UNITED STATES
                       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 31, 2006


                              CENTER BANCORP, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


          New Jersey                   2-81353                    52-1273725
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission                (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)


            2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey          07083
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (800) 862-3683

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|X|   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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

      On January 31, 2006, Center Bancorp, Inc. (the "Registrant") issued a
press release regarding results for the quarter and year ended December 31,
2005. A copy of this press release is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (c)   Exhibits

      Exhibit 99.1 - Press release, dated January 31, 2006, regarding results
for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005.

      The only portions of Exhibit 99.1 which are to be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are the
Registrant's consolidated statements of condition, consolidated statements of
income and average balance sheets with interest and average rates. All other
portions of Exhibit 99.1 are deemed "furnished", and not "filed", for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

      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.

                                CENTER BANCORP, INC.


                                By: /s/ John J. Davis
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  John J. Davis
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: January 31, 2006


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit 99.1 - Press release, dated January 31, 2006, regarding results
for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005


                                      -4-
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENTER BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000712771", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "521273725", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-11486", "film-number": "06573738"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2455 MORRIS AVE", "city": "UNION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07083", "phone": "9086889500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2455 MORRIS AVE", "city": "UNION", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07083"}}
UNITED STATES
                       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 31, 2006

                              CENTER BANCORP, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

          New Jersey                   2-81353                    52-1273725
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission                (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)

            2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey          07083
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (800) 862-3683

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|X|   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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

      On January 31, 2006, Center Bancorp, Inc. (the "Registrant") issued a
press release regarding results for the quarter and year ended December 31,
2005. A copy of this press release is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (c)   Exhibits

      Exhibit 99.1 - Press release, dated January 31, 2006, regarding results
for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005.

      The only portions of Exhibit 99.1 which are to be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are the
Registrant's consolidated statements of condition, consolidated statements of
income and average balance sheets with interest and average rates. All other
portions of Exhibit 99.1 are deemed "furnished", and not "filed", for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                                      -2-
SIGNATURE

      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.

                                CENTER BANCORP, INC.

                                By: /s/ John J. Davis
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  John J. Davis
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: January 31, 2006

                                      -3-
EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit 99.1 - Press release, dated January 31, 2006, regarding results
for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005

                                      -4-