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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 30, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>CENTER BANCORP, INC.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
its Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2-81353</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">52-1273725</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">of Incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">07083</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt">(Address of principal executive offices)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant's telephone number, including
area code (800) 862-3683</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions
(see General Instruction A.2. below):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act&#9;(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left"><B>Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain
Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(b)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">On March 30, 2012, Alan H. Straus, a director of Center Bancorp, Inc. (&ldquo;Center&rdquo;) and
its Union Center National Bank (the &ldquo;Bank&rdquo;) subsidiary, informed Center&rsquo;s Board of Directors that he would not
stand for re-election at Center&rsquo;s 2012 annual meeting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(d)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Also on March 30, 2012, Frederick S. Fish was appointed by Center&rsquo;s Board of Directors to
serve as a director of Center and the Bank. Mr. Fish will stand for election at the 2012 annual meeting. Mr. Fish, age 67, is Managing
Member of The Real Estate Equity Company, known as &ldquo;Treeco,&rdquo; a partnership which develops, manages and has financial
interests in 1.5 million square feet of retail shopping centers in NJ, NY, PA and MA. Mr. Fish has not yet been named to any committees
of Center&rsquo;s Board.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1in; text-align: justify">From time to time, the Bank
has made loans to certain affiliates of Mr. Fish in the ordinary course of business.&nbsp; Such loans were made on substantially
similar terms as loans made by the Bank to non-related persons, including the terms relating to interest rates and collateral.&nbsp;
In addition, such loans did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable terms.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 1.5in; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Item 9.01. Financial Statements and
Exhibits.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">(d)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>Exhibits</I></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Exhibit 99.1 &ndash;
Press release, dated April 4, 2012, announcing the appointment of Mr. Fish to Center&rsquo;s and the Bank&rsquo;s respective Boards
of Directors, and Mr. Straus&rsquo; decision not to stand for re-election.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: bottom">CENTER BANCORP, INC.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; width: 3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; width: 35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify; width: 12%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Anthony C. Weagley</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Name:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Anthony C. Weagley</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Title:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Dated: April 4, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Exhibit 99.1 &ndash;
Press release, dated April 4, 2012, announcing the appointment of Mr. Fish to Center&rsquo;s Board of Directors and Mr. Straus&rsquo;
decision not to stand for re-election.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>



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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENTER BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000712771", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "521273725", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-11486", "film-number": "12746292"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2455 MORRIS AVE", "city": "UNION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07083", "phone": "9086889500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2455 MORRIS AVE", "city": "UNION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07083"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 30, 2012
CENTER BANCORP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
its Charter)
New Jersey
2-81353
52-1273725
(State or Other Jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)
Identification No.)
2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey
07083
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including
area code (800) 862-3683
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions
(see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act	(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain
Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(b)
On March 30, 2012, Alan H. Straus, a director of Center Bancorp, Inc. ("Center") and
its Union Center National Bank (the "Bank") subsidiary, informed Center's Board of Directors that he would not
stand for re-election at Center's 2012 annual meeting.
(d)
Also on March 30, 2012, Frederick S. Fish was appointed by Center's Board of Directors to
serve as a director of Center and the Bank. Mr. Fish will stand for election at the 2012 annual meeting. Mr. Fish, age 67, is Managing
Member of The Real Estate Equity Company, known as "Treeco," a partnership which develops, manages and has financial
interests in 1.5 million square feet of retail shopping centers in NJ, NY, PA and MA. Mr. Fish has not yet been named to any committees
of Center's Board.
From time to time, the Bank
has made loans to certain affiliates of Mr. Fish in the ordinary course of business.  Such loans were made on substantially
similar terms as loans made by the Bank to non-related persons, including the terms relating to interest rates and collateral. 
In addition, such loans did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable terms.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and
Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 –
Press release, dated April 4, 2012, announcing the appointment of Mr. Fish to Center's and the Bank's respective Boards
of Directors, and Mr. Straus' decision not to stand for re-election.
-
2
-
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.
CENTER BANCORP, INC.
By:
/s/ Anthony C. Weagley
Name:
Anthony C. Weagley
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: April 4, 2012
-
3
-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 99.1 –
Press release, dated April 4, 2012, announcing the appointment of Mr. Fish to Center's Board of Directors and Mr. Straus'
decision not to stand for re-election.
-
4
-