1






Exhibit 99.1     Press Release




 2


PRESS RELEASE

WEST ESSEX BANCORP, INC.                                              CONTACT:
                                                            Dennis A. Petrello
                          Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                                                (973) 226-7911


                           WEST ESSEX BANCORP, INC.
                ANNOUNCES 5 FOR 4 STOCK SPLIT AND CASH DIVIDEND

     Caldwell,  NJ, September 28, 2001. West Essex Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company")
(Nasdaq:  WEBK)  announced  today  a 5  for  4  stock  split  of  the  Company's
outstanding common stock. The stock split entitles each shareholder of record at
the close of business on October 8, 2001 to receive 1 additional share for every
4 shares of Company common stock held on that date. Cash will be paid in lieu of
fractional   shares.   Additional  shares  resulting  from  the  split  will  be
distributed  by the Company's  transfer  agent on October 22, 2001.  The Company
currently has approximately 4 million shares of common stock outstanding.

     In  addition,  the  Company  announced  today that it has  declared a $0.15
(pre-split)  or $0.12  (post-split)  per share cash dividend on its  outstanding
common stock. The cash dividend will be payable October 22, 2001 to shareholders
of record as of October 8, 2001.

     The Company is the holding company for West Essex Bank and is headquartered
in Caldwell, New Jersey.

     Statements contained in this news release,  which are not historical facts,
are forward looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995. Such  forward-looking  statements are subject to
risks and  uncertainties,  which could cause actual results to differ materially
from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors,  which include, but
are not limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission from time to time. The Company disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements.