<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):  May 18, 2001



                               VISTA BANCORP, INC.
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         NEW JERSEY                  0-21264             22-2870972
-------------------------         -------------      ----------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission       (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)                  file number)          Id. No.)



305 ROSEBERRY STREET, P.O. BOX 5360, PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY         08865
-------------------------------------------------------------     ------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (908) 859-9500



Former name or former address, if changed from last report:  Not Applicable.


<PAGE>

                               VISTA BANCORP, INC.
                                    FORM 8-K


Item 1.  CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT

                  Not Applicable.


Item 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                  Not Applicable.


Item 3.  BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP.

                  Not Applicable.


Item 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                  Not Applicable


Item 5.           OTHER EVENTS.

                  On May 18, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release
                  announcing an increase in the cash dividend and buyback
                  program.


Item 6.  RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS.

                  Not Applicable.


Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as exhibit 1.


Item 8. CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

                  Not Applicable


<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.


                                                  VISTA BANCORP, INC.
                                                  -------------------
                                                  (Registrant)


Date:  May 18, 2001                               /s/ Barbara Harding
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Barbara Harding, President and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g8k-24668.txt", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2910}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VISTA BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000831979", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "222870972", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-21264", "film-number": "1643236"}, "business-address": {"street1": "305 ROSEBERRY ST", "street2": "P O BOX 5360", "city": "PHILLIPSBURG", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08865", "phone": "9088599500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "305 ROSEBERRY STREET", "street2": "PO BOX 5360", "city": "PHILLIPSBURG", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08865-5360"}}
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):  May 18, 2001

                               VISTA BANCORP, INC.
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         NEW JERSEY                  0-21264             22-2870972
-------------------------         -------------      ----------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission       (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation)                  file number)          Id. No.)

305 ROSEBERRY STREET, P.O. BOX 5360, PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY         08865
-------------------------------------------------------------     ------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (908) 859-9500

Former name or former address, if changed from last report:  Not Applicable.
VISTA BANCORP, INC.
                                    FORM 8-K

Item 1.  CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT

                  Not Applicable.

Item 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                  Not Applicable.

Item 3.  BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP.

                  Not Applicable.

Item 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                  Not Applicable

Item 5.           OTHER EVENTS.

                  On May 18, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release
                  announcing an increase in the cash dividend and buyback
                  program.

Item 6.  RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS.

                  Not Applicable.

Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as exhibit 1.

Item 8. CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

                  Not Applicable
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.

                                                  VISTA BANCORP, INC.
                                                  -------------------
                                                  (Registrant)

Date:  May 18, 2001                               /s/ Barbara Harding
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Barbara Harding, President and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer