POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gerald H. Lipkin and Peter Southway and each of them, his attorney-in-fact, each with power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Valley National Bancorp for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and any and all amendments, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. Signature Date /s/ GERALD H. LIPKIN February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Gerald H. Lipkin, Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director /s/ PETER SOUTHWAY February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Peter Southway, Vice Chairman and Director /s/ ALAN D. ESKOW February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Alan D. Eskow, Senior Vice President, Controller and Corporate Secretary /s/ ANDREW B. ABRAMSON February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Andrew A. Abramson, Director /s/ PAMELA BRONANDER February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Pamela Bronander, Director /s/ JOSEPH COCCIA, JR. February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Joseph Coccia, Jr., Director /s/ HAROLD P. COOK, III February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Harold P. Cook, III, Director /s/ AUSTIN C. DRUKKER February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Austin C. Drukker, Director /s/ WILLARD L. HEDDEN February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Willard L. Hedden, Director /s/ GRAHAM O. JONES February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Graham O. Jones, Director /s/ WALTER H. JONES, III February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Walter H. Jones, III, Director /s/ GERALD KORDE February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Gerald Korde, Director /s/ JOLEEN J. MARTIN February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Joleen J. Martin, Director /s/ ROBERT E. McENTEE February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Robert E. McEntee, Director /s/ SAM P. PINYUH February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Sam P. Pinyuh, Director /s/ ROBERT RACHESKY February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Robert Rachesky, Director /s/ BARNETT RUKIN February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Barnett Rukin, Director 2 /s/ RICHARD F. TICE February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Richard F. Tice, Director /s/ LEONARD J. VORCHEIMER February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Leonard J. Vorcheimer, Director /s/ JOSEPH L. VOZZA February 16, 1999 - ---------------------------------------- Joseph L. Vozza, Director 3