This is
contrary to the previous four years during which non-performing assets steadily
declined. Valley cannot predict whether this increase will continue.*

Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing which were not included in
the non-performing category totaled $10.5 million at December 31, 2001,
compared to $15.0 million at December 31, 2000. These loans are primarily
residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans and commercial loans
which are generally well-secured and in the process of collection. Also
included are matured commercial mortgage loans in the process of being renewed,
which totaled $3.8 million and $2.8 million at December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively. Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing have remained
at relatively stable levels during the past three years. It is not known if
this trend will continue.*

Total loans past due in excess of 30 days were 1.30 percent of all loans at
December 31, 2001 compared to 1.58 percent at December 31, 2000.

The allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans has been in a declining
trend since 1997 and increased slightly in 2001. Valley provides additions to
the allowance generally based upon net charge-offs and changes in the
composition of the loan portfolio. During the fourth quarter of 2001, Valley
increased the provision to $8.1 million as a result of $8.9 million in net
charge-offs incurred during the quarter, an increase in non-performing assets
and the current economic environment. The provision charged to operations was
$15.7 million in 2001 compared to $10.8 million in 2000, and net charge-offs
were $13.9 million and $13.0 million during those same periods.

The following table sets forth non-performing assets and accruing loans
which were 90 days or more past due as to principal or interest payments on the
dates indicated, in conjunction with asset quality ratios for Valley.

LOAN QUALITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Loans past due in excess of 90 days and still accruing...... $10,456 $14,952 $12,194 $ 7,769 $16,667
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Non-accrual loans........................................... $18,483 $ 3,883 $ 3,910 $ 7,653 $10,539
Other real estate owned..................................... 329 129 2,256 4,261 4,450
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total non-performing assets.............................. $18,812 $ 4,012 $ 6,166 $11,914 $14,989
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Troubled debt restructured loans............................ $ 891 $ 949 $ 4,852 $ 6,387 $ 6,723
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Non-performing loans as a % of loans........................ 0.35% 0.07% 0.08% 0.17% 0.24%
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Non-performing assets as a % of loans plus other real estate
owned..................................................... 0.35% 0.08% 0.12% 0.26% 0.35%
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Allowance as a % of loans................................... 1.20% 1.19% 1.29% 1.39% 1.38%
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
</TABLE>

During 2001, lost interest on non-accrual loans amounted to $463 thousand,
compared with recovered interest of $126 thousand in 2000.

27
Although substantially all risk elements at December 31, 2001 have been
disclosed in the categories presented above, management believes that for a
variety of reasons, including economic conditions, certain borrowers may be
unable to comply with the contractual repayment terms on certain real estate
and commercial loans. As part of the analysis of the loan portfolio by
management, it has been determined that there are approximately $11.9 million
in potential problem loans at December 31, 2001, which have not been classified
as non-accrual, past due or restructured.* Potential problem loans are defined
as performing loans for which management has serious doubts as to the ability
of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms and which may
result in a non-performing loan. Of these potential problem loans, $4.9 million
is considered at risk after collateral values and guarantees are taken into
consideration.* There can be no assurance that Valley has identified all of its
potential problem loans. At December 31, 2000, Valley had identified
approximately $29.4 million of potential problem loans which were not
classified as non-accrual, past due or restructured.

Asset Quality and Risk Elements

Lending is one of the most important functions performed by Valley and, by
its very nature, lending is also the most complicated, risky and profitable
part of Valley's business. For commercial loans, construction loans and
commercial mortgage loans, a separate credit department is responsible for risk
assessment, credit file maintenance and periodically evaluating overall
creditworthiness of a borrower. Additionally, efforts are made to limit
concentrations of credit so as to minimize the impact of a downturn in any one
economic sector.* These loans are diversified as to type of borrower and loan.
However, most of these loans are in northern New Jersey and Manhattan,
presenting a geographical and credit risk if there was a significant downturn
of the economy within the region.

Residential mortgage loans are secured primarily by 1-4 family properties
located mainly within northern New Jersey. Conservative underwriting policies
are adhered to and loan to value ratios are generally less than 80 percent.

Consumer loans are comprised of home equity loans, credit card loans and
automobile loans. Home equity and automobile loans are secured loans and are
made based on an evaluation of the collateral and the borrower's
creditworthiness. The majority of automobile loans have been originated through
a program with State Farm Insurance Company, whose customer base generally has
a good credit profile and generally have resulted in delinquencies and
charge-offs equal to that typically experienced from traditional sources. These
automobile loans are from 12 states, including New Jersey, as well as Canada,
and management believes they generally present no more risk than those made
within New Jersey.* All loans are subject to Valley's underwriting criteria.
Therefore, each loan or group of loans presents a geographical risk and credit
risk based upon the economy of the region. As discussed earlier, Valley phased
out the origination of loans under this program during 2001.

Management realizes that some degree of risk must be expected in the normal
course of lending activities. Allowances are maintained to absorb such loan and
off-balance sheet credit losses inherent in the portfolio. The allowance for
loan losses and related provision are an expression of management's evaluation
of the credit portfolio and economic climate.

28
The following table sets forth the relationship among loans, loans
charged-off and loan recoveries, the provision for loan losses and the
allowance for loan losses for the past five years:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average loans outstanding.................... $5,199,999 $5,065,852 $4,682,882 $4,359,876 $4,142,390
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Beginning balance--
Allowance for loan losses................... $ 61,995 $ 64,228 $ 62,606 $ 59,337 $ 58,543
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loans charged-off:
Commercial.................................. 10,841 7,162 1,560 424 6,110
Construction................................ -- -- -- -- --
Mortgage--Commercial........................ 710 490 983 2,166 1,440
Mortgage--Residential....................... 39 249 761 1,274 522
Consumer.................................... 6,414 8,992 10,051 11,331 8,403
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
18,004 16,893 13,355 15,195 16,475
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Charged-off loans recovered:
Commercial.................................. 1,465 947 1,148 1,073 876
Construction................................ -- -- 218 222 89
Mortgage--Commercial........................ 184 372 268 1,074 227
Mortgage--Residential....................... 42 49 133 329 167
Consumer.................................... 2,415 2,537 2,175 1,696 1,080
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
4,106 3,905 3,942 4,394 2,439
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net charge-offs.............................. 13,898 12,988 9,413 10,801 14,036
Provision charged to operations.............. 15,706 10,755 11,035 14,070 14,830
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Ending balance--Allowance for loan losses.... $ 63,803 $ 61,995 $ 64,228 $ 62,606 $ 59,337
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to
average loans outstanding during
the period................................. 0.27% 0.26% 0.20% 0.25% 0.34%
</TABLE>

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level estimated to absorb
probable loan losses of the loan portfolio.* The allowance is based on ongoing
evaluations of the probable estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio.
VNB's methodology for evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance consists
of several significant elements, which include the allocated allowance,
specific allowances for identified problem loans, portfolio segments and the
unallocated allowance. The allowance also incorporates the results of measuring
impaired loans as called for in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
114 "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan" and SFAS No. 118
"Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan--Income Recognition and
Disclosures."

VNB's allocated allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to
outstanding loans. The formula is based on the internal risk grade of loans or
pools of loans. Any change in the risk grade of performing and/or
non-performing loans affects the amount of the related allowance. Loss factors
are based on VNB's historical loss experience and may be adjusted for
significant circumstances that, in management's judgment, affect the
collectibility of the portfolio as of the evaluation date.

Management has established an unallocated portion of the allowance to cover
any losses within a given loan category which have not been otherwise reviewed
or measured on an individual basis. Such unallocated allowance includes
management's evaluation of local and national economic and business conditions,
portfolio concentrations, information risk, operational risk, credit quality
and delinquency trends. The unallocated portion of the allowance reflects
management's attempt to ensure that the overall allowance reflects a margin for
imprecision and the uncertainty that is inherent in estimates of expected
credit losses.

29
During 2001, continued emphasis was placed on the current economic climate
and the condition of the real estate market in the northern New Jersey area and
Manhattan. Management addressed these economic conditions and applied that
information to changes in the composition of the loan portfolio and net
charge-off levels. The provision charged to operations was $15.7 million in
2001 compared to $10.8 million in 2000. The provision for loan losses was
affected in 2001 as a result of Valley's increase in non-performing loans
during the year, increase in net charge-offs, loan growth in higher risk loan
categories and current economic conditions. The sale of the ShopRite credit
card portfolio in 2001 eliminated the need for the provision the bank was
maintaining for that portfolio.

The following table summarizes the allocation of the allowance for loan
losses to specific loan categories for the past five years:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------
(in thousands)
Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
of Loan of Loan of Loan of Loan of Loan
Category Category Category Category Category
Allowance to Total Allowance to Total Allowance to Total Allowance to Total Allowance to Total
Allocation Loans Allocation Loans Allocation Loans Allocation Loans Allocation Loans
---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Loan category:
Commercial.. $26,180 20.3% $24,234 19.8% $24,609 18.6% $22,456 18.1% $19,692 18.2%
Mortgage.... 14,148 54.3 11,827 52.4 13,282 51.2 14,363 49.6 16,861 49.3
Consumer.... 9,248 25.4 12,559 27.8 12,813 30.2 12,417 32.3 11,625 32.5
Unallocated. 14,227 N/A 13,375 N/A 13,524 N/A 13,370 N/A 11,159 N/A
------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- ----- ------- -----
$63,803 100.0% $61,995 100.0% $64,228 100.0% $62,606 100.0% $59,337 100.0%
======= ===== ======= ===== ======= ===== ======= ===== ======= =====
</TABLE>


30
At December 31, 2001 the allowance for loan losses amounted to $63.8 million
or 1.20 percent of loans, as compared to $62.0 million or 1.19 percent at
December 31, 2000.

The allowance was adjusted by provisions charged against income and loans
charged-off, net of recoveries. Net loan charge-offs were $13.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2001 compared with $13.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2000. The ratio of net charge-offs to average loans increased to
0.27 percent for 2001 compared with 0.26 percent for 2000. Non-accrual loans
increased in 2001 in comparison to 2000. Loans past due 90 days and still
accruing at December 31, 2001 were lower than at December 31, 2000.

The impaired loan portfolio is primarily collateral dependent. Impaired
loans and their related specific and general allocations to the allowance for
loan losses totaled $11.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, at December
31, 2001 and $3.4 million and $949 thousand, respectively, at December 31,
2000. The average balance of impaired loans during 2001 and 2000 was
approximately $6.1 million and $11.8 million, respectively. The amount of cash
basis interest income that was recognized on impaired loans during 2001, 2000
and 1999 was $828 thousand, $160 thousand and $616 thousand, respectively.

Capital Adequacy

A significant measure of the strength of a financial institution is its
shareholders' equity. At December 31, 2001, shareholders' equity totaled $678.4
million or 7.9 percent of total assets, compared with $656.0 million or 8.3
percent at year-end 2000.

On August 21, 2001 Valley's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of
up to 8,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. Purchases may
be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated
transactions generally not exceeding prevailing market prices. Reacquired
shares are held in treasury and are expected to be used for general corporate
purposes. As of December 31, 2001 Valley had repurchased 2.2 million shares of
its common stock.

On May 23, 2000 Valley's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up
to 3,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. As of September
19, 2000 Valley had repurchased 571,070 shares of its common stock under this
repurchase program, which was rescinded in connection with the signing of the
definitive merger agreement with Merchants. This is in addition to the
3,000,000 shares purchased pursuant to an authorization by the Board of
Directors in December 1999, the majority of which were used for the stock
dividend issued on May 16, 2000.

On February 12, 2000, the Board of Directors unanimously approved an
amendment to Valley's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize 30,000,000
shares of a new class of "blank check" preferred stock. The primary purpose of
the preferred stock is to maximize Valley's ability to expand its capital base.
The amendment was approved by the Valley shareholders on April 6, 2000. At
December 31, 2001 and 2000, there were no shares of preferred stock issued.

Included in shareholders' equity as components of accumulated other
comprehensive income at December 31, 2001 was a $20.7 million unrealized gain
on investment securities available for sale, net of tax, and a currency
translation adjustment loss of $1.1 million related to the Canadian subsidiary
of VNB, compared to an unrealized loss of $1.7 million on investment securities
available for sale, net of tax and a $678 thousand currency translation
adjustment loss at December 31, 2000.

Risk-based guidelines define a two-tier capital framework. Tier 1 capital
consists of common shareholders' equity and trust preferred securities, less
disallowed intangibles, and adjusted to exclude unrealized gains and losses,
net of tax. Total risk-based capital consists of Tier 1 capital and the
allowance for loan losses up to 1.25 percent of risk-adjusted assets.
Risk-adjusted assets are determined by assigning various levels of risk to
different categories of assets and off-balance sheet activities.

In November 2001, Valley sold $200.0 million of trust preferred securities,
which qualify as Tier 1 capital, within regulatory limitations. Including these
securities, Valley's capital position at December 31, 2001 under

31
risk-based capital guidelines was $847.7 million, or 14.1 percent of
risk-weighted assets, for Tier 1 capital and $911.5 million, or 15.2 percent,
for Total risk-based capital. The comparable ratios at December 31, 2000 were
11.3 percent for Tier 1 capital and 12.3 percent for Total risk-based capital.
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, Valley was in compliance with the leverage
requirement having Tier 1 leverage ratios of 10.3 percent and 8.5 percent,
respectively. Valley's ratios at December 31, 2001 were all above the "well
capitalized" requirements, which require Tier I capital to risk-adjusted assets
of at least 6 percent, Total risk-based capital to risk-adjusted assets of 10
percent and a minimum leverage ratio of 5 percent.

Book value per share amounted to $8.87 at December 31, 2001 compared with
$8.41 per share at December 31, 2000.

The primary source of capital growth is through retention of earnings.
Valley's rate of earnings retention, derived by dividing undistributed earnings
by net income, was 43.60 percent at December 31, 2001, compared to 43.41
percent at December 31, 2000. Cash dividends declared amounted to $1.04 per
share, equivalent to a dividend payout ratio of 56.40 percent for 2001,
compared to 56.59 percent for the year 2000. The current quarterly dividend
rate of $0.265 per share provides for an annual rate of $1.06 per share.
Valley's Board of Directors continues to believe that cash dividends are an
important component of shareholder value and that, at its current level of
performance and capital, Valley expects to continue its current dividend policy
of a quarterly distribution of earnings to its shareholders.*

Results of Operations--2000 Compared to 1999

Valley reported net income for 2000 of $126.7 million or $1.60 earnings per
diluted share, compared to the $125.3 million, or $1.51 earnings per diluted
share earned in 1999. Included in net income for 1999 is a merger-related
charge of $2.2 million, net of tax, or $0.03 per diluted share.

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased $6.4 million, or 2.0
percent, to $322.4 million in 2000. The increase in 2000 was due primarily to a
$288.3 million increase in the average balance of interest bearing assets
offset slightly by a $258.3 million increase in the average balance of interest
bearing liabilities. Average rates on interest earning assets and interest
bearing liabilities increased 40 basis points and 59 basis points, respectively.

Non-interest income, excluding security gains, amounted to $58.7 million in
2000, compared with $51.2 million in 1999. Income from trust and investment
services increased $1.1 million or 47.6 percent due primarily to additional fee
income contributed by the acquisition of two investment management companies
during July 1999 and July 2000. Fees from loan servicing, which includes both
servicing fees from residential mortgage loans and SBA loans, increased $2.5
million or 30.0 percent. This increase can be attributed to the acquisition of
several residential mortgage portfolios, and the origination of both SBA and
residential mortgage loans by VNB which were sold to third-party investors with
servicing retained. Other non-interest income increased $2.1 million or 15.7
percent, attributed primarily to the gain on the sale of two bank buildings
owned by VNB.

Non-interest expense totaled $171.1 million in 2000, an increase of $6.4
million. Non-interest expense for 1999 includes a $3.0 million merger-related
charge from the acquisition of Ramapo. Salary and benefit expense for 2000
increased $6.2 million or 7.0 percent resulting from the acquisition of three
companies, increases in sales, related incentives, and a tight labor market.
Both net occupancy expense and furniture and equipment expense increased in
2000 which is attributable to an overall increase in operating bank facilities.
Amortization of intangible assets increased $2.4 million due to increased
amortization of residential mortgage servicing rights.

Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was 34.3 percent for
the year ended December 31, 2000 compared to 33.0 percent in 1999.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For information regarding Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk, see Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Interest Rate Sensitivity."

32
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
------------------------
2001 2000
---------- ----------
(in thousands, except fo
share data)
<S> <C> <C>
Assets
Cash and due from banks............................................................ $ 311,850 $ 239,105
Federal funds sold................................................................. -- 85,000
Investment securities held to maturity, fair value of $476,872 and $543,034 in 2001
and 2000, respectively (Notes 3 and 11).......................................... 503,061 577,450
Investment securities available for sale (Notes 4 and 11).......................... 2,171,695 1,626,086
Loans (Notes 5 and 11)............................................................. 5,275,582 5,171,183
Loans held for sale (Note 5)....................................................... 56,225 17,927
---------- ----------
Total loans........................................................................ 5,331,807 5,189,110
Less: Allowance for loan losses (Note 6)........................................ (63,803) (61,995)
---------- ----------
Net loans....................................................................... 5,268,004 5,127,115
---------- ----------
Premises and equipment, net (Note 8)............................................... 94,178 91,215
Accrued interest receivable........................................................ 42,184 49,870
Bank owned life insurance (Note 13)................................................ 102,120 --
Other assets (Notes 7, 9 and 14)................................................... 90,673 105,419
---------- ----------
Total assets............................................................. $8,583,765 $7,901,260
========== ==========
Liabilities
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing............................................................ $1,446,021 $1,344,802
Interest bearing:...............................................................
Savings..................................................................... 2,448,335 2,287,793
Time (Note 10).............................................................. 2,412,618 2,504,233
---------- ----------
Total deposits........................................................... 6,306,974 6,136,828
---------- ----------
Short-term borrowings (Note 11).................................................... 304,262 426,014
Long-term debt (Note 11)........................................................... 975,728 591,808
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (Notes 13 and 14)........................... 118,426 90,628
---------- ----------
Total liabilities........................................................ 7,705,390 7,245,278
---------- ----------

Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred capital securities of a
subsidiary trust holding solely junior subordinated debentures of the Company
(Note 12)........................................................................ 200,000 --
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders' Equity (Notes 2, 13, 14 and 16)
Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 30,000,000 shares; none issued........... -- --
Common stock, no par value, authorized 113,953,711 shares; issued 78,202,958
shares in 2001 and 74,792,815 shares in 2000..................................... 33,310 32,015
Surplus............................................................................ 406,608 321,970
Retained earnings.................................................................. 270,730 317,855
Unallocated common stock held by employee benefit plan............................. (602) (775)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)...................................... 19,638 (2,307)
---------- ----------
729,684 668,758
Treasury stock, at cost (1,735,297 shares in 2001 and 502,471 shares in 2000)...... (51,309) (12,776)
---------- ----------
Total shareholders' equity............................................... 678,375 655,982
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity............................... $8,583,765 $7,901,260
========== ==========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

33
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
-------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
----------- ----------- -----------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Interest Income
Interest and fees on loans (Note 5)............................ $ 398,893 $ 419,952 $ 374,321
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
Taxable..................................................... 135,354 126,988 122,523
Tax-exempt.................................................. 10,466 11,602 11,922
Dividends................................................... 4,157 5,412 4,351
Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments 4,616 4,252 4,701
----------- ----------- -----------
Total interest income....................................... 553,486 568,206 517,818
----------- ----------- -----------
Interest Expense
Interest on deposits:
Savings deposits............................................ 45,742 57,470 49,170
Time deposits (Note 10)..................................... 112,417 133,156 120,531
Interest on short-term borrowings (Note 11).................... 11,424 26,598 16,394
Interest on long-term debt (Note 11)........................... 49,070 35,424 22,697
----------- ----------- -----------
Total interest expense...................................... 218,653 252,648 208,792
----------- ----------- -----------
Net Interest Income............................................ 334,833 315,558 309,026
Provision for loan losses (Note 6)............................. 15,706 10,755 11,035
----------- ----------- -----------
Net Interest Income after Provision for Loan Losses............ 319,127 304,803 297,991
----------- ----------- -----------
Non-Interest Income
Trust and investment services.................................. 4,404 3,563 2,414
Service charges on deposit accounts............................ 19,171 18,180 15,864
Gains on securities transactions, net (Note 4)................. 3,564 355 2,625
Fees from loan servicing (Note 7).............................. 10,818 10,902 8,387
Credit card fee income......................................... 3,535 8,403 8,655
Gains on sales of loans, net................................... 10,601 2,227 2,491
Bank owned life insurance (Note 13)............................ 2,120 -- --
Other.......................................................... 14,263 15,470 13,367
----------- ----------- -----------
Total non-interest income................................... 68,476 59,100 53,803
----------- ----------- -----------
Non-Interest Expense
Salary expense (Note 13)....................................... 79,826 76,116 70,596
Employee benefit expense (Note 13)............................. 18,200 18,037 17,406
FDIC insurance premiums........................................ 1,151 1,239 1,350
Net occupancy expense (Notes 8 and 15)......................... 17,775 15,469 14,641
Furniture and equipment expense (Note 8)....................... 10,700 10,731 9,299
Credit card expense............................................ 1,538 5,032 5,070
Amortization of intangible assets (Note 7)..................... 10,170 7,725 5,369
Advertising.................................................... 6,392 4,682 5,336
Merger-related charges (Note 2)................................ 9,017 -- 3,005
Distributions on capital securities (Note 12).................. 2,282 -- --
Other.......................................................... 31,197 32,108 32,647
----------- ----------- -----------
Total non-interest expense.................................. 188,248 171,139 164,719
----------- ----------- -----------
Income Before Income Taxes..................................... 199,355 192,764 187,075
Income tax expense (Note 14)................................... 64,151 66,027 61,734
----------- ----------- -----------
Net Income..................................................... $ 135,204 $ 126,737 $ 125,341
=========== =========== ===========
Earnings Per Share:
Basic....................................................... $ 1.74 $ 1.61 $ 1.52
Diluted..................................................... 1.73 1.60 1.51
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic....................................................... 77,626,780 78,612,928 82,383,289
Diluted..................................................... 78,038,664 79,235,570 83,162,607
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

34
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Unallocated
Common Stock Accumulated
Held by Other
Preferred Common Retained Employee Comprehensive Treasury
Stock Stock Surplus Earnings Benefit Plan Income (Loss) Stock
--------- ------- -------- -------- ------------ ------------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance--December 31, 1998................... $ -- $32,356 $342,658 $322,183 $(1,331) $ 13,107 $ (6,186)
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... -- -- -- 125,341 -- -- --
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized losses on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $(24,122)......... -- -- -- -- -- (35,739) --
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(958).................................... -- -- -- -- -- (1,667) --
Foreign currency translation adjustment.... -- -- -- -- -- 434 --
--------
Other comprehensive loss..................... -- -- -- -- -- (36,972) --
--------
Total comprehensive income................... -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Cash dividends declared...................... -- -- -- (68,694) -- -- --
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... -- (8) (151) (1,522) -- -- 4,067
Stock dividend............................... -- (128) (7,164) (36,057) -- -- 44,207
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... -- -- 1,125 -- 366 -- 370
Issuance of shares from treasury............. -- -- (6,270) (1,634) -- -- 8,541
Purchase of treasury stock................... -- -- -- -- -- -- (75,496)
---- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------
Balance--December 31, 1999................... -- 32,220 330,198 339,617 (965) (23,865) (24,497)
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... -- -- -- 126,737 -- -- --
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $15,396........... -- -- -- -- -- 22,045 --
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(129).................................... -- -- -- -- -- (226) --
Foreign currency translation adjustment.... -- -- -- -- -- (261) --
--------
Other comprehensive income................... -- -- -- -- -- 21,558 --
--------
Total comprehensive income................... -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Cash dividends declared...................... -- -- -- (71,407) -- -- --
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... -- (205) (1,768) (2,969) -- -- 8,175
Stock dividend............................... -- -- -- (73,008) -- -- 73,008
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... -- -- 921 -- 190 -- 573
Issuance of shares from treasury............. -- -- (7,381) (1,115) -- -- 9,126
Purchase of treasury stock................... -- -- -- -- -- -- (79,161)
---- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------
Balance--December 31, 2000................... -- 32,015 321,970 317,855 (775) (2,307) (12,776)
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... -- -- -- 135,204 -- -- --
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $14,116........... -- -- -- -- -- 24,621 --
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(1,322).................................. -- -- -- -- -- (2,242) --
Foreign currency translation adjustment.... -- -- -- -- -- (434) --
--------
Other comprehensive income................... -- -- -- -- -- 21,945 --
--------
Total comprehensive income................... -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Cash dividends declared...................... -- -- -- (80,899) -- -- --
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... -- (13) (3,241) (7,560) -- -- 17,066
Stock dividend............................... -- 1,308 83,657 (93,870) -- -- 8,884
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... -- -- 901 -- 173 -- 529
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options... -- -- 3,321 -- -- -- --
Purchase of treasury stock................... -- -- -- -- -- -- (65,012)
---- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------
Balance--December 31, 2001................... $ -- $33,310 $406,608 $270,730 $ (602) $ 19,638 $(51,309)
==== ======= ======== ======== ======= ======== ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Total
Shareholders'
Equity
-------------

<S> <C>
Balance--December 31, 1998................... $702,787
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... 125,341
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized losses on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $(24,122).........
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(958)....................................
Foreign currency translation adjustment....

Other comprehensive loss..................... (36,972)
--------
Total comprehensive income................... 88,369
Cash dividends declared...................... (68,694)
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... 2,386
Stock dividend............................... 858
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... 1,861
Issuance of shares from treasury............. 637
Purchase of treasury stock................... (75,496)
--------
Balance--December 31, 1999................... 652,708
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... 126,737
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $15,396...........
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(129)....................................
Foreign currency translation adjustment....

