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): April 29, 2005

                              CENTER BANCORP, INC.

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                          New Jersey 2-81353 52-1273725
       (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
                      of Incorporation) 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 April 29, 2005, Center Bancorp, Inc. (the "Registrant") transmitted
to shareholders a letter regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31,
2005. A copy of this letter is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current
Report on Form 8-K.

         The information in this report under Item 2.02 is being filed pursuant
to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, insofar as it discloses historical information
regarding the Registrant's results of operations and financial condition as of,
and for the quarter ended, March 31, 2005. The Registrant intends for such
information, including Exhibit 99.1, to be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

         As described above, the following Exhibit is filed as part of this
Current Report on Form 8-K and is to be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         Exhibit 99.1 -Letter to shareholders, dated April 29, 2005, regarding
first quarter results

<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:  April 29, 2005

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


         Exhibit 99.1 -Letter to shareholders, dated April 29, 2005, regarding
first quarter results
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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): April 29, 2005

                              CENTER BANCORP, INC.

             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                          New Jersey 2-81353 52-1273725
       (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
                      of Incorporation) 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 April 29, 2005, Center Bancorp, Inc. (the "Registrant") transmitted
to shareholders a letter regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31,
2005. A copy of this letter is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current
Report on Form 8-K.

         The information in this report under Item 2.02 is being filed pursuant
to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, insofar as it discloses historical information
regarding the Registrant's results of operations and financial condition as of,
and for the quarter ended, March 31, 2005. The Registrant intends for such
information, including Exhibit 99.1, to be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

         As described above, the following Exhibit is filed as part of this
Current Report on Form 8-K and is to be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         Exhibit 99.1 -Letter to shareholders, dated April 29, 2005, regarding
first quarter results
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:  April 29, 2005
EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit 99.1 -Letter to shareholders, dated April 29, 2005, regarding
first quarter results