EXHIBIT 99

                                  PRESS RELEASE
                                  -------------

                      1st BERGEN BANCORP DECLARES DIVIDEND

     Wood-Ridge, New Jersey (May 19, 1998) . . . 1st Bergen Bancorp
(NASDAQ:FBER), the holding company for South Bergen Savings Bank, today
announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on its
common stock of five cents ($0.05) per common share. The dividend will be
payable on June 30, 1998, to shareholders of record at the close of business on
June 15, 1998.

     William M. Brickman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The June
30th dividend payment represents the eighth consecutive quarter in which the
Company has paid a cash dividend on its common stock and is reflective to
Management's ongoing commitment to provide shareholder value."

     Headquartered in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, South Bergen Savings Bank is a
federally chartered stock savings bank that conducts business from its
headquarters and from its branch offices located in East Rutherford, Wanaque and
Montville, New Jersey. South Bergen Savings Bank's deposits are insured by the
Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).








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