Valley National Bancorp (VLY) 10-K 2003 FY Annual report

EXHIBIT 23.1

Independent Auditors’ Consent

The Board of Directors

Valley National Bancorp:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements No. 33-52809, No. 33-56933, No. 333-25419, No. 333-65993, No. 333-75889, No. 333-77673 and No. 333-80507, No. 333-53888, No. 333-36667 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No. 333-70996 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement No. 333-56425 on Form S-3D of Valley National Bancorp of our report dated January 16, 2002 relating to the consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of Valley National Bancorp and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2001, which report appears in the December 31, 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Valley National Bancorp.

KPMG LLP

Short Hills, New Jersey

March 3, 2004