Other comprehensive income................... 21,558
--------
Total comprehensive income................... 148,295
Cash dividends declared...................... (71,407)
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... 3,233
Stock dividend............................... --
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... 1,684
Issuance of shares from treasury............. 630
Purchase of treasury stock................... (79,161)
--------
Balance--December 31, 2000................... 655,982
Comprehensive income:
Net income................................... 135,204
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on securities available
for sale, net of tax of $14,116........... --
Less reclassification adjustment for gains
included in net income, net of tax of
$(1,322).................................. --
Foreign currency translation adjustment.... --

Other comprehensive income................... 21,945
--------
Total comprehensive income................... 157,149
Cash dividends declared...................... (80,899)
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.......... 6,252
Stock dividend............................... (21)
Allocation of employee benefit plan shares... 1,603
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options... 3,321
Purchase of treasury stock................... (65,012)
--------
Balance--December 31, 2001................... $678,375
========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

35
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
---------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
----------- --------- ---------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income........................................................................... $ 135,204 $ 126,737 $ 125,341
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
Provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization..................................................... 18,935 17,248 14,079
Amortization of compensation costs pursuant to long-term stock incentive plan..... 2,304 1,532 1,091
Provision for loan losses......................................................... 15,706 10,755 11,035
Net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts........................... 5,877 4,023 8,939
Net deferred income tax benefit................................................... (7,532) (561) (341)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options........................................ 3,321 -- --
Net gains on securities transactions.............................................. (3,564) (355) (2,625)
Proceeds from sales of loans...................................................... 226,625 40,758 76,113
Gain on sales of loans............................................................ (10,601) (2,227) (2,491)
Originations of loans held for sale............................................... (254,322) (44,273) (62,352)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment...................................... -- 626 --
Gain on sale of premises and equipment............................................ -- (474) --
Net increase in bank owned life insurance......................................... (2,120) -- --
Net decrease(increase) in accrued interest receivable and other assets............ 22,399 (421) (18,581)
Net increase(decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities.................. 10,304 (472) 26,052
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities......................................... 162,536 152,896 176,260
----------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases and originations of loan servicing rights.................................. (5,678) (2,696) (20,419)
Purchase of bank owned life insurance................................................ (100,000) -- --
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale...................... 357,105 10,761 50,332
Proceeds from maturing investment securities available for sale...................... 1,154,002 328,544 576,423
Purchases of investment securities available for sale................................ (1,910,654) (294,605) (640,430)
Purchases of investment securities held to maturity.................................. (77,865) (93,995) (195,958)
Proceeds from maturing investment securities held to maturity........................ 39,052 76,259 104,370
Proceeds from sales of trading account securities.................................... -- -- 1,415
Net decrease(increase) in federal funds sold and other short-term investments........ 85,000 88,000 (59,900)
Net increase in loans made to customers.............................................. (118,297) (203,658) (503,131)
Purchases of premises and equipment, net of sales.................................... (11,728) (10,222) (9,834)
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities................................................ (589,063) (101,612) (697,132)
----------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase in deposits............................................................. 170,146 126,595 105,761
Net (decrease)increase in short-term borrowings...................................... (121,752) (13,099) 172,213
Advances of long-term debt........................................................... 506,000 80,000 402,000
Repayments of long-term debt......................................................... (122,080) (53,073) (50,068)
Proceeds from sale of capital securities............................................. 200,000 -- --
Dividends paid to common shareholders................................................ (76,260) (71,723) (66,801)
Purchase of common shares to treasury................................................ (65,012) (79,161) (75,496)
Common stock issued, net of cancellations............................................ 8,230 3,780 3,408
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.................................. 499,272 (6,681) 491,017
----------- --------- ---------
Net increase(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.................................. 72,745 44,603 (29,855)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year....................................... 239,105 194,502 224,357
----------- --------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year............................................. $ 311,850 $ 239,105 $ 194,502
=========== ========= =========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for interest on deposits and borrowings....................... $ 219,839 $ 246,614 $ 208,904
Cash paid during the year for federal and state income taxes............................ 32,676 64,539 64,347
Transfer of securities from held to maturity to available for sale...................... 162,433 -- 42,387
Transfer of securities from available for sale to held to maturity...................... 50,044 -- --
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

36
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Note 1)

Business

Valley National Bancorp ("Valley") is a bank holding company whose principal
wholly-owned subsidiary is Valley National Bank ("VNB"), a national banking
association providing a full range of commercial, retail and trust and
investment services through its branch and ATM network throughout northern New
Jersey and Manhattan. VNB also lends, through its consumer division and SBA
program, to borrowers covering territories outside of its branch network. VNB
is subject to intense competition from other financial services companies and
is subject to the regulation of certain federal and state agencies and
undergoes periodic examinations by certain regulatory authorities.

VNB has several subsidiaries which are wholly-owned except as described
below and which include a mortgage servicing company, a company which holds,
maintains and manages investment assets for VNB, a subsidiary which owns and
services auto loans, a title insurance agency, asset management advisors which
are SEC registered investment advisors, an Edge Act Corporation which is the
holding company for a wholly-owned finance company located in Toronto, Canada,
a subsidiary which specializes in asset-based lending, a real estate investment
trust which owns real estate related investments (and which has an immaterial
amount of preferred stock issued to third parties) and a subsidiary which
offers both commercial equipment leases and financing for general aviation
aircraft. Many of these subsidiaries transact business with VNB as well as
third parties.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements of Valley include the accounts of its
principal commercial bank subsidiary, VNB and all of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
The consolidated financial statements give retroactive effect to the merger of
Valley National Bancorp and Merchants New York Bancorp, Inc. Certain
reclassifications have been made in the consolidated financial statements for
2000 and 1999 to conform to the classifications presented for 2001.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management has made
estimates and assumptions that effect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities as of the date of the statements of condition and results of
operations for the periods indicated. Actual results could differ significantly
from those estimates.

Investment Securities

At the time of purchase, investments are classified into one of three
categories: held to maturity, available for sale or trading.

Investment securities held to maturity, except for equity securities, are
carried at cost and adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of
discounts by using the interest method over the term of the investment.

Management has identified those investment securities which may be sold
prior to maturity. These investment securities are classified as available for
sale in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition and are
recorded at fair value on an aggregate basis. Unrealized holding gains and
losses on such securities are excluded from earnings, but are included as a
component of accumulated other comprehensive income which is included in
shareholders' equity, net of deferred tax. Realized gains or losses on the sale
of investment securities available for sale are recognized by the specific
identification method and shown as a separate component of non-interest income.

Trading securities are recorded at market value. Market value adjustments
resulting from unrealized gains (losses) on such securities are included in
non-interest income.

37
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Loans and Loan Fees

Loan origination and commitment fees, net of related costs, are deferred and
amortized as an adjustment of loan yield over the estimated life of the loans
approximating the effective interest method.

Loans held for sale consist of residential mortgage loans and SBA loans, and
are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair market value using the
aggregate method.

Interest income is not accrued on loans where interest or principal is 90
days or more past due or if in management's judgement the ultimate
collectibility of the interest is doubtful. Exceptions may be made if the loan
is well secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on
non-accrual status, interest accruals cease and uncollected accrued interest is
reversed and charged against current income. Payments received on non-accrual
loans are applied against principal. A loan may only be restored to an accruing
basis when it becomes well secured and in the process of collection and all
past due amounts have been collected.

The value of an impaired loan is measured based upon the present value of
expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, or
the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Smaller
balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment, such
as residential mortgage loans and installment loans, are specifically excluded
from the impaired loan portfolio. Valley has defined the population of impaired
loans to be all non-accrual loans and other loans considered to be impaired as
to principal and interest, consisting primarily of commercial real estate
loans. The impaired loan portfolio is primarily collateral dependent. Impaired
loans are individually assessed to determine that each loan's carrying value is
not in excess of the fair value of the related collateral or the present value
of the expected future cash flows.

Valley originates loans guaranteed by the SBA. The principal amount of these
loans is guaranteed between 75 percent and 80 percent, subject to certain
dollar limitations. Valley generally sells the guaranteed portions of these
loans and retains the unguaranteed portions as well as the rights to service
the loans. Gains are recorded on loan sales based on the cash proceeds in
excess of the assigned value of the loan, as well as the value assigned to the
rights to service the loan.

Credit card loans primarily represent revolving MasterCard credit card
loans. Interest on credit card loans is recognized based on the balances
outstanding according to the related cardmember agreements. Direct origination
costs are deferred and amortized over 24 months, the term of the cardmember
agreement, on a straight-line basis. Net direct origination costs include costs
associated with credit card originations that are incurred in transactions with
independent third parties and certain costs relating to loan origination
programs and the preparation and processing of loan documents, net of fees
received. Ineligible direct origination costs are expensed as incurred.

Valley's lending is primarily in northern New Jersey and Manhattan, with the
exception of an out-of-state auto lending program. Valley phased out the
origination of loans under this program during 2001.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses ("allowance") is increased through provisions
charged against current earnings and additionally by crediting amounts of
recoveries received, if any, on previously charged-off loans. The allowance is
reduced by charge-offs on loans which are determined to be a loss, in
accordance with established policies, when all efforts of collection have been
exhausted.

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level estimated to absorb
loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio as well as other credit risk related
charge-offs. The allowance is based on ongoing evaluations of the probable
estimated losses inherent in the loan portfolio. VNB's methodology for
evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance consists of several significant
elements, which include the allocated allowance, specific allowances for
identified problem loans and portfolio segments and the unallocated allowance.
The allowance also incorporates the results of measuring impaired loans as
called for in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114, "Accounting
by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan," and SFAS No. 118 "Accounting by
Creditors for Impairment of a Loan-Income Recognition and Disclosures."

38
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


VNB's allocated allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to
outstanding loans. The formula is based on the internal risk grade of loans or
pools of loans. Any change in the risk grade of performing and/or
non-performing loans affects the amount of the related allowance. Loss factors
are based on VNB's historical loss experience and may be adjusted for
significant circumstances that, in management's judgment, affect the
collectibility of the portfolio as of the evaluation date.

Management has established an unallocated portion of the allowance to cover
inherent losses within a given loan category which have not been otherwise
reviewed or measured on an individual basis. Such unallocated allowance
includes management's evaluation of local and national economic and business
conditions, portfolio concentrations, information risk, operational risk,
credit quality and delinquency trends. The unallocated portion of the allowance
reflects management's attempt to ensure that the overall allowance reflects a
margin for imprecision and the uncertainty that is inherent in estimates of
expected credit losses.

Premises and Equipment, Net

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation
computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
related assets. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated
amortization computed on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease or
estimated useful life of the asset, whichever is shorter. Major improvements
are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance costs are charged to operations
as incurred. Upon retirement or disposition, any gain or loss is credited or
charged to operations.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned ("OREO"), acquired through foreclosure on loans
secured by real estate, is reported at the lower of cost or fair value, as
established by a current appraisal, less estimated costs to sell, and is
included in other assets. Any write-downs at the date of foreclosure are
charged to the allowance for loan losses.

An allowance for OREO has been established to record subsequent declines in
estimated net realizable value. Expenses incurred to maintain these properties
and realized gains and losses upon sale of the properties are included in other
non-interest expense and other non-interest income, as appropriate.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets resulting from acquisitions under the purchase method of
accounting consist of goodwill and core deposit intangibles. Goodwill recorded
prior to 1987 was being amortized through December 31, 2001 on a straight-line
basis over 25 years. Goodwill recorded in 2000 and 1999 was being amortized
through December 31, 2001 on a straight-line basis over 10 years. Management
periodically reviews the potential impairment of goodwill on a non-discounted
cash flow basis to assess recoverability. If the estimated future cash flows
are projected to be less than the carrying amount, an impairment write-down,
representing the carrying amount of the goodwill which exceeds the present
value of the estimated expected future cash flows, would be recorded as a
period expense. Core deposit intangibles are amortized on accelerated methods
over the estimated lives of the underlying deposits. Goodwill and core deposit
intangibles are included in other assets.

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan servicing rights are generally recorded when purchased or originated
loans are sold, with servicing rights retained. The cost of each loan is
allocated between the servicing right and the loan (without the servicing
right) based on their relative fair values. Loan servicing rights, which are
classified in other assets, are amortized over the estimated net servicing life
and are evaluated on a quarterly basis for impairment based on their fair
value. The fair value is estimated using the present value of expected future
cash flows along with numerous assumptions including servicing income, cost of
servicing, discount rates, prepayment speeds, and default rates. Impairment
adjustments, if any, are recognized through the use of a valuation allowance.

39
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Stock-Based Compensation

Valley accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees"
("APB 25"). In accordance with APB 25, no compensation expense is recognized
for stock options issued to employees since the options have an exercise price
equal to the market value of the common stock on the day of the grant. Valley
provides the fair market disclosure required by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-based Compensation."

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of
existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply
to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change
in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment
date.

Comprehensive Income

Valley's components of other comprehensive income include unrealized gains
(losses) on securities available for sale, net of tax, and the foreign currency
translation adjustment. Valley reports comprehensive income and its components
in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity.

Earnings Per Share

For Valley, the numerator of both the Basic and Diluted EPS is equivalent to
net income. The weighted average number of shares outstanding used in the
denominator for Diluted EPS is increased over the denominator used for Basic
EPS by the effect of potentially dilutive common stock equivalents utilizing
the treasury stock method. For Valley, common stock equivalents are common
stock options outstanding.

All share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the 5 percent
stock dividend issued May 18, 2001, and all prior stock dividends and splits.

The following table shows the calculation of both Basic and Diluted earnings
per share for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
-------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
----------- ----------- -----------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net Income........................................... $ 135,204 $ 126,737 $ 125,341
=========== =========== ===========
Basic weighted-average number of shares outstanding.. 77,626,780 78,612,928 82,383,289
Plus: Common stock equivalents....................... 411,884 622,642 779,318
----------- ----------- -----------
Diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding 78,038,664 79,235,570 83,162,607
=========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share:
Basic............................................. $ 1.74 $ 1.61 $ 1.52
Diluted........................................... 1.73 1.60 1.51
</TABLE>

At December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 there were 310 thousand, 69 thousand and
286 thousand stock options not included as common stock equivalents because the
exercise prices exceeded the average market value.

40
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Treasury Stock

Treasury stock is recorded using the cost method and accordingly is
presented as an unallocated reduction of shareholders' equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Valley adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133")
on January 1, 2001. SFAS No. 133 was issued by the FASB in June 1998. SFAS No.
133 standardizes the accounting for derivative instruments, including certain
derivative instruments embedded in other contracts. Under the standard,
entities are required to carry all derivative instruments in the statement of
financial condition at fair value. In June of 2000, the FASB issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative
Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement No.
133 and 137," which amends the accounting and reporting standards of SFAS No.
133 for derivative instruments. Upon adoption, the provisions of SFAS No. 133
must be applied prospectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 133 and SFAS No. 138
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The FASB has issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140,
"Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
of Liabilities" ("SFAS No. 140"). SFAS No. 140 replaces SFAS No. 125. SFAS No.
140 resolves certain implementation issues, but it carries forward most of SFAS
No. 125's provisions without change. SFAS No. 140 was effective for transfers
occurring after March 31, 2001 and for disclosures relating to securitization
transactions and collateral for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2000.
The adoption of SFAS No. 140 did not have a material impact on the consolidated
financial statements.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations"
(SFAS No. 141), was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
on June 27, 2001. SFAS No. 141 eliminated pooling of interests accounting for
mergers. All transactions initiated after June 30, 2001 must use the purchase
method of accounting. SFAS No. 141 also redefines intangible assets and
requires separation of intangible assets from goodwill. The adoption of SFAS
No. 141 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and
Intangible Assets" (SFAS No. 142), was issued by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board on June 27, 2001. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and any
intangible asset determined to have an indefinite useful life acquired after
June 30, 2001 will not be amortized, but will continue to be evaluated for
impairment in accordance with the appropriate pre-SFAS No. 142 accounting
literature. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in business combinations
completed before July 1, 2001 will continue to be amortized prior to the
adoption of SFAS No. 142.

Valley is required to adopt SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002. As of
December 31, 2001, Valley has $5.5 million in unamortized goodwill with annual
amortization of $650 thousand which will cease upon the adoption of SFAS No.
142. Valley is currently evaluating the transitional goodwill impairment
criteria of SFAS No. 142 and is not able to estimate the impact, if any, that
SFAS No. 142 may have on recorded goodwill. The impairment adjustment, if any,
will have to be identified by June 30, 2002 and measured and recorded by Valley
no later than December 31, 2002. The impairment adjustment, if any, will be
recognized as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and will
be recorded in the first interim reporting period of 2002. The adoption of SFAS
No. 142 did not significantly impact Valley's accounting for currently recorded
intangible assets.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations" (SFAS No. 143), was issued by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board in August 2001. SFAS No. 143, addresses financial accounting
and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible
long-lived

41
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 requires an
enterprise to record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a
liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with
the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. Valley is required to adopt the
provisions of SFAS No. 143 for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002.
Valley anticipates that the adoption of SFAS No. 143 will not have a material
impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", (SFAS No. 144), was issued by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board on October 3, 2001. SFAS No. 144 addresses
financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived
assets. While SFAS No. 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of",
it retains many of the fundamental provisions of that Statement. The Statement
is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption
of SFAS No. 144 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.

ACQUISITIONS (Note 2)

On January 19, 2001 Valley completed its merger with Merchants New York
Bancorp, Inc. ("Merchants"), parent of The Merchants Bank of New York
headquartered in Manhattan. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each
outstanding share of Merchants common stock was exchanged for 0.7634 shares of
Valley common stock. As a result, a total of approximately 14 million shares of
Valley common stock were exchanged (the exchange rate and number of shares
exchanged have not been restated for the 5 percent stock dividend issued May
18, 2001). This merger added seven branches in Manhattan. The transaction was
accounted for utilizing the pooling-of-interests method of accounting. The
consolidated financial statements of Valley have been restated to include
Merchants for all periods presented. Separate results of the combining
companies for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended
December 31,
-----------------
2000 1999
-------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Net interest income after provision for possible loan losses:
Valley.................................................... $251,967 $249,238
Merchants................................................. 52,836 48,753
-------- --------
$304,803 $297,991
======== ========
Net income:
Valley.................................................... $106,773 $106,324
Merchants................................................. 19,964 19,017
-------- --------
$126,737 $125,341
======== ========
</TABLE>

During the first quarter of 2001, Valley recorded merger-related charges of
$9.0 million related to the acquisition of Merchants. On an after tax basis,
these charges totaled $7.0 million or $0.09 per diluted share. These charges
include only identified direct and incremental costs associated with this
acquisition. Items included in these charges include the following: personnel
expenses which include severance payments for terminated directors of
Merchants; professional fees which include investment banking, accounting and
legal fees; and other expenses which include the disposal of data processing
equipment and the write-off of supplies and other assets not considered useful
in the operation of the combined entities. The major components of the
merger-related charge, consisting of professional fees, personnel and the
disposal of data processing equipment, totaled $4.4 million, $3.2 million and
$486 thousand, respectively. Of the total merger-related charge

42
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

$5.9 million or 65.5 percent was paid or charged to the reserve through
December 31, 2001. The remaining balance of $3.1 million is expected to be paid
based on existing contractual arrangements.

On July 6, 2000, Valley acquired Hallmark Capital Management, Inc.
("Hallmark"), a Fairfield, NJ based investment management firm with $195
million of assets under management. Hallmark's purchase was a stock merger with
subsequent earn out payments. Hallmark's operations have continued as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of VNB. The transaction was accounted for as a purchase
accounting transaction.

On June 11, 1999, Valley acquired Ramapo Financial Corporation ("Ramapo"),
parent of The Ramapo Bank headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. At the date of
acquisition, Ramapo had total assets of $344.0 million and deposits of $299.5
million, with eight branch offices. The transaction was accounted for using the
pooling-of-interests method of accounting and resulted in the issuance of
approximately 4.0 million shares of Valley common stock. Each share of common
stock of Ramapo was exchanged for 0.44625 shares of Valley common stock (the
exchange rate and number of shares exchanged have not been restated for
subsequent stock dividends). The consolidated financial statements of Valley
have been restated to include Ramapo for all periods presented.

During the second quarter of 1999, Valley recorded a merger-related charge
of $3.0 million related to the acquisition of Ramapo. On an after tax basis,
the charge totaled $2.2 million or $0.03 per diluted share. The charge includes
only identified direct and incremental costs associated with this acquisition.
Items included in the charge include the following: personnel expenses which
include severance payments and benefits for terminated employees, principally,
two senior executives of Ramapo; real estate expenses related to the closing of
a duplicate branch; professional fees which include investment banking,
accounting and legal fees; and other expenses which include termination of data
processing service contracts and the write-off of supplies and other assets not
considered useful in the operation of the combined entity. The major components
of the merger-related charge, consisting of real estate dispositions,
professional fees, personnel expenses and other expenses, totaled $300
thousand, $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $500 thousand, respectively. The
merger-related charge of $3.0 million was paid or charged to the reserve
through December 31, 2001.

During the second quarter of 1999, Valley National Bank received approval
and a license from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance to sell
title insurance through a separate subsidiary, known as Wayne Title, Inc. After
the close of the second quarter, Valley acquired the assets of an agency office
of Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company for $784 thousand and began to
sell, as agent, both commercial and residential title insurance policies. The
transaction was accounted for as a purchase accounting transaction.

On July 30, 1999, Valley acquired New Century Asset Management, Inc., a
registered investment advisor and NJ-based money manager with approximately
$120 million of assets under management. At closing, Valley paid an initial
consideration of $640 thousand. The balance due will be paid on an earn-out
basis over a five-year period, based upon a pre-determined formula. New Century
continued its operations as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valley National Bank.
The transaction was accounted for as a purchase accounting transaction.

43
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


INVESTMENT SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY (Note 3)

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of
securities held to maturity at December 31, 2001 and 2000 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2001
------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized
Cost Gains Losses Fair Value
--------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 99,757 $2,474 $ (373) $101,858
Mortgage-backed securities...................... 25,912 1,137 (11) 27,038
Other debt securities........................... 324,918 37 (29,453) 295,502
-------- ------ -------- --------
Total debt securities........................ 450,587 3,648 (29,837) 424,398
FRB & FHLB stock................................ 52,474 -- -- 52,474
-------- ------ -------- --------
Total investment securities held to maturity. $503,061 $3,648 $(29,837) $476,872
======== ====== ======== ========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2000
------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized
Cost Gains Losses Fair Value
--------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 78,062 $1,611 $ (1) $ 79,672
Mortgage-backed securities...................... 209,836 3,557 (369) 213,024
Other debt securities........................... 249,414 -- (39,214) 210,200
-------- ------ -------- --------
Total debt securities........................ 537,312 5,168 (39,584) 502,896
FRB & FHLB stock................................ 40,138 -- -- 40,138
-------- ------ -------- --------
Total investment securities held to maturity. $577,450 $5,168 $(39,584) $543,034
======== ====== ======== ========
</TABLE>

The contractual maturities of investments in debt securities held to
maturity at December 31, 2001, are set forth in the following table:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2001
------------------
Amortized Fair
Cost Value
--------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Due in one year........................... $ 5,041 $ 4,925
Due after one year through five years..... 26,750 27,369
Due after five years through ten years.... 58,076 58,824
Due after ten years....................... 334,808 306,242
-------- --------
424,675 397,360
Mortgage-backed securities................ 25,912 27,038
-------- --------
Total debt securities held to maturity. $450,587 $424,398
======== ========
</TABLE>

Actual maturities of debt securities may differ from those presented above
since certain obligations provide the issuer the right to call or prepay the
obligation prior to scheduled maturity without penalty.

The weighted-average remaining life for mortgage-backed securities held to
maturity was 2.8 years at December 31, 2001, and 2.9 years at December 31, 2000.

In January 2001, in connection with the Merchants acquisition, Valley
reassessed the classification of securities held in the Merchants portfolio and
transferred $162.4 million of securities from held to maturity to available for
sale and transferred $50.0 million of securities from available for sale to
held to maturity to conform with Valley's investment objectives.

44
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


In June 1999, in connection with the Ramapo acquisition, Valley reassessed
the classification of securities held in the Ramapo investment portfolio and
transferred $42.4 million of securities held to maturity to securities
available for sale to conform to Valley's investment objectives.

INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE (Note 4)

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of
securities available for sale at December 31, 2001 and 2000 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2001
-------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Treasury securities and other government agencies and
corporations............................................ $ 195,554 $ 104 $ (50) $ 195,608
Obligations of states and political subdivisions.......... 119,754 1,719 (231) 121,242
Mortgage-backed securities................................ 1,790,986 29,647 (7,745) 1,812,888
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Total debt securities.................................. 2,106,294 31,470 (8,026) 2,129,738
Equity securities......................................... 33,350 9,303 (696) 41,957
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Total investment securities available for sale......... $2,139,644 $40,773 $(8,722) $2,171,695
========== ======= ======= ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2000
-------------------------------------------
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Treasury securities and other government agencies and
corporations............................................ $ 151,535 $ 453 $ (1,367) $ 150,621
Obligations of states and political subdivisions.......... 143,454 885 (395) 143,944
Mortgage-backed securities................................ 1,283,741 10,790 (9,136) 1,285,395
---------- ------- -------- ----------
Total debt securities.................................. 1,578,730 12,128 (10,898) 1,579,960
Equity securities......................................... 50,478 1,899 (6,251) 46,126
---------- ------- -------- ----------
Total investment securities available for sale......... $1,629,208 $14,027 $(17,149) $1,626,086
========== ======= ======== ==========
</TABLE>

The contractual maturities of investments in debt securities available for
sale at December 31, 2001, are set forth in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 2001
---------------------
Amortized Fair
Cost Value
---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Due in one year.......................... $ 201,376 $ 201,587
Due after one year through five years.... 35,047 35,477
Due after five years through ten years... 67,890 68,628
Due after ten years...................... 10,995 11,158
---------- ----------
315,308 316,850
Mortgage-backed securities............... 1,790,986 1,812,888
---------- ----------
Total debt securities available for sale $2,106,294 $2,129,738
========== ==========
</TABLE>

Actual maturities on debt securities may differ from those presented above
since certain obligations provide the issuer the right to call or prepay the
obligation prior to scheduled maturity without penalty.

45
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


The weighted-average remaining life for mortgage-backed securities available
for sale at December 31, 2001 and 2000 was 4.7 years and 5.2 years,
respectively.

