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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H5XEkJFULPDAEk92jpkTGth1RhDm5sDsWwABg+ulMw2FpcQeS+7+WDtoTTGkv8Q/
 kJdWQodBViQ3QiPI9mh4Ww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000872835-04-000007.txt : 20040112
<SEC-HEADER>0000872835-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040112160513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000872835-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040112

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESB FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000872835
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				251659846
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 LAWRENCE AVE
		CITY:			ELLWOOD CITY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16117
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7247585584

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 LAWRENCE AVENUE
		CITY:			ELLWOOD CITY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16117

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PENNFIRST BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960126

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PENNWEST BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HILLIARD ROBERT C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180113

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19345
		FILM NUMBER:		04520824

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESB BANK
		STREET 2:		600 LAWRENCE AVE
		CITY:			ELLWOOD CITY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16117
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7247585584

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ESB BANK
		STREET 2:		600 LAWRENCE AVE
		CITY:			ELLWOOD CITY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16117
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000872835</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESB FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESBF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180113</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILLIARD ROBERT C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>724 PERRY HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15229-1160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Group Sr VP Audit/Compliance</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16042</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14588</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivative
Holding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2701</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Son</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48543.489</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>ESOP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1979.4297</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowing
Transaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5404</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Mother-in-law, disclaims beneficial ownership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-07-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><under
lyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6879</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6879</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.14</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-06-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-06-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6898</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6898</value></sharesOwnedFollow
ingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.47</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-06-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6272</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6272</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock 
Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.37</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-06-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-06-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8553</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8553</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-06-20</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><u
nderlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>13824</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13824</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.83</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4752</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4752</value></sharesOwned
FollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.83</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-11-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4800</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>
Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.35</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on June 20, 2001</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person
 is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose - Owned by Dorothy S. Peters, mother-in-law of the reporting person who has Power of Attorney for Mrs. Peters.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Between 5-1-03 and 12-31-03 the reporting person acquired 176.54873 shares of ESB common stock under the ESB Financial Corporation 401(k) Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert C. Hilliard</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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