EXHIBIT 23.6

                        CONSENT OF RYAN BECK & CO., INC.

      We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board of
Directors of Chart Bank, A Cooperative Bank ("Chart"), dated September 1, 2004
that forms a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to the
proposed merger of Chart with Benjamin Franklin Bancorp, as Appendix B to the
Proxy Statement-Prospectus, and to the references to such opinion in such Proxy
Statement-Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we
are experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the
meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.

                                                        Ryan Beck & Co., Inc.

                                                        /s/ Fred Schluter
                                                        _____________________
                                                        Fred Schluter
                                                        Managing Director

December 22, 2004