UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                   ___________
                                    FORM 8-K
                                   ___________



                                 CURRENT REPORT


     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         DATE OF REPORT (date of earliest event reported): May 23, 2002




                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         New Jersey                      1-10518                 22-2553159
________________________________  ________________________   ________________
(State or other jurisdiction of)  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


Park 80 West/Plaza Two, Saddle Brook, N.J.                        07663
__________________________________________                   ________________
Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)



        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 703-2265

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)





Item 5.  Other Events

     On May  23,  2002,  the  registrant  issued  the  following  press  release
declaring a quarterly cash dividend and a 3 for 2 stock split.

                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
                          DECLARES 3 FOR 2 STOCK SPLIT


     Saddle Brook, N. J. (May 23, 2002) - On May 23, 2002, Interchange Financial
Services Corporation, the holding company for Interchange Bank, declared a 3 for
2 stock split along with its regular dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable
on July 12, 2002 to holders of record as of June 17, 2002.

     Additionally, Mr. Abbate, President and CEO of the Corporation, stated that
the stock split was important to creating additional  liquidity for shareholders
and  potential  investors in the company.  As investors  recognize  the value of
Interchange,  it is  critical  that the amount of float be adequate to enable an
interested investor to acquire the company's stock.

     On July 17, 2002 shareholders  will receive the regular quarterly  dividend
of $0.15 per share for those  shares  held by them as of the record date of June
17, 2002.  Going forward,  the dividend,  adjusted for the stock split,  will be
$0.10 per quarter.

     Interchange  Financial  Services  Corporation is a one-bank holding company
whose principal  subsidiary is Interchange Bank, a full-service  commercial bank
in Saddle Brook,  New Jersey with 18 offices  throughout  Bergen  County.  Total
assets as of March 31,  2002 were $863  million.  On April 17,  2002 the company
reported a 25% increase in earnings per diluted  common share and an increase in
net  income of 26.1% for the  three  months  ended  March 31,  2002.  Additional
information  about  Interchange  Bank  can be found  on the  Bank's  web site at
www.interchangebank.com. Interchange Financial Services Corporation is traded on
the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol IFCJ






                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 24, 2002              Interchange Financial Services Corporation


                                By:      /s/ Anthony Labozzetta
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Anthony Labozzetta
                                        Executive Vice President & CFO