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) - July 17, 2003



                             VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                                   NEW JERSEY
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


                               1-11277 22-2477875
           (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                    1455 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (973) 305-8800
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)

<page>
     Item 9. The following  information  is being provided under Item 12 of Form
8-K. Today,  Valley National Bancorp ("Valley") issued a press release reporting
2003  second  quarter  results  of  operations.  A copy of the press  release is
attached  to this  Current  Report  Form 8-K as Exhibit 99 and  incorporated  by
reference herein.
Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  (c)      Exhibit

                           99       Press Release dated July 17, 2003

<page>


                                   SIGNATURES

     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 thereunto duly authorized.



                                                     VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP







                                                 By: /s/ Alan D. Eskow
                                                 Alan D. Eskow
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                                 (Principal Financial Officer)



Dated: July 17, 2003

<page>



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact:     Alan Eskow
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                                 973-305-4003



     Valley National Bancorp Reports Net Income and EPS for Second Quarter

     WAYNE,  NJ - July 17,  2003 -- Valley  National  Bancorp  (NYSE:VLY)  today
reported net income of $0.40 per diluted  share or $37.7  million for the second
quarter  ended June 30,  2003,  compared  with $0.40 per diluted  share or $39.9
million for the second  quarter of 2002.  All data  reflects the 5 percent stock
dividend that was issued May 16, 2003.

     Net  income for the six months  ended June 30,  2003 was $0.80 per  diluted
share or $75.7 million  compared to $0.79 per diluted share or $78.5 million for
the first half of 2002.  The effective tax rate for the second quarter and first
half of 2003 was 34.2 percent and 34.1 percent,  respectively,  compared to 30.4
percent and 28.7 percent for the same periods in 2002 when Valley had recorded a
$1.75 million and $5.25 million tax benefit associated with the restructuring of
a subsidiary into a REIT.

     Under Valley's share repurchase  program approved by the Board of Directors
in August  2001,  a total of 10.2  million  of the 10.5  million  common  shares
authorized for repurchase had been acquired through the close of the 2003 second
quarter at a total cost of $250 million,  funds that would  otherwise  have been
invested and contributed to a higher net interest income and net income.  During
the first six months of 2003, Valley  repurchased 1.4 million common shares at a
total cost of $35.2 million.

     Net interest income,  on a tax equivalent  basis, for the second quarter of
2003 was  $94.3  million,  with a net  interest  margin  of 4.34  percent.  That
compares  with net interest  income of $94.7 million for the 1st quarter of 2003
with a net  interest  margin  of 4.46  percent.  Net  interest  income  declined
slightly  during the  second  quarter  of 2003  mainly as a result of  declining
interest rates on loans and investments due to refinancing activity. Deposit and
borrowing  rates  also  declined,  but by less  than  the  rates  on  loans  and
investments.

     Gerald H. Lipkin,  Valley's  Chairman,  President  and CEO stated,  "We are
pleased with the results we achieved under difficult economic  conditions in the
first half of 2003. Despite a soft economy, and an increased effective tax rate,
we  continued  to grow the  company  while  maintaining  Valley's  strong  asset
quality."

     For the second  quarter of 2003,  Valley  achieved an annualized  return on
average  shareholders'  equity (ROE) of 24.27 percent,  an annualized  return on
average  assets (ROA) of 1.62 percent and an  efficiency  ratio of 50.3 percent.
The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing total non-interest expense by the
sum of net interest income and  non-interest  income.  These ratios place Valley
among the nation's best performing banks.

     Total loans increased to $6.1 billion at June 30, 2003 from $5.5 billion at
June 30, 2002 or 11.7  percent and were up from $6.0  billion at March 31, 2003.
In the first half of 2003,  Valley achieved strong  increases in residential and
commercial mortgages and commercial loans. During the first half of 2003, Valley
also sold  approximately $156 million of residential and SBA loans while selling
approximately $246 million of loans for the full year 2002.

