content: <HTML>
  <HEAD>
  <TITLE>INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.</TITLE>
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  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  
  
  
  <DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
  
  
  
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July&nbsp;28, 2005.
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-_________
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549<BR>
  <DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
  Under<BR>
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.</B>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
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      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
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  <!-- Begin Table Body -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Massachusetts</B><BR>
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  </TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>04-2870273</B><BR>
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Head -->
  <!-- Begin Table Body -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts</B><BR>
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  </TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>02370</B><BR>
  (Zip Code)</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan</B><BR>
  (Full Title of the Plan)
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Edward H. Seksay<BR>
  General Counsel<BR>
  Independent Bank Corp.<BR>
  288 Union Street<BR>
  Rockland, Massachusetts 02370</B><BR>
  (Name, address of agent for service)
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>(781)&nbsp;878-6100</B><BR>
  (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
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      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="54%">&nbsp;</TD>
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      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
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      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
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      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
  
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
      <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Proposed maximum</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  
      <TD nowrap align="center">Title of securities</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Amount to be</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Proposed maximum</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">aggregate offering</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Amount of</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  
      <TD nowrap align="center">to be registered</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">registered (1)</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">offering price per share (2)</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">price (2)</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">registration fee</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <!-- End Table Head -->
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      <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par
  value $0.01
  per share(3)</DIV></TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">800,000</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">29.36</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">23,488,000</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
      <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">2,765</TD>
      <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
      <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Plus such additional number of shares as may be required pursuant to the plan set forth above
  in the event of a stock dividend, split-up of shares, recapitalization or other similar change
  in the Common Stock.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, in accordance with Rule
  457(h)(1), on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock, as
  reported on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers
  Automated Quotation System (&#147;NASDAQ&#148;) on July&nbsp;26, 2005.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>There are also registered hereunder the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights issued and attached
  to the Common Stock pursuant to the Renewal Rights Agreement dated as of September&nbsp;14, 2000
  
  between Independent Bank Corp. and Rockland Trust Company, as rights agent.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
  
  
  
  
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
  </DIV>
  
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  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <!-- TOC -->
  <A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>
  
  <P><CENTER>
  <TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
  <TR>
  	<TD width="3%"></TD>
  	<TD width="3%"></TD>
  	<TD width="3%"></TD>
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  	<TD width="3%"></TD>
  	<TD width="3%"></TD>
  	<TD width="76%"></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000"> PART I</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001"> PART II</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Officers and Directors</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#008">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#009"> SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#010">INDEX TO EXHIBITS</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="b56079ibexv5w1.htm">EX-5.1 OPINION OF CHOATE, HALL & STEWART LLP</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="b56079ibexv23w1.htm">EX-23.1 CONSENT OF KPMG LLP</A></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="b56079ibexv99w1.htm">EX-99.1 2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN</A></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
  </CENTER>
  <!-- /TOC -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  
  
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Registration Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8,
  as amended, and relates to 800,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
  Independent Bank Corp. (the &#147;Company&#148;), which represent shares issuable under the Company&#146;s 2005
  Employee Stock Plan (the &#147;2005 Plan&#148;).
  </DIV>
  <!-- link1 " PART I" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B></DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents containing the information required in Part&nbsp;I of this registration statement on
  Form S-8 (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) will be sent or given to participants in the 2005 Plan, in
  accordance with Rule&nbsp;428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter, the &#147;Securities
  Act&#148;), and the &#147;Note&#148; to Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8. Such documents and the documents incorporated by
  reference herein pursuant to Item&nbsp;3 Part&nbsp;II hereof, taken together constitute a prospectus that
  meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the information is not
  being filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to the &#147;Note&#148; to Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8.
  </DIV>
  <!-- link1 " PART II" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></DIV>
  
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;3. <U>Incorporation of Documents by Reference</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">a.</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December
  31, 2004, filed March&nbsp;4, 2005;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">b.</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>The Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March
  31, 2005, filed May&nbsp;3, 2005;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">c.</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>The Company&#146;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July&nbsp;25, 2005, July&nbsp;21,
  2005, June&nbsp;16, 2005, May&nbsp;18, 2005, April&nbsp;18, 2005, April&nbsp;14, 2005, March&nbsp;10, 2005,
  March&nbsp;2, 2005, February&nbsp;22, 2005, February&nbsp;16, 2005, January&nbsp;18, 2005, and January&nbsp;13,
  2005; and</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">d.</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>The description of the Company&#146;s Common Stock included in its registration
  statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on January&nbsp;21, 1986 and the description
  of the Company&#146;s Renewal Rights Agreement dated as of September&nbsp;14, 2000, as set forth
  on its Form 8-A dated September&nbsp;23, 2000, including all amendments and reports amending
  such descriptions.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-1
  </DIV>
  
