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 23, 1996
                       -----------------------------------


                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
         (successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association))
         --------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Originator of the Trust referred to herein)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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


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


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


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


                                      
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Item 5. Other Events

     On 12/16/1996, Chase Manhattan Grantor Trust 1996-B (the "Trust") made the
distribution  to Certificateholders  contemplated  by the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, dated as of September 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 16, 1996 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/ William J. Schiralli
                                            -----------------------------
                                            By: William J. Schiralli
                                            Title: Vice President




Date: December 23, 1996




                      
<PAGE>

                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                              -----------------
                                                              
                                                              
   Exhibit                         Description                 
   -------                         -----------                 

     20.1                Certificateholder Report dated        
                         12/16/1996 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.7 of the Pooling and 
                         Servicing  Agreement as of 
                         September 1, 1996.