PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF FIRST
                              MORRIS BANK & TRUST

JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 2, 2007 / PRNewswire-First  Call/ --Provident Financial
Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS)  ("Provident") announced today that its acquisition of
First Morris Bank & Trust  ("First  Morris") was  completed on April 1, 2007. In
accordance  with the  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 15, 2006,
First Morris merged with and into  Provident's  subsidiary,  The Provident  Bank
(the "Bank").

The combined company has assets of  approximately  $6.3 billion and a network of
84 branches serving  customers in ten counties  throughout  northern and central
New Jersey.  Provident will issue approximately 3.3 million shares of its common
stock and pay approximately $62 million in cash to First Morris' stockholders in
the transaction.

In commenting on the merger,  Paul M.  Pantozzi,  Provident's  Chairman and CEO,
said,  "I  want  to  warmly  welcome  First  Morris'  customers,  employees  and
stockholders  to Provident.  This  combination  greatly  enhances our ability to
serve the  financial  needs of  businesses  and  individuals  in the  strong and
growing  Morris  County  market.  I also want to  welcome  Brian  Giovinazzi  as
Executive Vice President of the Bank and Katharine Laud as a member of the Board
of  Directors  of both  Provident  and the Bank."

Under the terms of the merger  agreement,  50% of First Morris common stock will
be converted into Provident common stock and the remaining 50% will be converted
into cash.  Each  First  Morris  stockholder  had the option to elect to receive
either  2.1337  shares  of  Provident  common  stock or  $39.75  in  cash,  or a
combination  of  Provident  stock and cash for each First  Morris  common  share
owned,  subject to  proration to ensure that in the  aggregate  50% of the First
Morris  shares will be converted  into  Provident  common  stock.  Materials for
making such an election were mailed to First Morris stockholders of record as of
March 2, 2007.  The deadline for the return of the election  forms was March 29,
2007.  The election  and  proration  results will be announced  when they become
available this week.

Provident  was  advised  by the  investment  banking  firm of  Banc  of  America
Securities  LLC and the law firm of Luse Gorman  Pomerenk & Schick,  P.C.  First
Morris was advised by the  investment  banking firm of Keefe,  Bruyette & Woods,
Inc. and the law firm of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP.

This news release contains certain forward-looking  statements.  Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the fact that they include words like "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate,"  "estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs
such as  "will,"  "would,"  "should,"  "could,"  or "may."  Provident  Financial
Services, Inc. does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to
publicly  release  the  results  of  any  revisions  that  may  be  made  to any
forward-looking   statements  to  reflect  the   occurrence  of  anticipated  or
unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.


Contact:
Kenneth J. Wagner
SVP - Investor Relations
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
(201) 915-5344
ken.wagner@providentnj.com