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  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, all documents filed by the Company after the initial filing date of this
  Registration Statement pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
  Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
  with indicates that all shares registered hereunder have been sold or which deregisters all shares
  then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this
  registration statement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different
  information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not
  rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
  offer or sale is not permitted.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding exhibits), at no cost, by
  contacting us at the following address: Investor Relations, Attention: Jennifer Kingston,
  Independent Bank Corp., 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370, Telephone: (781)&nbsp;878-6100.
  </DIV>
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;4. <U>Description of Securities</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
  </DIV>
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;5. <U>Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
  </DIV>
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Officers and Directors" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;6. <U>Indemnification of Officers and Directors</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;2.02(b)(4) of Chapter&nbsp;156D of the Massachusetts General Laws allows a corporation to
  eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director of a corporation to the corporation or its
  shareholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director notwithstanding any
  provision of law imposing such liability, except where the director breached his or her duty of
  loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a
  law, authorized the payment of an improper distribution or obtained an improper personal benefit.
  The Company has included a similar provision in its Restated Articles of Organization and Amended
  and Restated Bylaws.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;8.51(a) of Chapter&nbsp;156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  may indemnify its directors against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and
  amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal
  proceeding brought against any director by virtue of his or her position as a director of the
  corporation unless he or she is deemed to have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
  that his or her action was in the best interests of the corporation or was at least not opposed to
  the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no
  reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. As noted below, the Company has
  </DIV>
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-2
  </DIV>
  
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  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">provided for director indemnification in its Restated Articles of Organization and Amended and
  Restated Bylaws.
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;8.52 of Chapter&nbsp;156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  must indemnify a director who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of
  any proceeding to which the director was a party because he or she was a director of the
  corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the proceeding.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;8.56(a) of Chapter&nbsp;156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  may indemnify and advance expenses to its officers to the same extent as its directors and, for
  officers that are not directors, to the extent provided by (i)&nbsp;the articles of organization, (ii)
  the bylaws, (iii)&nbsp;a vote of the board of directors or (iv)&nbsp;a contract. In all instances, the
  extent to which a corporation provides indemnification to its officers under Section&nbsp;8.56 is
  optional. As noted below, the Company has provided for officer indemnification in its Restated
  Articles of Organization and Amended and Restated Bylaws.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, except as limited by law or otherwise
  provided in the Amended and Restated Bylaws, each director or officer of the Company, including any
  person serving at the Company&#146;s request as a director, officer or trustee of another organization
  in which the Company has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (and including such
  person&#146;s respective heirs, executors and administrators), shall be indemnified by the Company
  against any liability or expense incurred in connection with a proceeding in which he or she is a
  party because he or she is a director or officer if: (1)(i) he or she conducted himself or herself
  in good faith, and (ii)&nbsp;he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the best
  interests of the corporation or was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation,
  and (iii)&nbsp;in the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his
  or her conduct was unlawful; or (2)&nbsp;he or she engaged in conduct for which liability has been
  eliminated by Article&nbsp;6 of the Restated Articles of Organization.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company will pay sums on account of indemnification in advance of a final disposition of a
  proceeding upon receipt of (a)&nbsp;a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good
  faith belief that he or she has met the relevant standard of conduct or that the proceeding
  involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under the Restated Articles of
  Organization and (b)&nbsp;an undertaking by the director or officer to repay such sums if it is
  subsequently established that he or she is not entitled to indemnification. The determination of
  whether a director has met the relevant standard of conduct for indemnification under the Amended
  and Restated Bylaws shall be made by (a)&nbsp;a majority vote of the disinterested directors (if there
  are two or more), (b)&nbsp;special legal counsel or (c)&nbsp;a vote of the shareholders (excluding the vote
  of any shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who is not a disinterested
  director).
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Amended and Restated Bylaws do not limit the power of the Board of Directors to authorize
  the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any director or officer against any expense
  whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such director or
  </DIV>
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-3
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">officer against such expense under the Amended and Restated Bylaws. The Company maintains
  directors&#146; and officers&#146; liability insurance.
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="006"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;7. <U>Exemption from Registration Claimed</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
  </DIV>
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;8. <U>Exhibits</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following is an index of all exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.1</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to our annual report on
  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 1992).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.2</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;B to Exhibit&nbsp;1 to our Registration
  Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on October&nbsp;23, 2000).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.3</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Restated Articles of Organization of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit
  99.1 to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;18,
  2005).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">4.4</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Amended and Restated By-laws of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.2
  to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;18,
  2005).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">5.1</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Opinion of Choate, Hall &#038; Stewart LLP as to the legality of the shares being
  registered.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">23.1</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Consent of KPMG LLP.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">23.2</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Consent of Choate, Hall &#038; Stewart LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">24.1</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Power of Attorney (included in page II-7)</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR>
      <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
      <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">99.1</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left">
  <DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
  </DIV>
  
