EX-5 2 legalopinion.txt LEGAL OPINION OF NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN ON S-8 NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, PA ATTORNEYS AT LAW RICHARD A. NORRIS EDWARD A. HOGAN MARK A MONTANA KERRY J. ROAD MAILING ADDRESS: G. ROBERT MARCUS STUART J FREEDMAN CHRISTA HILDEBRAND 1 JEFFREY M. CASALETTO P.O. BOX 1018 WILLIAM A DREIER DAVID R. STRICKLER DAVID. T. HARMON 1 ANDREA S. GLASER SOMERVILLE, NJ 08876-1018 PETER D. HUTCHEON ROBERT C. GABRIELSKI JEANNE HAMBURG 1 STEFANIE R. MCNAMARA (908) 722-0700 JOEL N. JACOBSON PATRICK T. COLLINS JERRY S. D'ANIELLO MARK D. MARIN (908) 722-0755 FACSMILE RICHARD J. SCHACHTER* GARY N. MARKS JERALYN L. LAWRENCE JOSEPH M. MURPHY, JR. J. ANTHONY MANGER MICHAEL F. CHAZKEL SCOTT M. BAACH DEANNA L. KOESTEL HAND DELIVERY: WALTER G. REINHARD LAWRENCE N. LAVIGNE ANNMARIE SIMEONE JENNIFER C. HOWELL 721 ROUTE 202-206 VICTOR S. ELGORT DOUGLAS R. BROWN LINDA A. TANCS KEITH D. MCDONALD BRIDGEWATER, NJ 08807 KENNETH D. MESKIN MARTHA N. DONOVAN DAVID S. BLATTEIS MELISSA A. PENA __________________ KEVIN T. O'BRIEN CHARLES W. MILLER, III __________________ GLENN L. STEIN 875 THIRD AVENUE M. KAREN THOMPSON* ROBERT MAHONEY JEREMY I. SILBERMAN JANINE N. MATTON 18TH FLOOR IRA S. NOVAK NICHOLAS F. PELLITTA CHARLES A. BRUDER WILLIAM J. BENEDUCE NEW YORK, NY 10022 EDWARD G. SPONZILLI* JOHN N. VANARTHOS HAEKYOUNG SUH KEYA DENNER WILLIAM R. ROBINSON MICHAEL K. LIGORANO FERNANDO M. PINGUELO JENNIFER J. MARINELLI WWW.NMMLAW.COM CARL G. WEISENFELD FRANK T. ARAPS THEODORE J. KORTH JIGNESH J. SHAH INFO@NMMLAW.COM E-MAIL THEODORE MARGOLIS DANIEL R. GUADALUPE RACHEL A. WINGERTER __________________ JAMES J. SHRAGER MARION K. LITTMAN CHRISTINE M. SELLITTI OF COUNSEL JOSEPH J. FLEISCHMAN TIMOTHY P. MCKEOWN ALYSSA A. VERDERAMI SERLE I. MOSOFF 3 MERITAS LAW FIRMS WORLDWIDE STEPHEN M. OFFEN STEVEN A. KARG PADRAIG P. FLANAGAN MICHELE S. MARCUS JOHN J. EAGAN DAVID C. ROBERTS MARGARET S. O'BRIEN CERTIFIED BY THE SUPREME JAMES H. LASKEY ALISON L. GALER ROBERT L. SCHMIDT COURT OF NEW JERSEY AS A MICHAEL J. STANTON ANDREW N. PARFOMAK CHRISTOPHER STEVENSON CIVIL TRIAL ATTORNEY KURT G. BRISCO 2 RIKKI L. FIELD JOHN A. JAKUB 1 NY BAR ONLY WILLIAM C. GERSTENZANG 1 DAVY E. ZONERAICH PATRICK T. MOTTOLA 2 MD BAR ONLY BRUCE S. LONDA 1 MARGARET R. FLOOD ELIZABETH L. ABDELMASIEH 3 PA BAR ONLY
April 21, 2006 Interchange Financial Services Corporation Park 80 West - Plaza Two Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663 Gentlemen: We refer to the proposed registration for issue and sale by Interchange Financial Services Corporation (the "Company") from time to time of 1,500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value (the "Shares") to participants in the Interchange Financial Services Corporation 2005 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan for Interchange Financial Services Corporation (the "Plan"). We have examined copies of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Act") which the Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Plan and Shares. We have also examined such corporate records, certificates of public officials or corporate officers and agents, and other documents we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to render the opinion set forth below. Based on the foregoing examination, it is our opinion that the Shares are validly authorized and, assuming: (a) the Shares will be validly authorized on the dates of issuance thereof; (b) the above-mentioned Registration Statement on Form S-8 becomes effective under the Act and remains effective at the time of issuance of the Shares; (c) the Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under the terms of awards duly granted under the Plan, and the consideration payable for such Shares, if any, under the terms of the Plan and the options or awards made thereunder, will be paid by the recipient, (d) due execution and delivery by the Company of stock certificates NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, PA Interchange Financial Services Corporation April 21, 2006 Page 2 evidencing the Shares; and (e) no change occurs in the applicable laws or pertinent facts, the Shares so issuable will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the above-mentioned registration statement. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7(b) of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Very truly yours, NORRIS, MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, P.A. By: /s/ Douglas R. Brown -------------------------- Douglas R. Brown, Esq.