content: <PAGE>
  
                         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): January 16, 2002
  
  
                                 Greater Bay Bancorp
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
  
  
              California                                      77-0387041
    (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. employer
     incorporation or organization)                     identification number)
  
  
                           Commission file number: 0-25034
  
  
                               2860 West Bayshore Road
                             Palo Alto, California 94303
                (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 813-8200
  
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
       On January 16, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its
  fourth quarter and year end 2001 results. The title and paragraphs 1 through 11
  and 17 through 21 of the press release, which appear as part of Exhibit 99.1,
  are filed and incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  
  Exhibits
  --------
  
  99.1 Press Release dated January 16, 2002 re fourth quarter and year end 2001
       results
  
  Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
  
       Paragraphs 12 through 16 of the press release appearing in Exhibit 99.1 are
  not filed but are furnished pursuant to Regulation FD.
  
                                         2
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
       as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
       behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                            Greater Bay Bancorp
                                            (Registrant)
  
  
  
  Dated: January 16, 2002                      By: /s/ Linda M. Iannone
                                                   --------------------
                                               Linda M. Iannone
                                               Senior Vice President and General
                                               Counsel
  
                                         3
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    Exhibit Index
                                    -------------
  
  99.1  Press Release dated January 16, 2002 re fourth quarter and year end 2001
  results
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2714}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GREATER BAY BANCORP", "cik": "0000775473", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "770387041", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-25034", "film-number": "2510764"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2860 WEST BAYSHORE ROAD", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94303", "phone": "4153751555"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2860 BAYSHORE ROAD", "street2": "420 COWPER ST", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "943011504"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "MID PENINSULA BANCORP", "date-changed": "19941031"}, {"former-conformed-name": "SAN MATEO COUNTY BANCORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
text: 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): January 16, 2002
  
                                 Greater Bay Bancorp
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
              California                                      77-0387041
    (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. employer
     incorporation or organization)                     identification number)
  
                           Commission file number: 0-25034
  
                               2860 West Bayshore Road
                             Palo Alto, California 94303
                (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 813-8200
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
       On January 16, 2002, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its
  fourth quarter and year end 2001 results. The title and paragraphs 1 through 11
  and 17 through 21 of the press release, which appear as part of Exhibit 99.1,
  are filed and incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  
  Exhibits
  --------
  
  99.1 Press Release dated January 16, 2002 re fourth quarter and year end 2001
       results
  
  Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
  
       Paragraphs 12 through 16 of the press release appearing in Exhibit 99.1 are
  not filed but are furnished pursuant to Regulation FD.
  
                                         2
  SIGNATURES
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
       as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
       behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                            Greater Bay Bancorp
                                            (Registrant)
  
  Dated: January 16, 2002                      By: /s/ Linda M. Iannone
                                                   --------------------
                                               Linda M. Iannone
                                               Senior Vice President and General
                                               Counsel
  
                                         3
  Exhibit Index
                                    -------------
  
  99.1  Press Release dated January 16, 2002 re fourth quarter and year end 2001
  results