FORM 10-K

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

[X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

                                       OR

[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to

Commission file number 0-26086

                           YARDVILLE NATIONAL BANCORP
                           --------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

         New Jersey                                     22-2670267
         ----------                                     ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)


3111 Qakerbridge Road, Trenton, New Jersey                 08619
- ------------------------------------------                 -----
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

                              (609) 585-5100
                              --------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                      None

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                           Common Stock, no par value

    Indicate by checkmark whether the issuer: (1) filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2)has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x  No
                                      ----   -----
    Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-k[x]

    Aggregate market value of voting stock held by  non-affiliates (computed by
using the average of the closing bid and asked prices on march 12, 1997, in the
NASDAQ National Market System: $47,345,890.

    Number of shares of common stock, no par value, outstanding as of march 12,
1997: 2,447,664.   

                                                                    (Continued)










                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE



                                               Part of Form 10-K into
      Document                              which document is incorporated
      --------                              ------------------------------

Annual Report to Stockholders for Fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996                            II

Definitive proxy statement for the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held 
on April 24, 1997                                       III



















FORM 10-K


INDEX


PART I                                                               PAGE


Item 1.    Business                                                    1

Item 2.    Properties                                                 22

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings                                          22

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders        22


PART II


Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
           Stockholders Matters                                       23

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data                                    24

Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
           Condition or Plan of Operations                            24

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                24

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
           Accounting and Financial Disclosure                        25


PART III


Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant         25

Item 11.   Executive Compensation                                     25

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
           Management                                                 25

Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions             25


PART IV


Item 14.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                           25

Signatures                                                            26

Index to Exhibits                                                     E-1







                           YARDVILLE NATIONAL BANCORP

                                    FORM 10-K

                                     PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

General

         Yardville  National  Bancorp (the  "Company") is a bank holding
company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(the "FRB") under the Bank Holding  Company Act of 1956 (the  "Holding Company
 Act").  The Company's  business is the  ownership and  management of The
Yardville National Bank, a national banking association and the Company's sole
banking subsidiary (the "Bank").  The Company was incorporated under the laws
of New Jersey and became the holding company of the Bank in 1985.  At December
31, 1996, the  Company  had total  assets of  approximately $490,545,000,
deposits  of approximately  $364,445,000 and stockholders' equity of 
approximately $35,230,000.

The Bank

         The Bank received its charter from The Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency  (the "OCC") in 1924 and commenced  operations as a commercial 
bank in 1925. The Bank currently  operates nine  full-service  banking offices
in Mercer County,  New Jersey,  five in Hamilton Township,  two in Ewing 
Township,  one in East Windsor  Township and one in Trenton. The branch offices
in Ewing Township were  established in 1994 and in the third quarter of 1996, 
respectively.  The branch office in East Windsor was  established in the first
quarter of 1995, and the branch office in Trenton was  established in the
second quarter of 1995. The bank opened its fifth branch office in Hamilton
Township in the second quarter of 1996.

         The Bank's principal executive offices are located at 3111 
Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, New Jersey.

         The Bank conducts a general commercial and retail banking business. 
The principal focus of the Bank has been to  provide a full range of
traditional commercial and retail  banking services, including savings and time
deposits, letters of credit, checking accounts and commercial, real estate and
consumer loans, for individuals and small and medium size businesses in each of
the local communities that it serves.



                                        1





         The Bank has one wholly-owned  non-bank subsidiary, Yardville National
Investment  Corporation,  which was  incorporated  in 1985. Yardville  National
Investment Corporation was formed to separate a portion of the Bank's
investment portfolio functions and responsibilities from its regular banking
operations and to increase the net yield of the investment portfolio.

Supervision and Regulation

Supervision and Regulation of the Company

         Bank holding companies, banks and their  operations  are  extensively
regulated under both Federal and state laws.  Bank holding  companies and banks
may be  subject to  potential  enforcement actions  by the FRB,  the OCC or the
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation (the  "FDIC")  for  unsafe or  unsound
practices in conducting their businesses, or for violations of any law, rule or
regulation,  any  cease-and-desist or consent order,  any condition  imposed in
writing by the agency or any  written agreement  with the  agency.  Because the
Company is a "bank holding company" under the Bank Holding Company Act, the FRB,
acting through the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia  ("FRBP") is the 
primary supervisory  authority for, and examines,  the Company and any non-bank
subsidiaries  which  are not  subsidiaries  of the Bank.  Because the Bank is a
national  bank,  the  primary  supervisory   authority  for  the Bank  and  its
subsidiaries is the OCC, which regularly examines the Bank. The FDIC and the
FRB (because  the Bank is a member of the Federal  Reserve  System)  also 
regulate, supervise and have power to examine the Bank and its  subsidiaries. 
Enforcement actions   may  include  the  imposition of a conservator or
receiver, cease-and-desist orders and written agreements,  the termination of 
insurance on deposits,  the imposition of civil money  penalties and removal 
and  prohibition orders. If any enforcement action is taken by a banking
regulator,  the value of an equity  investment  in  the  Company  could  be
substantially reduced  or eliminated.

Bank Holding Company Act

         The Bank Holding Company Act requires a "bank holding  company" such 
as the Company to secure the prior  approval of the FRB before it owns or
controls, directly or  indirectly,  more than five  percent (5%) of the voting
shares or substantially all of the assets of any bank. Subject to changes
recently enacted in the  Interstate  Banking  Act  (see  discussion  below), 
it also prohibits acquisition  by any bank  holding company of more than five
percent (5%) of the voting shares of, or interest in, or all or substantially
all of the assets of, any bank  located outside of the state in which a current
bank subsidiary  is located unless such acquisition is specifically authorized
by laws of the state in which  such bank is  located.  A bank holding

                                        2





is  prohibited from engaging in or  acquiring  direct or indirect control of
more than five percent (5%) of the  voting  shares of any  company  engaged in 
non-banking  activities unless  the FRB,  by order or  regulation,  has found
such activities to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling
banks as to be a proper incident thereto.  In making this  determination,  the
FRB considers whether the performance of these activities by a bank holding 
company would offer benefits to the public that outweigh  possible adverse
effects.  Applications under the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in
Control Act (see  discussion  below) are subject to review based upon the
record of compliance of the applicant with the Community Reinvestment Act of
1977 ("CRA") as discussed below. 

         The Company is  required to file an annual  report with the FRB and 
any additional information that the FRB may require pursuant to the Bank 
Holding Company Act. The FRB may also make examinations of the Company and any
or all of its subsidiaries.  Further, a bank holding company and its 
subsidiaries  are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in 
connection with any extension of credit or  provision of credit or provision
of any property or services. The so-called 'anti-tie-in' provisions state 
generally that a bank may not condition the pricing or provision of certain
products and services on a requirement that the customer provide certain
products or services to the bank holding company or bank, or any other
subsidiary of the bank holding company, or that the customer not obtain certain
products or services from  competitors,  or that the customer also obtain
certain other products or services from the bank, its bank holding company or
any other subsidiary of the bank holding company. There is an  exception to the
tie-in  prohibition  for "traditional" banking products and services.

