EXHIBIT 32.1

                            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  Quarterly   Report  of  Center  Bancorp,   Inc.  (the
"Corporation")  on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"),  I, John J. Davis,  President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation,  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 Corporation as of
      the dates  presented  and the  consolidated  result of  operations  of the
      Corporation for the periods presented.

Dated: May 10, 2004

                                          /s/: John J.  Davis
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          John J. Davis
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer