<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000776901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INDEPENDENT BANK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INDB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220109</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MISKELL EILEEN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>288 UNION STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02370</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>854</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.4445</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11676.726</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3382.587</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2029.554</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares acquired as a result of participation in the Independent Bank Corp. Directors Deferred Compensation Program.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Holdings include 800 shares of restricted stock, 3,983.7715* shares held individually by filer, and 6,892.9556* shares held jt. w/spouse. *Such holdings reflect 39.9966 and 88.0877 shares, respectively, received pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. Dividend Reinvestment Plan since last Form 4 filing (7/07). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held by Company on which Filer is Treasurer.  Total holdings reflect 43.2274 shares received pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. Dividend Reinvestment Plan since last Form 4 filing (7/07). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares held by spouse.  Total holdings include 25.9365 shares received pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. Dividend Reinvestment Plan since last Form 4 filing (7/07). Such transactions are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the undersigned is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jennifer M. Kingston, Power of Attorney  For: Eileen C. Miskell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
