CORRESP 1 filename1.htm

CENTER BANCORP, INC.

2455 Morris Avenue

Union, New Jersey 07083

June 25, 2013

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

	Re:	Center Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”)
		Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-189210)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the above-captioned registration statement, and pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), the Company hereby requests that the effective date of the above-captioned registration statement be accelerated to 1:00 p.m. New York time on Thursday, June 27, 2013, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

The Company hereby acknowledges that:

1.        should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing;

2.        the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the Company from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and

3.        the Company may not assert staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

Very truly yours,

CENTER BANCORP, INC.

By:  /s/ Anthony C. Weagley       

        Anthony C. Weagley

        President and Chief Executive Officer