EXHIBIT 23


                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
Banknorth Group, Inc.:


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on
Form S-8 (Nos. 33-22205, 33-22206, 33-80310, 333-17467, 333-46367, 333-49999,
333-70095, 333-72909, 333-36834, 333-61436, 333-72692, 333-97311, 333-102331 and
333-103312), on Form S-3 (No. 333-81980) and on Form S-4 (No. 333-61757) of
Banknorth Group, Inc. of our report, dated January 13, 2003, with respect to the
consolidated balance sheets of Banknorth Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2002 and
2001, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2002, which report appears in the December 31, 2002
annual report on Form 10-K of Banknorth Group, Inc. Our report refers to the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," and SFAS No. 147, "Acquisitions of
Certain Financial Institutions."

                                                /s/ KPMG LLP


Boston, Massachusetts
March 7, 2003