Exhibit 23.1


                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-30913, 333-67677, 333-30915, 333-16967,
333-47747, 333-30812 and 333-37722) and Form S-3 (Nos. 333-61679, 333-70025,
333-94343 and 333-35622) of Greater Bay Bancorp of our report dated October 25,
2001 relating to the supplemental consolidated financial statements, which
appears in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
October 25, 2001