EXHIBIT 99




Little Falls Bancorp, Inc.                              Contact:  Richard Capone
Little Falls, New Jersey                                          Vice President
                                                                  (973-256-6100)

                              For Immediate Release
                                January 26, 1999


                  LITTLE FALLS BANCORP, INC., AND HUBCO, INC.,
                        SIGN DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT


Little  Falls  New  Jersey,  New  Jersey,  January  26,  1999  - -  HUBCO,  Inc.
(NASDAQ:HUBC), and Little Falls Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFBI), the holding company
for Little  Falls  Bank,  today  announced  the signing of a  definitive  merger
agreement  by  which  HUBCO  will  acquire  Little  Falls  Bancorp,  Inc.  in  a
combination stock and cash  transaction.  Little Falls Bancorp is a $341 million
asset  institution  headquartered  in Little  Falls,  New Jersey  operating  six
offices in Hunterdon and Passaic counties.

         The transaction has a total value of  approximately  $55 million.  This
price is 1.50 times Little Fall's  tangible  book value,  24 times their last 12
month  earnings and  represents  a deposit  premium of 8.10%.  HUBCO  expects to
achieve  significant  cost savings and that the transaction  will be immediately
accretive.  Under the terms of the  agreement,  Little Falls  shareholders  will
receive  either  0.65  shares  of  HUBCO  common  stock or  $20.64  in cash or a
combination of shares of HUBCO common stock and cash. The shares of HUBCO common
stock offered in this  transaction  will be in an amount equal to  approximately
51% of the outstanding  shares of Little Falls multiplied by the exchange ratio.
HUBCO will  repurchase  a similar  number of shares  prior to closing  under its
stock repurchase  program.  The remaining 49% of the outstanding  shares will be
paid the fixed per share price of $20.64.  The exchange  ratio of 0.65 shares of
HUBCO common stock is based upon HUBCO's median common stock price being between
$34.43  and  $29.23  during  a  pre-determined  pricing  period.  If the  median
pre-closing  price of HUBCO common stock is $29.00 or less,  the exchange  ratio
shall be increased in increments to a maximum  exchange  ratio of 0.70 effective
if the HUBCO, Inc. price is $27.14 or lower. If the median  pre-closing price of
HUBCO  common stock is $34.50 or more,  the exchange  ratio will be decreased in
increments to a minimum exchange ratio of 0.60 at $37.50.

         In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, Little





Falls has issued an option to HUBCO,  which would enable HUBCO to purchase up to
493,000 shares of Little Falls common stock under defined circumstances. As part
of the  transaction,  Little Falls Bank will be merged into Hudson  United Bank.
The merger is subject to  approval  by Federal  and New Jersey  bank  regulatory
authorities,  Little  Falls  Bancorp  shareholders,  as well as other  customary
conditions.  The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 1999,
and will be accounted for as a purchase transaction.

         Kenneth T. Neilson, HUBCO's Chairman,  President and CEO commented, "We
are pleased  that Little  Falls  Bancorp has chosen to join HUBCO.  Little Falls
Bank  customers  will be  offered a wide  variety  of  additional  products  and
services  through our varied  delivery  channels as well as an extensive  branch
network."  Len  Romaine,  President  of Little  Falls Bank,  commented,  "We are
enthusiastic  about  becoming  part of the HUBCO  family.  This will  enable our
customers to gain the benefits of the broad array of services offered by HUBCO."
This acquisition represents HUBCO's twenty-seventh acquisition in the past eight
years and will  enhance  HUBCO's  presence in the  affluent  Northern New Jersey
markets.  Little  Falls  operates in Passaic and  Hunterdon  Counties  with a 5%
deposit  market  share in Hunterdon  County.  Hunterdon  County,  along with the
communities of Little Falls and West Paterson,  have median household income and
median  property  values above New Jersey averages and Passaic County has a high
density of small businesses.

         HUBCO is a $6.8 billion asset holding company  operating in New Jersey,
Connecticut  and New York  offering a full array of  products  and  services  to
retail and commercial customers.

         The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not
historical facts and include  statements about cost savings,  earnings accretion
and  valuation,  as  well  as  expressions  about  management's  confidence  and
strategies and  management's  expectations  about new and existing  programs and
products, relationships,  opportunities,  technology and market conditions. Such
forward-looking  statements  involve  certain  risks  and  uncertainties.  These
include, but are not limited to, the speed and effectivness of cost savings, the
earnings of the target  institution,  the  direction  of  movements  in interest
rates,   the   possibility   of   disruption  in  credit   markets,   successful
implementation of





Year 2000  technology  changes,  successful  implementation  and  integration of
HUBCO's acquisitions, the effects of economic conditions and the impact of legal
and regulatory  barriers and  structures.  Actual results may differ  materially
from such forward-looking  statements.  HUBCO assumes no obligation for updating
any such forward-looking statements at any time.