Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Form S-3 Registration Statement of Greater Bay Bancorp of our report dated March 14, 2005, relating to the consolidated financial statements, managements’ assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Greater Bay Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Francisco, California

November 17, 2005