INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
The Board of Directors
Valley National Bancorp:
We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form
S-8 of Valley National Bancorp of our report dated January 19, 2000 relating to
the consolidated statements of financial condition of Valley National Bancorp
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 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, 1999, which report
appears in the December 31, 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Valley National
Bancorp. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption
"Interests of Named Experts and Counsel."
KPMG LLP
Short Hills, New Jersey
January 18, 2001
