Exhibit 23(a)

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


   The Board of Directors
   Valley National Bancorp

We consent to incorporation by reference herein and to the reference to our firm
under the heading  "Interest of Named  Experts and Counsel" in the  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of Valley National Bancorp of our report dated January 22,
1997,  relating to the consolidated  statements of financial condition of Valley
National  Bancorp  and  subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 1996 and 1995 and the
related consolidated  statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period  ended  December 31,
1996,  which report  appears in the December 31, 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Valley National Bancorp.



                                                   /S/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                                   KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP


   Short Hills, New Jersey
   April 17, 1997