<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000714310 <NAME> Valley National Bancorp <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <CASH> 165,344 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 37,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 941,093 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 358,489 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 313,289 <LOANS> 4,629,637 <ALLOWANCE> 55,150 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,292,729 <DEPOSITS> 5,018,217 <SHORT-TERM> 114,710 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 47,392 <LONG-TERM> 591,845 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,956 <OTHER-SE> 494,609 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 6,292,729 <INTEREST-LOAN> 183,024 <INTEREST-INVEST> 42,291 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,564 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 226,879 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 78,264 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 98,647 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 128,232 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,700 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 68,224 <INCOME-PRETAX> 80,573 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 80,573 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 53,603 <EPS-BASIC> 0.88 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.87 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.36 <LOANS-NON> 6,166 <LOANS-PAST> 11,538 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 4,765 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 55,120 <CHARGE-OFFS> 5,493 <RECOVERIES> 1,823 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 55,150 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 41,467 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 156 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 13,527