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                                                                   EXHIBIT 24.17


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                         Know all men by these presents:

               That I William F. Casey, Jr. of The Co-operative Central Bank,
75 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116-3934 as a member of the Board of Directors
of THE NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE BANK, do hereby make, constitute and
appoint as my true lawful attorney in fact Richard L. Reed or Louise M. Grant
for me and in my name, place and stead to sign any and all of the following
and amendments thereto executed on behalf of THE NATIONAL CONSUMER
COOPERATIVE BANK and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
follows:

Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE BANK.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of
       May, 2002.


/s/  WILLIAM F. CASEY, JR.
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Signature


State of   MASS             )
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                            )             SS:
County of  Suffolk          )
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     On this 9th day of May, 2002, before me personally appeared the
above, to me known and known to me to be the person mentioned and described in
and who executed the foregoing instrument and he duly acknowledged to me that he
executed the same.