Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 21, 2009, Center Bancorp, Inc. ("Center Bancorp") issued a press release announcing that a record date of September 1, 2009 has been set for its proposed rights offering of up to $11 million of its common stock. Upon commencement of the proposed rights offering, Center Bancorp will distribute non-transferable subscription rights to purchase shares of its common stock to each holder of its common stock as of the close of business on the record date.
The amount of subscription rights to be distributed in the rights offering will be determined based on the total number of outstanding shares of Center Bancorp's common stock on the record date. The subscription price, which is anticipated to be at a discount to the market price, will be determined on a date closer to the record date.

A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 - Center Bancorp, Inc. Press Release, dated August 21, 2009

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