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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Wfp2ujSN/WR8wrAuloetO80+lqkWHy96d1gBwAir0PgpBRudlBOuvv4Kn4u3fuJ0
 EMh4xJGm3vAKYZAIEoR3VQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001170938-04-000002.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0001170938-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120142420
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001170938-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

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:			BRONANDER PAMELA R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001170938

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11277
		FILM NUMBER:		04532205

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY ROAD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9733058800 X5863

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1455 VALLEY ROAD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001170938d20040120f5f.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>0001170938</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BRONANDER PAMELA R</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1455 VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WAYNE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>07470-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></of
ficerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6528</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>1527</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>CUSTODIAN FOR CHILDREN</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value
></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>811</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>TRUSTEE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Valley declared a 5 percent stock dividend on April 9, 2003, payable May 16, 2003 to stockholders of record on May 2, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes Dividend Reinvestment Plan</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>PAMELA R BRONANDER</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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