Exhibit 23




            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors
Provident New York Bancorp:

We consent to the use of our reports with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and all related financial statement schedules, management's
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included
(incorporated by reference) herein and to the reference to our firm under the
heading "Experts" in the prospectus.


/s/ KPMG LLP


New York, New York
December 8, 2005