     Total  deposits  increased  by 6.6 percent to $7.0 billion at June 30, 2003
from $6.6 billion at June 30, 2002.  Non-interest  bearing deposits increased by
9.1  percent  over the June 30,  2002  balances  to $1.6  billion,  and  savings
deposits  increased by 17.2 percent to $3.2 billion.  These are Valley's  lowest
cost core deposits and the most  desirable type of deposits  Valley  attempts to
attract.  Valley's cost of average total deposits for the first half of 2003 was
1.11  percent,  down  from  1.66  percent  for the  first  six  months  of 2002,
reflecting the lower interest rate environment.

     Net  chargeoffs  were  $1.6  million  for the  first  half of  2003.  Total
non-performing  assets,  which include  non-accrual  loans and other real estate
owned  ("OREO"),  totaled $24.1  million,  or 0.39 percent of loans and OREO, at
June 30, 2003, down from $27.2 million at March 31, 2003.

     Loans  past  due 90  days or more  and  still  accruing  at June  30,  2003
decreased  to $3.0  million,  or 0.05  percent of $6.1  billion of total  loans,
compared  to $4.7  million at March 31, 2003 and $4.9  million at  December  31,
2002.  Total loans past due in excess of 30 days were 0.75  percent of all loans
at June 30, 2003  compared  with 0.87 percent at March 31, 2003 and 1.20 percent
at December 31, 2002.

     Non-interest  income for the second quarter of 2003 was $26.2  million,  up
28.4 percent  from $20.4  million for the second  quarter of 2002,  amounting to
22.0 percent of the total of net interest income and  non-interest  income.  The
increase  was heavily  influenced  by income from  Masters  Coverage  Corp.  (an
all-line insurance agency),  NIA/Lawyers Title Agency, LLC, both acquired during
the second half of 2002 and Glen Rauch  Securities,  Inc.,  acquired  January 1,
2003.  In  addition,  service  charges on  deposit  accounts  increased  by $855
thousand or 17.7  percent  while gains from the sale of loans  increased by $1.2
million or 74.6 percent.

     Non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2003 rose by 18.4 percent to
$59.9  million  from the 2002 second  quarter due  largely to  increased  salary
expense for the recently acquired subsidiaries, business expansion including new
and  refurbished  branches,  and higher  expenses  and  depreciation  charges in
connection  with  recent  investments  in  technology   systems.   In  addition,
amortization  of  intangibles  increased by $895 thousand or 33.0 percent mainly
due to heavy  refinancing  resulting  in a  decline  in  Valley's  portfolio  of
serviced  residential  mortgage loans. On a linked quarter basis, salary expense
was $24.4  million for the first  quarter of 2003  compared to $24.6 million for
the second quarter of 2003.

     Valley's  risk-based  capital  ratios were 10.86 percent for Tier 1 capital
and 11.71 percent for total capital. The Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.20 percent.
Shareholders' equity decreased to $629.1 million from $673.1 million a year ago.
This decrease  resulted from shares  acquired under  Valley's  share  repurchase
program used primarily for the payment of the 5% stock dividend  issued in 2003.
During the quarter Valley acquired  approximately 670 thousand shares under this
program at a cost of $16.6 million, for an average price of $24.82.

     Valley has begun to reposition  some of its borrowings to take advantage of
the low  long-term  interest  rate  environment  that  presently  exists.  It is
anticipated  that this  strategy  will enable  Valley to better  match its lower
yielding fixed rate loans when interest rates begin to rise.*

     Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company headquartered in
Wayne, New Jersey.  Its principal  subsidiary,  Valley National Bank,  currently
operates 128 offices  located in 83 communities  serving 11 counties  throughout
northern New Jersey and Manhattan.

                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995.  Such  statements  are not
historical  facts and include  expressions  about  management's  confidence  and
strategies and  management's  expectations  about new and existing  programs and
products,   relationships,   opportunities,   taxation,  technology  and  market
conditions.  These  statements  may be identified  by an "asterisk"  (*) or such
forward-looking   terminology  as  "expect,"  "view,"  "opportunity,"   "allow,"
"continues," "reflects," or similar statements or variations of such terms. Such
forward-looking  statements  involve  certain  risks and  uncertainties.  Actual
results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that
may  cause   actual   results  to  differ  from  those   contemplated   by  such
forward-looking  statements include, among others, the following:  unanticipated
changes in the direction of interest  rates,  effective  income tax rates,  loan
prepayment   assumptions,   levels  of  loan  quality  and  origination  volume,
relationships  with  major  customers,  as  well  as  the  effects  of  economic
conditions  and legal and  regulatory  barriers and the  development  of new tax
strategies  or the  disallowance  of prior tax  strategies.  Valley  assumes  no
obligation for updating any such forward-looking
statement at any time.

