<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-12-051194.txt : 20120913
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-12-051194.hdr.sgml : 20120913
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120913160958
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-12-051194
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120911
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120913
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120913

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTER BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000712771
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				521273725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11486
		FILM NUMBER:		121090294

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2455 MORRIS AVE
		CITY:			UNION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07083
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9086889500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2455 MORRIS AVE
		CITY:			UNION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07083
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v323724_8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
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<P STYLE="margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>UNITED
STATES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington,
D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>CURRENT
REPORT</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
September 11, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>CENTER
BANCORP, INC.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
its Charter)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 80%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2-81353</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">52-1273725</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">(IRS Employer</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">of Incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center">Identification No.)&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 65%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 65%; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2455 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; text-align: right; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">07083</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">(Address of principal executive offices)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: right">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Registrant's telephone number, including
area code (800) 862-3683</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">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):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT>Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT>Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left"><B>Item 8.01. Other Events. </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: left"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On September 11, 2012,
Center Bancorp, Inc. issued a press release announcing that it has received national recognition for its performance. A copy of
the release is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as an exhibit.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>Item 9.01. Financial Statements and
Exhibits.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left">(d)</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify"><I>Exhibits</I></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Exhibit 99.1 &ndash;
Press release, dated September 11, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left; font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="text-align: left; font-weight: bold">CENTER BANCORP, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 40%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; text-align: left">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 40%; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Anthony C. Weagley</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 12%; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">Name:</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left">Anthony C. Weagley</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-align: left">Title:</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Dated: September 13, 2012</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Exhibit 99.1 &ndash;
Press release, dated September 11, 2012, of Center Bancorp, Inc.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>