Gross gains (losses) realized on sales, maturities and other securities
transactions, related to securities available for sale, and (losses) gains on
trading account securities included in earnings for the years ended December
31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
------- ---- ------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales transactions:
Gross gains................................. $ 4,035 $355 $2,963
Gross losses................................ (1,464) -- (138)
------- ---- ------
2,571 355 2,825
------- ---- ------
Maturities and other securities transactions:
Gross gains................................. 993 -- --
Gross losses................................ -- -- (23)
------- ---- ------
993 -- (23)
------- ---- ------
Losses on trading account securities......... -- -- (177)
------- ---- ------
Gains on securities transactions, net..... $ 3,564 $355 $2,625
======= ==== ======
</TABLE>

LOANS (Note 5)

The detail of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 was as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Commercial................ $1,080,852 $1,026,793
---------- ----------
Total commercial loans. 1,080,852 1,026,793
---------- ----------
Construction.............. 206,789 160,932
Residential mortgage...... 1,323,877 1,301,851
Commercial mortgage....... 1,365,344 1,258,549
---------- ----------
Total mortgage loans... 2,896,010 2,721,332
---------- ----------
Home equity............... 398,102 306,038
Credit card............... 12,740 83,894
Automobile................ 842,247 976,177
Other consumer............ 101,856 74,876
---------- ----------
Total consumer loans... 1,354,945 1,440,985
---------- ----------
Total loans............... $5,331,807 $5,189,110
========== ==========
</TABLE>

Included in the table above are loans held for sale in the amount of $56.2
million and $17.9 million at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

VNB grants loans in the ordinary course of business to its directors,
executive officers and their affiliates, on the same terms and under the same
risk conditions as those prevailing for comparable transactions with outside
borrowers.

46
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


The following table summarizes the change in the total amounts of loans and
advances to directors, executive officers, and their affiliates during the year
2001:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001
--------------
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year $ 36,584
New loans and advances.......... 18,703
Repayments...................... (17,216)
---------
Outstanding at end of year...... $ 38,071
=========
</TABLE>

The outstanding balances of loans which are 90 days or more past due as to
principal or interest payments and still accruing, non-performing assets, and
troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2001 and 2000 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Loans past due in excess of 90 days and still accruing $10,456 $14,952
======= =======
Non-accrual loans..................................... $18,483 $ 3,883
Other real estate owned............................... 329 129
------- -------
Total non-performing assets........................... $18,812 $ 4,012
======= =======
Troubled debt restructured loans...................... $ 891 $ 949
======= =======
</TABLE>

The amount of interest income that would have been recorded on non-accrual
loans in 2001, 2000 and 1999 had payments remained in accordance with the
original contractual terms approximated $655 thousand, $458 thousand and $676
thousand, respectively, while the actual amount of interest income recorded on
these types of assets in 2001, 2000 and 1999 totaled $192 thousand, $584
thousand and $1.3 million, respectively, resulting in lost (recovered) interest
income of $463 thousand and ($126) thousand and ($624) thousand, respectively.

At December 31, 2001, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to
borrowers whose loans were non-accrual, classified as troubled debt
restructured loans, or contractually past due in excess of 90 days and still
accruing interest.

The impaired loan portfolio is primarily collateral dependent. Impaired
loans and their related specific and general allocations to the allowance for
loan losses totaled $11.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, at December
31, 2001 and $3.4 million and $949 thousand, respectively, at December 31,
2000. The average balance of impaired loans during 2001, 2000 and 1999 was
approximately $6.1 million, $11.8 million and $13.7 million, respectively. The
amount of cash basis interest income that was recognized on impaired loans
during 2001, 2000 and 1999 was $828 thousand, $160 thousand and $616 thousand,
respectively.

47
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Note 6)

Transactions recorded in the allowance for loan losses during 2001, 2000 and
1999 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at beginning of year.......... $ 61,995 $ 64,228 $ 62,606
Provision charged to operating expense 15,706 10,755 11,035
-------- -------- --------
77,701 74,983 73,641
-------- -------- --------
Less net loan charge-offs:
Loans charged-off.................... (18,004) (16,893) (13,355)
Less recoveries on loan charge-offs.. 4,106 3,905 3,942
-------- -------- --------
Net loan charge-offs.................. (13,898) (12,988) (9,413)
-------- -------- --------
Balance at end of year................ $ 63,803 $ 61,995 $ 64,228
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>

LOAN SERVICING (Note 7)

VNB Mortgage Services, Inc. ("MSI"), a subsidiary of VNB, is a servicer of
residential mortgage loan portfolios. MSI is compensated for loan
administrative services performed for mortgage servicing rights purchased in
the secondary market and loans originated and sold by VNB. The aggregate
principal balances of mortgage loans serviced by MSI for others approximated
$2.4 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.2 billion at December 31, 2001, 2000 and
1999, respectively. The outstanding balance of loans serviced for others is
properly not included in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

VNB is a servicer of SBA loans, and is compensated for loan administrative
services performed for SBA loans originated and sold by VNB. VNB serviced a
total of $91.8 million, $92.2 million and $89.0 million of SBA loans at
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, for third-party investors. The
outstanding balance of SBA loans serviced for others is properly not included
in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The unamortized costs associated with acquiring loan servicing rights are
included in other assets in the consolidated financial statements and are being
amortized over the estimated life of net servicing income.

The following table summarizes the change in loan servicing rights during
the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at beginning of year..................... $32,729 $36,809 $20,765
Purchase and origination of loan servicing rights 5,678 2,696 20,419
Amortization expense............................. (9,202) (6,776) (4,375)
------- ------- -------
Balance at end of year........................... $29,205 $32,729 $36,809
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

Amortization expense in 2001 includes $2.0 million of valuation reserve for
loan servicing rights, and is classified in amortization of intangible assets.
The estimated fair market value of loan servicing rights at December 31, 2001
was $29.6 million.

48
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Note 8)

At December 31, 2001 and 2000, premises and equipment, net consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
-------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Land........................................... $ 21,390 $ 21,031
Buildings...................................... 63,560 60,233
Leasehold improvements......................... 21,638 20,432
Furniture and equipment........................ 76,992 70,833
-------- --------
183,580 172,529
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (89,402) (81,314)
-------- --------
Total premises and equipment, net........... $ 94,178 $ 91,215
======== ========
</TABLE>

Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment included in
non-interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
amounted to approximately $8.8 million, $9.6 million and $8.7 million,
respectively.

OTHER ASSETS (Note 9)

At December 31, 2001 and 2000, other assets consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Loan servicing rights........................ $29,205 $ 32,729
Goodwill..................................... 5,545 5,249
Core deposit intangibles..................... 794 1,113
Other real estate owned...................... 329 129
Net deferred tax asset....................... 17,721 22,984
Due from customers on acceptances outstanding 19,869 16,807
Other........................................ 17,210 26,408
------- --------
Total other assets........................ $90,673 $105,419
======= ========
</TABLE>

DEPOSITS (Note 10)

Included in time deposits at December 31, 2001 and 2000 are certificates of
deposit over $100 thousand of $1.1 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively.

Interest expense on time deposits of $100 thousand or more totaled
approximately $39.1 million, $60.2 million and $39.7 million in 2001, 2000 and
1999, respectively.

The scheduled maturities of time deposits as of December 31, 2001 are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
2002......................... $1,989,065
2003......................... 274,950
2004......................... 69,195
2005......................... 49,376
2006......................... 23,565
Thereafter................... 6,467
----------
Total time deposits..... $2,412,618
==========
</TABLE>

49
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


BORROWED FUNDS (Note 11)

Short-term borrowings at December 31, 2001 and 2000 consisted of the
following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
-------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase $ 95,626 $312,310
Treasury tax and loan......................... 75,237 29,223
Bankers acceptances........................... 22,599 24,481
FHLB advances................................. 106,800 50,000
Line of credit................................ 4,000 10,000
-------- --------
Total short-term borrowings................ $304,262 $426,014
======== ========
</TABLE>

At December 31, 2001 and 2000, long-term debt consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
-------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
FHLB advances................................. $655,500 $461,500
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 320,000 130,000
Other......................................... 228 308
-------- --------
Total long-term borrowings................. $975,728 $591,808
======== ========
</TABLE>

The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances included in long-term debt had a
weighted average interest rate of 5.34 percent at December 31, 2001 and 6.04
percent at December 31, 2000. These advances are secured by pledges of FHLB
stock, mortgage-backed securities and a blanket assignment of qualifying
mortgage loans. Interest expense of $23.4 million, $27.2 million, and $21.7
million was recorded on FHLB advances during the years ended December 31, 2001,
2000, and 1999, respectively. The advances are scheduled for repayment as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
2002............................. $ 67,000
2003............................. 82,000
2004............................. 132,000
2005............................. 23,000
2006............................. 104,000
Thereafter....................... 247,500
--------
Total long-term FHLB advances. $655,500
========
</TABLE>

The securities sold under repurchase agreements to other counterparties
included in long-term debt totaled $320.0 million at December 31, 2001 and
$130.0 million in 2000. The weighted average interest rate for this debt was
5.72 percent and 6.43 percent at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
Interest expense of $21.2 million, $8.0 million, and $942 thousand was recorded
during the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. The
schedule for repayment is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
2002................................................... $100,000
2003................................................... 45,000
2004................................................... 10,000
2005................................................... 30,000
2006................................................... 50,000
Thereafter............................................. 85,000
--------
Total long-term securities sold under agreements to
repurchase........................................ $320,000
========
</TABLE>

50
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Valley maintained a floating rate revolving line of credit with a third
party in the amount of $35.0 million at the end of December 31, 2001, of which
$4.0 million was outstanding. This line was available for general corporate
purposes and expires on June 14, 2002. In addition, Valley has available a 120
day unsecured line in the amount of $20 million due January 25, 2002, of which
none was drawn. Interest expense of $318 thousand and $1.4 million were
recorded on these two lines during the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively.

The amortized cost of securities pledged to secure public deposits, treasury
tax and loan deposits, repurchase agreements, lines of credit, FHLB advances
and for other purposes required by law approximated $659.4 million and $884.0
million at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED CAPITAL SECURITIES OF A
SUBSIDIARY TRUST HOLDING SOLELY JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OF THE COMPANY
(Note 12)

In November 2001, Valley sold $200.0 million of 7.75 percent trust preferred
securities through a statutory business trust, VNB Capital Trust I ("Trust").
Valley owns all of the common securities of this Delaware trust. The Trust has
no independent assets or operations, and exists for the sole purpose of issuing
trust preferred securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent
amount of junior subordinated debentures issued by Valley. The junior
subordinated debentures, which are the sole assets of the Trust, are unsecured
obligations of Valley, and are subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all present and future senior and subordinated indebtedness and certain other
financial obligations of Valley. A portion of the trust preferred securities
qualifies as Tier I Capital, within regulatory limitations. The principal
amount of subordinated debentures held by the Trust equals the aggregate
liquidation amount of its trust preferred securities and its common securities.
The subordinated debentures bear interest at the same rate, and will mature on
the same date, as the corresponding trust preferred securities. All of the
trust preferred securities may be prepaid at par at the option of the Trust, in
whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2006. The trust preferred securities
effectively mature on December 15, 2031.

BENEFIT PLANS (Note 13)

Pension Plan

VNB has a non-contributory benefit plan covering substantially all of its
employees. The benefits are based upon years of credited service, primary
social security benefits and the employee's highest average compensation as
defined. It is VNB's funding policy to contribute annually the maximum amount
that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. In addition, VNB has a
supplemental non-qualified, non-funded retirement plan which is designed to
supplement the pension plan for key officers.

51
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


The following table sets forth the change in projected benefit obligation,
the change in fair value of plan assets, and the funded status and amounts
recognized in Valley's financial statements for the pension plans at December
31, 2001 and 2000:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Change in projected benefit obligation
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year $34,584 $30,847
Service cost.................................... 2,097 1,850
Interest cost................................... 2,502 2,293
Actuarial loss.................................. 1,324 900
Benefits paid................................... (1,922) (1,306)
------- -------
Projected benefit obligation at end of year...... $38,585 $34,584
======= =======
Change in fair value of plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year... $39,539 $35,315
Actual return on plan assets.................... 2,131 4,359
Employer contributions.......................... 532 1,171
Benefits paid................................... (1,922) (1,306)
------- -------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year......... $40,280 $39,539
======= =======

Funded status.................................... $ 1,695 $ 4,955
Unrecognized net asset........................... (174) (1,258)
Unrecognized prior service cost.................. 133 151
Unrecognized net actuarial gain.................. (4,224) (6,473)
------- -------
Accrued benefit cost............................. $(2,570) $(2,625)
======= =======
</TABLE>

Net periodic pension expense for 2001, 2000 and 1999 included the following
components:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost...................... $ 2,097 $ 1,850 $ 2,018
Interest cost..................... 2,502 2,293 2,148
Expected return on plan assets.... (3,340) (3,057) (2,838)
Net amortization and deferral..... (170) (146) (103)
Recognized prior service cost..... 36 89 36
Recognized net gains.............. (586) (634) (590)
------- ------- -------
Total net periodic pension expense $ 539 $ 395 $ 671
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

The weighted average discount rate and rate of increase in future
compensation levels used in determining the actuarial present value of benefit
obligations for the plan were 7.15 percent and 4.50 percent, respectively, for
2001 and 7.40 percent and 4.50 percent, respectively, for 2000. The expected
long-term rate of return on assets was 9.00 percent for both 2001 and 2000 and
the weighted average discount rate used in computing pension cost was 7.40
percent and 7.75 percent for 2001 and 2000, respectively. The pension plan held
56,155 shares of VNB Capital Trust I preferred securities at December 31, 2001,
and 57,696 shares of Valley National Bancorp stock at December 31, 2000.

Merchants also maintained a non-contributory benefit plan which was merged
into the Valley plan effective December 31, 2001, and is included in the above
tables.

Valley maintains a non-qualified Directors' retirement plan. The projected
benefit obligation and discount rate used to compute the obligation was $1.2
million and 7.15 percent at December 31, 2001, and $852 thousand and 7.40
percent at December 31, 2000. An expense of $188 thousand, $82 thousand and
$104 thousand has been recognized for the plan in the years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

52
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Bonus Plan

VNB and its subsidiaries award incentive and merit bonuses to its officers
and employees based upon a percentage of the covered employees' compensation as
determined by the achievement of certain performance objectives. Amounts
charged to salaries expense during 2001, 2000 and 1999 were $5.9 million, $5.3
million and $4.8 million, respectively.

Savings Plan

Effective May 1, 1999, VNB's 401(k) Plan was amended to merge the Employee
Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") from the acquisition of Wayne into the VNB 401(k)
Plan, creating a KSOP (a 401(k) plan with an employee stock ownership feature).
This plan covers eligible employees of VNB and its subsidiaries and allows
employees to contribute 1 percent to 15 percent of their salary, with VNB
matching a certain percentage of the employee contribution. Beginning in May
1999, the VNB match is in shares of Valley stock. In 2001, VNB matched employee
contributions with 48,237 shares, of which 22,093 shares were allocated from
the former Wayne ESOP Plan and 26,144 were issued from Treasury stock. In 2000,
VNB matched employee contributions with 51,403 shares, of which 24,218 shares
were allocated from the former Wayne ESOP Plan and 28,055 shares were issued
from Treasury stock. In 1999, VNB matched employee contributions with 32,259
shares, of which 16,860 shares were allocated from the former Wayne ESOP Plan
and 15,399 shares were issued from treasury stock. VNB charged expense for
contributions to the plan, net of forfeitures, for both 2001 and 2000 amounting
to $1.2 million and $944 thousand for 1999. At December 31, 2001 the KSOP had
77,707 unallocated shares.

In 1999, 33,723 shares were allocated to participants of the former Wayne
ESOP Plan. ESOP expense for 1999 was $865 thousand. No shares were allocated in
2001 or 2000 to participants of the former Wayne ESOP Plan.

Effective July 2001, Merchants 401(k) plan was merged into the VNB 401(k)
plan. The Merchants plan did not match employee contributions.

Stock Option Plan

At December 31, 2001, Valley had a stock option plan which is described
below. Valley applies APB Opinion No. 25 and related Interpretations in
accounting for its plan. Had compensation cost for the plan been determined
consistent with FASB Statement No. 123, net income and earnings per share would
have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income
As reported...... $135,204 $126,737 $125,341
Pro forma........ 133,367 125,488 124,296
Earnings per share
As reported:
Basic.......... $ 1.74 $ 1.61 $ 1.52
Diluted........ 1.73 1.60 1.51
Pro forma:
Basic.......... $ 1.72 $ 1.60 $ 1.51
Diluted........ 1.71 1.58 1.49
</TABLE>

Under the Employee Stock Option Plan, Valley may grant options to its
employees for up to 3.0 million shares of common stock in the form of stock
options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock awards. The exercise
price of options equal 100 percent of the market price of Valley's stock on the
date of grant, and an option's maximum term is ten years. The options granted
under this plan are exercisable not earlier than one year after the date of
grant, expire not more than ten years after the date of the grant, and are
subject to a vesting schedule. Non-qualified options granted by Midland
Bancorporation, Inc. ("Midland") and assumed by Valley in its acquisition of
Midland have no vesting period and a maximum term of fifteen years.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 2001, 2000 and 1999: dividend yield

53
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

of 3.22 percent for 2001, 3.12 percent for 2000 and 3.71 percent for 1999;
weighted-average risk-free interest rate of 5.05 percent for 2001, 5.11 percent
for 2000 and 6.44 percent for 1999; and expected volatility of 24.1 percent for
2001, 24.5 percent for 2000 and 21.8 percent for 1999.

A summary of the status of qualified and non-qualified stock options as of
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 and changes during the years ended on those
dates is presented below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Weighted- Weighted- Weighted-
Average Average Average
Exercise Exercise Exercise
Stock Options Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year...... 2,065,631 $18 2,150,769 $17 2,489,642 $13
Granted............................... 423,116 30 282,172 26 278,120 25
Exercised............................. (536,440) 10 (305,669) 11 (593,217) 9
Forfeited............................. (45,849) 23 (61,641) 23 (23,776) 22
--------- --------- ---------
Outstanding at end of year............ 1,906,458 23 2,065,631 18 2,150,769 14
========= ========= =========
Options exercisable at year-end....... 951,748 19 1,200,147 15 1,250,597 12
========= ========= =========
Weighted-average fair value of options
granted during the year............. $7.38 $6.77 $5.81
</TABLE>

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
at December 31, 2001:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
--------------------------------- ---------------------
Weighted-
Average Weighted- Weighted-
Range of Remaining Average Average
Exercise Number Contractual Exercise Number Exercise
Prices Outstanding Life Price Exercisable Price
------ ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 3-16 379,400 4.2 years $13 333,959 $13
16-25 807,901 6.6 22 527,216 22
25-28 409,357 8.5 27 90,373 26
28-31 309,800 9.9 31 200 29
--------- -------
3-31 1,906,458 7.1 23 951,748 19
========= =======
</TABLE>

There were 22,439 and 29,985 and 53,087 stock appreciation rights
outstanding as of December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

Restricted stock is awarded to key employees providing for the immediate
award of Valley's common stock subject to certain vesting and restrictions. The
awards are recorded at fair market value and amortized into salary expense over
the vesting period. The following table sets forth the changes in restricted
stock awards outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Restricted
Stock Awards 2001 2000 1999
------------ ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year 217,880 228,309 228,855
Granted......................... 140,741 67,406 64,471
Vested.......................... (76,102) (70,023) (61,506)
Forfeited....................... (8,050) (7,812) (3,511)
------- ------- -------
Outstanding at end of year...... 274,469 217,880 228,309
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

The amount of compensation costs related to restricted stock awards included
in salary expense in 2001, 2000 and 1999 amounted to $2.2 million, $1.3 million
and $1.1 million, respectively.

54
NOTES TO FINANCIAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Bank Owned Life Insurance
During 2001, Valley invested $100.0 million in Bank Owned Life Insurance
("BOLI") to help offset the rising cost of employee benefits. Income of $2.1
million was recorded from the BOLI during the year ended December 31, 2001 and
reported as other income. The BOLI is invested in investment securities similar
to Valley's investment portfolio and is managed by two investment firms.


INCOME TAXES (Note 14)

Income tax expense (benefit) included in the financial statements consisted
of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income tax from operations:
Current:
Federal.................. $69,213 $64,669 $59,719
State.................... 2,470 1,919 2,356
------- ------- -------
71,683 66,588 62,075
Deferred:
Federal and State........ (7,532) (561) (341)
------- ------- -------
Total income tax expense. $64,151 $66,027 $61,734
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

Included in other comprehensive income is income tax expense (benefit)
attributable to net unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale
in the amount of $12.8 million, $15.3 million and ($25.1) million for the years
ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to deferred tax
assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for loan losses............... $25,619 $21,715
Investment securities available for sale -- 1,494
State privilege year taxes.............. 304 --
Non-accrual loan interest............... 282 182
Other................................... 7,213 7,623
------- -------
Total deferred tax assets............. 33,418 31,014
------- -------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation.............. 286 2,476
Investment securities available for sale 11,300 --
Purchase accounting adjustments......... 133 212
Unearned discount on investments........ 255 188
State privilege year taxes.............. -- 34
Other................................... 3,723 5,121
------- -------
Total deferred tax liabilities........ 15,697 8,031
------- -------
Net deferred tax asset................... $17,721 $22,983
======= =======
</TABLE>

Based upon taxes paid and projections of future taxable income, management
believes that it is more likely than not, that the net deferred tax asset will
be realized.

55
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


A reconciliation between the reported income tax expense and the amount
computed by multiplying income before taxes by the statutory federal income tax
rate is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Tax at statutory federal income tax rate............... $69,774 $67,467 $65,476
Increases (decreases) resulted from:
Tax-exempt interest, net of interest incurred to carry
tax-exempts......................................... (3,936) (4,183) (4,164)
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit.......... 811 1,690 2,190
Realignment of corporate entities..................... -- -- (2,615)
Other, net............................................ (2,498) 1,053 847
------- ------- -------
Income tax expense.................................... $64,151 $66,027 $61,734
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>

Included in stockholders' equity are income tax benefits attributable to the
exercise of non-qualified stock options of $3.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2001.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15)

Lease Commitments

Certain bank facilities are occupied under non-cancelable long-term
operating leases which expire at various dates through 2047. Certain lease
agreements provide for renewal options and increases in rental payments based
upon increases in the consumer price index or the lessor's cost of operating
the facility. Minimum aggregate lease payments for the remainder of the lease
terms are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)
<S> <C>
2002.................... $ 7,756
2003.................... 7,332
2004.................... 6,574
2005.................... 6,104
2006.................... 5,530
Thereafter.............. 27,389
-------
Total lease commitments $60,685
=======
</TABLE>

Net occupancy expense for 2001, 2000 and 1999 included approximately $4.6
million, $4.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively, of rental expenses, net
of rental income, for leased bank facilities.

Financial Instruments With Off-balance Sheet Risk

In the ordinary course of business of meeting the financial needs of its
customers, Valley, through its subsidiary VNB, is a party to various financial
instruments which are properly not reflected in the consolidated financial
statements. These financial instruments include standby and commercial letters
of credit, unused portions of lines of credit and commitments to extend various
types of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of
credit risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial
statements. The commitment or contract amount of these instruments is an
indicator of VNB's level of involvement in each type of instrument as well as
the exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party
to the financial instrument. VNB seeks to limit any exposure of credit loss by
applying the same credit underwriting standards, including credit review,
interest rates and collateral requirements or personal guarantees, as for
on-balance sheet lending facilities.

56
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


The following table provides a summary of financial instruments with
off-balance sheet risk at December 31, 2001 and 2000:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
---------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Standby and commercial letters of credit................ $ 187,528 $ 159,353
Commitments under unused lines of credit-credit card.... 71,593 832,613
Commitments under unused lines of credit-other.......... 1,227,376 587,804
Outstanding loan commitments............................ 891,813 436,618
Foreign exchange contracts.............................. -- 2,137
---------- ----------
Total financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk $2,378,310 $2,018,525
========== ==========
</TABLE>

Standby letters of credit represent the guarantee by VNB of the obligations
or performance of a customer in the event the customer is unable to meet or
perform its obligations to a third party. Obligations to advance funds under
commitments to extend credit, including commitments under unused lines of
credit, are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation
of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have
specified expiration dates, which may be extended upon request, or other
termination clauses and generally require payment of a fee.

These commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements as
it is anticipated that many of these commitments will expire without being
fully drawn upon. Most of VNB's lending activity is to customers within the
states of New Jersey and New York, except for automobile loans, which are to
customers from 12 states, including New Jersey, and Canada as part of a
referral program with State Farm Insurance Company which was phased out in 2001.

At December 31, 2001, VNB had commitments to sell residential mortgage loans
and SBA loans totaling $36.2 million.

Litigation

In the normal course of business, Valley may be a party to various
outstanding legal proceedings and claims. In the opinion of management, the
consolidated financial position or results of operations of Valley will not be
materially affected by the outcome of such legal proceedings and claims.

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 16)

Capital Requirements

Valley is subject to the regulatory capital requirements administered by the
Federal Reserve Bank. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate
certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators
that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on Valley's financial
statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for
prompt corrective action, Valley must meet specific capital guidelines that
involve quantitative measures of Valley's assets, liabilities and certain
off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.
Capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by
the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy
require Valley to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier I
capital to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier I capital to average assets, as
defined in the regulations. As of December 31, 2001, Valley exceeded all
capital adequacy requirements to which it was subject.

Valley's ratios at December 31, 2001 were all above the "well capitalized"
requirements, which require Tier 1 capital to risk-adjusted assets of at least
6 percent. Total risk-based capital to risk-adjusted assets of

57
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

10 percent and a minimum leverage ratio of 5 percent. To be categorized as well
capitalized Valley must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based,
Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the table.

Valley's actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2001 and 2000
are presented in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
Minimum Capital Prompt Corrective
Actual Requirements Action Provisions
------------- -------------- ----------------
Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of December 31, 2001
Total Risk-based Capital. $911,475 15.2% $481,226 8.0% $601,532 10.0%
Tier I Risk-based Capital 847,672 14.1 240,613 4.0 360,919 6.0
Tier I Leverage Capital.. 847,672 10.3 330,413 4.0 413,016 5.0
As of December 31, 2000
Total Risk-based Capital. $712,325 12.3% $462,041 8.0% $577,551 10.0%
Tier I Risk-based Capital 650,330 11.3 231,034 4.0 346,551 6.0
Tier I Leverage Capital.. 650,330 8.5 306,841 4.0 383,551 5.0
</TABLE>

VNB's actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 are
presented in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
Minimum Capital Prompt Corrective
Actual Requirements Action Provisions
------------- -------------- ----------------
Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of December 31, 2001
Total Risk-based Capital. $712,401 11.9% $478,219 8.0% $597,774 10.0%
Tier I Risk-based Capital 648,598 10.9 239,110 4.0 358,664 6.0
Tier I Leverage Capital.. 648,598 7.9 327,452 4.0 409,315 5.0
As of December 31, 2000
Total Risk-based Capital. $663,864 11.6% $459,274 8.0% $574,093 10.0%
Tier I Risk-based Capital 601,869 10.5 229,637 4.0 344,456 6.0
Tier I Leverage Capital.. 601,869 7.9 304,777 4.0 380,971 5.0
</TABLE>

Dividend Restrictions

VNB, a national banking association, is subject to a limitation in the
amount of dividends it may pay to Valley, VNB's only shareholder. Prior
approval by the office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") is required
to the extent that the total of all dividends to be declared by VNB in any
calendar year exceeds net profits, as defined, for that year combined with its
retained net profits from the preceding two calendar years, less any transfers
to capital surplus. Under this limitation, VNB could declare dividends in 2002
without prior approval from the OCC of up to $54.2 million plus an amount equal
to VNB's net profits for 2002 to the date of such dividend declaration. In
addition to dividends received from its subsidiary bank, Valley can satisfy its
cash requirements by utilizing its own funds, cash and sale of investments, as
well as borrowed funds.