                                      # # #

                               -Tables to Follow-
<page>
<table>
<caption>


Valley National Bancorp
Consolidated Financial Highlights


SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                                        Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
                                            June 30,              June  30,
                                                              
(Dollars in thousands, except per share    2003     2002       2003      2002
data)

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
Net income                             $37,729     $39,896   $75,711  $78,496
Net interest income                     92,755      91,447   185,911  179,227
Net interest income (FTE)               94,303      92,907   188,964  182,110

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:*
     Diluted                     94,313,570  99,344,567 94,685,855 99,778,533

Per share data:*
  Basic earnings                        $0.40       $0.40     $0.80     $0.79
  Diluted earnings                       0.40        0.40      0.80      0.79
  Cash dividends declared               0.225        0.21      0.44      0.42
  Book value                             6.71        6.86      6.71      6.86
  Closing stock price - high            27.13       27.57     27.13     27.57
  Closing stock price - low             24.01       25.05     22.86     25.03

FINANCIAL RATIOS:
Net interest margin - FTE                4.34%       4.62     4.40 %     4.55
Annualized return on average assets      1.62        1.87      1.65      1.85
Annualized return on average equity     24.27       24.16     24.16     23.67
Efficiency ratio                        50.32       45.20     49.60     45.88

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET ITEMS AND RATIOS
                                         Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
                                           June 30,             June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)                  2003       2002       2003       2002

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS:

Assets                            $9,308,327  $8,542,747 $9,194,695 $8,475,427
Interest earning assets            8,692,965   8,039,643  8,588,703  7,996,965
Loans                              6,050,578   5,389,510  5,954,306  5,355,424
Interest bearing liabilities       6,878,608   6,196,573  6,777,443  6,144,150
Deposits                           6,863,701   6,530,711  6,749,512  6,440,820
Shareholders' equity                 621,874     660,546    626,652    663,219

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
Beginning of period                  $66,791     $64,223   $64,087     $63,803
Provision for loan losses              1,755       3,974     5,010       7,679
Charge-offs                            2,143       5,265     4,310       9,980
Recoveries                             1,074       1,367     2,690       2,797
End of period                         67,477      64,299    67,477      64,299

</table>
     *Weighted  average number of shares  outstanding and per share data reflect
the 5 percent stock dividend issued on May 16, 2003.



<page>
<table>
<caption>

Valley National Bancorp
Consolidated Financial Highlights


SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                                                    As of June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)                             2003       2002
                                                          
BALANCE SHEET ITEMS:
Assets                                         $9,506,570   $8,782,717
Loans                                           6,133,388    5,489,863
Deposits                                        7,026,076    6,591,437
Shareholders' equity                              629,134      673,120
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Tier 1 leverage ratio                               8.20%         9.65
Risk-based capital - Tier 1                        10.86         13.01
Risk-based capital - Total Ca                      11.71         14.02
ASSET QUALITY:
Non-accrual loans                                $23,894       $19,553
Other real estate owned (OREO)                       172             0

Total non-performing assets                       24,066        19,553

Loans past due 90 days or more and
  still accruing                                   3,023        10,216

ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
Non-performing assets to total loans plus
  other real estate owned (OREO)                   0.39%          0.36
Allowance for loan losses to loans                 1.10           1.17
Net charge-offs to average loans                   0.05           0.27

</table>

SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS
     Requests for copies of reports providing more detailed financial statements
and analysis,  as well as all other inquiries  regarding  Shareholder  Relations
should be directed to Dianne Grenz at Valley National Bancorp, 1455 Valley Road,
Wayne,  New Jersey,  07470,  by  telephone  at (973)  305-3380,  by fax at (973)
696-2044 or by e-mail at dgrenz@valleynationalbank.com.

