EXHIBIT 99

                   UNITY COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL OFFERING
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     CLINTON, NEW JERSEY, MARCH 17, 2000 . . .UNITY BANCORP, INC. (NASDAQ: UNTY)
announced today that effective March 13, the Company successfully completed a
$5.2 million private placement offering associated with the Company's Capital
Restoration Plan.

     Robert J. Van Volkenburgh, Chairman and CEO stated, "The Board is extremely
pleased with the enthusiastic response of the investment community. We consider
this effort particularly satisfying in light of the markets current disfavor
with financial sector stocks, the glamour of competing e.commerce ventures, and
an economic forecast for rising interest rates".

     With respect to the terms of the offering, the Unity Bancorp issued 103,500
shares of newly created Class A Preferred Stock at a price of $50.00 per share.
The preferred stock has a cumulative 10% dividend, payable quarterly, and is
convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at an assumed price of
$7.25 per share, i.e. each share of the preferred stock may be converted into
6.8966 shares of common stock. The Company may be required to issue 713,793
shares of its common stock if all preferred shares are converted. At December
31, 1999, the Unity Bancorp had 3,704,708 common shares outstanding.

     Van Volkenburgh added, "This event displays great confidence in the
Company's ability to manage its strategic plan going forward". Current
shareholders and insiders contributed nearly 40% or $1.9 million of the capital.
The remaining 60% or $3.3 million was funded by new shareholders.

     Unity Bank, the Company's primary subsidiary headquartered in Clinton, New
Jersey has assets of nearly $400 million and operates 17 full service offices
located throughout central New Jersey. In addition to offering a large array of
traditional consumer and business oriented products and services, Unity is also
a leading "Preferred Lender" of SBA financing in New

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Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York. Unity Bank also provides a variety
of residential mortgage programs through its subsidiary, Certified Mortgage
Associates.

     For additional information about the Bank, call Unity Direct at
800.618.BANK, or visit Unity's website at www.unitybank.com. E-mail may be
addressed to the Bank at info@unitybank.com.

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