EXHIBIT 99(a)

                                  PRESS RELEASE

                          UNITY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES
                                  CASH DIVIDEND

     CLINTON, NEW JERSEY, January 13, 1998 -- Unity Bancorp, Inc. (AMEX:UBI,
UBI:WS) announced that the Board of Directors of Unity Bancorp, Inc. declared a
regular quarterly cash dividend of $.05 per share payable on February 13, 1998
to shareholders of record as of January 23, 1998. This dividend will mark the
13th consecutive quarter in which the Company has paid a regular cash dividend.

     Mr. Robert J. Van Volkenburgh, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, stated "This cash dividend reflects the continued growth
of the Company and continues the Board's policy of maximizing the return to our
shareholders."

     The Company also announced that Mr. Walter Hazard, a director of the
Company since 1997 and a director of First Community Bank since 1990, had
resigned to pursue personal business interests.

     Unity Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for First Community Bank, a full
service commercial bank which maintains its main office in Clinton, New Jersey
and operates through six branches located in the Flemington, Linden, North
Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Springfield and Union, New Jersey.


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