<page>


VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
($ in thousands)
<table>
<caption>
                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                    June 30,

Assets                                                                               2003                                2002
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------

Cash and due from banks                                                       $        241,325                   $         195,697
Securities:
   Available for sale                                                                2,126,734                           2,258,258
   Held to maturity                                                                    605,695                             511,237
   Trading account                                                                       3,524                                   0
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
         Total securities                                                            2,735,953                           2,769,495
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
Loans                                                                                6,034,860                           5,461,605
Loans held for sale                                                                     98,528                              28,258
Less: Allowance for loan losses                                                       (67,477)                            (64,299)
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
Loans, net                                                                           6,065,911                           5,425,564
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------

Premises and equipment, net                                                            116,549                             105,381
Due from customers on acceptances outstanding                                           10,667                              18,283
Accrued interest receivable                                                             41,219                              45,110
Intangible assets                                                                       53,004                              32,625
Bank owned life insurance                                                              161,910                             155,342
Other assets                                                                            80,032                              35,220
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
          Total assets                                                        $      9,506,570                   $       8,782,717
                                                                                 ==============                     ===============

Liabilities

Deposits:
     Non-interest bearing                                                     $      1,598,087                   $       1,464,336
     Interest bearing:
        Savings                                                                      3,159,926                           2,697,104
        Time                                                                         2,268,063                           2,429,997
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
          Total deposits                                                             7,026,076                           6,591,437
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
Federal funds purchased and securities
     sold under agreements to repurchase                                               449,116                             244,008
Treasury tax and loan account and other
     short-term borrowings                                                              17,268                              38,575
Long-term debt                                                                       1,072,599                             923,686
Bank acceptances outstanding                                                            10,667                              18,283
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                 101,710                              93,608
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
          Total liabilities                                                          8,677,436                           7,909,597
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------

Company - obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred                                   200,000                             200,000
     capital securities of a subsidiary trust holding solely junior
     subordinated debentures of the Company

Shareholders' Equity (1)
Preferred stock, no par value
      30,000,000 shares authorized; none issued                                              0                                   0
Common stock, no par value, authorized 149,564,244
      shares; issued 94,249,841 shares in 2003 and
      99,022,370 shares in 2002                                                         33,332                              33,347
Surplus                                                                                319,140                             318,851
Retained earnings                                                                      254,078                             304,919
Unallocated common stock held by the employee benefit plan                               (352)                               (519)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain                                                    36,123                              38,206
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
                                                                                       642,321                             694,804
Treasury stock, at cost (500,326 common shares
     in 2003 and 832,027 in 2002)                                                     (13,187)                            (21,684)
                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
          Total shareholders' equity                                                   629,134                             673,120

                                                                                 --------------                     ---------------
          Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                          $      9,506,570                   $       8,782,717
                                                                                 ==============                     ===============

Note:  (1) Share data reflects the 5% stock dividend paid on May 16, 2003.
</table>
<page>


<table>
<caption>
                                                                                                                      
VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
Consolidated Statements of Income                                                              Three Months Ended
($ in thousands, except per share data)                                                        June 30, 2003
                                                                                2003                                    2002
                                                                       --- -----------------                     -----------------

Interest Income
Interest and fees on loans                                              $            92,225                      $         91,902
Interest and dividends on investment securities                                      33,729                                39,128
Interest on federal funds sold and other
          short-term investments                                                         86                                   327
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
               Total interest income                                                126,040                               131,357
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
Interest Expense
Interest on deposits:
     Savings deposits                                                                 6,427                                 8,632
     Time deposits                                                                   12,218                                18,019
Interest on other borrowings                                                         14,640                                13,259
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
               Total interest expense                                                33,285                                39,910
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
Net Interest Income                                                                  92,755                                91,447
Provision for loan losses                                                             1,755                                 3,974
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
Net interest income after provision for
     loan losses                                                                     91,000                                87,473
                                                                           -----------------                      -----------------
Non-Interest Income
Trust and investment services                                                         2,156                                 1,192
Insurance fees, commissions and premiums                                              4,202                                   735
Service charges on deposit accounts                                                   5,682                                 4,827
Gains on securities transactions, net                                                 2,968                                 2,609
Fees from loan servicing                                                              2,459                                 2,415
Gain on sale of loans, net                                                            2,727                                 1,562
Bank owned life insurance                                                             1,564                                 1,806
Other                                                                                 4,464                                 5,275
                                                                           -----------------                       -----------------
               Total non-interest income                                             26,222                                20,421
                                                                           -----------------                       -----------------

