Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
MEYER ROBERT
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP [VLY]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1455 VALLEY ROAD
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/13/2005
(Street)

WAYNE, NJ 07470-
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 12/13/2005 12/13/2005 D   6,010 D $ 24.43 20,966 (1) D  
Common Stock -- (401K Plan)               1,696 D  
Common Stock (with Spouse)               136,772 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 15.8952             11/18/1998 11/18/2007 Common Stock 20,939   20,939 D  
Stock Option $ 15.8952             10/23/1999 10/23/2008 Common Stock 16,744   16,744 D  
Stock Option $ 15.8952             11/23/2000 11/23/2009 Common Stock 15,955   15,955 D  
Stock Option $ 18.6571             11/28/2001 11/28/2010 Common Stock 16,713   16,713 D  
Stock Option $ 21.7429             11/27/2003 11/27/2011 Common Stock 4,949   4,949 D  
Stock Option $ 22.7524             11/18/2003 11/18/2012 Common Stock 13,892   13,892 D  
Stock Option $ 24.68             11/14/2006 11/14/2015 Common Stock 14,500   14,500 (2) D  
Stock Option $ 26.5333             11/17/2004 11/17/2013 Common Stock 13,230   13,230 D  
Stock Option $ 26.6381             11/16/2005 11/16/2014 Common Stock 12,600   12,600 D  
STOCK OPTION/NQ $ 21.7429             11/27/2002 11/27/2011 Common Stock 10,968   10,968 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
MEYER ROBERT
1455 VALLEY ROAD
WAYNE, NJ 07470-
      EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT  

Signatures

 ROBERT MEYER   12/14/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes restricted shares granted under VNB 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in five equal installments beginning one year from the grant date.
(2) Granted under VNB 1999 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan, exercisable in five equal installments beginning one year from the grant date.

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