HNBC Harleysville Natl Corp Pa (MM)

Harleysville Natl. Corp. Number 7 Nationally HARLEYSVILLE, Pa., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harleysville National Corporation (HNC) has moved from 8th to 7th place on the prestigious "Super 50 Team" in the 2004 edition of America's Finest Companies. The investment directory is a publication produced by the Staton Institute, NC. HNC is the only bank holding company in Pennsylvania to make the list. Only 19 American companies, out of more than 19,000 that trade publicly, have achieved the combined total of at least 50 consecutive years of higher earnings and dividends per share - an "extraordinarily remarkable accomplishment" according to Bill Staton, Chairman of Staton Financial Advisors. HNC, parent of Harleysville National Bank and Trust Company, Citizens National Bank and Security National Bank, has an impressive 27 consecutive years of higher earnings per share and 28 consecutive years of higher dividends. "Qualifying to be on the `Super 50 Team' is a mammoth achievement since just a microscopic one tenth of 1% of all public U.S.-based companies make it," Staton wrote. "Once a company makes the team it's even harder to stay on because maintaining higher earnings and dividends year after year is getting more and more difficult," he added. In addition to the "Super 50 Team," HNC was also recognized as one of "America's Smartest Companies." Only 44 companies, three tenths of 1% of all publicly traded companies in America received this honor for recording at least 10 straight years of higher earnings per share through calendar year 2002 or the fiscal year ending by May 31, 2003. These companies also paid a higher cash dividend every year since 1992 or earlier. HNC also continued on the "Earnings All-Stars" list for the 13th year, this year earning 10th place, as one of 24 companies that had higher earnings per share for at least 20 straight years. "We are especially proud to not only remain on the `Super 50 Team', but to have moved up another notch this year to number seven," said Walter E. Daller, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of HNC. "This recognition of our performance in the changing face of competition validates our business model of quality customer service, the best in community banking and a strong bottom-line orientation," he added. Providing Real Life Financial Solutions, Harleysville National Corporation (HNC) has assets in excess of $2.5 billion and operates 40 banking offices in 9 counties throughout Eastern Pennsylvania through its three subsidiary banks - Harleysville National Bank and Trust Company, Citizens National Bank and Security National Bank. Investment Management and Trust Services are provided throughout the organization by Harleysville National Bank and Trust Company. Harleysville National Corporation's stock is traded under the symbol "HNBC" and commonly quoted under Nasdaq National Market Issues. For more information on HNC, visit our Web site at http://www.hncbank.com/. DATASOURCE: Harleysville National Corporation CONTACT: Jeannie O'Brien, Harleysville National Corporation, +1-215-513-2331 Web site: http://www.hncbank.com/

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