Exhibit 23(a)









                          Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors
Valley National Bancorp:

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement of
Form S-8 of our report  dated  January  21, 1998  relating  to the  consolidated
statements of financial condition of Valley National Bancorp and subsidiaries as
of December 31, 1997 and 1996 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, 1997, which report appears in the December
31, 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Valley National  Bancorp  incorporated by
reference  herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading  "Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel" in the registration statement.



                                                    
                                                        KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP


Short Hills, New Jersey
October 21, 1998