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: April 3, 1997
                          -----------------------------

                 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
               --------------------------------------------------
                  (Originator of the Trust referred to herein)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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


       NEW YORK              333-7575                13-2633612
      ---------------     -----------------       ------------------
      (State or other      (Commission             (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of      File Number)          Identification No.)
      incorporation)


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


                                 (302) 575-5033
               ---------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      
<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events

On 1/15/1997, Chase Manhattan Auto 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 and Servicing 
Agreement"), between the  Registrant,  as Seller and  Servicer,  and Norwest
Bank  Minnesota, National  Association, as Trustee (the "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 
exhibit 20.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.


On 2/18/1997, Chase Manhattan Auto 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 and Servicing 
Agreement"), between the  Registrant,  as Seller and  Servicer,  and Norwest
Bank  Minnesota, National  Association, as Trustee (the "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 
exhibit 20.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

On 3/17/1997, Chase Manhattan Auto 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 and Servicing 
Agreement"), between the  Registrant,  as Seller and  Servicer,  and Norwest
Bank  Minnesota, National  Association, as Trustee (the "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 
exhibit 20.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.


Item 7 (c). Exhibits
            --------

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

  20.1      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            January 15, 1997 distribution.


  20.2      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            February 18, 1997 distribution.

  20.3      Monthly Certificateholder's statement with respect to the
            March 17, 1997 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.



                                            CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA,
                                            NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


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




Date:  April 3, 1997




                      
<PAGE>

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

     20.1                Certificateholder Report dated        
                         1/15/1997 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.7 of the Pooling and 
                         Servicing  Agreement as of 
                         September 1, 1996.



     20.2                Certificateholder Report dated        
                         2/18/1997 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.7 of the Pooling and 
                         Servicing  Agreement as of 
                         September 1, 1996.


     20.3                Certificateholder Report dated        
                         3/17/1997 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.7 of the Pooling and 
                         Servicing  Agreement as of 
                         September 1, 1996.