<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

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<FILENAME>v323724_ex99-1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
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<P STYLE="margin: 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white"><B>Investor Inquiries:</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">Joseph Gangemi</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">VP, Investor Relations</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">(908) 206-2863</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">France Delle Donne</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">VP, Director of</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">Communications &amp;
PR</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">(908) 206-2668</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><B>CENTER BANCORP,
INC. RECEIVES NATIONAL<BR>
 RECOGNITION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><I>Named to the List of Top Performing
Small-Cap Banks and Thrifts in the U.S. by Sandler O'Neill and is ranked among the top performing banks out of all publicly traded
banks and thrifts in the state of New Jersey. </I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><I>&nbsp;</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><I>Receives Bauer Financial Superior
Five-Star Rating for the 8<SUP>th</SUP> Consecutive Quarter </I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><I>&nbsp;</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><B>UNION, N.J., September 11, 2012
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE</B>) &mdash; <B>Center Bancorp, Inc. </B>(NASDAQ: CNBC) (the &quot;Corporation&quot;, or &quot;Center&quot;), parent
company of Union Center National Bank (&quot;UCNB&quot; or &quot;the Bank&quot;), announced today that it has been recognized by
Sandler O'Neill + Partners L.P., a New York investment banking firm, as one of twenty five &quot;2012 Sm-All Stars&quot; and is
recognized as a top performing publicly traded Bank in the nation.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Sandler O'Neill evaluated all 461 publicly
traded banks with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion and identified the 25 top performing small-cap banks and thrifts
in the nation. In announcing the Sm-All Stars, Sandler O'Neill's Director of Research Mark Fitzgibbon and Associate Director Casey
Orr said, &quot;In all, our screening methodology eliminated 95% of the institutions being evaluated. The performance metrics of
the remaining 25 institutions are exceptional.&quot;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Companies were evaluated based on absolute
performance in eight financial variables: growth in EPS, loans and deposits, return on average equity, nonperforming assets to
loans plus OREO ratio, net charge-off ratio, reserves to nonperforming assets ratio and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio. To earn
&quot;Sm-All Star&quot; status, the banks and thrifts needed to be at or above the peer median for the first seven metrics surveyed,
plus be considered &quot;Well Capitalized&quot; per the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&quot;Center Bancorp has always focused
on performance and strategic but conservative growth in addition to serving the needs of our local communities. We are honored
to be recognized for our strength, stability and consistent performance,&quot; said Anthony C. Weagley, President and Chief Executive
Officer. &ldquo;It is a testament of our Bank&rsquo;s hallmark personalized service, commitment to excellence, and results,&rdquo;
added Mr. Weagley.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">In addition, UCNB was ranked one of
the highest (the top ranked Bank for return on average equity and second highest for return on average assets as of March 31, 2012
and ranked second for both categories as of June 30, 2012) out of the fifty three publicly traded banks and thrifts in New Jersey.
<I>Source: SNL Securities, Data through 9/7/12</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">The Bank was additionally awarded a
&ldquo;Superior&rdquo; Five Star rating by Bauer Financial, a leading independent bank and rating research firm, its highest rating.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Bauer Financial has awarded Center
with its highest five-star rating for 8 consecutive quarters and has listed Center Bancorp, Inc. on the recommend list for 11 straight
quarters.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Bauer Financial has been reporting
and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983 and their star ratings classify each institution based
upon a complex formula factoring in current and historical data.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><B>About Center Bancorp</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Center Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding
company, which operates Union Center National Bank, its main subsidiary. Chartered in 1923, Union Center National Bank is one of
the oldest national banks headquartered in the state of New Jersey and now ranks as the third largest national bank headquartered
in the state.&nbsp;Union Center National Bank is currently the largest commercial bank headquartered in Union County. Its primary
market niche is its commercial banking business. The Bank focuses its lending activities on commercial lending to small and medium-sized
businesses, real estate developers and high net worth individuals.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">The Bank, through its Private Wealth
Management Division, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiary Center Financial Group LLC, UCNB's Private Wealth Management and
advisory umbrella of services provides personalized wealth management and advisory services to high net worth individuals and families.
The Banks&rsquo; services include banking, liquidity management, investment services, custody, tailored lending, wealth planning,
trust and fiduciary services, insurance, family wealth advisory and philanthropic advisory.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">Center also recently announced a strategic
partnership with Compass Financial Management, LLC and ING to offer pension/401(k) planning services.&nbsp;Compass is an SEC Registered
Investment Advisory Company with five decades of cumulative experience providing investment services in a personal, professional
and attentive manner.&nbsp;They provide discretionary private investment management for individuals and corporate accounts as well
as 401(k) advisory services.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">The Bank currently operates 14 banking
locations in Union, Morris, and Bergen Counties in New Jersey. Banking centers are located in Union Township (five locations),
Berkeley Heights, Boonton/Mountain Lakes, Madison, Millburn/Vauxhall, Morristown, Springfield, Summit, and the newly added Oakland
and Saddle River branches in Bergen County&nbsp;New Jersey. The Corporation is expanding to northern New Jersey with its Saddle
River Valley Bank transaction and the pending opening of its new Englewood banking center location in downtown Englewood, New Jersey.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">For further information regarding
Center Bancorp, Inc., please visit our web site at <U>http://www.centerbancorp.com</U> or call (800) 862-3683. For information
regarding Union Center National Bank, please visit our web site at <U>http://www.ucnb.com</U>.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"><B>Forward-Looking Statements</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white">All non-historical statements in this
press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements may use forward-looking terminology such as &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;look,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot;
&quot;plan,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will&quot; or similar statements or variations of such terms or
otherwise express views concerning trends and the future. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.
These include, but are not limited to, the direction of interest rates, continued levels of loan quality and origination volume,
Center Bancorp's ability to integrate Saddle River Valley Bank's branches into Center Bancorp's branch network, continued relationships
with major customers including sources for loans, as well as the effects of international, national, regional and local economic
conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure, including those relating to economic recovery and the deregulation
of the financial services industry, and other risks cited in the Corporation's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other
reports filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking
statements. Center Bancorp, Inc. assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statement at any time.</P>



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