Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-30913, 333-67677, 333-30915, 333-16967 and 333-477475) and Form S-3 (Nos. 333-61679 and 333-70025) of Greater Bay Bancorp of our report dated January 31, 2000 relating to the supplemental consolidated financial statements, which appears in this Current Report on Form 8-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP San Francisco, California January 31, 2000