         The FRB  permits bank holding companies to engage in  non-banking
activities so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to
be a proper  incident  thereto.  A number of  activities are authorized by FRB
regulation,  while other  activities  require prior FRB approval. The types of
permissible activities are subject to change by the FRB.

         FRB regulations require a bank holding company to serve as a source of
financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks. The FRB has, in some
cases, entered orders for bank holding companies to take affirmative action to
strengthen the finances or management of subsidiary banks.





                                        3





Change in Bank Control Act

         Under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978 ("Change in Control 
Act"), no person, acting directly or indirectly or through or in concert with
one or more other persons, may acquire "control" of any federally insured
depository institution unless the appropriate Federal banking agency has been
given 60 days' prior written  notice of the proposed acquisition and within
that period has not issued a notice  disapproving of the proposed acquisition
or has issued written notice of its intent not to disapprove the action.  For
this purpose, "control" is generally defined as the power, directly, or
indirectly,  to direct the management or policies of an institution or to vote
25% or more of any class of its  voting  securities.  The  period for the
agency's disapproval  may be extended by the agency.  Upon receiving such 
notice,  the Federal agency is required to provide a copy to the appropriate
state regulatory agency if the institution of which control is to be acquired
is state chartered,  and the Federal  agency  is  obligated  to  give  due
consideration  to the  views and recommendations of the state agency. Upon
receiving a notice, the Federal agency is also required to conduct an
investigation  of each  person  involved in the proposed acquisition.  Notice
of such proposal is to be published and public comment solicited  thereon.  A
proposal may be disapproved by the Federal agency if the proposal  would have
anti-competitive  effects,  if the  proposal would jeopardize the financial
stability  of  the  institution  to be  acquired  or prejudice the interests of
its depositors, if the competence, experience or integrity of any acquiring
person or proposed  management  personnel  indicates that it would not be in
the interest of  depositors or the public to permit such person to control the
institution, if any acquiring person fails to furnish the Federal agency with
all information  required by the agency,  or if the Federal agency determines
that the  proposed  transaction would result in an adverse effect on a deposit
insurance  fund.  In  addition,  the Change in Control  Act requires that,  
whenever any federally  insured  depository  institution makes a loan or loans
secured, or to be secured,  by 25% or more of the  outstanding voting stock of
a federally insured depository institution,  the president or chief executive
officer of the lending bank must promptly  report such fact to the appropriate
Federal banking agency  regulating the institution  whose stock secures the
loan or loans.










                                        4





Supervision and Regulation of the Bank

         The  operations  of the Bank are subject to Federal and state statutes
applicable to banks chartered under the banking laws of the United States,  to
members of the Federal Reserve System and to banks whose deposits are insured
by the FDIC.  Bank operations are also subject to regulations of the OCC, the 
FRB and the FDIC.

         The primary supervisory authority of the Bank is the OCC  (also its
primary Federal regulator), which regularly examines the Bank. The OCC has the
authority  to  prevent a  national bank from  engaging  in an unsafe or unsound
practice in conducting its business.

         Federal and state  banking laws and regulations  govern,  among other
things,  the scope of a bank's  business, the investments a bank may make, the
reserves  against deposits  a  bank  must  maintain, loans  a bank  makes  and
collateral  it takes,  the  activities  of a bank with respect to  mergers  and
consolidations   and  the   establishment  of  branches.  All  nationally  and
state-chartered banks in New Jersey are permitted to maintain branch offices in
any county of the state.  National bank branches may be established only after
approval by the OCC. It is the general policy of the OCC to approve
applications to establish and operate domestic branches, including ATM's and
other automated devices that take deposits, provided that approval would not
violate applicable Federal or state laws regarding the establishment of such
branches.  The OCC reserves  the  right  to  deny an  application  or  grant
approval subject to conditions if (1) there are significant supervisory
concerns with respect to the application  or  affiliated  organizations, 
(2) in  accordance  with  CRA,  the applicant's  record of helping meet the 
credit  needs of its entire  community, including low and moderate income
neighborhoods,  consistent with safe and sound operation,  is less than
satisfactory,  or (3) any financial or other  business arrangement, direct or
indirect,  involving  the proposed  branch or device and bank "insiders" 
(directors, officers, employees and 10%-or-greater stockholders) involves terms
and conditions more favorable to the insiders than would be available in a
comparable  transaction with unrelated parties. Under the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation  Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"),  the FDIC's prior
approval is also required for any new branch  applications of a bank which 
is ranked  in any of the  three  "undercapitalized"  categories established  by
FDICIA.





                                        5





         Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the OCC possesses the power
to prohibit institutions regulated by it (such as the Bank) from engaging in
any activity that would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and in
violation of the law.  Moreover, Federal law enactments have expanded the
circumstances under which officers or directors of a bank may be removed by the
institution's Federal supervisory  agency, restricted and further regulated 
lending by a bank to its executive officers, directors,  principal stockholders
or related interests thereof and restricted  management personnel of a bank
from serving as directors or in other management positions with certain 
depository institutions whose  assets  exceed a  specified  amount  or  which
have an  office  within a specified geographic area, and restricts  management
personnel from borrowing from another institution that has a correspondent
relationship with their bank.

                  The  Bank, as a member of the Federal Reserve System,  is
subject  to  certain  restrictions  imposed by the  Federal Reserve Act on any
extensions  of credit  to the bank holding  company  or its subsidiaries,  on
investments in the stock or other securities of the bank holding company or its
subsidiaries and on taking such stock or securities as collateral for loans.
The Federal Reserve Act and FRB regulations also place certain limitations and
reporting  requirements  on  extensions  of  credit  by the  Bank  to principal
stockholders  of its  parent  holding  company,  among  others,  and to related
interests of such principal stockholders.  Such legislation and regulations may
affect the terms upon which any person  becoming a  principal  stockholder of a
holding  company  may obtain  credit from banks with which the  subsidiary bank
maintains a correspondent relationship.

         In addition, as a bank whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, the
Bank may not pay dividends or distribute  any of its capital assets while it
remains in default of any  assessment due to the FDIC. The Bank is not in
default under any of its  obligations  to the  FDIC.  The FDIC  also has
authority  under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit an insured bank
from engaging in conduct which, in the FDIC's opinion,  constitutes an unsafe
or unsound practice in conducting its business.  It is possible, depending upon
the financial condition of the Bank and other factors,  that the FDIC could 
claim that the payment of dividends or other payments might, under some
circumstances,  be an unsafe or unsound banking practice.







