UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)  December 8, 2005
                                                --------------------------------

                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

         New Jersey                     001-16197           22-3537895
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(State or Other Jurisdiction            (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
  of Incorporation)                     File Number)        Identification No.)

158 Route 206, Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey                       07934
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (908) 234-0700
                                                  ------------------------------

            Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to  simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of
the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

      |_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

      |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

      |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 , CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 1.01.  Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement

On December 8, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (the "Corporation") exercised its
discretion and authorized payment of a cash bonus to each named executive
officers in the following amounts:

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Frank A. Kissel, Chairman & CEO                                        $ 90,150
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Craig C. Spengeman, President PGB Trust & Investments                  $ 57,383
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Robert M. Rogers, President & COO                                      $ 63,654
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Arthur F. Birmingham, Executive V.P. & CFO                             $ 49,172
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Garrett P. Bromley, Executive V.P. & Chief Credit Officer              $ 42,967
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In addition,  on December 8, 2005,  the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of
Directors  approved 2006 base salaries of $311,018 for Mr. Kissel,  $219,606 for
Mr. Spengeman, $197,972 for Mr. Rogers, $169,645 for Mr. Birmingham and $148,235
for Mr. Bromley.

On December 22, 2005, the Corporation  and Frank A. Kissel,  Craig C. Spengeman,
Robert M. Rogers, Arthur F. Birmingham and Garrett M. Bromley (collectively, the
"Executives")  entered  into  employment  agreements  for a term  of  one  year,
effective January 1, 2006 and expiring on December 31, 2006.

The employment  agreements  provide,  among other things,  (i) for participation
during the employment term in all  compensation  and employee  benefit plans for
which any salaried  employees of the Corporation are eligible,  (ii) annual base
salaries as detailed above,  and (iii)  discretionary  bonus payments to Messrs.
Kissel,  Spengeman,  Rogers,  Birmingham and Bromley  determined by the Board of
Directors in due course.

If the Executive's employment is terminated without cause, the Corporation shall
pay the Executive's  base salary for a period of one year. In the event that the
Corporation  terminates  the  Executive's  employment  for cause or  pursuant to
retirement,  permanent  disability  or  death,  the  Corporation  shall  pay the
Executive any earned but unpaid base salary  through the date of  termination of
employment.  The employment  agreements  also include  certain  non-compete  and
non-solicitation   provisions,   which  extend  for  two  years   following  the
executive's  termination  of  employment.   The  foregoing  description  of  the
employment  agreements  does not purport to be complete  and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the employment  agreements,  which are
filed as Exhibits hereto and are incorporated herein by reference

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

10.1  Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between the
      Corporation and Frank A. Kissel.

10.2  Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between the
      Corporation and Craig C. Spengeman.

10.3  Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between the
      Corporation and Robert M. Rogers.



10.4  Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between the
      Corporation and Arthur F. Birmingham.

10.5  Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between the
      Corporation and Garrett P. Bromley.



                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                            PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION


Dated: December 23, 2005         By: /s/ Arthur F. Birmingham
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Arthur F. Birmingham
                                 Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
                                        Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Title
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10.1           Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
               the Corporation and Frank A. Kissel.

10.2           Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
               the Corporation and Craig C. Spengeman.

10.3           Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
               the Corporation and Robert M. Rogers.

10.4           Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
               the Corporation and Arthur F. Birmingham.

10.5           Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
               the Corporation and Garrett P. Bromley.