INTERCHANGE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP /NJ/
EXHIBIT 10A
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<TYPE>EX-10
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit10a2003.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10A
<TEXT>
Exhibit 10(a).  Agreement for Legal Services


                          AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES
                          ____________________________

THIS  AGREEMENT  for legal  services  made  this 24th day of April,  2003 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.
<PAGE>

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.

     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.
<PAGE>

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/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 Annual  Reorganization  Meeting of
Clients held on the 24th day of April, 2003.
                    ____        _____


                  Anthony D. Andora         $200.00 per hour
                  Joseph M. Andresini       $200.00 per hour
                  Melissa A. Muilenburg     $200.00 per hour
                  Other Associates of Firm  $175.00 per hour




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