Exhibit 99(a)


Contact Person:   Howard M. Schoor, Chairman of the Board, 732-577-9833

      Sun Bancorp, Inc. and Community Bancorp of New Jersey Announce Merger

VINELAND, NJ; FREEHOLD, NJ, February 17, 2004 - Sun Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNBC)
("Sun") and Community Bancorp Of New Jersey (NASDAQ: CBNJ) ("Community"),
jointly announced today that they had entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Agreement") whereby Sun will acquire Community, and its bank
subsidiary, Community Bank of New Jersey, in a stock-for-stock exchange merger
valued at approximately $83.2 million. Upon completion of the merger, Sun will
have approximately $3.2 billion in total assets and 84 branch office locations
throughout New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

     The Agreement provides that Community shareholders will receive .83 shares
of Sun common stock for each issued and outstanding share of Community common
stock (the "Per Share Stock Consideration"). Community will be permitted under
the Agreement to pay a one-time special cash dividend in the amount of $.75 per
share to its shareholders prior to the consummation of the proposed merger with
Sun.

     Sun will be webcasting a conference call for analysts at 10 a.m. (EST)
today via the internet. This conference can be heard live at www.sunnb.com.

     "It is a rare occasion when a bank has the opportunity to fill in a
significant gap in its marketplace by acquiring a quality institution led by
seasoned and highly competent bankers supported by a committed board of
directors," stated Tom Bracken, President and CEO, Sun Bancorp.

     Bracken also said that Community Bank of New Jersey has built a prototype
community bank in one of the fastest growing markets in the state, has an
impeccable reputation for customer service and responsiveness and has been a
challenging competitor.

     "We expect to see a growth and revenue multiplier effect once we are able
to introduce a full array of our expanded products and services to their
customers and communities. This is an exciting opportunity for both
organizations and the combination of our teams will create a formidable customer
and community focused organization allowing us to become the premier community
bank in Monmouth County," Bracken added.








     "Community Bank of New Jersey was founded in 1997 when a group of investors
identified the need to establish a home-based community bank to serve Monmouth
County," stated Howard Schoor, Chairman of Community.

     "Our commitment to our customers and friends, to support the growth and
development of the county, has been unwavering. Our Board of Directors believe
this merger is a perfect mix of two companies that possess similar cultures and
philosophy with respect to their responsibilities toward the community,
employees and customers. We believe this will provide greater growth
opportunities for our employees and a broader range of products and services to
our customers. Our shareholders will benefit from the combined banking company
created by the addition of our Monmouth County branch network to the existing
Sun National Bank franchise which extends from its headquarters in Southern New
Jersey up to Central New Jersey," Schoor added.

     "We are excited to present this partnership to our shareholders," stated
Robert O'Donnell, President and CEO of Community.

     "We have worked side by side with Executive Management of Sun and have come
together for a common cause resulting in a joint commitment to create a banking
franchise second to none in central New Jersey. The cornerstone of our bank has
been safety and soundness and we are pleased that our new partner mirrors us in
this commitment. Our present and future customers and shareholders will be the
beneficiaries of what promises to be exciting times for our combined franchise,"
O'Donnell added.

     Bracken of Sun Bancorp said this transaction will also enable Sun National
Bank to accelerate the two year branch rationalization program and close or
consolidate a total of 14 branches in 2004. "We continue to reshape our branch
network. The recent acquisition of eight branches from New York Community Bank
when combined with this Monmouth County initiative furthers our market share
penetration in three vital markets, improves average branch deposits and sheds
non-performing branches."

     The proposed merger is subject to certain customary conditions for
transactions of this type including, among others, Sun and Community shareholder
approval and regulatory approval. The merger is expected to be consummated in
the second quarter of this year.

     Ryan Beck & Co. acted as financial advisor to Community and Sandler O'Neill
acted as financial advisor to Sun.










     Sun and Community will jointly file proxy materials with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") which will set forth the complete details of the
merger. WE URGE INVESTORS TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY MATERIALS WHEN FILED WITH
THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able
to obtain a copy of the proxy materials free of charge at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov. The materials may also be obtained for free by directing a written
request to Sun Bancorp, Inc. 226 Landis Avenue, Vineland, New Jersey 08360,
Attention: Secretary, and to Community Bancorp of New Jersey, 3535 Route 9
North, Freehold, New Jersey 07728 Attention: Secretary. INVESTORS SHOULD READ
THE PROXY MATERIALS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION REGARDING THE MERGER.

     Sun and Community, and their directors and executive officers, may be
deemed to be "participants" in Sun's and Community's solicitation of proxies in
connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the Sun's
participants, including their holdings of Sun stock, is contained in Sun's
annual meeting proxy materials filed with the SEC on April 17, 2003. Information
regarding the Community's participants, including their holdings of Community
stock, is contained in Community's annual meeting proxy materials filed with the
SEC on March 28, 2003.

     Sun Bancorp, Inc. is located in Vineland, New Jersey. Its primary
subsidiary is Sun National Bank, serving customers through 84 Community Banking
Centers in Southern and Central New Jersey, in the contiguous New Castle County
market in Delaware, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The deposits of the Bank
are insured up to the legal maximum by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation. For more information about Sun National Bank and Sun Bancorp, Inc.,
visit www.sunnb.com.

     The Community Bank of New Jersey, the Company's Bank subsidiary, operates
through its main office at 3535 Highway 9 North, Freehold, New Jersey and its
seven branch offices located throughout Monmouth County, New Jersey.

     The foregoing material may contain forward-looking statements. We caution
that such statements may be subject to a number of uncertainties and actual
results could differ materially and, therefore, readers should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements. Sun and Community do not undertake,
and specifically disclaim, any obligation to publicly release the results of any
revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the
occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the
date of such statements.

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