Exhibit 10(a).  Agreement for Legal Services

                          AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES
                          ----------------------------

                 THIS AGREEMENT for legal services made this 28nd day of April,
                                                             --
2005 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

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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:

     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.

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          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:

         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/  Nicholas Marcalus                     By: /s/ Anthony S. Abbate
------------------------------------           -------------------------------
Nicholas Marcalus, Secretary              Anthony S. Abbate, President

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                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
ATTEST:

/s/  Nicholas Marcalus                    By: /s/ Anthony S. Abbate
---------------------------                   ---------------------------
Nicholas Marcalus, Secretary              Anthony S. Abbate, President
-----------------

                                          ANDORA & ROMANO, LLC

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


                                   SCHEDULE A


    This firm will bill fo the aforesaid services at hourly rates as follows:
                  Anthony D. Andora                  $250.00 per hour
                  Melissa A. Muilenburg              $200.00 per hour
                  Others Members of the Firm         $200.00 per hour

     This rate shall be 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 __28th_ day of April, 2005.