<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000776901-17-000016.txt : 20170206
<SEC-HEADER>0000776901-17-000016.hdr.sgml : 20170206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170206160502
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000776901-17-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170206
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170206

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INDEPENDENT BANK CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000776901
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042870273
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7818786100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nadeau Gerard F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001405590

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09047
		FILM NUMBER:		17575655

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
		STREET 2:		288 UNION STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_148641508899520.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000776901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INDEPENDENT BANK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INDB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001405590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nadeau Gerard F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>288 UNION STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02370</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.995</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25449.267</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3293</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>62.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22156.267</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>208.8343</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Son</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>207.0096</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Daughter</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.995</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.995</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Holdings include 4.808 shares acquired as a result of participation in the Independent Bank Corp. 2014 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan since the last Form 4 filing (11/16/16). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held in Filer's name f/b/o son. Holdings include 0.8868 shares received pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. 2014 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan since the last Form 4 filing (11/16/16). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held in Filer's name f/b/o daughter. Holdings include 0.8792 shares received pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. 2014 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan since the last Form 4 filing (11/16/16). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted under the Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan (2005 Plan). Options vested in equal installments of 1,000 shares over a five-year period beginning on 2/15/08 and thereafter on each successive anniversary date (2/15/09-2/15/12), subject to earlier termination of employment or acceleration of vesting schedule under certain termination of employee circumstances.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Maureen Gaffney, Power of Attorney for Gerard F. Nadeau</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
