NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:        John F. Kuntz, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
                Provident Financial Services, Inc.
                (201) 915-5701

FOR RELEASE 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time: November 23, 2005


Provident Financial Services, Inc. Names Two New Directors

JERSEY CITY, NJ November 23 /PRNewswire-First Call/ - Provident Financial
Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) (the "Company") today announced that Thomas W. Berry
and Christopher Martin have been named to the Boards of Directors of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Provident Bank.

Thomas W. Berry was a partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and became a retired
partner in 1998. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1972 and became a partner in 1986,
where he had senior responsibilities for utilities and telecommunications
companies. Mr. Berry was a founding director of Red Oak Bank, a community bank
which operated in Morris County, New Jersey before it was acquired earlier this
year. Mr. Berry currently serves as a director of the Hyde and Watson
Foundation, as a trustee of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, as Vice
Chairman of the North American Electric Reliability Council, and as a member of
the board of trustees of Brown University. He also previously served as the
Chairman of the Board of Kessler Rehabilitation Corporation. Mr. Berry received
his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his MBA from Harvard
University Graduate School of Business.

Christopher Martin has served as President of the Company and The Provident Bank
since July of 2004 and he will continue to serve in those capacities. Mr. Martin
previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of First
Sentinel Bancorp, Inc, which was acquired by the Company in July of 2004. The
appointment of Mr. Martin satisfies the Company's commitment to add a third
former director of First Sentinel to the Boards of Directors of the Company and
The Provident Bank. Mr. Martin is a trustee of the Flame of Charity Foundation
supporting Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Metuchen, Vice President and
Treasurer of The 200 Club of Middlesex County, an organization that provides
financial assistance and scholarships to families of law enforcement and public
safety officials, and is a member of the Investment Committee for Raritan Bay
Medical Center.

"With these board appointments we have added significant community banking
experience to our Board of Directors," said Paul M. Pantozzi, the Company's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "I am sure both Tom and Chris will make
positive contributions to Provident's ongoing success and growth," Pantozzi
added.

Provident Financial Services, Inc., which reported assets of $6.2 billion as of
September 30, 2005, is the holding company for The Provident Bank. Founded in
1839, the bank has 76 branches in northern and central New Jersey.

This news release may contain a number of forward-looking statements, as that
term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due
to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed
in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
from time to time. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after
the date on which such statements were made. Access the filings and other
financial and business information regarding the Company at www.providentnj.com.