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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                 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
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                  (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             33-94460               13-2633612
      ---------------     -----------------       ------------------
      (State or other      (Commission             (IRS Employer
      jurisdiction of      File Number)          Identification No.)
      incorporation)


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


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



<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events

          On 12/15/98 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 Exhibit 20.1 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.



                                            CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA,
                                            NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


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




Date:  January 13, 1998


<PAGE>

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


   Exhibits                         Description
   --------                         -----------

     20.1                Certificateholder Report dated
                         12/15/98 delivered pursuant to
                         Section 5.7 of the Pooling and
                         Servicing  Agreement as of
                         September 1, 1996.