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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
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      8-K</strong></font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CURRENT
      REPORT</strong></font></div>
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      TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CENTER
      BANCORP, INC.</strong></font><br></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registrant's
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      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </font></div>
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      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      4.01 Change in Registrant&#8217;s Certifying Accountant.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
      May 5,
      2006, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Center Bancorp, Inc.
      (the
&#8220;Company&#8221;) approved the dismissal of KPMG LLP (&#8220;KPMG&#8221;) as the Company&#8217;s
      principal accountants and appointed Beard Miller Company LLP as the
      Company&#8217;s&#160;principal accountants.&#160; </font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">During
      the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, and the subsequent quarter ended
      March 31, 2006, there&#160;were (1) no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of
      accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
      scope or procedures which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction
      of
      KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of such
      disagreements in connection with KPMG&#8217;s report on the Company&#8217;s financial
      statements for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 or (2) other than
      with
      respect to the material weakness described below, no &#8220;reportable events&#8221; (as
      defined in Item 304(a)(v) of regulation S-K). Further, the audit reports of
      KPMG
      on the consolidated financial statements of&#160;Center Bancorp, Inc. and
      subsidiary&#160;as of and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 did not
      contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified
      or
      modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. </font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">KPMG&#8217;s
      audit report on the consolidated financial statements</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">of&#160;Center
      Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiary&#160;as of and for the years ended December 31,
      2005 and 2004 contained the following statement: </font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8220;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      also
      have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
      Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Center Bancorp, Inc.
      and
      subsidiaries&#8217; internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005,
      based on criteria established in</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>
      Internal Control&#8212;Integrated Framework </em></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">issued
      by
      the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO),
      and
      our report dated March 8, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on management&#8217;s
      assessment of, and an adverse opinion on the effective operation of, internal
      control over financial reporting.&#8221;</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In
      connection with its preparation of its consolidated financial
      statements</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;as
      of and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004,</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">
      the
      Company identified a material weakness in internal control over financial
      reporting as of December 31, 2005 related to accounting for income taxes.
      Specifically, the Company did not employ an adequate number of skilled personnel
      in its tax department to prepare the reconciliation of internal tax schedules
      to
      the general ledger and supporting documentation in a timely manner, and
</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">there
      was
      inadequate and ineffective analysis and management review of the relevant
      documentation supporting the deferred tax accounts related to the accounting
      for
      an acquisition of a business. As a result, material misstatements were
      identified in the Company&#8217;s deferred tax assets and liabilities and income tax
      expense accounts. Further, there was more than a remote likelihood that a
      material misstatement of the Company&#8217;s interim or annual financial statements
      would not be prevented or detected.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Company has requested KPMG to furnish a letter, pursuant to Item 304(a)(3),
      addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission, stating whether it agrees
      with the above statements. A copy of that letter will be filed, with an
      amendment to this Current Report, once received by the Company.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">During
      the Company&#8217;s&#160;two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and
      December 31, 2004, and in the subsequent interim period through the date of
      this
      Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company did not consult with Beard Miller
      Company LLP regarding (1) the application of accounting principles to a
      specified transaction or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on
      the&#160;Company&#8217;s financial statements or (2)&#160;any of the matters or events
      set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.</font></div>
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      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. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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            <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "><strong>CENTER
              BANCORP, INC.</strong></font></td>
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            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Dated:&#160;
May
              11, 2006</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">By:&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">/s/&#160;John
              J.
              Davis</font></td>
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              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Name:&#160;&#160;
                John J. Davis</font></div>
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Title:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
                President and Chief Executive
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{"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": "06831329"}, "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): May 5, 2006
CENTER
      BANCORP, INC.
(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
New
                Jersey
2-81353
52-1273725
(State
                or Other Jurisdiction
of
                Incorporation)
(Commission
                File Number)
(IRS
                Employer
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):
o
Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)
o
Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act(17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c))
Item
      4.01 Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.
On
      May 5,
      2006, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Center Bancorp, Inc.
      (the
"Company") approved the dismissal of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the Company's
      principal accountants and appointed Beard Miller Company LLP as the
      Company's principal accountants.
During
      the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, and the subsequent quarter ended
      March 31, 2006, there were (1) no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of
      accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
      scope or procedures which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction
      of
      KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of such
      disagreements in connection with KPMG's report on the Company's financial
      statements for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 or (2) other than
      with
      respect to the material weakness described below, no "reportable events" (as
      defined in Item 304(a)(v) of regulation S-K). Further, the audit reports of
      KPMG
      on the consolidated financial statements of Center Bancorp, Inc. and
      subsidiary as of and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 did not
      contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified
      or
      modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
KPMG's
      audit report on the consolidated financial statements
of Center
      Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiary as of and for the years ended December 31,
      2005 and 2004 contained the following statement:
"
We
      also
      have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
      Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Center Bancorp, Inc.
      and
      subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005,
      based on criteria established in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework
issued
      by
      the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO),
      and
      our report dated March 8, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's
      assessment of, and an adverse opinion on the effective operation of, internal
      control over financial reporting."
In
      connection with its preparation of its consolidated financial
      statements
as
      of and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004,
the
      Company identified a material weakness in internal control over financial
      reporting as of December 31, 2005 related to accounting for income taxes.
      Specifically, the Company did not employ an adequate number of skilled personnel
      in its tax department to prepare the reconciliation of internal tax schedules
      to
      the general ledger and supporting documentation in a timely manner, and
there
      was
      inadequate and ineffective analysis and management review of the relevant
      documentation supporting the deferred tax accounts related to the accounting
      for
      an acquisition of a business. As a result, material misstatements were
      identified in the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities and income tax
      expense accounts. Further, there was more than a remote likelihood that a
      material misstatement of the Company's interim or annual financial statements
      would not be prevented or detected.
The
      Company has requested KPMG to furnish a letter, pursuant to Item 304(a)(3),
      addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission, stating whether it agrees
      with the above statements. A copy of that letter will be filed, with an
      amendment to this Current Report, once received by the Company.
During
      the Company's two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and
      December 31, 2004, and in the subsequent interim period through the date of
      this
      Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company did not consult with Beard Miller
      Company LLP regarding (1) the application of accounting principles to a
      specified transaction or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on
      the Company's financial statements or (2) any of the matters or events
      set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
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.
Dated: 
May
              11, 2006
By:
/s/ John
              J.
              Davis
Name:  
                John J. Davis
Title:    
                President and Chief Executive
                Officer