EXHIBIT 99(a)
- -------------


  October  23, 2000

  Donald L. Kovach                                      Roger Bosma
  President & CEO                                       President & CEO
  Sussex Bancorp                                        Lakeland Bancorp
  973-827-2914                                          973-697-2000


Lakeland Bancorp Acquires 9.9% of Sussex Bancorp

Oak Ridge, NJ - John  Fredericks,  Chairman of Lakeland  Bancorp,  Oak Ridge, NJ
(NMS:  "LBAI") and Donald  Kovach,  Chairman and  President  of Sussex  Bancorp,
Franklin,  NJ (AMEX:  "SBB") jointly  announced  today an agreement,  subject to
regulatory  approval,  whereby Lakeland Bancorp will acquire newly issued common
shares of Sussex Bancorp  representing  9.9% of Sussex's  outstanding  shares at
$8.50 per share.  If the purchase had been  consummated  on September  30, 2000,
Lakeland would have purchased  approximately  139,000 Sussex common shares,  for
gross proceeds of approximately $1,180,000.

"We  look on this as an  investment  for our  shareholders  in a  growing  local
community bank," said Roger Bosma,  President and CEO of Lakeland Bancorp. "This
is an  opportunity  for  Lakeland to invest in that sector of the Sussex  County
market not otherwise available to us."

"This  addition of capital will enable us to continue to expand Sussex  Bancorp,
strengthen our independence,  and more  economically  serve the people of Sussex
County  who  deserve  and enjoy the  personal  service a strong  community  bank
offers," said Kovach.

The $875 million asset Lakeland  Bancorp,  holding company for The National Bank
of Sussex  County and Lakeland  Bank,  has 28 banking  offices in Northwest  New
Jersey.  Sussex Bancorp, with assets of $156 million, is the holding company for
Sussex County State Bank which has eight banking offices in Sussex County.

This  release  contains  forward-looking  statements  within the  meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can
be identified  by the use of words such as  "believes",  "expects",  and similar
words or  variations.  Such  statements  are not  historical  facts and  involve
certain risks and  uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from the
results discussed in these forward-looking statements.  Factors that may cause a
difference include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates,  economic
conditions,  deposit and loan growth, loan loss provisions,  customer retention,
or failure to  realize  expected  cost  savings  or  revenue  enhancements  from
acquisitions. Lakeland Bancorp assumes no obligation


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