SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 11-K

                                  ANNUAL REPORT
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

[x]      ANNUAL  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  
         EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934  [NO FEE  REQUIRED, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7, 1996].

For the fiscal year ended           December 30, 2004                         
                           ---------------------------------------------------

                                       OR

[  ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
         ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED].

For the transition period from _______________ to  ______________________

                             Commission File Number 001-31566
                                                    ---------

         A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different
            from that of the issuer named below:

                    The Provident Bank Employee Savings Incentive Plan

         B: Name of  issuer  of the  securities  held  pursuant  to the  plan  
            and the  address  of its  principal executive office:

                       Provident Financial Services, Inc.
                                830 Bergen Avenue
                       Jersey City, New Jersey 07306-4599





            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm







The Board of Directors
Provident Financial Services, Inc.:

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  registration  statement  no.
333-103041 on Form S-8 of Provident Financial Services, Inc. of our report dated
June 17,  2005,  relating to the  financial  statements  of The  Provident  Bank
Employee  Savings  Incentive  Plan as of December 30, 2004 and 2003, and for the
years then  ended,  and  supplemental  schedule  of assets  held for  investment
purposes at end of year as of December  30, 2004,  which  report  appears in the
Annual Report on Form 11-K of The  Provident  Bank  Employee  Savings  Incentive
Plan.

                                  /S/ KPMG LLP

Short Hills, New Jersey
June 28, 2005





                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Financial Statements and Schedule

                           December 30, 2004 and 2003

        (With Report of Independent Registered Public Accountant Thereon)




                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Notes to the Financial Statements
                           December 30, 2004 and 2003



                                      Index

                                                                        Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                    1

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits - December 30, 2004
   and 2003                                                                2

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits - Years ended
December 30, 2004 and 2003                                                 3

Notes to the Financial Statements                                          4

Schedule

1    Schedule H, Item 4(i) - Schedule of Assets  (Held at End of Year)
     December 30, 2004                                                     8






             Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm



Benefits Committee
The Provident Bank:


We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for plan
benefits of The Provident Bank Employee  Savings  Incentive Plan (the "Plan") as
of December  30, 2004 and 2003,  and the  related  statements  of changes in net
assets  available  for plan benefits for the years then ended.  These  financial
statements are the responsibility of the Plan's  management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance  with the standards of the Public  Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a
test basis,  evidence  supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial
statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant  estimates  made by  management,  as well as evaluating  the overall
financial  statement  presentation.   We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a
reasonable  basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all  material  respects,  the net  assets  available  for plan  benefits  of The
Provident Bank Employee Savings Incentive Plan as of December 30, 2004 and 2003,
and the changes in net assets  available  for plan  benefits  for the years then
ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements  taken as a whole.  The  supplementary  schedule of assets
(held at end of year) is presented  for purposes of  additional  analysis and is
not a required part of the 2004 basic financial statements, but is supplementary
information  required by the  Department  of Labor's Rules and  Regulations  for
Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management.
The supplemental  schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied
in the audit of the 2004 basic  financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  is
fairly stated in all material  respects in relation to the 2004 basic  financial
statements taken as a whole.


/s/ KPMG LLP



June 17, 2005




                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                       Statements of Net Assets Available
                                  For Benefits

                           December 30, 2004 and 2003





                                                                                           2004                 2003
                                                                                     ------------------  -------------------
                                                                                                         

Assets:
    Investments, at fair value                                                       $    23,287,083           20,902,945  
    Participant loans receivable                                                             478,639              216,957  
    Contributions receivable                                                                  24,480               97,535  
    Fee sharing receivable                                                                    47,260               47,260  
                                                                                     ------------------  -------------------

Liabilities:
    Participant loans payable                                                                    --                 4,500  
    Other payables                                                                             5,297               29,299  
                                                                                     ------------------  -------------------

             Net assets available for benefits                                       $    23,832,165           21,230,898  
                                                                                     ==================  ===================


See accompanying notes to financial statements.





                                       2



                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                       Statements of Changes in Net Assets
                             Available for Benefits

                     Years ended December 30, 2004 and 2003






                                                                                           2004                2003
                                                                                      -------------------------------------
                                                                                                         

Additions:
    Interest income                                                                    $      14,456              14,907  
    Dividend income                                                                          103,639              60,656  
    Realized and unrealized appreciation of investments                                    1,078,883           6,017,984  
    Employee contributions                                                                 1,989,883           1,642,385  
    Employer contributions                                                                   721,953           1,024,598  
                                                                                      -----------------   -----------------

                               Total additions                                             3,908,814           8,760,530  
                                                                                      -----------------   -----------------

Deductions:
    Distributions                                                                          1,169,568           1,559,776  
    Administrative expenses                                                                  137,979             124,062  
                                                                                      -----------------   -----------------

                               Total deductions                                            1,307,547           1,683,838  
                                                                                      -----------------   -----------------


                               Increase in net assets                                      2,601,267           7,076,692  


Net assets available for benefits
    at beginning of year                                                                  21,230,898          14,154,206  
                                                                                      -----------------   -----------------


Net assets available for benefits
    at end of year                                                                     $  23,832,165          21,230,898  
                                                                                      =================   =================

See accompanying notes to financial statements.




                                       3



                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Notes to the Financial Statements
                           December 30, 2004 and 2003



(1)      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

         (a)      Basis of Presentation

                  The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on an
                  accrual basis of accounting. The Provident Bank Employee
                  Savings Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is subject to the
                  provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
                  1974 ("ERISA").

         (b)      Funds and Accounts Managed by UBS Fiduciary Trust Company

                  Under  the  terms  of a  trust  agreement  between  the  UBS
                  Fiduciary Trust Company (the  "custodian") and The Provident
                  Bank (the  "Bank"),  the  custodian  manages  nine  funds on
                  behalf  of  the  Plan.   The  custodian   holds  the  Plan's
                  investment  assets and executes  transactions  therein.  The
                  investments  in the funds have been  reported to the Bank by
                  the custodian as having been  determined  through the use of
                  current values for all assets.

         (c)      Use of Estimates

                  The plan administrator has made estimates and assumptions
                  relating to the preparation of the financial statements in
                  conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
                  the United States of America. Actual results could differ from
                  those estimates.

         (d)      Concentration of Risk

                  The assets of the Plan are primarily financial instruments
                  which are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have
                  a more significant impact on the Plan's performance than the
                  effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not
                  necessarily move in the same direction or in the same
                  magnitude as the prices of goods and services as measured by
                  the consumer price index. Investments in investment funds are
                  subject to risk conditions of the individual fund objectives,
                  stock market fluctuations, interest rates, economic conditions
                  and world affairs.

(2)      Plan Description

The Plan is a voluntary, participant-directed defined contribution plan
sponsored by the Bank and covers all employees who are at least 18 years old and
who have completed one year of continuous service, as defined, with the Bank and
who have worked at least 1,000 hours during such year. The following description
of the Plan provides only general information. Eligible employees who
participate should refer to the Plan Agreement for a more complete description
of the Plan's provisions.

                                       4


                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Notes to the Financial Statements
                           December 30, 2004 and 2003


         (a)      Employee Contributions

                  Until March 31, 2003, participants could elect to make
                  voluntary contributions of 1% to 5% of their compensation, as
                  defined. Beginning April 1, 2003, the Plan was amended to
                  allow participants to elect to make tax-deferred contributions
                  up to the maximum amount allowed by the Internal Revenue
                  Service.

         (b)      Employer Contributions

                  In 2004, contributions were made by the Bank in an amount
                  equal to 50% of the first 6% of a participant's eligible
                  contributions. Until March 31, 2003, contributions were made
                  by the Bank in an amount equal to 100% of the employee's
                  contributions. Effective April 1, 2003, contributions were
                  made by the Bank in an amount equal to 75% of the first 6% of
                  a participant's eligible contributions. The Board of Directors
                  sets the Bank's matching contribution rate annually, and has
                  the power, in its sole discretion, to set the amount, and it
                  may suspend or alter Bank contributions.

