Bridge Bancorp Inc. Announces Stock Repurchase

Bridgehampton, NY January 3rd, 2001

Bridge Bancorp Inc., (the "Company") (NASDAQ/OTC:BDGE),  the holding company for
The  Bridgehampton  National  Bank  (the  "Bank"),  announced  that its Board of
Directors approved a stock repurchase. The Company has purchased 5,000 shares on
the open market, which represents  approximately 0.1% of the Company's 4,217,597
outstanding shares.

Thomas  J.  Tobin,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  stated  that  the
repurchase of common stock reflects the commitment of the Board of Directors and
management to growing long term value for Company  stockholders and represents a
sound  investment  of Company  funds.  The  repurchased  shares will be used for
general corporate purposes.

The  Bridgehampton  National  Bank is the  oldest  independent  commercial  bank
headquartered  on the  South  Fork of Long  Island.  The  Bank  operates  retail
branches  in  Bridgehampton,   East  Hampton,  Greenport,   Mattituck,  Montauk,
Southampton,  Southampton  Village,  and  Southold.  BNB's ninth  branch  office
opening in 2001,  will be  located  on the  corner of Bay  Street  and  Division
Street, in Sag Harbor.  The Bridgehampton  National Bank is locally directed and
managed and is a member of the Independent Bankers  Association of America,  the
Independent  Bankers  Association  of New York  State  and the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance  Corporation.  Bridgehampton  National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender
and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This release may contain  certain  forward-looking  statements that are based on
management's  current   expectations   regarding  economic,   legislative,   and
regulatory  issues that may impact the  Company's  earnings  in future  periods.
Factors  that  could  cause  future  results  to vary  materially  from  current
management  expectations  include,  but are not  limited  to,  general  economic
conditions,  changes in interest rates,  deposit flows, real estate values,  and
competition;  changes in accounting principles,  policies or guidelines; changes
in legislation or regulation;  and other  economic,  competitive,  governmental,
regulatory  and  technological   factors  affecting  the  Company's  operations,
pricing, products and services.