Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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HUDSON VALLEY HOLDING CORP.                  CONTACT:  WENDY CROKER
21 SCARSDALE ROAD                                      VP, SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS
YONKERS, NY 10707                                      (914) 771-3214


                           HUDSON VALLEY HOLDING CORP.
                       ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


     Yonkers, N.Y., August 26, 2003 - William E. Griffin, Chairman of the Board
of Hudson Valley Holding Corp. announced the approval by the Board of Directors
of a program, effective August 27, 2003, to repurchase up to 75,000 of its
shares at a price of $39.00 per share, or a price of $45.00 per share for a
transaction of at least 2,000 shares. This offer expires December 10, 2003.

     Griffin, noting the continued strong financial performance of the Company,
said the Board increased the per share repurchase price by $0.50 to $39.00 and
by $0.75 to $45.00 for transactions of at least 2,000 shares.

     Hudson Valley Holding Corp., headquartered in Yonkers, NY, is the parent
company of Hudson Valley Bank, Westchester's largest independently owned Bank
with 18 branch locations in the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester, its most
recent to open at 40 Church Street, White Plains, New York in the Fall of 2003.
The Bank specializes in providing a full range of financial services to small
businesses, professional services firms, not-for-profit organizations and
individuals in Westchester County, the Bronx and Manhattan. The Company's stock
is traded under the ticker symbol "HUVL" on the OTC Bulletin Board. Additional
information on the Bank can be obtained on our web-site at
www.hudsonvalleybank.com.




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