VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                    FORM S-8


         KNOW  ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints  Gerald H. Lipkin and Alan D. Eskow, as
their  attorney-in-fact,  with power of substitution,  for him or her in any and
all capacities,  to sign any and all amendments (whether pre- or post-effective)
to this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 of Valley National Bancorp (SEC file
No.  _________________)  and to file the same with  exhibits  thereto  and other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all  that  said  attorney-in-fact,   or  his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.





                  Signature                                     Title                              Date

                                                                                       
                                                Chairman, President and Chief
GERALD H. LIPKIN                                Executive Officer and Director               April 7, 1999
- -------------------------------------------
Gerald H. Lipkin



PETER SOUTHWAY                                  Vice Chairman (Principal Financial           April 7, 1999
- -------------------------------------------     Officer) and Director
Peter Southway



ALAN D. ESKOW                                   Corporate Secretary, Senior Vice             April 7, 1999
- -------------------------------------------     President and Controller (Principal
Alan D. Eskow                                   Accounting Officer)


ANDREW B. ABRAMSON
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Andrew B. Abramson


PAMELA BRONANDER
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Pamela Bronander


JOSEPH COCCIA, JR.
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Joseph Coccia, Jr.


HAROLD P. COOK, III
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Harold P. Cook, III


AUSTIN C. DRUKKER
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Austin C. Drukker


WILLARD L. HEDDEN
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Willard L. Hedden


GRAHAM O. JONES
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Graham O. Jones


WALTER H. JONES, III
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Walter H. Jones, III


GERALD KORDE
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Gerald Korde


JOLEEN J. MARTIN
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Joleen J. Martin


ROBERT E. MCENTEE
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Robert E. McEntee


SAM P. PINYUH
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Sam P. Pinyuh


ROBERT RACHESKY
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Robert Rachesky


BARNETT RUKIN
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Barnett Rukin


RICHARD F. TICE
- -------------------------------------------                   Director                       April 7, 1999
Richard F. Tice


LEONARD J. VORCHEIMER
- --------------------------------------------                  Director                       April 7, 1999
Leonard J. Vorcheimer


JOSEPH L. VOZZA
- --------------------------------------------                  Director                       April 7, 1999
Joseph L. Vozza