                                        6





         Under the Bank Secrecy Act  ("BSA"), the Bank is required to report to
the  Internal  Revenue  Service  currency transactions of more than $10,000 or
multiple  transactions of which the Bank is aware in any one day that aggregate
in excess of $10,000. Civil and criminal penalties are provided  under the BSA
for  failure  to file a  required report, for failure  to supply  information
required by the BSA or for filing a false or fraudulent report.

         Under CRA,  the record of a bank  holding company and its  subsidiary
banks  must  be  considered  by the  appropriate  Federal  banking agencies  in
reviewing and  approving or  disapproving  a variety of regulatory applications
including approval of a branch or other deposit facility,  office relocation, a
merger and certain  acquisitions of bank shares.  Federal banking agencies have
recently  denied  applications  more  frequently  based on unsatisfactory  CRA
performance, and news reports indicate that community groups have begun to
focus more  closely  on CRA  compliance  of  small  institutions  such  as  the
Bank. Regulators  are  required  to assess the record of the Company and the
Bank to determine if they are meeting the credit needs of the community 
(including low and moderate neighborhoods) they serve. Regulators make publicly
available an evaluation  of banks'  records in  meeting  credit  needs in their
communities, including a descriptive rating and a statement describing the 
basis for the rating.

         In  addition, the Bank is subject to a variety  of  banking  laws and
regulations  governing consumer  protection (including the Truth in Lending Act
("TILA"), the Truth in Savings Act, the Equal Credit  Opportunity Act, the Home
Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, and the Real Estate
Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA")), FDIC deposit insurance  regulations,  and
FRB regulations governing such matters as reserve  requirements  for deposits,
securities margin lending, collection of checks and other items and
availability of deposits for withdrawal by customers,  security procedures, and
prohibitions of payment of interest on demand deposits. Under the Americans
With Disabilities Act ("ADA"),  certain bank facilities are identified as
"public  accommodations" and are subject to regulation to promote accessibility
of their facilities for disabled persons.











                                        7





Capital Rules

         Federal banking agencies have issued "risk-based  capital" guidelines,
which  supplement  other capital requirements.  In  addition,  the OCC imposes
certain  "leverage"  requirements on national banks such as the Bank. Banking
regulators  have  authority  to require  higher  minimum  capital ratios for an
individual bank or bank holding company in view of its circumstances.

         The risk-based  guidelines require all banks and bank holding companies
to maintain two "risk-weighted  assets" ratios. The first is a minimum ratio of
total capital ("Tier 1" and "Tier 2" capital) to  risk-weighted assets equal to
8.00%; the second is a minimum ratio of "Tier 1" capital to risk-weighted
assets equal to 4.00%. Assets are assigned to five risk categories, with higher
levels of capital being required for the categories perceived as representing
greater risk. In making the calculation, certain intangible assets must be 
deducted from the capital base. The risk-based capital rules are designed to
make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk 
profiles among banks and bank holding companies and to minimize disincentives  
for holding liquid assets.

         The  risk-based  capital rules also  account for  interest  rate risk.
Institutions with interest rate risk exposure above a normal level are required
to hold extra capital in proportion to that risk. A bank's exposure to declines
in the  economic  value of its  capital  due to changes in interest rates is a
factor that the banking  agencies will consider in evaluating a bank's capital
adequacy.  The rule does not codify an  explicit  minimum  capital charge for
interest  rate risk.  The Bank currently  monitors  and  manages its assets and
liabilities  for interest rate risk, and  management believes that the interest
rate risk rules will not materially adversely affect the Bank's operations.

         The OCC "leverage"  ratio rules require national banks which are rated
the  highest  by the OCC in the  composite  areas of capital,  asset  quality,
management, earnings and liquidity to maintain a ratio of "Tier 1" capital to
"adjusted total assets" (equal to the bank's average total assets as stated in
its most recent quarterly call report filed with the OCC, minus  end-of-quarter
intangible assets that are deducted from Tier 1 capital) of not less than 3.00%.
For banks which are not the most highly rated, the minimum "leverage" ratio
will range from 4.00% to 5.00%, or higher at the discretion of the OCC, and is
required to be at a level commensurate with the nature of the riskiness of the
bank's condition and activities.




                                        8





         For purposes of the capital requirements, "Tier 1" or "core" capital 
is defined to include common stockholders equity and certain  noncumulative
perpetual  preferred  stock  and  related  surplus.  "Tier  2"  or "qualifying
supplementary"  capital is defined  to include a bank's allowance for loan and
lease  losses  up to  1.25% of risk-weighted  assets,  plus certain types of
preferred stock and related surplus, certain "hybrid capital  instruments" and
certain term subordinated debt instruments.

         The Bank is in  compliance with each of these capital rules and as of
December  31,  1996 and  December 31, 1995 the required ratios and the Bank's
actual ratios are as follows:





                                                              Bank             Bank
         Capital                            Required         12/31/96        12/31/95
          Rule                              Ratio             Ratio            Ratio
         -------                            -----            --------        ------- 
                                                                        
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio                        4.00%              7.8%            9.1%
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital                    4.00%             10.2%           12.0%
Total (Tiers 1 and 2)
      Risk-Based Capital                     8.00%             11.4%           13.2%




         FRB  leverage  ratio  rules also  require  bank  holding  companies to
maintain a minimum level of "primary  capital"  to total  assets of 5.5% and a
minimum level of "total capital" to assets of 6%. For this purpose, (1) 
"primary capital" includes, among other items, common stock, contingency and
other capital reserves, and the allowance for loan and lease  losses, (2)
"total capital" includes, among other things, certain subordinated debt, and
"total assets" is increased by the allowance for loan and lease losses.  The 
Company is in compliance with each of these capital rules and as of December 
31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 the required ratios and the Company's actual
ratios are as follows:

                                                Company         Company
         Capital               Required         12/31/96        12/31/95
          Rule                 Ratio            Ratio           Ratio
         -------               --------         --------        --------
Primary Capital                5.50%             8.2%            8.7%
Total Capital                  6.00%             8.1%            8.7%












                                        9





1996 Federal Banking Legislation

         The Economic Growth And Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996
(the "1996  Banking  Law"),  enacted  as  Title  II  of  the  Omnibus
Consolidated Appropriations  Act for Fiscal  Year 1997 was signed into Law on
September 30, 1996, implemented a wide range of regulatory relief provisions
affecting federal insured depository institutions.  Among the supervisory
provisions of the 1996 Banking Law which may affect the Bank, the 1996 Banking
Law included  the following:  per branch capital requirement for national banks
were eliminated; ATM's and other  remote  service  units were excluded from the 
definition  of "branch" for purposes of certain  branch  approval requirements
and geographic restrictions;  the law  permits  well-capitalized  banks rated
CAMEL 1 or 2 to invest in bank  premises in amounts up to 150 percent of the
bank's capital and surplus  with only a 30-day  after-the-fact  notice  and 
establishes expedited procedures to permit certain bank holding companies to
engage in permissible nonbanking activities, except for acquisitions of thrifts;
exempted from the insider lending restrictions a bank's company-wide benefit or
compensation plans that are widely available to employees of the bank and that
do not give preference  to any  officer,  director,  or  principal  shareholder
(or related interests) over other employees of the bank;  permits the  Federal
banking agencies  to raise  the asset  limit  for an  18-month  examination
cycle from $175,000,000 to $250,000,000 for banks with a CAMEL 2 rating; 
permits the OCC to waive  the  State  residency requirement for directors of
national  banks; eliminates the independent auditor  attestation  requirement
for compliance with safety and soundness laws; authorizes the Federal banking  
agencies to permit a bank's  independent audit committee to include some inside
directors if the bank is unable to find  competent outside directors, provided 
a  majority of the committee is still made up of outside directors; requires
FRB and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban  Development, within 6 months
of enactment,  to simplify and improve RESPA and TILA  disclosures and provide
a single format for such disclosures;  makes a number of changes to RESPA's 
disclosure requirements; generally  provides  that, if a bank or a third party
self-tests for compliance under  the Equal  Credit  Opportunity  Act and the
Fair  Housing  Act,  the test results  will  not be used  against  the bank if
the bank  identifies  possible violations and is taking appropriate corrective
actions, and if the bank is not using the  results in its  defense;  sunsets
the Truth-in-Savings Act's civil liability  provision  in  five  years;
recapitalizes  the  Savings  Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") as of
October 1, 1996; requires banks after December 31, 1996  to  pay  20%  of the
interest  on  the  bonds  that  funded  the  initial capitalization  of SAIF
("FICO bonds") but banks would be required to pay a full pro-rata  share of the
interest obligation  beginning  after  the  earlier  of December  31, 1999 or
the date on which the last savings  association  ceases to exist;  merges SAIF
and the Bank  Insurance Fund ("BIF") on January 1, 1999, but only if no

                                       10





insured depository institution is a savings  association on that date; requires
the  Department  of Treasury  to  conduct  a study  by  March  31,  1997 on the
development  of a common  charter  for  all  insured  depository  institutions;
substantially amends the Fair Credit  Reporting  Act  ("FCRA");  prohibits  the
Federal  banking agencies from examining for compliance  with FCRA unless there
has been a complaint about a violation or the agency otherwise has knowledge of
a violation; and amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and  Liability  Act to clarify  that a lender is not liable  for  environmental
cleanups of property  securing a loan  unless the  lender, among other  things,
participates  in day-to-day decision making over the operations of the property
or has control over  environmental compliance  and  provides  that lenders that
foreclose  on  property  may  take certain  post-foreclosure  actions  without
incurring liability for environmental cleanup if the lender did not participate
in  management  of the  property  prior to foreclosure  and the lender seeks to
dispose of the property as soon as it is commercially reasonable.

Deposit Insurance Assessments

     Deposits  of the Bank are  insured by the FDIC  through  BIF. Deposits  of
certain savings associations are insured by the FDIC through SAIF. The FDIC 
sets deposit  insurance  assessment  rates on a  semiannual  basis and will
increase deposit insurance assessments whenever the ratio of reserves to
insured deposits in a fund is less than 1.25.  The insurance assessments paid
by an institution are to be based on the probability  that the fund will incur
a loss with respect to the institution.  The rate at which  institutions  pay
assessments is based principally  on two  measures  of  risk.  These  measures
involve  capital  and supervisory factors.

     For the capital measure, institutions are assigned  semiannually to one of
three  capital  groups  according to their  levels of  supervisory  capital  as
reported  on their call  reports: "well  capitalized"  (group  1),  "adequately
capitalized"  (group 2) and "undercapitalized"  (group  3). The  capital  ratio
standards for classifying an institution in one of these three groups are total
risk-based  capital ratio (10 percent or greater for group 1, and between 8 and
10  percent for group 2),  the Tier 1  risk-based  capital  ratio (6 percent or
greater for group 1, and between 4 and 6 percent for group 2), and the leverage
capital  ratio (5 percent or greater  for group 1,  between 4 and 5 percent for
group 2).

         Within each capital  group, institutions  are assigned to one of three
supervisory risk subgroups--subgroup A, B, or C depending upon an assessment of
the  institution's perceived  risk  based upon the  results of its most  recent
examination  and other information  available  to  regulators.  Subgroup A will


                                       11





consist of financially sound institutions with only a few minor weaknesses.
Subgroup B will consist of institutions  that  demonstrate  weaknesses which,
if not corrected, could result in significant  deterioration of the institution 
and increased risk of loss to BIF.  Subgroup C will consist of institutions
that pose a substantial probability of loss to the deposit insurance fund
unless effective  corrective action is taken. Thus, there are nine possible
classifications to which varying assessment rates are applicable. The 
regulation generally prohibits institutions from disclosing  their subgroup
assignments or assessment risk  classifications without FDIC authorization.

         An  institution's  semiannual  assessment  is  computed  primarily  by
multiplying its "average assessment base" (generally,  total insurable domestic
deposits) for the prior semiannual period by one-half the annual assessment 
rate applicable to that institution depending upon its category.

     On December 6, 1996, the FDIC continued in effect for the first six months
of 1997 the downward adjustment in deposit insurance assessment rates 
applicable to BIF member  institutions,  but eliminated the statutory minimum 
assessment of $1,000 due to the 1996 Banking Law, which repealed that minimum.

         The following table sets forth the new schedule of BIF assessment
rates by capital group and supervisory  risk subgroup for the  semi-annual
assessment period beginning January 1, 1997 (with no minimum assessment amount):

         Capital Group                      Supervisory subgroup
         -------------                      ---------------------
                                            A         B         C
         1                                  0         3        17
         2                                  3        10        24
         3                                 10        24        27


         On November 22,  1996,  the  Federal  Financing  Corporation  ("FICO")
adopted a  regulation pursuant  to the 1996  Banking  Law which  obligates  all
federally insured depository institutions to pay special assessments toward the
funding of interest  payments on FICO bonds,  which were issued in 1989 to fund
the savings and loan bailout. The special assessments,  which are effective for
periods commencing January 1, 1997, will be calculated on a  deposit-by-deposit
basis and differ depending upon whether a deposit is insured by SAIF or BIF. 
For the period commencing January 1, 1997, the special assessment rates are 
expected to be 6.4 basis points on all SAIF-assessable  deposits and 20% of 
that rate, or approximately 1.3 basis points, on all BIF-assessable  
deposits---regardless  of whether an  institution is a "bank" or a "savings
association".  After December 31, 1999 (or when the last savings
association ceases to exist, if earlier), all assessable

                                       12





deposits at all institutions will be assessed at the same rates in order to pay
FICO bond interest. These special assessments are in addition to the semi-
annual assessments for BIF member institutions or BIF assessable deposits.

Prompt Corrective Action

         Federal law mandates certain "prompt corrective actions" which Federal
banking  agencies  are  required to take,  and certain actions  which they have
discretion  to take,  based upon the  capital  category into which a  federally
regulated   depository   institution  falls.   Regulations set  forth  detailed
procedures and criteria for implementing prompt corrective action in the case 
of any institution which is not  adequately  capitalized.  Under  the  rules, 
an institution  will be  deemed  to be  "adequately  capitalized"  or better if
it exceeds the minimum Federal regulatory capital requirements. However, it
will be deemed  "undercapitalized" if it fails to meet the minimum capital
requirements, "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based 
capital ratio that is less than 6.0 percent,  a Tier 1 risk-based  capital  
ratio that is less than 3.0 percent, or a leverage ratio that is less than 3.0
percent,  and "critically undercapitalized"  if the  institution  has a ratio
of tangible equity to total assets  that is  equal  to or less  than  2.0 
percent.  The  rules  require  an undercapitalized  institution to file a
written capital  restoration plan, along with a  performance  guaranty  by its
holding  company  or a  third  party.  In addition,  an undercapitalized 
institution becomes subject to certain automatic restrictions including a
prohibition  on payment of dividends,  a limitation on asset growth and
expansion,  in certain  cases,  a limitation on the payment of bonuses or
raises to senior executive officers, and a prohibition on the payment of
certain "management fees" to any "controlling person".  Institutions that are
classified  as  undercapitalized  are  also  subject  to  certain   additional
supervisory  actions,  including increased  reporting  burdens  and  regulatory
monitoring, a limitation on the institution's ability to make acquisitions, 
open new branch  offices,  or engage in new lines of business, obligations to
raise additional  capital,  restrictions on transactions  with  affiliates, and
restrictions on interest rates paid by the  institution on deposits. In certain
cases,  bank  regulatory  agencies may require  replacement of senior  executive
officers or directors, or sale of the institution to a willing purchaser. If an
institution is deemed to be "critically  undercapitalized" and continues in 
that category for four quarters, the statute requires,  with certain narrowly
limited exceptions, that the institution be placed in receivership.






                                       13





Limitations on Payment of Dividends; Regulatory Agreement

         Under  national banking laws, a national bank must obtain the approval
of the OCC  before  declaring any dividend  which,  together  with  all  other
dividends  declared by the national bank in the same  calendar year will exceed
the total of the bank's net profits of that year combined with its retained net
profits of the  preceding 2 years,  less any required transfers to surplus or a
fund for the retirement of any preferred stock. Net profits are to be 
calculated without adding back any  provision to the bank's allowance for loan
and lease losses. These restrictions would not prevent the Bank from paying
dividends from current earnings to the Company at this time.  FDICIA  prohibits
FDIC-insured institutions from paying dividends or making capital distributions
that would cause the institution to fail to meet minimum capital requirements.  
The FDICIA restrictions  would not  prevent the Bank from paying dividends from
current earnings to the Company at this time.  The Bank in 1991  entered  into
a written agreement with the OCC (the  "Regulatory  Agreement") to, among other
things, create a  Compliance  Committee,  implement  a plan to  correct  any
compliance deficiencies, and reduce its classified assets and to maintain the
Bank's common stockholders'  equity at 5% of total assets.  In 1991,  in  
connection  with the Regulatory  Agreement  and at the  recommendation  of the
FRBP,  the  Board  of Directors of the Company  adopted a resolution,  under
which the Board could not declare a dividend  to the  Company's  stockholders
except with 10 days' prior written notice to the FRBP.  The Regulatory 
Agreement was terminated on October 18,  1993,  and on December  21,  1994, the
Board of  Directors  of the Company rescinded its resolution with the 
permission of the FRBP,  which was granted on November 30, 1994.

New Jersey Banking Laws

         Provisions of the New Jersey Banking Act of 1948 with supplements (the
"New Jersey Banking Act") may apply to national banking associations with their
principal  offices in New Jersey, subject to pre-emption by applicable  Federal
laws.  The merger of a national bank into a state bank requires approval of the
New  Jersey  Commissioner  of  Banking;  however, a state bank may merge into a
national  bank  without  such prior  approval.  The New Jersey Banking Act also
purports to regulate certain aspects of bank business, including small loans 
and certain deposit accounts. New Jersey has opted into early interstate 
banking and branching. See the discussion under "Interstate Banking", below.

                  Under New Jersey law, a  corporation  is not permitted to
pay dividends on its capital stock if,  following  the payment of the 
dividend, (i) the corporation would be unable to pay its debts as they become
due in the  usual course of business or (ii) the 

                                       14





corporation's   total  assets  would  be  less  than  its  total  liabilities.
Determinations  under  clause  (ii)  above  may  be  based  upon  (i) financial
statements  prepared on the basis of generally accepted  accounting principles,
(ii) financial  statements prepared on the basis of other accounting principles
that are reasonable under the circumstances, or (iii) a fair valuation of other
method that is reasonable in the circumstances.

Interstate Banking

         The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 
1994 (the "Interstate  Banking  Act"), enacted on September 29, 1994, permits
bank holding companies to acquire banks in any state one year after enactment
of the legislation. State laws which require the acquiror to have been in 
existence for a specified  minimum  period  of time are  preserved,  but only
up to a maximum existence requirement of 5 years.  Except for initial entry
into a state, after an acquisition  the  acquiror may not control more than 10%
of total insured deposits in the U. S. or more than 30% of insured deposits in
the acquiror's home  state.  Stricter  state  deposit  concentration  caps  
apply  if they  are nondiscriminatory.  Effective June 1, 1997,  acquired banks
in different states may be merged into a single bank, subject to any necessary
regulatory approvals and provided the banks are adequately  capitalized. Once a
bank has established branches  in a host  state  through an  interstate  merger
transaction,  it may establish and acquire  additional branches anywhere in the
host state where the acquiree  could have  branched.  States may enact laws
opting-out of interstate branching  during periods before June 1, 1997, but if
so, domestic  institutions will also be prohibited from branching interstate.
States may also enact laws permitting  interstate  merger  transactions  and
interstate de novo  branching before June 1, 1997. On April 17, 1996, New
Jersey enacted legislation to opt-in with respect to earlier  interstate 
banking and branching and the entry into New Jersey of foreign country banks.  
New Jersey did not authorize de novo branching into the  state.  In  contrast
to  interstate  acquisitions  and  mergers,  the Interstate  Banking Act 
permits  acquisition of less than all of the branches of an insured bank only
of the state's laws permit it. Unless expressly  determined to  be  pre-empted, 
state  laws  regarding  community  reinvestment, consumer  protection
(including   applicable   usury   ceilings), fair  lending,   and
establishment  of  intrastate  branches  apply to local  branches of interstate
organizations to the same  extent they apply to a branch of a domestic state
bank. In evaluating  applications,  Federal  banking agencies must consider CRA
performance in each state in which an acquiring institution maintains branches,






                                       15





as well as applicable   State community  reinvestment  laws.  Bank  management
anticipates that the Interstate Banking Act will increase competitive pressures
in the Bank's market by permitting entry of additional competitors.

