EXHIBIT 23.4







                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference  into this  Registration  Statement  on Form S-3 of our  report  dated
January 23, 1997, with respect to  Metropolitan  State Bank's 1996 statements of
income,  changes  in  shareholders'  equity  and cash  flows for the year  ended
December 31, 1996,  which were  previously  included in Lakeland  Bancorp Inc.'s
Form  8-K  dated  October  12,  1999 and to all  references  to our Firm in this
Registration Statement.


                                                          Arthur Andersen LLP


Roseland, New Jersey
October 20, 1999