NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Kenneth J. Wagner, SVP Investor Relations
         Provident Financial Services, Inc.
         (201) 915-5344

FOR RELEASE: 7:45 A.M. Eastern Time: July 16, 2009


       Provident Financial Services, Inc. Announces Retirement of CFO and
                            Designation of Successor


JERSEY CITY, NJ, July 16, 2009 ---/  PRNewswire-First  Call/ Provident Financial
Services,  Inc.  (NYSE:PFS)  (the  "Company")  announced  that  Linda  A.  Niro,
Executive  Vice  President  and Chief  Financial  Officer of the Company and The
Provident Bank, will retire effective September 29, 2009. Thomas M. Lyons, First
Vice  President  and Chief  Accounting  Officer of The  Provident  Bank has been
appointed  Senior Vice  President  and will assume the title of Chief  Financial
Officer of both the Company and The Provident Bank upon Ms. Niro's retirement.

Ms. Niro, who has held many  positions  with The Provident  Bank  throughout her
distinguished  career  spanning  over 30 years,  has  served as Chief  Financial
Officer  of the  Company  since its  formation  in 2003 in  connection  with the
mutual-to-stock conversion of The Provident Bank, and as Chief Financial Officer
of The Provident Bank since 2000. During her career,  Provident has grown from a
primarily Hudson  County-based  savings bank with assets of  approximately  $660
million to a full service  community  bank with over $6 billion in assets and 81
banking offices throughout northern and central New Jersey.

"Linda has played an instrumental  role in leading  Provident through periods of
significant change in the banking industry, and in Provident's transition from a
mutual savings bank to a publicly traded community  banking  company.  We deeply
appreciate her  leadership and  experience,  which have  contributed  greatly to
Provident's  success,"  stated Paul M.  Pantozzi,  Chairman and Chief  Executive
Officer  of the  Company.  "On  behalf  of the  Board  of  Directors,  executive
management  and all employees of  Provident,  we wish Linda the very best in her
future endeavors."

Mr.  Lyons,  who is a CPA,  joined the  Company and The  Provident  Bank in 2004
following the merger of First Sentinel Bancorp,  Inc. with and into the Company.
He was formerly  Executive Vice President and Chief  Financial  Officer of First
Sentinel.  In his current role as Chief Accounting  Officer,  Mr. Lyons oversees
accounting policy and financial reporting.



"While we will miss Linda's experience and leadership,  we are fortunate to have
an  individual  of  Tom's  caliber  and  experience  to step in and  assume  the
responsibilities  of  Chief  Financial  Officer,"  added  Mr.  Pantozzi.  "We're
confident  that Tom's close working  relationship  with Linda over the past five
years will allow for a seamless transition of responsibilities."

About the Company

Provident  Financial  Services,  Inc. is the holding  company for The  Provident
Bank, a  community-oriented  bank offering a full range of retail and commercial
loan and deposit  products.  The Provident Bank officially marked its 170th year
of existence  this year,  having been  established  in 1839.  The Provident Bank
currently operates 82 full service branches  throughout northern and central New
Jersey.



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