Other Laws and Regulations

         The  Company  and the  Bank  are  subject  to a  variety  of laws  and
regulations  which are not  limited  to  banking  organizations.  In lending to
commercial and consumer borrowers, and in owning and operating its own property,
the  Bank  is  subject  to  regulations   and  risks  under  state  and Federal
environmental laws.

Compliance

         While the expense of compliance is increasing and has an adverse 
effect on the net income on all  regulated  institutions  such as the Bank, 
management believes the Company and the Bank are in  compliance  with 
applicable  laws and regulations in all material respects.

Legislation and Regulatory Changes

         Legislation and regulations may be enacted which increase the cost of
doing business,  limiting or expanding permissible  activities or affecting the
competitive  balance  between  banks and other financial  services  providers.
Proposals  to change  the laws and  regulations governing  the  operations  and
taxation of banks, bank holding companies, and other financial institutions are
frequently  made in Congress and before various bank  regulatory  agencies.  No
prediction  can be made as to the likelihood of any major changes or the impact
such changes might have on the Company and the Bank.

Effect of Government Monetary Policies

         The  earnings  of the  Company are and will be  affected  by  domestic
economic  conditions  and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States
government and its agencies. The FRB has had, and will likely continue to have,
an important  impact on the operating results of commercial  banks through its
power to implement  national  monetary policy in order, among other things,  to
curb inflation or combat a recession. The FRB has a major effect upon the 
levels of bank loans,  investments and deposits  through its open market  
operations in United States  government  securities and through its regulation
of, among other things,  the  discount  rate on  borrowings  of  member  banks
and the reserve requirements  against member banks' deposits.  It is not 
possible to predict the nature and impact of future changes in monetary and 
fiscal policies.


                                       16





Competition

         The Bank is  subject  to  vigorous  competition in all  aspects of its
business from other financial  institutions  such as commercial banks,  savings
banks,  savings and loan associations,  credit unions,  insurance companies and
finance and mortgage companies. Within the direct market area of the Bank there
are a significant  number of offices of competing financial  institutions.  The
Bank competes in its market area with a number of larger commercial  banks that
have  substantially  greater  resources,  higher lending limits,  larger branch
systems and provide a wider array of banking services.  Money market funds also
actively  compete  with banks for  deposits.  Savings banks,  savings  and loan
associations  and credit  unions  also  actively  compete for deposits  and for
various  types  of  loans.  In its  lending  business,  the Bank is  subject to
increasing  competition from consumer finance companies and mortgage companies,
which are not subject to the same kind of regulatory restrictions as banks. The
effect of  liberalized  branching and  acquisition  laws, especially  after the
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, has been to
lower barriers to entry into the banking  business and increase competition for
banking business, as well as to increase both competition for and opportunities
to acquire  other financial  institutions.  The  Company  anticipates  that the
Interstate Banking Act will increase competitive  pressures in the Bank's market
by permitting entry of additional competitors.  Financial  institutions compete
generally  on the  basis of rates  and  service.  Financial  institutions  are
intensely  competitive  in the interest rates they offer,  especially  for time
deposits.  In  addition,  finance companies,  which are not subject to the same
regulation as banks, are becoming increasingly significant  competitors because
they can often  offer  lower  loan rates than  banks. Finally,  a number of the
Bank's  competitors  provide  a wider  array of  services (such  as  trust  and
international services, which the Bank does not provide) and, by virtue of
their greater financial  resources,  have  higher  lending  limits and larger
branch systems.

Employees

         At December 31, 1996, the Company employed 160 full-time employees and
11 part-time employees.











                                       17






 Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity;
 Interest Rates and Interest Differential

    Statistical  disclosure  information  regarding the distribution of assets,
liabilities and stockholders'  equity, interest rates and interest differential
is  included  in  the  Management's  Discussion and  Analysis  of  Consolidated
Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations,  which  is  incorporated  by
reference to the Company's Annual Report to  Stockholders  (see Part II, Item 6
below).


  Investment Portfolio

    Statistical disclosure information regarding securities is included in the
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated  Financial  Condition and
Results of  Operations,  which is incorporated  by reference  to the  Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders. Additional disclosure information follows.

    The following  table  presents the  amortized cost and market values of the
Company's securities available for sale portfolio as of December 31, 1996, 1995
and 1994.






                                                                            December 31,
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1996                          1995                            1994
                                       -----------------------        ------------------------         ---------------------
(in thousands)                           Book           Market          Book             Market          Book          Market
                                        Value            Value         Value              Value         Value          Value
                                        -----           ------         -----             ------         ------         ------

                                                                                                  
U.S. Treasury and
     other federal agencies         $    31,951     $   31,942      $   17,795     $     17,823     $    6,366     $    6,150
Mortgage-backed securities               59,441         59,182          78,725           78,874         18,358         16,755
Federal Reserve Bank stock                  572            572             512              512            173            173
Federal Home Loan Bank                    1,975          1,975           1,260            1,260          1,074          1,074
stock                               -----------     ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------     -----------
  Total                             $    93,939     $   93,671      $   98,292     $     98,469     $   25,971     $    24,152
                                    ===========     ==========      ==========     ============     ==========     ===========



    

         All mortgage-backed securities are FHLMC, FNMA or GNMA agency named at
December 31, 1996.








                                       18





     The following table presents the amortized  cost and market values of the
Company's  investment securities portfolio as of December  31, 1996,  1995 and
1994.





                                                                            December 31,
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1996                          1995                            1994
                                       -----------------------        -------------------------        ---------------------
(in thousands)                           Book           Market          Book             Market          Book          Market
                                        Value            Value         Value              Value         Value          Value
                                        ------          ------         -----             ------         -----          ------

                                                                                                   
Obligations of state and
     political subdivisions          $  9,070       $    9,108        $  8,630        $   8,659       $   8,392     $   7,777
Mortgage-backed securities             22,226           21,770          26,754           26,378          30,691        27,972
                                     --------       ----------        --------        ---------       ---------     ---------

     Total                           $ 31,296       $   30,878        $ 35,384        $  35,037       $  39,083     $  35,749
                                     ========       ==========        ========        =========       =========     =========



     All  mortgage-backed securities are FHLMC,  FNMA or GNMA agency  named at
December 31, 1996.

