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                       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)    December 14, 1999


                             VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
                             -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   New Jersey
                                   ----------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

              0-11179                             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, including area code)


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Item 5.  Other Events
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On December 14, 1999, Valley National Bancorp  ("Valley") issued a press release
announcing  that the Board of  Directors  had  authorized  the purchase of up to
3,000,000  shares of the company's  outstanding  common stock.  Purchases may be
made  from  time  to  time  in  the  open  market  or  in  privately  negotiated
transactions at prices not exceeding prevailing market rates.  Reacquired shares
will be held in  treasury  and are  expected  to be used  for  employee  benefit
programs, stock dividends and other corporate purposes.


Item 7.           Exhibits
- -------           --------

Exhibit 99        Press Release dated December 14, 1999





                                   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


Dated:  December 29, 1999          By: ALAN D. ESKOW
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Alan D. Eskow
                                       Principal Accounting Officer
                                       and Corporate Secretary




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                      Description
- -----------                      -----------

 99                               Press release dated December 14, 1999