<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 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): November 15, 2005


                         Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Virginia                         0-28635                  54-1964895
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission file number)        (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                               Number)


                   5350 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22207
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 703.534.0700

      Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K 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))

<PAGE>

ITEM 1.01   ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

ITEM 2.03   CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN
            OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT

      On November 15, 2005, Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the
parent company of Virginia Commerce Bank, Arlington, Virginia, entered into a
definitive agreement with respect to the sale in a private placement of an
aggregate of $25 million of trust preferred securities through VCBI Capital
Trust III, a newly formed trust subsidiary organized under Delaware law (the
"Trust"). Closing of the sale of the trust preferred securities is expected to
occur on December 20, 2005

      The proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities, along with
the proceeds of the sale of the common securities of the Trust, all of which
will be owned by the Company (the trust preferred and common securities
collectively the "Trust Securities") will be used by the Trust to purchase from
the Company an aggregate of $25,774,000 of junior subordinated deferrable
interest debentures (the "Debentures"). The Debentures will mature in 2036, and
will be redeemable at par, at the Company's option, at any time on or after
February 23, 2011, subject to regulatory approval. The Debentures will be
redeemable prior to February 23, 2011 at a premium ranging up to 104% of the
principal amount thereof, upon the occurrence of certain regulatory or legal
events. The Debentures will bear interest on a quarterly basis, at a 6.19% fixed
rate until February 23, 2011, at which time the interest rate becomes a variable
rate, adjusted quarterly, equal to 142 basis points over three month LIBOR. In
connection with the agreement for the sale of the trust preferred securities,
the purchaser entered into a hedging transaction with a third party to lock in
the fixed rate. In the event that the transaction does not close then the
Company will be obligated to reimburse the purchaser for its expenses in
initiating and terminating the hedge.

      The Trust Securities will represent guaranteed beneficial interests in a
like amount of Debentures, and are intended to qualify as Tier 1 capital,
subject to applicable regulatory limits. Interest payments on the Debentures
will be used to pay quarterly distributions on the Trust Securities. The
Debentures will constitute the sole asset of the Trust. Payment of distributions
on, and the liquidation or redemption price of, the trust preferred securities
are guaranteed by the Company, to the extent the Trust has funds available
therefore (the "Guarantee").

      Payment of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the trust
preferred securities may be deferred for up to twenty consecutive quarterly
periods, at the option of the Company. If the Company elects to defer payments
on the Debentures, it will generally not be able to (A) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (B)
make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures, or (C) make any
payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects
with or junior in interest to the Guarantee. The principal amount of the
Debentures is subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy
or insolvency related events, or if the Company defaults in the payment of any
interest upon any Debenture when it becomes due and payable following the
nonpayment of any such interest for 20 or more consecutive quarterly periods.

      The proceeds of the issuance will be used by the Company for general
corporate purposes, including contribution to its subsidiary bank.

      The trust preferred securities have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities
laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States,
except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.
This report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy the trust preferred securities.

<PAGE>

                                   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.


                                  VIRGINIA COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.



                                  By:  /s/ Peter A. Converse
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Peter A. Converse, Chief Executive Officer

Dated: November 16, 2005
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 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): November 15, 2005

                         Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Virginia                         0-28635                  54-1964895
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission file number)        (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                               Number)

                   5350 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22207
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 703.534.0700

      Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K 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

ITEM 2.03   CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN
            OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT

      On November 15, 2005, Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the
parent company of Virginia Commerce Bank, Arlington, Virginia, entered into a
definitive agreement with respect to the sale in a private placement of an
aggregate of $25 million of trust preferred securities through VCBI Capital
Trust III, a newly formed trust subsidiary organized under Delaware law (the
"Trust"). Closing of the sale of the trust preferred securities is expected to
occur on December 20, 2005

      The proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities, along with
the proceeds of the sale of the common securities of the Trust, all of which
will be owned by the Company (the trust preferred and common securities
collectively the "Trust Securities") will be used by the Trust to purchase from
the Company an aggregate of $25,774,000 of junior subordinated deferrable
interest debentures (the "Debentures"). The Debentures will mature in 2036, and
will be redeemable at par, at the Company's option, at any time on or after
February 23, 2011, subject to regulatory approval. The Debentures will be
redeemable prior to February 23, 2011 at a premium ranging up to 104% of the
principal amount thereof, upon the occurrence of certain regulatory or legal
events. The Debentures will bear interest on a quarterly basis, at a 6.19% fixed
rate until February 23, 2011, at which time the interest rate becomes a variable
rate, adjusted quarterly, equal to 142 basis points over three month LIBOR. In
connection with the agreement for the sale of the trust preferred securities,
the purchaser entered into a hedging transaction with a third party to lock in
the fixed rate. In the event that the transaction does not close then the
Company will be obligated to reimburse the purchaser for its expenses in
initiating and terminating the hedge.

      The Trust Securities will represent guaranteed beneficial interests in a
like amount of Debentures, and are intended to qualify as Tier 1 capital,
subject to applicable regulatory limits. Interest payments on the Debentures
will be used to pay quarterly distributions on the Trust Securities. The
Debentures will constitute the sole asset of the Trust. Payment of distributions
on, and the liquidation or redemption price of, the trust preferred securities
are guaranteed by the Company, to the extent the Trust has funds available
therefore (the "Guarantee").

      Payment of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the trust
preferred securities may be deferred for up to twenty consecutive quarterly
periods, at the option of the Company. If the Company elects to defer payments
on the Debentures, it will generally not be able to (A) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (B)
make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures, or (C) make any
payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects
with or junior in interest to the Guarantee. The principal amount of the
Debentures is subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain bankruptcy
or insolvency related events, or if the Company defaults in the payment of any
interest upon any Debenture when it becomes due and payable following the
nonpayment of any such interest for 20 or more consecutive quarterly periods.

      The proceeds of the issuance will be used by the Company for general
corporate purposes, including contribution to its subsidiary bank.

      The trust preferred securities have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities
laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States,
except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.
This report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy the trust preferred securities.
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.

                                  VIRGINIA COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.

                                  By:  /s/ Peter A. Converse
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Peter A. Converse, Chief Executive Officer

Dated: November 16, 2005