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: December 15, 1998
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                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
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                  (Originator of the Trust referred to herein)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                      CHASE MANHATTAN GRANTOR TRUST 1996-A
                  --------------------------------------------
                      (Issuer with respect to Certificates)


       New York              33-99546                 13-2633612
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      (State or other      (Commission            (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of      File Number)           Identification No.)
      incorporation)


      270 Park Avenue, New York, New York               10017
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      (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip code)


                                 (212) 270-6000
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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Item 5. Other Events

    On 12/15/1998,  Chase Manhattan  Grantor Trust 1996-A (the "Trust") made the
distribution  to  Certificateholders  contemplated  by the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement,  dated as of February 1, 1996, (the "Pooling & Servicing Agreement"),
between the  Registrant,  as Seller and  Servicer,  and Norwest Bank  Minnesota,
National  Association,  as Trustee. A copy of the  Certificateholder  Report for
such  Distribution  Date  delivered  pursuant  to section 5.7 of the Pooling and
Servicing  Agreement is being filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form
8-K.


  Item 7 (c). Exhibits
           

  Exhibit   Description
  -------   -----------
 
  20.1      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            December 15, 1998 distribution.



<PAGE>

                              SIGNATURES
                              ----------



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



                                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK 

                                            /s/Jeffrey D. Hammer
                                            ---------------------------
                                            By:    Jeffrey D. Hammer
                                            Title: Vice President


Date: January 13, 1999

<PAGE>

                             INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                             -----------------

                                                           
   Exhibit                 Description                        
   -------                 -----------                        

     20.1                 Certificateholder Report dated         
                          12/07/1998 delivered pursuant
                          to Section 5.7 of the Pooling 
                          and  Servicing  Agreement dated
                          as of February 1, 1996.