  Loan Portfolio

     Statistical disclosure information regarding the loan portfolio is
included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis, which is incorporated by
reference to  the  Company's  Annual Report  to  Stockholders.  Additional
disclosure information follows.

     The  following table provides information  concerning  the  maturity and
interest rate  sensitivity of the Company's commercial, agricultural  and real
estate-construction loan portfolio for the year presented.




                                                                December 31, 1996
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              After One           After
                                            Within            But Within          Five
(in thousands)                             One Year           Five Years          Years                Total
                                         -----------         -----------        -----------        ------------

                                                                                       
Maturities:
    Commercial and agricultural          $    24,634         $    30,244        $      8,548        $    63,426
    Real estate - construction                17,575               5,365               3,018             25,958
                                         -----------         ------------       ------------        -----------
       Total                             $    42,209         $    35,609        $     11,566        $    89,384 
                                         ===========         ===========        ============        ===========


Type:
    Fixed rate loans                     $     4,134         $    17,990        $     3,697        $    25,821
    Floating rate loans                       38,075              17,619              7,869             63,563
                                         -----------         -----------        -----------        -----------
       Total                             $    42,209         $    35,609        $    11,566        $    89,384
                                         ===========         ===========        ===========        ===========








                                       19





  Summary of Loan Loss Experience

     Statistical  disclosure information regarding  the  summary  of loan loss
experience is included in the  Management's Discussion and Analysis,  which is
incorporated  by  reference  to the  Company's  Annual Report to  Stockholders.
Additional disclosure information follows.

     The following tables describe the allocation for loan losses among various
categories of loans and certain other information as of the dates indicated.





                                                        December 31, 1994                            December 31, 1993
                                          ---------------------------------------        -----------------------------------

                                                                           Percent of                                 Percent of
                                             Reserve       Percent of       Loans to        Reserve     Percent of      Loans to
(in thousands)                                Amount       Allowance      Total Loans       Amount       Allowance    Total Loans
                                          -----------     ------------   ------------     ----------    -----------   -----------

                                                                                                       
Commercial, financial and agricultural     $   1,137         39.0 %         13.5%         $    933        34.5 %        13.1
Real estate - mortgage                         1,152         39.6           70.4             1,415        52.3          72.5
Real estate - construction                       398         13.7            7.9               237         8.8           7.2
Consumer                                         141          4.8            5.6                86         3.2           5.5
Other loans                                       84          2.9            2.6                32         1.2           1.7
                                           --------------------------------------         ----------------------------------
  Totals                                   $   2,912        100.0 %        100.0%         $  2,703       100.0 %       100.0
                                           ======================================         ==================================





                                                         



                                                         December 31, 1992
                                         ---------------------------------------------
                                                                           Percent of
                                             Reserve       Percent of       Loans to
                                              Amount        Allowance      Total Loans

                                                                        
Commercial, financial and agricultural   $     1,002            34.1 %         14.1%
Real estate - mortgage                         1,443            49.1           75.2
Real estate - construction                       204             6.9            4.0
Consumer                                          73             2.5            6.0
Other loans                                      218             7.4            0.7
                                         -------------------------------------------
   Totals                                $     2,940           100.0 %        100.0%
                                         ===========================================
























                                       20





Deposits

     Statistical  disclosure  information regarding deposits is included in the
Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated  Financial  Condition and
Results of  Operations,  which is incorporated by reference  to the  Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders.


Return on Equity and Assets

     Statistical  disclosure  information regarding deposits is included in the
Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated  Financial  Condition and
Results of  Operations,  which is  incorporated by reference  to the  Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders.


Short-Term Borrowings

     Statistical  disclosure  information regarding deposits is included in the
Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated  Financial  Condition and
Results of  Operations,  which is  incorporated by reference  to the  Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders. Additional disclosure information follows.




                                                 December 31,
  (in thousands)                                     1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------
  Securities sold under
      agreements to repurchase                  $           -
  FHLB advances                                             -
  Other                                                 1,215
  -----------------------------------------------------------
      Total                                     $       1,215
  -----------------------------------------------------------


  Maximum amount outstanding
      at any month end                          $       7,264
  Average interest rate on
      year end balance                                   4.50%
  Average amount outstanding
      during the year                           $       2,248
  Average interest rate for
      the year                                           4.23%
  ------------------------------------------------------------






















                                       21





ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

         The  principal  executive  offices of the  Company are located at 3111
Quakerbridge Road,  Trenton, New Jersey in a building owned by the Bank and the
management and staff of the Company utilize the facilities and equipment of the
Bank. The Bank owns its principal executive offices, where it also has a 
banking office, in  Yardville, New Jersey, and three additional banking offices
in Hamilton Township,  New Jersey. The Bank leases its banking office in Ewing
Township,  New Jersey.  The lease  provides  for a term of five years ending in
1999,  renewable  for  three  5- year  periods,  and a base  monthly rental  of
$2,333.34  during the initial term.  The Bank also leases its banking office in
East Windsor Township, New Jersey.  The lease provides for a term of five years
ending in 1999,  renewable for three  5-year  periods,  and provides for a base
monthly  rental of $2,457.92 during the initial term.  The Bank also leases its
banking office in Trenton. The lease provides for a term of five years ending
in 1999, renewable for three 5-year periods, and provides for a base monthly
rental of $1,875.00.  The Bank also leases its banking office in Hamilton
Square,  New Jersey, which opened in the second  quarter of 1996. The Bank 
assumed a 20 year lease effective April 1, 1996. The lease commenced on 
October 1, 1991 and ends on September  30, 2011 and is renewable for 5-year
periods,  and provides for a base monthly rental of $5,573.53 during the
initial term. The Bank purchased a building and property in Ewing Township and
opened its ninth branch in the third quarter of 1996. Yardville National
Investment Corporation leases space from the Bank at the Bank's principal
executive offices.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

         The  Company is a party to various legal actions as of  December  31,
1996, arising out of the ordinary course of business. Management of the Company
does not deem any of the claims against the Company in such matters are 
material in relation to the  Company's financial  condition, results of 
operations  or liquidity based on information currently available to the 
Company.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY
        HOLDERS.

         No matters  were  submitted  to a vote of security  holders during the
fourth  quarter  of the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  1996,  through the
solicitation of proxies or otherwise.





                                       22





                                     PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
        STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

Market Information

         The Common Stock began trading on the NASDAQ National Market on June
9, 1995.  Prior to June 9, 1995 there was no active public  trading  market
for the Common  Stock,  although  the  Common  Stock  was  traded  sporadically
in  the over-the-counter  market.  The  following  table shows the range of 
high and low closing bid prices of the Common Stock in the NASDAQ National
Market commencing with the second quarter of 1995 and as reported by the 
National Quotation Bureau for the  periods  prior to the  second  quarter of
1995.  The price quotations reflect inter-dealer  quotations without adjustment 
for retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not represent actual
transactions.