Preferred Stock

On February 12, 2000, the Board of Directors unanimously approved an
amendment to Valley's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize 30,000,000
shares of a new class of "blank check" preferred stock. The primary purpose of
the preferred stock is to maximize Valley's ability to expand its capital base.
The amendment was

58
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

approved by the Valley shareholders on April 6, 2000. At December 31, 2001 and
2000, there were no shares of preferred stock issued.

Shares of Common Stock

The following table summarizes the share transactions for the three years
ended December 31, 2001:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Shares in
Issued Treasury
- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Balance, December 31, 1998............. 73,836,099 (236,735)
Stock dividend (5 percent)........... 1,236,450 1,537,876
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.. 526,937 168,366
Purchase of treasury stock........... -- (2,397,257)
Retirement of treasury stock......... (380,326) --
---------- ----------
Balance, December 31, 1999............. 75,219,160 (927,750)
Stock dividend (5 percent)........... -- 2,884,669
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.. (9,376) 311,380
Purchase of treasury stock........... -- (2,770,770)
Retirement of treasury stock......... (416,969) --
---------- ----------
Balance, December 31, 2000............. 74,792,815 (502,471)
Stock dividend (5 percent)........... 3,372,588 349,269
Effect of stock incentive plan, net.. 37,555 628,939
Purchase of treasury stock........... -- (2,211,034)
---------- ----------
Balance, December 31, 2001............. 78,202,958 (1,735,297)
========== ==========
</TABLE>

Treasury Stock

On August 21, 2001 Valley's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of
up to 8,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. Purchases may
be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated
transactions generally not exceeding prevailing market prices. Reacquired
shares are held in treasury and are expected to be used for general corporate
purposes. As of December 31, 2001 Valley had repurchased 2.2 million shares of
its common stock under this repurchase program.

On May 23, 2000 Valley's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up
to 3,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. As of September
19, 2000 Valley had repurchased 571,070 shares of its common stock under this
repurchase program, which was rescinded in connection with the signing of the
definitive merger agreement with Merchants. This is in addition to the
3,000,000 shares purchased pursuant to an authorization by the Board of
Directors in December 1999, the majority of which were used for the stock
dividend issued on May 16, 2000.

On June 10, 1999 Valley's Board of Directors rescinded the stock repurchase
program it had announced on April 28, 1999 after 1.6 million shares of Valley
common stock had been repurchased. Approximately 1.5 million treasury shares
were issued in conjunction with the 5 percent dividend issued May 18, 1999.
Rescinding the remaining authorization was undertaken in connection with
Valley's acquisition of Ramapo.

59
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Note 17)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters ended 2001
---------- --------------------- ----------
March 31 June 30 Sept 30 Dec 31
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest income............ $144,202 $140,407 $136,889 $131,988
Interest expense........... 63,177 57,778 52,930 44,768
Net interest income........ 81,025 82,629 83,959 87,220
Provision for loan losses.. 2,100 2,835 2,700 8,071
Non-interest income........ 18,684 15,742 15,985 18,065
Non-interest expense....... 51,956 43,698 44,379 48,215
Income before income taxes. 45,653 51,838 52,865 48,999
Income tax expense......... 17,090 17,279 16,860 12,922
Net income................. 28,563 34,559 36,005 36,077
Earnings per share:
Basic..................... 0.37 0.44 0.46 0.47
Diluted................... 0.36 0.44 0.46 0.47
Cash dividends per share... 0.25 0.265 0.265 0.265
Average shares outstanding:
Basic..................... 77,935,200 78,038,165 77,933,382 76,611,582
Diluted................... 78,643,691 78,456,073 78,587,695 77,119,472
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters ended 2000
-------------------------------------------
March 31 June 30 Sept 30 Dec 31
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands, except for share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest income............ $137,688 $140,884 $144,116 $145,518
Interest expense........... 59,195 62,480 65,156 65,817
Net interest income........ 78,493 78,404 78,960 79,701
Provision for loan losses.. 2,450 2,875 2,580 2,850
Non-interest income........ 13,406 15,134 14,437 16,123
Non-interest expense....... 40,848 41,698 41,448 47,145
Income before income taxes. 48,601 48,965 49,369 45,829
Income tax expense......... 16,607 16,348 16,601 16,471
Net income................. 31,994 32,617 32,768 29,358
Earnings per share:
Basic..................... 0.40 0.42 0.42 0.38
Diluted................... 0.40 0.41 0.42 0.37
Cash dividends per share... 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.25
Average shares outstanding:
Basic..................... 80,159,333 78,535,472 77,950,692 77,788,652
Diluted................... 80,782,279 79,233,181 78,616,344 78,533,942
</TABLE>

60
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


PARENT COMPANY INFORMATION (Note 18)

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
------------------
2001 2000
-------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Assets
Cash.................................................. $ 2,084 $ 2,641
Interest bearing deposits with banks.................. 115 22,125
Investment securities available for sale.............. 223,030 44,752
Investment in subsidiaries............................ 676,494 606,136
Loan to subsidiary bank employee benefit plan......... 714 893
Other assets.......................................... 10,756 5,523
-------- --------
Total assets........................................ $913,193 $682,070
======== ========
Liabilities
Dividends payable to shareholders..................... $ 20,295 $ 15,605
Short-term borrowings................................. 4,000 10,000
Long-term debt........................................ 206,185 --
Other liabilities..................................... 4,338 483
-------- --------
Total liabilities................................... 234,818 26,088
-------- --------
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock....................................... -- --
Common stock.......................................... 33,310 32,015
Surplus............................................... 406,608 321,970
Retained earnings..................................... 270,730 317,855
Unallocated common stock held by employee benefit plan (602) (775)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)......... 19,638 (2,307)
-------- --------
729,684 668,758
Treasury stock, at cost................................ (51,309) (12,776)
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity.......................... 678,375 655,982
-------- --------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity.......... $913,193 $682,070
======== ========
</TABLE>
Condensed Statements of Income

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
- - ----------------------------
2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income
Dividends from subsidiary......................................... $ 93,000 $116,893 $136,251
Income from subsidiary............................................ 721 1,868 2,106
Gains on securities transactions, net............................. 156 249 2,591
Other interest and dividends...................................... 1,531 2,432 2,741
-------- -------- --------
95,408 121,442 143,689
Expenses........................................................... 6,070 4,332 4,064
-------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed earnings of
subsidiary...................................................... 89,338 117,110 139,625
Income tax (benefit) expense...................................... (1,223) (44) 1,580
-------- -------- --------
Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary...... 90,561 117,154 138,045
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary (excess dividends). 44,643 9,583 (12,704)
-------- -------- --------
Net income........................................................ $135,204 $126,737 $125,341
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>

61
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended December 31,
-------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
--------- --------- ---------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income.......................................................... $ 135,204 $ 126,737 $ 125,341
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
(Equity in undistributed earnings) excess dividends of subsidiary. (44,643) (9,583) 12,704
Depreciation and amortization..................................... 347 380 365
Amortization of compensation costs pursuant to long-term stock
incentive plan.................................................. 2,020 1,037 1,091
Net accretion of discounts........................................ (194) (8) (49)
Net gains on securities transactions.............................. (156) (249) (2,591)
Net (increase)decrease in other assets............................ (5,580) (1,707) 317
Net (decrease)increase in other liabilities....................... (3,224) (6,085) 5,200
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities....................... 83,774 110,522 142,378
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale..... 920 24,413 8,735
Proceeds from maturing investment securities available for sale..... 65,026 3,197 81,146
Purchases of investment securities available for sale............... (233,424) (15,817) (78,666)
Proceeds from sales of trading account securities................... -- -- 1,415
Purchase of common stock of subsidiary.............................. (6,185) -- --
Net decrease(increase) in short-term investments.................... 22,010 14,002 (14,445)
Payment of employee benefit plan loan............................... 179 178 179
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities............... (151,474) 25,973 (1,636)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net (decrease)increase in other borrowings.......................... (6,000) 10,000 --
Advances of long-term debt.......................................... 206,185 -- --
Purchase of common shares to treasury............................... (65,012) (79,161) (75,496)
Dividends paid to common shareholders............................... (76,260) (71,723) (66,801)
Common stock issued, net of cancellations........................... 8,230 3,780 3,408
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities............... 67,143 (137,104) (138,889)
--------- --------- ---------
Net (decrease)increase in cash and cash equivalents.................. (557) (609) 1,853
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year....................... 2,641 3,250 1,397
--------- --------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year............................. $ 2,084 $ 2,641 $ 3,250
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Note 19)

Limitations: The fair value estimates made at December 31, 2001 and 2000
were based on pertinent market data and relevant information on the financial
instruments at that time. These estimates do not reflect any premium or
discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the entire
portfolio of financial instruments. Because no market exists for a portion of
the financial instruments, fair value estimates may be based on judgments
regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk
characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These
estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of
significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes
in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet
financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated
future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered
financial instruments. For instance, Valley has certain fee-generating business
lines (e.g., its mortgage servicing operation, trust and investment management
departments) that were not considered in these estimates since these activities
are not financial instruments. In addition, the tax implications related to the
realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on
fair value estimates and have not been considered in many of the estimates.

62
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instruments and mortgage servicing rights:

Cash and short-term investments: For such short-term investments, the
carrying amount is considered to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Investment securities held to maturity and investment securities available
for sale: Fair values are based on quoted market prices.

Loans: Fair values are estimated by obtaining quoted market prices, when
available. The fair value of other loans is estimated by discounting the future
cash flows using market discount rates that reflect the credit and
interest-rate risk inherent in the loan.

Deposit liabilities: Current carrying amounts approximate estimated fair
value of demand deposits and savings accounts. The fair value of time deposits
is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows using estimated
rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturity.

Short-term borrowings: Current carrying amounts approximate estimated fair
value.

Long-term debt: The fair value is estimated by obtaining quoted market
prices of financial instruments with similar characteristics, terms and
remaining maturity.

Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred capital securities of a
subsidiary trust holding solely junior subordinated debentures of the company:
The fair value is estimated by obtaining the quoted market price.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments were
as follows at December 31, 2001 and 2000:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2001 2000
--------------------- ---------------------
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
Amount Value Amount Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(in thousands)
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks................. $ 311,850 $ 311,850 $ 239,105 $ 239,105
Federal funds sold...................... -- -- 85,000 85,000
Investment securities held to maturity.. 503,061 476,872 577,450 543,034
Investment securities available for sale 2,171,695 2,171,695 1,626,086 1,626,086
Net loans............................... 5,268,004 5,332,375 5,127,115 5,112,824
Financial liabilities:
Deposits with no stated maturity........ 3,894,356 3,894,356 3,632,595 3,632,595
Deposits with stated maturities......... 2,412,618 2,437,233 2,504,233 2,506,712
Short-term borrowings................... 304,262 304,262 426,014 426,014
Long-term debt.......................... 975,728 971,567 591,808 593,939
Preferred capital securities............ 200,000 200,480 -- --
</TABLE>

The estimated fair value of financial instruments with off-balance sheet
risk, consisting of unamortized fee income at December 31, 2001 and 2000 is not
material.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Note 20)

VNB has four major business segments it monitors and reports on to manage
its business operations. These segments are consumer lending, commercial
lending, investment portfolio and corporate and other adjustments.

63
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

Lines of business and actual structure of operations determine each segment.
Each is reviewed routinely for its asset growth, contribution to pre-tax net
income and return on average interest-earning assets. Expenses related to the
branch network, all other components of retail banking, along with the back
office departments of the bank are allocated from the corporate and other
adjustments segment to each of the other three business segments. The financial
reporting for each segment contains allocations and reporting in line with
VNB's operations, which may not necessarily be compared to any other financial
institution. The accounting for each segment includes internal accounting
policies designed to measure consistent and reasonable financial reporting.

Consumer lending delivers loan and banking products and services mainly to
individuals and small businesses through its branches, ATM machines, PC banking
and sales, service and collection force within each lending department. The
products and services include residential mortgages, home equity loans,
automobile loans, credit card loans, trust and investment services and mortgage
servicing for investors. Automobile lending is generally available throughout
New Jersey, but was also available in twelve states and Canada as part of a
referral program with State Farm Insurance Company which was phased out in 2001.