Non-Interest Expense
Salary expense                                                                       24,647                                20,882
Employee benefit expense                                                              5,892                                 4,701
Net occupancy expense                                                                 8,767                                 7,118
Amortization of intangible assets                                                     3,609                                 2,714
Distributions on capital securities                                                   3,932                                 3,932
Other                                                                                13,028                                11,214
                                                                           -----------------                       -----------------
               Total non-interest expense                                            59,875                                50,561
                                                                           -----------------                       -----------------
Income before income taxes                                                           57,347                                57,333
Income tax expense                                                                   19,618                                17,437
                                                                           -----------------                       -----------------
Net Income                                                              $            37,729                       $        39,896
                                                                           =================                       =================

Earnings Per Share:  (1)
              Basic                                                     $              0.40                       $          0.40
              Diluted                                                   $              0.40                       $          0.40
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:  (1)
              Basic                                                              93,798,729                            98,709,539
              Diluted                                                            94,313,570                            99,344,567


Note:  (1)  Share data reflects the 5% stock dividend paid on May 16, 2003.

</table>
<page>


<table>
<caption>
                                                                                                                  
VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
Consolidated Statements of Income                                                              Six Months Ended
($ in thousands, except per share data)                                                       June 30, 2003
                                                                                2003                                   2002
                                                                        --- ----------------                       ----------------

Interest Income
Interest and fees on loans                                               $          184,052                     $          182,788
Interest and dividends on investment securities                                      68,246                                 75,762
Interest on federal funds sold and other
          short-term investments                                                        173                                    964
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
               Total interest income                                                252,471                                259,514
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Interest Expense
Interest on deposits:
     Savings deposits                                                                13,137                                 16,720
     Time deposits                                                                   24,171                                 36,585
Interest on other borrowings                                                         29,252                                 26,982
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
               Total interest expense                                                66,560                                 80,287
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Net Interest Income                                                                 185,911                                179,227
Provision for loan losses                                                             5,010                                  7,679
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Net interest income after provision for
     loan losses                                                                    180,901                                171,548
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Non-Interest Income
Trust and investment services                                                         4,230                                  2,370
Insurance fees, commissions and premiums                                              9,004                                  1,521
Service charges on deposit accounts                                                  10,959                                  9,712
Gains on securities transactions, net                                                 6,179                                  2,964
Fees from loan servicing                                                              4,451                                  4,913
Gain on sale of loans, net                                                            5,315                                  3,342
Bank owned life insurance                                                             3,078                                  3,222
Other                                                                                 8,646                                 10,421
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
               Total non-interest income                                             51,862                                 38,465
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------

Non-Interest Expense
Salary expense                                                                       49,067                                 41,963
Employee benefit expense                                                             12,198                                  9,547
Net occupancy expense                                                                17,182                                 13,995
Amortization of intangible assets                                                     6,375                                  4,903
Distributions on capital securities                                                   7,864                                  7,865
Other                                                                                25,259                                 21,594
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
               Total non-interest expense                                           117,945                                 99,867
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Income before income taxes                                                          114,818                                110,146
Income tax expense                                                                   39,107                                 31,650
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------
Net Income                                                               $           75,711                     $           78,496
                                                                            ----------------                       ----------------

Earnings Per Share:  (1)
              Basic                                                      $             0.80                     $             0.79
              Diluted                                                    $             0.80                     $             0.79
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:  (1)
              Basic                                                              94,226,287                             99,159,149
              Diluted                                                            94,685,855                             99,778,533

Note:  (1)  Share data reflects the 5% stock dividend paid on May 16, 2003.

</table>