EXHIBIT 99.1








                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


     In  connection  with  the  annual  report  of  Center  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  on  Form  10-K  for  the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, John J. Davis, President
and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section  1350,  as  adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002,  that:

(1)  The  Report  fully  complies  with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934;  and

(2)  The  information  contained  in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects,  the  consolidated  financial condition of the Company as of the dates
presented  and consolidated results of operations of the Company for the periods
presented.

Dated: March 26, 2003

                              By: /s/ John J. Davis
                              ---------------------
                                  JOHN J. DAVIS
                                  PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                  CENTER BANCORP, INC.








    This certification has been furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the
                           Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.