CENTER BANCORP, INC.
                               2455 Morris Avenue
                             Union, New Jersey 07083

                                                               September 8, 2005

Securities & Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, D.C.

Re:   Amendment No. 2 to the Center Bancorp Registration Statement on Form S-3
      (File No. 333-126805)

Dear Sirs:

      Center  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  requests  that the  Securities &
Exchange   Commission   accelerate  the  effectiveness  of  the  above-mentioned
registration  statement to 10:00 a.m. on September 9, 2005 or as soon thereafter
as practicable.  In connection with this  acceleration  request,  Center Bancorp
acknowledges  that (i) 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; (ii) 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 (iii) the Company may not assert this action 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/ John J. Davis
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John J. Davis, President