INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in Registration  Statement Numbers
33-99112 and  333-6859 on Form S-8 of Monterey  Bay Bancorp,  Inc. of our report
dated  February  11,  2000,  March 6,  2000 as to Note 14  (which  expresses  an
unqualified  opinion  and  includes  an  explanatory  paragraph  relating to the
restatement  described in Note 24), appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Monterey Bay Bancorp, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1999.




/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
San Francisco, California
March 27, 2000