The commercial lending division provides loan products and services to small
and medium commercial establishments throughout northern New Jersey and
Manhattan. These include lines of credit, term loans, letters of credit,
asset-based lending, construction, development and permanent real estate
financing for owner occupied and leased properties and Small Business
Administration ("SBA") loans. The SBA loans are offered through a sales force
covering New Jersey and a number of surrounding states and territories. The
commercial lending division serves numerous businesses through departments
organized into product or specific geographic divisions.

The investment portfolio segment handles the management of the investment
portfolio, asset/liability management and government banking for VNB. The
objectives of this department are production of income and liquidity through
the investment of VNB's funds. The bank purchases and holds a mix of bonds,
notes, U.S. and other governmental securities and other investments.

The corporate and other adjustments segment represents assets and income and
expense items not directly attributable to a specific segment.

The following table represents the financial data for the four business
segments for the years ended 2001, 2000 and 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, 2001
----------------------------------------------------------
Corporate
Consumer Commercial Investment and Other
Lending Lending Portfolio Adjustments Total
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average interest-earning assets............... $2,656,593 $2,561,052 $2,450,333 $ -- $7,667,978
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Interest income............................... $ 201,678 $ 199,690 $ 158,189 $ (6,071) $ 553,486
Interest expense.............................. 75,753 73,029 69,871 -- 218,653
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss).................... 125,925 126,661 88,318 (6,071) 334,833
Provision for loan losses..................... 4,699 11,007 -- -- 15,706
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss) after provision for
loan losses................................. 121,226 115,654 88,318 (6,071) 319,127
Non-interest income........................... 16,027 8,485 2,448 41,516 68,476
Non-interest expense.......................... 19,569 17,909 824 149,946 188,248
Internal expense transfer..................... 34,793 33,158 29,750 (97,701) --
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes............. $ 82,891 $ 73,072 $ 60,192 $(16,800) $ 199,355
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Return on average interest-bearing assets
(pre-tax)................................... 3.12% 2.85% 2.46% -- 2.60%
</TABLE>

64
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, 2000
----------------------------------------------------------
Corporate
Consumer Commercial Investment and Other
Lending Lending Portfolio Adjustments Total
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average interest-earning assets............... $2,786,273 $2,314,357 $2,217,861 $ -- $7,318,491
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Interest income............................... $ 216,502 $ 206,539 $ 150,767 $ (5,602) $ 568,206
Interest expense.............................. 96,187 79,896 76,565 -- 252,648
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss).................... 120,315 126,643 74,202 (5,602) 315,558
Provision for loan losses..................... 4,481 6,274 -- -- 10,755
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss) after provision for
loan losses................................. 115,834 120,369 74,202 (5,602) 304,803
Non-interest income........................... 13,704 7,510 562 37,324 59,100
Non-interest expense.......................... 24,201 18,271 347 128,320 171,139
Internal expense transfer..................... 34,643 28,776 27,576 (90,995) --
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes............. $ 70,694 $ 80,832 $ 46,841 $ (5,603) $ 192,764
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Return on average interest-bearing assets
(pre-tax)................................... 2.54% 3.49% 2.11% -- 2.63%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, 1999
----------------------------------------------------------
Corporate
Consumer Commercial Investment and Other
Lending Lending Portfolio Adjustments Total
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Average interest-earning assets............... $2,696,100 $2,099,038 $2,235,093 $ -- $7,030,231
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Interest income............................... $ 199,484 $ 177,672 $ 146,182 $ (5,520) $ 517,818
Interest expense.............................. 80,072 62,340 66,380 -- 208,792
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss).................... 119,412 115,332 79,802 (5,520) 309,026
Provision for loan losses..................... 7,826 3,209 -- -- 11,035
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Net interest income (loss) after provision for
loan losses................................. 111,586 112,123 79,802 (5,520) 297,991
Non-interest income........................... 13,992 6,821 121 32,869 53,803
Non-interest expense.......................... 27,019 17,176 328 120,196 164,719
Internal expense transfer..................... 33,490 26,073 27,764 (87,327) --
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes............. $ 65,069 $ 75,695 $ 51,831 $ (5,520) $ 187,075
========== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Return on average interest-bearing assets
(pre-tax)................................... 2.41% 3.61% 2.32% -- 2.66%
</TABLE>

65
[LOGO] KPMG

New Jersey Headquarters
150 John F. Kennedy Parkway
Short Hills, NJ 07078

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Valley National Bancorp:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial
condition of Valley National Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001
and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2001. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Valley
National Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2001 in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ KPMG LLP

January 16, 2002

66
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure

None

PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

The information set forth under the captions "Director Information" and
"Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the 2002 Proxy
Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Certain information on Executive
Officers of the registrant is included in Part I, Item 4A of this report, which
is also incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information set forth under the caption "Executive Compensation" in the
2002 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The information set forth under the caption "Stock Ownership of Management
and Principal Shareholders" in the 2002 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein
by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The information set forth under the captions "Human Resources and
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" and "Certain
Transactions with Management" in the 2002 Proxy Statement is incorporated
herein by reference.

PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Financial Statements and Schedules:

The following Financial Statements and Supplementary Data are filed as part
of this annual report:

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Independent Auditors' Report

All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are either
inapplicable or not required, or because the required information is
included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

Filed October 1, 2001 to report the restatement of Valley's audited
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 to reflect Valley's acquisition of
Merchants New York Bancorp, which was accounted for as a
pooling-of-interests.

On October 19, 2001 to report earnings for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2001.

On November 16, 2001 to announce the completion of a $200.0 million public
offering of trust originated preferred securities.

67
(c) Exhibits (numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

(2) Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or
succession:

A. Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 17, 1998 among Valley, VNB,
Ramapo Financial Corporation and The Ramapo Bank is incorporated
herein by reference to Valley's Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on December 22, 1998.

B. Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 5, 2002 among Valley, VNB,
Merchants and Merchants Bank of New York is incorporated herein
by reference to Valley's Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on September 21, 2000.

(3) Articles of Incorporation and By-laws:

A. Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as in effect on
May 7, 2001 ( and is currently in effect) is incorporated herein by
reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001.

B. By-laws of the Registrant adopted as of March 14, 1989 and amended March
19, 1991 are incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Form
10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998.

(10) Material Contracts:

A. Restated and amended "Change in Control Agreements" dated January 1,
1999 between Valley, VNB and Gerald H. Lipkin, Peter John Southway,
Robert Meyer, and Peter Crocitto are incorporated herein by reference to
the Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31,
1998.

B. "Change in Control Agreements" dated January 1, 1995 between Valley, VNB
and Robert Farrell, Richard Garber and Robert Mulligan are incorporated
herein by reference to the Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the
year ended December 31, 1999.

C. "Change in Control Agreement" dated February 1, 1996 between Valley, VNB
and Jack Blackin is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's
Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1996.

D. "Change in Control Agreement" dated April 15, 1996 between Valley, VNB
and John Prol is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's
Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1996.

E. "The Valley National Bancorp Long-term Stock Incentive Plan" dated
January 19, 1999 and as amended through June 19, 2001. Incorporated
herein by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.

F. "Severance Agreement" dated August 17, 1994 between Valley, VNB and
Gerald H. Lipkin is incorporated by reference to Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 33-55765) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on October 4, 1999.
G. "Split-Dollar Agreement" dated July 7, 1995 between Valley, VNB, and
Gerald H. Lipkin incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's
Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2000 filed on
March 1, 2001.

H. "Severance Agreements" as of January 1, 1998 between Valley, VNB and
Peter Crocitto, Robert M. Meyer and Peter John Southway are incorporated
herein by reference to the Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the
year ended December 31, 1997.

I. "Change in Control Agreement" dated January 1, 1999 between Valley, VNB
and Robert J. Farnon is incorporated herein by reference to the
Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31,
1998.

J. "Change in Control Agreement" dated January 3, 2000 between Valley, VNB
and Albert L. Engel is incorporated herein by reference to the
Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31,
1999.


68
K. "The Valley National Bancorp Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan" dated
January 10, 1989 and as amended through June 19, 2001. Incorporated
herein by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.

L. Amendment to the "Severance Agreement" dated November 28, 2000 between
Valley, VNB and Gerald H. Lipkin incorporated herein by reference to the
Registrant's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31,
2000 filed on March 1, 2001.

M. "Change in Control Agreement" dated April 4, 2001 between Valley, VNB
and Alan D. Eskow incorporated herein by reference to Registrant's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.

N. "Employment Continuation and Non-Competition Agreements" dated September
5, 2000 between Valley, VNB and Spencer B. Witty, James G. Lawrence,
William J. Cardew and Eric W. Gould incorporated herein by reference to
Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2001.

O. "Change in Control Agreement" dated September 5, 2000 between Valley,
VNB and James G. Lawrence incorporated herein by reference to
Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2001.

P. Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of VNB Capital Trust I, dated
as of November 7, 2001 incorporated herein by reference to the
Registrants Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2001.

Q. Indenture among VNB Capital Trust I, The Bank of New York as Debenture
Trustee, and Valley, dated as of November 7, 2001 incorporated herein by
reference to the Registrants Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16,
2001.

R. Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement among VNB Capital Trust I, The
Bank of New York, as Guarantee Trustee, and Valley, dated as of November
7, 2001 incorporated herein by reference to the Registrants Report on
Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2001.

S. "Change in Control Agreement" dated November 28, 2001 between Valley,
VNB and Garret G. Nieuwenhuis.

(12) Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(21) List of Subsidiaries:

(a) Subsidiaries of Valley:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Jurisdiction of Percentage of Voting
---- Incorporation Securities Owned by the Parent
<S> <C> <C>
VNB Capital Trust I Delaware 100%
Valley National Bank (VNB) United States 100%

(b) Subsidiaries of VNB:
VNB Mortgage Services, Inc. New Jersey 100%
BNV Realty Incorporated (BNV) New Jersey 100%
VN Investments, Inc. (VNI) New Jersey 100%
VNB Loan Services, Inc. New York 100%
VNB RSI, Inc. New Jersey 100%
Wayne Ventures, Inc. New Jersey 100%
Wayne Title, Inc. New Jersey 100%
VNB International Services, Inc. (ISI) New Jersey 100%
New Century Asset Management, Inc. New Jersey 100%
Hallmark Capital Management, Inc. New Jersey 100%
Merchants New York Commercial Corp. Delaware 100%
Valley Commercial Capital, LLC New Jersey 100%

(c) Subsidiary of ISI:
VNB Financial Services, Inc. Canada 100%
</TABLE>

69
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Jurisdiction of Percentage of Voting
---- Incorporation Securities Owned by the Parent
<S> <C> <C>

(d) Subsidiaries of BNV
SAR I, Inc. New Jersey 100%
SAR II, Inc. New Jersey 100%

(e) Subsidiary of VNI:
VNB Realty, Inc. New Jersey 100%

(f) Subsidiary of VNB Realty, Inc.
VNB Capital Corp. New York 100%
</TABLE>

(23) Consents of Experts and Counsel

Consent of KPMG LLP

(24) Power of Attorney of Certain Directors and Officers of Valley.

70
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP


By: /S/ GERALD H. LIPKIN
-----------------------------
Gerald H. Lipkin, Chairman of
the Board
President and Chief Executive
Officer

Dated: February 26, 2002

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----

/S/ GERALD H. LIPKIN Chairman of the Board, February 26, 2002
- ----------------------------- President and Chief
Gerald H. Lipkin Executive Officer and
Director

/S/ SPENCER B. WITTY Vice Chairman and Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Spencer B. Witty

/S/ ALAN D. ESKOW Executive Vice President and February 26, 2002
- ----------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
Alan D. Eskow (Principal Financial
Officer)

/S/ CHRISTINE K. First Vice President and February 26, 2002
MOZER-BALDYGA Controller
- ----------------------------- (Principal Accounting
Christine K. Mozer-Baldyga Officer)

/S/ ANDREW B. ABRAMSON* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Andrew B. Abramson

/S/ CHARLES J. BAUM* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Charles J. Baum

/S/ PAMELA BRONANDER* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Pamela Bronander

/S/ JOSEPH COCCIA, JR.* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Joseph Coccia, Jr.

/S/ HAROLD P. COOK, III* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Harold P. Cook, III

/S/ AUSTIN C. DRUKKER* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Austin C. Drukker

71
Signature                       Title                   Date
--------- ----- ----

/S/ GRAHAM O. JONES* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Graham O. Jones

/S/ WALTER H. JONES, III* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Walter H. Jones, III

/S/ GERALD KORDE* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Gerald Korde

/S/ ROBINSON MARKEL* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Robinson Markel

/S/ ROBERT E. MCENTEE* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Robert E. McEntee

/S/ RICHARD S. MILLER* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Richard S. Miller

/S/ ROBERT RACHESKY* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Robert Rachesky

/S/ BARNETT RUKIN* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Barnett Rukin

/S/ PETER SOUTHWAY* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Peter Southway

/S/ RICHARD F. TICE* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Richard F. Tice

/S/ LEONARD J. VORCHEIMER* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Leonard J. Vorcheimer

/S/ JOSEPH L. VOZZA* Director February 26, 2002
- -----------------------------
Joseph L. Vozza

- --------
*By Gerald H. Lipkin, as attorney-in-fact.

72
EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number Exhibit Desrciption
- -------------- -------------------

(10)S Change in Control Agreement - Garret G. Nieuwenhuis

(12) Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earning to Fixed
Charges

(23) Consent of KPMG LLP

(24) Power of Attorney