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


                    CHASE MANHATTAN CREDIT CARD MASTER TRUST
                    ----------------------------------------
                          (Exact name of registrant as
                            specified in its charter)


                CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA, N.A. (formerly known as
                        "The Chase Manhattan Bank (USA)")
                            (Sponsor of the Trust)



         Delaware            33-40006                22-2382028
      ---------------     -----------------       ------------------
      (State or other      (Commission             (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of      File Number)           Identification No.)
      incorporation)


      802 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware            19801
      ------------------------------------------          ----------
      (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (302) 575-5050


<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events

     On December 15, 1998, Chase Manhattan Credit Card Master Trust made the
distributions to Certificateholders contemplated by the Amended Pooling and 
Servicing Agreement  dated as of July 1, 1996, (the "Agreement"), between 
Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A. and Yasuda Bank and Trust Company (U.S.A.) 
(the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the Series Supplements for each of 
Series 1995-2, Series 1996-1, Series 1996-2, Series 1996-3 and Series 1996-4
in accordance with the Agreement.

     Copies of the monthly Certificateholders' Statements for such 
distributions are being filed as Exhibit 20.1 to this Current Report on 
form 8-K.


Item 7 (c). Exhibits


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

     20.1                       Monthly Certificateholders' Statements
                                with respect to the December 15, 1998
                                distribution.



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------               


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

  
                              Chase Manhattan Credit Card Master Trust

                              By: Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A., as Servicer


                              By: /s/ Patricia Garvey
                                   -------------------
                              Name:  Patricia Garvey
                              Title: Vice President


Date:  December 21, 1998 
<PAGE>


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


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

  20.1           Monthly Certificateholders' Statements          
                 with respect to the December 15, 1998
                 distribution to Certificateholders for
                 Series 1995-2, Series 1996-1, Series 1996-2, Series 1996-3
                 and Series 1996-4