Exhibit 23.1



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


The Board of Directors
Provident Bancorp, Inc.:


We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No.
333-49344) on Form S-8 of Provident Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated October
26, 2001 (except as to note 2 which is as of November 2, 2001), relating to the
consolidated statements of financial condition of Provident Bancorp, Inc. and
subsidiary as of September 30, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated
statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each
of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2001, which report
appears in the September 30, 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Provident
Bancorp, Inc..


/s/ KPMG LLP
------------
KPMG LLP


Stamford, Connecticut
December 27, 2001