                                                        Bid Price
                                            High                      Low

Year Ended December 31, 1995:

First Quarter                               $12 1/4                 $11 3/4
Second Quarter                               15                      14 1/4
Third Quarter                                17 1/2                  17
Fourth Quarter                               16 1/2                  15 3/4

Year Ended December 31, 1996:

First Quarter                               $16 1/8                $ 16
Second Quarter                               16 1/4                  15 7/8
Third Quarter                                18 1/4                  18
Fourth Quarter                               19 3/4                  19 1/4


Holders

         As of December 31, 1996, the Company had  approximately 552 holders of
record of the Common Stock.









                                       23


Dividends

    In  1995,  the  Company  paid  cash dividends  on the  Common  Stock in the
aggregate  amount of $738,000.  In 1996, the Company paid cash dividends on the
Common Stock in the  aggregate  amount of $1,083,000.  In the first  quarter of
1997,  the Company  paid a cash dividend in the amount of $.12 per share on the
Common Stock.  Because substantially all of the funds available for the payment
of cash  dividends are derived from the Bank, future cash dividends will depend
primarily upon the Bank's  earnings,  financial condition,  need for funds, and
government policies and regulations applicable to both the Bank and the Company.
As of December 31, 1996, the net profits of the Bank available for distribution
to the Company as  dividends  without  regulatory  approval  were approximately
$5,651,000.  The Company  expects to pay  quarterly  cash  dividends in 1997 to
holders of Common Stock, subject to the Company's financial condition.


ITEMS 6, 7 AND 8

     Information required by items 6, 7 and 8 is provided in the Company's 1996
Annual  Report to Stockholders  under the captions  and on the pages  indicated
below, and is incorporated by reference:

                                                       PAGES IN 1996
                                                       ANNUAL REPORT
CAPTION IN 1996 ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS         TO STOCKHOLDERS


   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
   OF OPERATIONS                                           11-29

   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES TO
   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                       30-45

   INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT                              46



         The Company is not  required to provide  selected  quarterly financial
data in response to Item 8 and,  therefore, such data has been omitted from the
1996 Annual Report to Stockholders.







                                       24



ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

            None




                                    PART III


ITEMS 10 THROUGH 13

         Information required by Items 9 through 12 is provided in the
Company's definitive  proxy  statement  to be  filed  with  the  Securities and
Exchange Commission  in connection  with its annual  meeting of  stockholders
to be held April 24, 1997. Such  information is incorporated by reference.  The
information contained  in  the  Company's  definitive  proxy  statement under
the caption "Organization  and  Compensation  Committee  Report"  shall not be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.


                                     PART IV


ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  Exhibits

        The exhibits filed or incorporated by reference as a part of this 
report are listed in the Index to Exhibits which  appears  at page  E-1 and are
incorporated by reference.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

        No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the three months ended 
December 31, 1996.







                                       25





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this annual report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on march 27, 1997.


                                      YARDVILLE NATIONAL BANCORP




                                     By: Patrick M. Ryan
                                         ----------------------------------
                                         Patrick M. Ryan, President and
                                         Chief Executive Officer


    Signatures                                Title


Jay G. Destribats
- -------------------------                     Chairman of the Board
Jay G. Destribats                             and director


Patrick M. Ryan 
- -------------------------                     Director, President and
 Patrick M. Ryan                              Chief Executive Officer


Stephen F. Carman  
- -------------------------                     Treasurer, Secretary,
 Stephen F. Carman                            Principal Financial Officer
                                              and Principal Accounting Officer

C. West Ayres  
- -------------------------                     Director
 C. West Ayres


Elbert G. Basolis, Jr.  
- -------------------------                     Director
 Elbert G. Basolis, Jr. 


Lorraine Buklad 
- -------------------------                     Director
 Lorraine Buklad


Anthony M. Giampetro 
- -------------------------                     Director
 Anthony M. Giampetro  


Sidney L. Hofing 
- -------------------------                     Director
Sidney L. Hofing


James J. Kelly           
- -------------------------                     Director
 James J. Kelly


                                       26








    SIGNATURES                                 TITLE


Gilbert W. Lugossy
- -------------------------                     Director
 Gilbert W. Lugossy


Louis R. Matlack 
- -------------------------                     Director
 Louis R. Matlack


Weldon J. McDaniel, Jr.  
- -------------------------                     Director
 Weldon J. McDaniel, Jr.


F. Kevin Tylus                                
- -------------------------                     Director  
 F. Kevin Yylus

                                       27




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number                   Description                                     PAGE

  * 3.1  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company ..........

 ** 3.2  By-Laws of the Company.........................................

 ** 4.1  Specimen Share of Common Stock.................................

 ** 4.2  Form of Class A Warrant........................................

   10.1  Employment Contract Between Registrant and Patrick M. Ryan.....  E-3

   10.2  employment contract Between Registrant and Jay G. Destribats...  e-11

  *10.3  Employment Contract Between Registrant and Stephen F. Carman...

  *10.4  Employment Contract Between Registrant and James F. Doran...... 

  *10.5  Employment Contract Between Registrant and Richard A. Kauffman.

  *10.6  Employment Contract Between Registrant and Mary C. O'Donnell...

  *10.7  Employment Contract Between Registrant and Frank Durand III....

   10.8  Salary Continuation Plan for the Benefit of Patrick M. Ryan....  e-18

   10.9  salary continuation plan for the benefit of Jay G. Destribats..  e-23

  *10.10 1988 Stock Option Plan.........................................

  *10.11 1994 Stock Option Plan.........................................

  *10.12 Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan..........................

 **10.13 Lease Agreement between Jim Cramer and the Bank dated November 
          3, 1993.......................................................

  *10.14 Lease between Richardson Realty Company and the Bank dated
          November 18, 1994.............................................

  *10.15 Agreement between the Lalor Urban Renewal Limited Partnership
          and the BAnk dated October, 1994..............................

***10.16 Survivor Income Plan for the Benefit of Stephen F. Carman......

***10.17 Lease Agreement between Devon Inc. and the Bank dated as of
          February 9, 1996  

   11    Statement Re Computation of Per Share Earnings.................  E-28

   13.1  1996 Annual Report to Stockholders.............................  E-30

 **21    List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.........................

   23.1  Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ..............................  E-82

   27.1  Financial Data Schedules.......................................  E-83


                                                                    (continued)

                                       E-1






   * Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Rorm 10-KSB
     for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1994, as amended by Form  10-KSB/A
     filed on July 25, 1995.

  ** Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on 
     Form SB-2 (Registration No. 33-78050)

*** Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
    for the Fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.