-----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,
 Qt6jxNhQsuv7RIW0lV034VuQ7SdAkQg+pO2WC3Ah38Pr18ljZLy2PfqPLKcZ/pQl
 GoVaeU3DMCQjT1Erf6RqNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001169961-04-000002.txt : 20040121
<SEC-HEADER>0001169961-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040121114250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001169961-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000714310
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				222477875
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY RD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9733053380

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY RD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIEWENHUIS GARRET
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001169961

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11277
		FILM NUMBER:		04534248

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY ROAD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9733058800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY ROAD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001169961d20040121f5f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported><form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported><issuer><issuerCik>0000714310</issuerCik><issuerName>VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VLY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001169961</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>NIEWENHUIS GARRET</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1455 VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WAYNE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>07470-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>FIRST
 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15398</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10152</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>SPOUSE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securi
tyTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>352</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>CUSTODIAN/DAUGHTER</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>401K</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>667</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.9</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-10-23</value></expir
ationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2284</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2284</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.61</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-11-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-11-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2894</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransac
tion><value>2894</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.77</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2756</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2756</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivati
veHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.38</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3938</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3938</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.08</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-11-18</va
lue></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3675</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3675</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollo
wingTransaction><value>3500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes restricted shares granted under VNB 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in five equal installments beginning one year from the grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Incentive stock options, granted under VNB 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in five equal installments beginning one year from the grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>GARRET G NIEUWENHUIS</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----