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  <TR>
      <TD width="3%"></TD>
      <TD width="1%"></TD>
      <TD width="96"></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR valign="top">
      <TD nowrap align="left"><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Previously filed and incorporated by reference.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  
  
  <!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="008"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;9. <U>Undertakings</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The Company hereby undertakes:
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
  amendment to this registration statement to include any material information with respect to the
  plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
  to such information in the registration statement;
  </DIV>
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-4
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such
  post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
  the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
  being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
  Securities Act, each filing of our annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
  Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
  a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
  permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Independent Bank Corp. pursuant to the
  foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Independent Bank Corp. has been advised that in the opinion of
  the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid
  by a director, officer or controlling person of Independent Bank Corp. in the successful defense of
  any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of counsel the
  matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
  question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
  Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  </DIV>
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-5
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  <!-- link1 " SIGNATURES" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><U>SIGNATURES</U>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Independent Bank Corp. certifies
  that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
  S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
  thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Rockland, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on July&nbsp;28,
  2005.
  </DIV>
  
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  <TR>
      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
      <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD colspan="3" align="left">INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.<BR>
  &nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR>
      <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ EDWARD H. SEKSAY
  &nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR>
      <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD colspan="2" align="left">Edward H. Seksay&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR><TR>
      <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD colspan="2" align="left">General Counsel&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-6
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  <TR>
      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
  </DIV>
  
  
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes
  and appoints Edward H. Seksay his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with respect to
  the execution and filing of a Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-8 Registration Statement
  for the Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan with full powers of substitution, for him
  or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
  amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the
  same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, and each of them, full power
  and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be in and
  about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
  hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute,
  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
  been signed below on July&nbsp;21, 2005, by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
  </DIV>
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
      <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">NAME</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">CAPACITY</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <!-- End Table Head -->
  <!-- Begin Table Body -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ RICHARD S. ANDERSON</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Richard S. Anderson
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ W. PAUL CLARK</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W. Paul Clark
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ ALFRED L. DONOVAN</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alfred L. Donovan
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ BENJAMIN A. GILMORE II
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Benjamin A. Gilmore II
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ E. WINTHROP HALL
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;E. Winthrop Hall
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ KEVIN J. JONES
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kevin J. Jones
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ DONNA ABELLI LOPOLITO<BR>
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna Abelli Lopolito
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ EILEEN C. MISKELL
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  Eileen C. Miskell
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-7
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Head -->
  <!-- Begin Table Body -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ CHRISTOPHER ODDLEIFSON
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director and Chief Executive Officer and\</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Christopher Oddleifson
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">President (<I>Principal Executive Officer</I>)</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ RICHARD H. SGARZI
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Richard H. Sgarzi
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ JOHN H. SPURR JR.
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;John H. Spurr Jr.
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ ROBERT D. SULLIVAN
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert D. Sullivan
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ BRIAN S. TEDESCHI
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brian S. Tedeschi
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ THOMAS J. TEUTEN
  <DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomas J. Teuten
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Director and Chairman of the Board</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ DENIS K. SHEAHAN
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-size: 1px">&nbsp;</DIV>
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Denis K. Sheahan
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">(<I>Principal Financial and Accounting Officer</I>)</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-8
  </DIV>
  
  <!-- PAGEBREAK -->
  <P><HR noshade><P>
  <H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
  
