-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BlvmKzAfdOWZU51H6WwsjowIXZbI91l19deJW6AVBtmDFyA6iTs1BjMRcLpba+7J
 upDnmod1bBwrGMKT7K6+yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-10-011365.txt : 20100303
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-10-011365.hdr.sgml : 20100303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100303213017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-10-011365
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100303

ISSUER:		

	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

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHECHTER HAROLD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224646

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11486
		FILM NUMBER:		10655362

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 RILL9 DRIVE
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v176120_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000712771</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTER BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHECHTER HAROLD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNION CENTER NATIONAL BANK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2455 MORRIS AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>UNION</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07083</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.53</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3473</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3473</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3473</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments on March 1, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony C. Weagley, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----