[GRAPHIC OMMITTED] EXHIBIT 99
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NATIONAL PENN
BANCSHARES, INC. PRESS RELEASE
Immediate
Investor contact:
Gary L. Rhoads - (610) 369-6341
Media contact:
Catharine S. Bower - (610) 369-6618
Csbower@natpennbank.com
NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES STOCK SPLIT
Boyertown, PA, August 25, 2004-- The Board of Directors of National
Penn Bancshares, Inc., citing the company's continued strong financial
performance, today declared a five-for-four split of its common stock. The
five-for-four split will be paid September 30, 2004, to shareholders of record
on September 10, 2004. Accordingly, the company's cash dividend will be adjusted
so that the cash dividend earned on five shares will be the same amount as
previously earned on four shares, until any future action on the cash dividend
is taken by the Board of Directors. National Penn Bancshares, Inc. has
approximately 27.5 million common shares outstanding as of August 25, 2004.
In making the announcement, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wayne
R. Weidner noted that the company has declared either a stock split or stock
dividend each year for the past 27 years. "It is our continued financial success
that has made National Penn Bancshares, Inc., one of `America's Finest
Companies' as reported by The Staton Institute," said Weidner.
National Penn Bancshares, Inc. is a $4.2 billion bank holding company operating
73 community offices in southeastern Pennsylvania through National Penn Bank and
its FirstService, HomeTowne Heritage, and The Peoples Bank of Oxford Divisions.
The Peoples Bank of Oxford Division also operates one community office in Cecil
County, Maryland. Trust and investment management services are provided through
Investors Trust Company and FirstService Capital; brokerage services are
provided through Penn Securities, Inc.; mortgage banking activities are provided
through National
Penn Mortgage Company; insurance services are provided through FirstService
Insurance Agency, Inc.; and equipment leasing services are provided through
National Penn Leasing Company. National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock is
traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "NPBC." Additional
information about the National Penn family is available on National Penn's Web
site at www.nationalpennbancshares.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future events.
Actual results could differ materially due to deteriorating economic conditions;
increased competition; interest rate movements; market volatility in the
securities markets; legislative or regulatory developments; merger-related
synergies, savings and integration issues; technological changes; and other
risks and uncertainties discussed in NPBC's reports filed from time to time with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated herein by
reference. NPBC cautions you not to place undue reliance on these statements.
NPBC undertakes no obligation to publicly release or update any of these
statements.
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