-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 PeF6fBX4bcoVGe3bQQ+2vPC6HaUlhii8az/DdJFYquIpy7MMFl2gLpoRPBnTrWiW
 +GGMgiRrUsnGZdqECUBkkA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246197-04-000016.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001246197-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102153622
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246197-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONNABEND STEPHANIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246243

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15752
		FILM NUMBER:		04501267

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGHLEY & HIGLEY
		STREET 2:		171 THIRD STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURY BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812348
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042498617
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 MYSTIC AVENUE
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173934606

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 MYSTIC AVE
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>son284.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812348</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURY BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNBKA</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SONNABEND STEPHANIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 MYSTIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02155</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Class A Common</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>1669.7112</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Paul V. Cusick, Jr., Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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