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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:14pt" align=center><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>Washington, D.C. &nbsp;20549</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center>___________</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:14pt" align=center><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:16pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:14pt" align=center><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center>Date of Report: &nbsp;October 16, 2003</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:16pt" align=center><B>CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION</B></P>
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<TABLE cellspacing=0 align=center><TR><TD valign=top width=208><P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>Virginia</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>(State or Other Jurisdiction</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>of Incorporation)</P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=208 colspan=2><P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>0-24557</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>(Commission File Number)</P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=208><P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>54-1874630</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>(IRS Employer</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>Identification No.)</P>
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</TD><TD valign=top width=208 colspan=2>&nbsp;</TD><TD valign=top width=208>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top width=312 colspan=2><P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>8270 Greensboro Drive, Suite 500</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>McLean, Virginia</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>22102</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:13pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:11pt" align=center>(Zip Code)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center>(703) 584-3400</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:-72pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><B>Item 12.</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><B>Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>On October 16, 2003, the Registrant issued a press release reporting its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2003. &nbsp;A copy of the press release is being furnished as an exhibit to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 12.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>The foregoing information, including the information contained in the press release, is being furnished pursuant to this Item 12 and shall not be deemed to be &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In addition, this information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of the Registrant&#146;s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>The exhibit to this report is as follows:</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; text-indent:72pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><U>Exhibit No.</U></P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; padding-left:144pt; text-indent:-57pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>99</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:144pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>Press release issued by the Registrant dated October 16, 2003.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=center><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>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.</P>
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<B><P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:180pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION </B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Registrant)</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>Date: &nbsp;October 21, 2003</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; text-indent:180pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>By: &nbsp;<U>/s/ Carl E. Dodson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></P>
<U><P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:432pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><BR></U></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">Carl E. Dodson </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">Executive Vice President and </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; text-indent:54pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><U>Exhibit No.</U></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:144pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify><U>Description</U></P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-14pt; text-indent:72pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>99</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:144pt; line-height:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt" align=justify>Press release issued by the Registrant dated October 16, 2003.</P>
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Form 8-K
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:  October 16, 2003
(Date of earliest event reported)
CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Virginia
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
0-24557
(Commission File Number)
54-1874630
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
8270 Greensboro Drive, Suite 500
McLean, Virginia
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
22102
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(703) 584-3400
Item 12.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 16, 2003, the Registrant issued a press release reporting its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2003.  A copy of the press release is being furnished as an exhibit to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 12.
The foregoing information, including the information contained in the press release, is being furnished pursuant to this Item 12 and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In addition, this information shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of the Registrant's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.
The exhibit to this report is as follows:
Exhibit No.
Description
99
Press release issued by the Registrant dated October 16, 2003.
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.
CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date:  October 21, 2003
By:
/s/ Carl E. Dodson
Carl E. Dodson
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
99
Press release issued by the Registrant dated October 16, 2003.
4