Exhibit 10(a).  Agreement for Legal Services


                          AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES

THIS AGREEMENT for legal services made this 26th day of April,2001, 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 07662
                      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.

<PAGE>

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.

     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:

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

                   INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION


/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 Annual  Reorganization  Meeting of
Clients held on the 26th day of April, 2001.

             Anthony D. Andora                  $200.00 per hour
             John P. Palmisano                  $200.00 per hour
             Joseph M. Andresini                $200.00 per hour
             Melissa A. Muilenburg              $200.00 per hour