Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ESKOW ALAN D
 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 CHIEF
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

1455 VALLEY ROAD		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2004
(Street)


WAYNE, NJ 07470-		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(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 at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
COMMON STOCK             567 (1) D  
401K 12/31/2004   J(2) 220 A $ 0 1,715 (2) D  
COMMON STK.             1,654 (1) D  
Common Stock             57,972 D  
Common Stock             552 (1) I IRA/WIFE

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

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 at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option $ 16.69           10/23/1999 10/23/2008 Common Stock
6,382
  6,382
D
 
Stock Option $ 17.42           11/12/2000 11/12/2009 Common Stock
7,598
  7,598
D
 
Stock Option $ 19.59           11/28/2001 11/28/2010 Common Stock
14,470
  14,470
D
 
Stock Option $ 22.83           11/27/2001 11/27/2011 Common Stock
5,705
  5,705
D
 
Stock Option $ 23.89           11/18/2003 11/18/2012 Common Stock
13,230
  13,230
D
 
Stock Option $ 27.86           11/17/2004 11/17/2013 Common Stock
12,600
  12,600
D
 
Stock Option $ 27.97           11/16/2005 11/16/2014 Common Stock
12,000
  12,000
D
 
STOCK OPTION/NQ $ 22.83           11/27/2002 11/27/2011 Common Stock
9,455
  9,455
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
ESKOW ALAN D
1455 VALLEY ROAD
WAYNE, NJ 07470-		       EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT CHIEF  

Signatures

ALAN D ESKOW 01/21/2005
**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).
(2) Balance update on Valley shares held under the Valley 401k plan, as of December 31, 2004.
(1) Includes Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.