  <DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
  
  <!-- link1 "INDEX TO EXHIBITS" -->
  <DIV align="left"><A NAME="010"></A></DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><U>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</U>
  </DIV>
  
  <DIV align="center">
  <TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
  <!-- Begin Table Head -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="93%">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
      <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit Number</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  
  <!-- End Table Head -->
  <!-- Begin Table Body -->
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;4.1
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to our annual report on
  Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 1992).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp; 4.2
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;B to Exhibit&nbsp;1 to our Registration
  Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A, filed with the Commission on October&nbsp;23, 2000).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;4.3
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Articles of Organization of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit
  99.1 to our Current Reports on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;18,
  2005).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;4.4
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated By-laws of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.2
  to our Current Reports on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;18,
  2005).<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;5.1
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Choate, Hall &#038; Stewart LLP as to the legality of the shares being
  registered.</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;23.1
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of KPMG LLP.</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;23.2
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Choate, Hall &#038; Stewart LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;24.1
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included in page II-7)</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR valign="bottom">
      <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;99.1
  </DIV></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align="left" valign="top">Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan</TD>
  </TR>
  <!-- End Table Body -->
  </TABLE>
  </DIV>
  
  
  
  <DIV align="left">
  <DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
  </DIV>
  
  <TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
  <TR>
      <TD width="3%"></TD>
      <TD width="1%"></TD>
      <TD width="96"></TD>
  </TR>
  
  <TR valign="top">
      <TD nowrap align="left"><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">&#043;</SUP></TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>Previously filed and incorporated by reference.</TD>
  </TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  <P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-9
  </DIV>
  
  </BODY>
  </HTML>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INDEPENDENT BANK CORP", "cik": "0000776901", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "042870273", "state-of-incorporation": "MI", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-126986", "film-number": "05981505"}, "business-address": {"street1": "288 UNION STREET", "city": "ROCKLAND", "state": "MA", "zip": "02370", "phone": "7818786100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "288 UNION STREET", "city": "ROCKLAND", "state": "MA", "zip": "02370"}}
text: INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
  Table of Contents
  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2005.
  Registration No. 333-_________
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM S-8
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  Under
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Massachusetts
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  04-2870273
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  02370
  (Zip Code)
  Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan
  (Full Title of the Plan)
  Edward H. Seksay
  General Counsel
  Independent Bank Corp.
  288 Union Street
  Rockland, Massachusetts 02370
  (Name, address of agent for service)
  (781) 878-6100
  (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  Proposed maximum
  Title of securities
  Amount to be
  Proposed maximum
  aggregate offering
  Amount of
  to be registered
  registered (1)
  offering price per share (2)
  price (2)
  registration fee
  Common Stock, par
  value $0.01
  per share(3)
  800,000
  $
  29.36
  $
  23,488,000
  $
  2,765
  (1)
  Plus such additional number of shares as may be required pursuant to the plan set forth above
  in the event of a stock dividend, split-up of shares, recapitalization or other similar change
  in the Common Stock.
  (2)
  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, in accordance with Rule
  457(h)(1), on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock, as
  reported on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers
  Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") on July 26, 2005.
  (3)
  There are also registered hereunder the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights issued and attached
  to the Common Stock pursuant to the Renewal Rights Agreement dated as of September 14, 2000
  
  between Independent Bank Corp. and Rockland Trust Company, as rights agent.
  TABLE OF CONTENTS
  PART I
  PART II
  Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
  Item 4. Description of Securities
  Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
  Item 6. Indemnification of Officers and Directors
  Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
  Item 8. Exhibits
  Item 9. Undertakings
  SIGNATURES
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  EX-5.1 OPINION OF CHOATE, HALL & STEWART LLP
  EX-23.1 CONSENT OF KPMG LLP
  EX-99.1 2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN
  Table of Contents
  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  This Registration Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8,
  as amended, and relates to 800,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
  Independent Bank Corp. (the "Company"), which represent shares issuable under the Company's 2005
  Employee Stock Plan (the "2005 Plan").
  PART I
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
  The documents containing the information required in Part I of this registration statement on
  Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") will be sent or given to participants in the 2005 Plan, in
  accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter, the "Securities
  Act"), and the "Note" to Part I of Form S-8. Such documents and the documents incorporated by
  reference herein pursuant to Item 3 Part II hereof, taken together constitute a prospectus that
  meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the information is not
  being filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to the "Note" to Part I of Form S-8.
  PART II
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  Item 3.
  Incorporation of Documents by Reference
  The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:
  a.
  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December
  31, 2004, filed March 4, 2005;
  b.
  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March
  31, 2005, filed May 3, 2005;
  c.
  The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 25, 2005, July 21,
  2005, June 16, 2005, May 18, 2005, April 18, 2005, April 14, 2005, March 10, 2005,
  March 2, 2005, February 22, 2005, February 16, 2005, January 18, 2005, and January 13,
  2005; and
  d.
  The description of the Company's Common Stock included in its registration
  statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on January 21, 1986 and the description
  of the Company's Renewal Rights Agreement dated as of September 14, 2000, as set forth
  on its Form 8-A dated September 23, 2000, including all amendments and reports amending
  such descriptions.
  II-1
  Table of Contents
  In addition, all documents filed by the Company after the initial filing date of this
  Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
  Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
  with indicates that all shares registered hereunder have been sold or which deregisters all shares
  then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
  You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this
  registration statement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different
  information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not
  rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
  offer or sale is not permitted.
  You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding exhibits), at no cost, by
  contacting us at the following address: Investor Relations, Attention: Jennifer Kingston,
  Independent Bank Corp., 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370, Telephone: (781) 878-6100.
  Item 4.
  Description of Securities
  Not applicable.
  Item 5.
  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
  Not applicable.
  Item 6.
  Indemnification of Officers and Directors
  Section 2.02(b)(4) of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws allows a corporation to
  eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director of a corporation to the corporation or its
  shareholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director notwithstanding any
  provision of law imposing such liability, except where the director breached his or her duty of
  loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a
  law, authorized the payment of an improper distribution or obtained an improper personal benefit.
  The Company has included a similar provision in its Restated Articles of Organization and Amended
  and Restated Bylaws.
  Section 8.51(a) of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  may indemnify its directors against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
  amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal
  proceeding brought against any director by virtue of his or her position as a director of the
  corporation unless he or she is deemed to have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
  that his or her action was in the best interests of the corporation or was at least not opposed to
  the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no
  reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. As noted below, the Company has
  II-2
  Table of Contents
  provided for director indemnification in its Restated Articles of Organization and Amended and
  Restated Bylaws.
  Section 8.52 of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  must indemnify a director who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of
  any proceeding to which the director was a party because he or she was a director of the
  corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the proceeding.
  Section 8.56(a) of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation
  may indemnify and advance expenses to its officers to the same extent as its directors and, for
  officers that are not directors, to the extent provided by (i) the articles of organization, (ii)
  the bylaws, (iii) a vote of the board of directors or (iv) a contract. In all instances, the
  extent to which a corporation provides indemnification to its officers under Section 8.56 is
  optional. As noted below, the Company has provided for officer indemnification in its Restated
  Articles of Organization and Amended and Restated Bylaws.
  The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, except as limited by law or otherwise
  provided in the Amended and Restated Bylaws, each director or officer of the Company, including any
  person serving at the Company's request as a director, officer or trustee of another organization
  in which the Company has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (and including such
  person's respective heirs, executors and administrators), shall be indemnified by the Company
  against any liability or expense incurred in connection with a proceeding in which he or she is a
  party because he or she is a director or officer if: (1)(i) he or she conducted himself or herself
  in good faith, and (ii) he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the best
  interests of the corporation or was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation,
  and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his
  or her conduct was unlawful; or (2) he or she engaged in conduct for which liability has been
  eliminated by Article 6 of the Restated Articles of Organization.
  The Company will pay sums on account of indemnification in advance of a final disposition of a
  proceeding upon receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good
  faith belief that he or she has met the relevant standard of conduct or that the proceeding
  involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under the Restated Articles of
  Organization and (b) an undertaking by the director or officer to repay such sums if it is
  subsequently established that he or she is not entitled to indemnification. The determination of
  whether a director has met the relevant standard of conduct for indemnification under the Amended
  and Restated Bylaws shall be made by (a) a majority vote of the disinterested directors (if there
  are two or more), (b) special legal counsel or (c) a vote of the shareholders (excluding the vote
  of any shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who is not a disinterested
  director).
  The Amended and Restated Bylaws do not limit the power of the Board of Directors to authorize
  the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any director or officer against any expense
  whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such director or
  II-3
  Table of Contents
  officer against such expense under the Amended and Restated Bylaws. The Company maintains
  directors' and officers' liability insurance.
  Item 7.
  Exemption from Registration Claimed
  Not applicable.
  Item 8.
  Exhibits
  The following is an index of all exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement.
  4.1
  Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our annual report on
  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992).
  +
  4.2
  Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit B to Exhibit 1 to our Registration
  Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on October 23, 2000).
  +
  4.3
  Restated Articles of Organization of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit
  99.1 to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 18,
  2005).
  +
  4.4
  Amended and Restated By-laws of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit 99.2
  to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 18,
  2005).
  +
  5.1
  Opinion of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP as to the legality of the shares being
  registered.
  23.1
  Consent of KPMG LLP.
  23.2
  Consent of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1
  Power of Attorney (included in page II-7)
  99.1
  Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan
  +
  Previously filed and incorporated by reference.
  Item 9.
  Undertakings
  (a) The Company hereby undertakes:
  (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
  amendment to this registration statement to include any material information with respect to the
  plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
  to such information in the registration statement;
  II-4
  Table of Contents
  (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such
  post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
  the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
  (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
  being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  (b) The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
  Securities Act, each filing of our annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
  Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
  a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
  permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Independent Bank Corp. pursuant to the
  foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Independent Bank Corp. has been advised that in the opinion of
  the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid
  by a director, officer or controlling person of Independent Bank Corp. in the successful defense of
  any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of counsel the
  matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
  question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
  Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  II-5
  Table of Contents
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Independent Bank Corp. certifies
  that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
  S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
  thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Rockland, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on July 28,
  2005.
  INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
  By:
  /s/ EDWARD H. SEKSAY
  Edward H. Seksay
  General Counsel
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  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes
  and appoints Edward H. Seksay his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with respect to
  the execution and filing of a Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-8 Registration Statement
  for the Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan with full powers of substitution, for him
  or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
  amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the
  same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, and each of them, full power
  and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be in and
  about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
  hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute,
  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
  been signed below on July 21, 2005, by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
  NAME
  CAPACITY
  /s/ RICHARD S. ANDERSON
  Richard S. Anderson
  Director
  /s/ W. PAUL CLARK
  W. Paul Clark
  Director
  /s/ ALFRED L. DONOVAN
  Alfred L. Donovan
  Director
  /s/ BENJAMIN A. GILMORE II
  Benjamin A. Gilmore II
  Director
  /s/ E. WINTHROP HALL
  E. Winthrop Hall
  Director
  /s/ KEVIN J. JONES
  Kevin J. Jones
  Director
  /s/ DONNA ABELLI LOPOLITO
  Donna Abelli Lopolito
  Director
  /s/ EILEEN C. MISKELL
  Eileen C. Miskell
  Director
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  /s/ CHRISTOPHER ODDLEIFSON
  Director and Chief Executive Officer and\
  Christopher Oddleifson
  President (
  Principal Executive Officer
  )
  /s/ RICHARD H. SGARZI
  Richard H. Sgarzi
  Director
  /s/ JOHN H. SPURR JR.
  John H. Spurr Jr.
  Director
  /s/ ROBERT D. SULLIVAN
  Robert D. Sullivan
  Director
  /s/ BRIAN S. TEDESCHI
  Brian S. Tedeschi
  Director
  /s/ THOMAS J. TEUTEN
  Thomas J. Teuten
  Director and Chairman of the Board
  /s/ DENIS K. SHEAHAN
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  Denis K. Sheahan
  (
  Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
  )
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  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit Number
  4.1
  Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our annual report on
  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992).
  +
  4.2
  Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit B to Exhibit 1 to our Registration
  Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on October 23, 2000).
  +
  4.3
  Restated Articles of Organization of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit
  99.1 to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 18,
  2005).
  +
  4.4
  Amended and Restated By-laws of Independent Bank Corp. (filed as Exhibit 99.2
  to our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 18,
  2005).
  +
  5.1
  Opinion of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP as to the legality of the shares being
  registered.
  23.1
  Consent of KPMG LLP.
  23.2
  Consent of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1
  Power of Attorney (included in page II-7)
  99.1
  Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan
  +
  Previously filed and incorporated by reference.
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