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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 1, 2012</P>

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

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

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

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

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

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

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="width: 85%; 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; text-decoration: underline">New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline">2-81353</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline">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>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="width: 85%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline">2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline">07083</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Address of principal executive offices)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.5in 0 0; text-align: justify">&#9;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;</FONT>&#9;Written communications
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.5in 0 0; text-align: justify">&#9;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;</FONT>&#9;Soliciting material
pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.5in 0 0; text-align: justify">&#9;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;</FONT>&#9;Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act&#9;(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.5in 0 0; text-align: justify">&#9;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;</FONT>&#9;Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; text-align: justify">Item
1.01&#9;<B>Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</B>.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On February 1,
2012, the Registrant&rsquo;s Union Center National Bank subsidiary (&ldquo;UCNB&rdquo;) entered into a Bank Purchase and Assumption
Agreement (the &ldquo;Agreement&rdquo;) with Saddle River Valley Bancorp and Saddle River Valley Bank (&ldquo;SRVB&rdquo;). Under
the Agreement, at closing, UCNB will purchase SRVB&rsquo;s branches, located in Saddle River, New Jersey and Oakland, New Jersey,
as well as substantially all of SRVB&rsquo;s assets and SRVB&rsquo;s deposit base, for an all-cash purchase price equal to 90%
of SRVB&rsquo;s adjusted stockholders&rsquo; equity at closing. The purchase price is expected to be between $10 million and $11
million.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The Agreement
provides for standard representations and warranties, indemnities and covenants. Closing is subject to customary conditions, including
receipt of regulatory approval and approval of the transaction by the stockholders of Saddle River Valley Bancorp. It is anticipated
that the stockholders of Saddle River Valley Bancorp will vote on the transaction in approximately 30 days and that the transaction
will close during the second quarter of 2012.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The transaction
has been approved by the parties&rsquo; respective Boards of Directors. The Board of Directors of Saddle River Valley Bancorp has
recommended that its stockholders approve the transaction. Approval of Center Bancorp&rsquo;s stockholders is not required.</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Center Bancorp
<FONT STYLE="color: black">expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings, excluding restructuring expenses.</FONT></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The parties have
issued a joint press release describing the execution of the Agreement.</P>

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">All
non-historical statements in this Current Report (including statements regarding the estimated purchase price, the impact of the
transaction on Center Bancorp&rsquo;s earnings and the anticipated closing date) constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may use forward-looking terminology
such as &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;look,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; &quot;plan,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will&quot;
or similar statements or variations of such terms or otherwise express views concerning trends and the future. Such forward-looking
statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, the direction of interest rates, continued
levels of loan quality and origination volume, the ability of UCNB to integrate SRVB&rsquo;s branches into UCNB&rsquo;s branch
network, the continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, as well as the effects of international,
national, regional and local economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure, including those relating to economic
recovery and the deregulation of the financial services industry, and other risks cited in Center Bancorp&rsquo;s most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Center Bancorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ
materially from such forward-looking statements. Center Bancorp, Inc. assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking
statement at any time</FONT>.</P>

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&#9;(d)&#9;<I>Exhibits</I></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">Exhibit 2.1 &ndash; Bank Purchase
and Assumption Agreement, dated February 1, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">Exhibit 99.1&ndash; Press release
dated February 2, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify"></P>

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 1.5in 0 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>

<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<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>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 1px solid">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Anthony C. Weagley<BR>Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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: February 2, 2012</P>



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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">Exhibit 2.1 &ndash; Bank Purchase
and Assumption Agreement, dated February 1, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 0; text-align: justify">Exhibit 99.1&ndash; Press release
dated February 2, 2012</P>

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

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

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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):
February 1, 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
1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
.
On February 1,
2012, the Registrant's Union Center National Bank subsidiary ("UCNB") entered into a Bank Purchase and Assumption
Agreement (the "Agreement") with Saddle River Valley Bancorp and Saddle River Valley Bank ("SRVB"). Under
the Agreement, at closing, UCNB will purchase SRVB's branches, located in Saddle River, New Jersey and Oakland, New Jersey,
as well as substantially all of SRVB's assets and SRVB's deposit base, for an all-cash purchase price equal to 90%
of SRVB's adjusted stockholders' equity at closing. The purchase price is expected to be between $10 million and $11
million.
The Agreement
provides for standard representations and warranties, indemnities and covenants. Closing is subject to customary conditions, including
receipt of regulatory approval and approval of the transaction by the stockholders of Saddle River Valley Bancorp. It is anticipated
that the stockholders of Saddle River Valley Bancorp will vote on the transaction in approximately 30 days and that the transaction
will close during the second quarter of 2012.
The transaction
has been approved by the parties' respective Boards of Directors. The Board of Directors of Saddle River Valley Bancorp has
recommended that its stockholders approve the transaction. Approval of Center Bancorp's stockholders is not required.
Center Bancorp
expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings, excluding restructuring expenses.
The parties have
issued a joint press release describing the execution of the Agreement.
Forward-Looking Statements
All
non-historical statements in this Current Report (including statements regarding the estimated purchase price, the impact of the
transaction on Center Bancorp's earnings and the anticipated closing date) constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may use forward-looking terminology
such as "expect," "look," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "may," "will"
or similar statements or variations of such terms or otherwise express views concerning trends and the future. Such forward-looking
statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, the direction of interest rates, continued
levels of loan quality and origination volume, the ability of UCNB to integrate SRVB's branches into UCNB's branch
network, the continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, as well as the effects of international,
national, regional and local economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure, including those relating to economic
recovery and the deregulation of the financial services industry, and other risks cited in Center Bancorp's most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Center Bancorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ
materially from such forward-looking statements. Center Bancorp, Inc. assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking
statement at any time
.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit 2.1 – Bank Purchase
and Assumption Agreement, dated February 1, 2012
Exhibit 99.1– Press release
dated February 2, 2012
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: February 2, 2012
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 2.1 – Bank Purchase
and Assumption Agreement, dated February 1, 2012
Exhibit 99.1– Press release
dated February 2, 2012