Exhibit 10(a).  Agreement for Legal Services


                          AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES

     THIS AGREEMENT for legal services made this 25th day of May, 2000, by and
between:


                             ANDORA and Romano, LLC
                           A Professional Corporation
                         303 Molnar Drive, P.O. Box 431
                       Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407-0431
                     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 rendered in addition to those rendered as
corporate counsel." Such fees and costs shall be billed by Attorneys to clients
on a thirty-day basis and Clients shall pay all bills within five (5) days after
each monthly Board of Director's meeting of the Clients.

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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 legal 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 Attorney. 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., OAL, 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 bank 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.

<PAGE>


7.   LAW APPLICABLE

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

8.   SEVERABILITY

     In the event 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 and 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 Annual Reorganization Meeting on May
25, 2000:


                  Anthony D. Andora                  $200.00 per hour

                  Joseph M. Andresini                $200.00 per hour

                  Melissa A. Muilenburg              $200.00 per hour