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<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):
April 18, 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">&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">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2-81353</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; 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>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; 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; text-decoration: none; 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>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&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>

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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>

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

<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>

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

<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>

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

<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 13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</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"></P>

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<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: left"><B>Item 8.01. Other Events. </B></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On April 18, 2012,
Center Bancorp, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its Union Center National Bank subsidiary had filed an application
with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for approval to open a full-service branch in Englewood, New Jersey. A copy
of the release is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as an exhibit.</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"><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>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in; text-align: left">(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</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 18, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 9pt 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>

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<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 STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2"><B>CENTER BANCORP, INC.</B></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%">By:&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 46%">/s/ Anthony C. Weagley</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>
Title:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 1px solid">Anthony C. Weagley<BR>President and Chief Executive
Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">Dated: April 24, 2012</P>



&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 18, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.</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; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"></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": "12776753"}, "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):
April 18, 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 8.01. Other Events.
On April 18, 2012,
Center Bancorp, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its Union Center National Bank subsidiary had filed an application
with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for approval to open a full-service branch in Englewood, New Jersey. A copy
of the release is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as an exhibit.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and
Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 –
Press release, dated April 18, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.
-
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:
Title:
Anthony C. Weagley
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Dated: April 24, 2012
-
3
-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 99.1 –
Press release, dated April 18, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.
-
4
-