PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 555 California Street 36th Floor San Francisco CA 94104 Main Phone (415) 393-8500 Main Fax (415) 393-8644 San Francisco, California July 1, 1999 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, and 333-47747) of Greater Bay Bancorp of our report dated June 30, 1999 on our audits of the Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements of Greater Bay Bancorp and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 5