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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ZMNCvnl4vudslQ20t6KS4w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001170946-04-000002.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0001170946-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120180339
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001170946-04-000002
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:			MILLER RICHARD S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001170946

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11277
		FILM NUMBER:		04533433

	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>c0001170946d20040120f5f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<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>0001170946</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MILLER RICHARD S</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></offi
cerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3135</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>1759</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>CORPORATION</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionA
mounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1934</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY WIFE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>W/WIFE</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23346</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>IRA</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19369</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value><
/value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>STOCK OPTION/NQ</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-06-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-05-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9686</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9686</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>STOCK OPTION/NQ</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.62</value></conversionOrExerc
isePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-11-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1161</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1161</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>STOCK OPTION/NQ</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.14</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-11-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-05-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value
>1161</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1161</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>STOCK OPTION/NQ</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.19</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-10-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1161</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1161</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</
value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></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></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>RICHARD S MILLER</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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