Exhibit 10(a). Agreement for Legal Services

                          AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES

      THIS AGREEMENT for legal services made this 22nd day of April, 2004 by and
between:

                              ANDORA & ROMANO, LLC
                           A Professional Corporation
                                  15 Essex Road
                            Paramus, New Jersey 07652
                     hereinafter referred to as "Attorneys"

                                       and

                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
                             Park 80 West, Plaza Two
                         Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663

                                       and

                                INTERCHANGE BANK
                              A Banking Corporation
                             Park 80 West, Plaza Two
                         Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663
                      hereinafter referred to as "Clients".

      IN  CONSIDERATION  of the  mutual  promises,  covenants  and  undertakings
contained herein the Attorneys and the Clients agree as follows:

1.    RETAINER:

      Clients  hereby  retain the services of Attorneys to act as its  corporate
counsel for the term and compensation as outlined herein.

2.    TERM:

      The  Attorneys  shall  be  retained  by  Clients  until  the  next  Annual
Reorganization Meeting of Clients.

3.    COMPENSATION:

      The Clients  shall pay the  Attorneys  for services  rendered as corporate
counsel an annual retainer of NINETY-FIVE  THOUSAND DOLLARS ($95,000.00) payable
in  equal  monthly  installments  on the  first  day of  each  and  every  month
commencing the first day of the month following the execution of this Agreement.
Clients  shall,  in addition to the annual  retainer,  pay to the  Attorneys all
out-of-pocket  expenses,  filing fees, or disbursements made by the Attorneys on
Clients'  behalf.  Clients  shall,  in  addition  to the  payment  of the annual
retainer and all costs,  pay to the  Attorneys a legal fee based on the rate per
hour as shown on  Schedule A for all legal  services  provided to Clients by the
Attorney  which are "legal  services in addition to those  rendered as corporate
counsel."  Such fees and costs  shall be billed by  Attorneys  to  Clients  on a
thirty (30) day basis and Clients shall pay all bills within five (5) days after
each monthly Board of Director's meeting of the Clients.

4.    DEFINITIONS:

      The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
<PAGE>

      A. "Legal services  rendered as corporate  counsel" shall mean and include
all of the following types of work:

            1.    Except as hereinafter  set forth in  subparagraph  B, document
                  review and  drafting  of  documents  on behalf of the  Clients
                  including,  but not  limited  to:  leases,  notes,  contracts,
                  mortgages,    commitment   letters,   disclosure   statements,
                  modifications,  extensions and legal agreements not related to
                  third-party borrowers, except residential mortgage reviews.

            2.    Providing  legal  advice  required  in  the  usual  course  of
                  Clients' business including compliance analysis.

            3.    Attendance at Board of Director's and  Shareholders'  Meetings
                  other than as a Director.

            4.    Advice regarding levies and executions.

            5.    Preparation  of  annual  SEC  10K,  10Q and  "ordinary"  proxy
                  filings.

      B. "Legal  services  rendered  in  addition  to those  rendered as general
corporate  counsel"  shall mean and  include,  but not be limited to, all of the
following types of legal work which shall be billed on an hourly basis:

            1.    Litigation in which Clients are named as defendants.

            2.    Litigation or other  proceedings  in which Clients and another
                  person  or  agency  (i.e.,   Small  Business   Administration)
                  specially  retain  Attorneys.  The hourly  rate for such legal
                  services  shall be  specifically  agreed upon by Clients,  the
                  Agency, and Attorneys.

            3.    Foreclosure  litigation,  including lien protection litigation
                  in any Court including the Bankruptcy Court.

            4.    Regulatory or administrative  law proceedings  including,  but
                  not  limited  to,  Department  of  Banking,  zoning  agencies,
                  N.L.R.B., F.D.I.C., O.A.L. and Tax Court.

            5.    Loan  reviews  and  closings,   including   modifications  and
                  extensions  thereof,  except  that the fee shall be based upon
                  $200.00  per hour plus  costs,  and such fee shall not  exceed
                  1/2% of the principal amount of the loan plus costs, but in no
                  event shall such fee be less than $250.00.

            6.    Closings in which the Client is a buyer or seller.

            7.    SEC Filings  other than annual 10K,  10Q or  "ordinary"  proxy
                  filings.

            8.    Mergers and Acquisitions.

            9.    All  other  legal  services  not  specifically  set  forth  in
                  Paragraph 4A.

5.    BINDING EFFECT:

      This agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the
parties' successors or assigns.

6.    NO ASSIGNMENT:

      This Agreement shall not be assigned or sublet without the express written
consent of the parties.

7.    LAW APPLICABLE:

      This agreement shall be governed by the Laws of the State of New Jersey.

8.    SEVERABILITY:
<PAGE>

      In the event that any clause, section or paragraph of this Agreement shall
be declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,  such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF the parties have  hereunto  signed this  Agreement the
date first above written.

                                             INTERCHANGE BANK

ATTEST:

/s/ Benjamin Rosenzweig                      By: /s/ Anthony S. Abbate
------------------------------               --------------------------------
Benjamin Rosenzweig, Secretary               Anthony S. Abbate, President

                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

ATTEST:

/s/ Benjamin Rosenzweig                      By: /s/ Anthony S. Abbate
------------------------------               --------------------------------
Benjamin Rosenzweig, Secretary               Anthony S. Abbate, President

                                             ANDORA & ROMANO, LLC

                                             By: /s/ Anthony D. Andora
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Anthony D. Andora, Member of LLC
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

      The hourly rates contained herein are subject to change on the anniversary
dates of the Agreement of Legal Services.

Schedule A reviewed and approved at the Annual Reorganization Meeting of Clients
held on the __22_ day of April, 2004.

            Anthony D. Andora                  $200.00 per hour
            Melissa A. Muilenburg              $200.00 per hour
            Others Members of the Firm         $200.00 per hour