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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1



NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2002


                           Contact:    Dennis A. Petrello, Senior Executive Vice
                                       President and Chief Financial Officer
                                       West Essex Bancorp, Inc.
                                       (973) 226-7911


          WEST ESSEX BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT AND
                   PLAN OF MERGER WITH KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.

      Caldwell, NJ, September 11, 2002 - West Essex Bancorp, Inc. ("West Essex
Bancorp") announced today that Kearny Financial Corp., Kearny, New Jersey
("Kearny") and West Essex Bancorp have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Agreement") pursuant to which West Essex Bancorp will merge with
and into Kearny. Kearny is the parent company of Kearny Federal Savings Bank, a
federally-chartered savings bank, and is a federally-chartered mid-tier holding
company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Kearny MHC, a federally-chartered mutual
holding company. West Essex Bancorp is the parent company of West Essex Bank, a
federally-chartered stock savings bank, and is a federally-chartered mid-tier
holding company and wholly-owned subsidiary of West Essex Bancorp M.H.C. ("West
Essex MHC"), a federally-chartered mutual holding company. Pursuant to the
Agreement, the mutual holding company structure of West Essex MHC will be
eliminated and West Essex Bank will ultimately merge with and into Kearny
Federal Savings Bank. The stockholders of West Essex Bancorp other than West
Essex MHC (the "Public Stockholders") will receive $35.10 in cash in exchange
for each share of common stock.

      The transaction is subject to several conditions, including the receipt of
regulatory approvals and the approval of the stockholders of West Essex Bancorp.
In connection with the transaction, Kearny Federal Savings Bank will appoint Mr.
Leopold W. Montanaro, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of West
Essex Bancorp to its board of directors and will establish a West Essex Advisory
Board of Directors, which will include all the remaining directors of West Essex
Bank. The depositors of West Essex Bank will become depositors of Kearny Federal
Savings Bank. The common stock of West Essex Bancorp currently trades on the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "WEBK."

      Mr. Montanaro, stated, "We are very excited about becoming part of Kearny.
We believe this type of transaction allows our Public Stockholders to receive a
significant premium for their stock while our depositors retain their membership
rights in Kearny. The combination of Kearny Federal Savings Bank and West Essex
Bank will ultimately create a substantial franchise in the


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New Jersey market and enable West Essex customers to continue to enjoy superior
banking services with an enlarged branch network and expanded services."

      John N. Hopkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Federal
Savings Bank, stated, "Kearny Federal Savings Bank has continued to expand and
grow its franchise during the past several years through mergers, acquisitions
of branch offices and internal expansion. We believe that the acquisition of
West Essex Bank will enable Kearny Federal Savings to continue to expand its
franchise. Upon completion of this merger and another with Pulaski Savings Bank
that was announced in January 2002, we will have a total of twenty-five offices.
Kearny Federal Savings Bank will be able to offer expanded services and a larger
network of branches and ATMs to all of its current customers, and those of
Pulaski Savings Bank and West Essex Bank. West Essex Bank is a
community-oriented local financial institution, as are Kearny Federal Savings
and Pulaski Savings."

      Kearny Federal Savings Bank currently operates ten offices in Hudson,
Bergen, Passaic, and Morris Counties, New Jersey. As of June 30, 2002, Kearny
Financial Corp. had total assets of $1.3 billion, deposits totaling $1.0 billion
and capital of $227 million. As of June 30, 2002, West Essex Bancorp had total
assets of $390.3 million, deposits of $246.4 million and stockholders' equity of
$50.8 million. West Essex currently operates out of its headquarters and eight
bank branches located in the cities of Caldwell, Pine Brook, Franklin Lakes,
Northvale, Old Tappan, West Orange and River Vale.

      Investors and security holders are advised to read the proxy statement and
other documents related to the Kearny and West Essex merger when they become
available and any amendments to these documents when they become available
because they will contain important information. Investors and security holders
may obtain these documents free of charge, when available, and other documents
filed by West Essex Bancorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the
SEC's Internet web site (www.sec.gov). These documents may be obtained for free
from West Essex Bancorp by directing such request to West Essex Bancorp, Inc.,
Investor Relations Department, 417 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, New Jersey
07006, telephone (973) 226-7911.

      West Essex Bancorp and its directors intend to solicit proxies from West
Essex Bancorp shareholders in favor of the merger. The names of the directors of
West Essex Bancorp and information regarding their security holdings may be
obtained for free from West Essex Bancorp by directing such request to West
Essex Bancorp, Inc., Investor Relations Department, 417 Bloomfield Avenue,
Caldwell, New Jersey 07006, telephone (973) 226-7911.