EXHIBIT 32.2

                            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,  Anthony C.  Weagley,
Treasurer and Chief Financial 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:

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

      4.    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/: Anthony C. Weagley
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Anthony C. Weagley
                                          Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer