Hudson United Bank's Closing of North Hudson Islamic Education Center

    Business Editors

    MAHWAH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2005--Hudson United Bank, a subsidiary of Hudson United Bancorp (NYSE: HU), is committed to ensuring the privacy of our customers, including their financial information and banking relationships, and providing our customers with quality banking services and products. At Hudson United Bank, decisions concerning the administration of deposit accounts and the extension of credit are based upon factors that do not include race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender or marital status.
    Recently, the Bank has received inquiries regarding the closing of certain accounts that had been maintained by the North Hudson Islamic Education Center. The Bank provided the North Hudson Islamic Education Center with a detailed letter dated December 31, 2004 explaining the reasons that the deposit accounts were closed. The Bank believes that any reader of the December 31, 2004 letter would conclude that the religious affiliation of the depositor was not a factor in the Bank's decision to close the accounts. Hudson United Bank strenuously rejects any suggestion that the depositor's religious affiliation played any role in the closing of the accounts and encourages that further inquiries regarding the basis for the closing of these account be directed to the North Hudson Islamic Education Center. State and federal privacy laws prevent Hudson United Bank from publicly disclosing the reasons for closing the accounts to any parties other than to its customer.
    Hudson United Bancorp is a $9.0 billion asset company with over 200 branch offices in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. Hudson United Bancorp's subsidiaries offer a full array of innovative products and services to commercial and retail accounts, including imaged checking accounts, 24-hour telephone and Internet banking, loans by phone, alternative investment products, insurance products, private label credit programs and a wide variety of commercial loans and services including asset based loans, SBA loans, international services and cash management services. Wealth management services are also provided to individuals and businesses. Public sector products and services are provided to local and state governments, municipalities, educational institutions, civic and not-for-profit organizations. Visit Hudson United Bank's website at www.hudsonunitedbank.com

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CONTACT: Hudson United Bank Jacques Driscoll, 201-236-2792

KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT PENNSYLVANIA NEW YORK NEW JERSEY INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PRODUCT SOURCE: Hudson United Bank

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