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 3, 1996



                           CONTINENTAL BANCORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         New Jersey                   0-17907                   52-1625583
       (State or other             (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation)      File Number)             Identification No.)


 1345 Chews Landing Road, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs, New Jersey 08201
               (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)


                                  609-227-8000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)










<PAGE>


Items 1, 3 - 6, 8 Omitted

Item 2, Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

            The  attached  press  release  (Exhibit  99)  issued  by  Collective
            Bancorp,  Inc.,  contains all relevant  information  concerning  the
            disposition of all the assets of Continental Bancorporation.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
          (a) and (b) Omitted.
          (c) Exhibits
              (99)  Collective Bancorp, Inc. press release
                            dated October 1, 1996




                                   SIGNATURES

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.
                                                     
                                        Continental Bancorporation
                                        --------------------------   
                                                (Registrant)



Date:  October 3, 1996                   SCOTT T. PAGE
                                         -------------
                                         Scott T. Page
                                         Senior Executive Vice President



                                       2
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CONTINENTAL BANCORPORATION", "cik": "0000847926", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "521625583", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-17907", "film-number": "96638918"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1345 CHEWS LANDING RD", "city": "LAUREL SPRINGS", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08021", "phone": "6092278000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1345 CHEWS LANDING ROAD", "city": "LAUREL SPRINGS", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08021"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CONTINENTAL BANCORP INC /NJ/", "date-changed": "19890719"}}
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 3, 1996

                           CONTINENTAL BANCORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         New Jersey                   0-17907                   52-1625583
       (State or other             (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation)      File Number)             Identification No.)

 1345 Chews Landing Road, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs, New Jersey 08201
               (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

                                  609-227-8000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Items 1, 3 - 6, 8 Omitted

Item 2, Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

            The  attached  press  release  (Exhibit  99)  issued  by  Collective
            Bancorp,  Inc.,  contains all relevant  information  concerning  the
            disposition of all the assets of Continental Bancorporation.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
          (a) and (b) Omitted.
          (c) Exhibits
              (99)  Collective Bancorp, Inc. press release
                            dated October 1, 1996

                                   SIGNATURES

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.
                                                     
                                        Continental Bancorporation
                                        --------------------------   
                                                (Registrant)

Date:  October 3, 1996                   SCOTT T. PAGE
                                         -------------
                                         Scott T. Page
                                         Senior Executive Vice President

                                       2