         (c)      Vesting

                  Participants are always fully vested in their contributions
                  and income or losses thereon. Employer contributions and
                  income or losses thereon are vested as follows: 33% vested at
                  the end of the first year of service, 67% vested at the end of
                  the second year of service, and 100% vested at the end of the
                  third year of service. Additionally, a participant shall
                  become 100% vested if he terminates employment on or after he
                  attains age 65, or as a result of his death or disability.

         (d)      Forfeitures

                  Forfeitures of non-vested contributions used to reduce
                  subsequent employer contributions for the years
                  ended December 30, 2004 and 2003 amounted to $15,642 and
                  $14,008 respectively.

         (e)      Participant Loans

                  Upon written application by a participant, the administrator
                  may direct that a loan be made from his account. The maximum
                  permissible loan available shall not exceed the lesser of (i)
                  $50,000 with certain restrictions or (ii) 50% of his account.
                  Any loan made must generally be repaid within a period not to
                  exceed the earlier of termination of employment or five years.
                  Loans bear a reasonable rate of interest and, once fixed,
                  remain in effect for the duration of the loan.

                  Principal and interest are paid ratably through bi-weekly
                  payroll deductions.

         (f)      Withdrawals/Benefit Payments

                  During employment, participants may make withdrawals in cash
                  of vested amounts contributed prior to April 1, 2003. Vested
                  amounts contributed by the participants on or after April 1,
                  2003 are eligible for hardship withdrawals, which may be
                  subject to a withdrawal penalty. Upon retirement or
                  termination of employment, participants may, under certain
                  conditions, elect to receive vested amounts in (i) a cash lump

                                       5


                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Notes to the Financial Statements
                           December 30, 2004 and 2003


                  sum, or (ii) equal monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual
                  installments over a period not to exceed the life expectancy
                  of the participant or the combined life expectancy of the
                  participant and his designated beneficiary.

         (g)      Participants' Accounts

                  Separate accounts for each participant are maintained and
                  credited with the participant's contributions, the Bank's
                  contributions made on behalf of that participant and the
                  participant's proportionate share, as defined, of Plan
                  earnings or losses. The benefit to which a participant is
                  entitled is the benefit that can be provided from his account.

         (h)      Investment Valuation

                  Investments are valued at fair market value. Investment
                  transactions are recorded on a trade date basis.

(3)      Plan Expenses

Certain costs of administrative services rendered on behalf of the Plan are
borne by the Bank.

(4)      Plan Termination

The Plan has no termination date, and it is the Bank's intention to continue the
Plan indefinitely. However, the Bank may discontinue contributions or terminate
the Plan by action of its Board of Directors. Upon termination of the Plan, the
amounts credited to participant accounts would become fully vested.

(5)      Federal Income Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service issued its latest determination letter on January
6, 2004 which stated that the Plan and its underlying trust qualify under the
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore are exempt from
federal income taxes. In the opinion of the plan administrator, the Plan and its
underlying trust have operated within the terms of the Plan and remain qualified
under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.


                                       6

                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

                        Notes to the Financial Statements
                           December 30, 2004 and 2003

(6)      Investments

Investments at December 30, 2004 and 2003 consisted of mutual funds, loans to
participants and common stock issued by Provident Financial Services, Inc. At
December 30, 2004 and 2003, individual investments in excess of 5% of net assets
available for plan benefits are as follows:




                                                                2004                   2003
                                                         -------------------    --------------------
                                                                               

UBS Fiduciary Trust Company:
   Provident Financial Services, Inc., investment
     in common stock                                     $    8,400,150               8,475,089
   Capital growth portfolio                                   2,695,094               2,427,841
   Guaranteed investment contracts portfolio                  2,291,763               2,257,296
   Conservative equity portfolio                              2,619,514               2,046,583
   Balanced value portfolio                                   2,008,463               1,747,143
   Overseas equity portfolio                                  1,802,196               1,223,935
   Money market portfolio                                     1,462,066               1,050,540



The increase (decrease) in realized and unrealized appreciation of investments
for the years ended December 30, 2004 and 2003 is as follows:




                                                                2004                    2003
                                                                              

    Provident Financial Services, Inc., investment
      in common stock                                    $    (15,629)             4,190,968
    Capital growth portfolio                                  119,309                346,628
    Guaranteed investment contracts portfolio                  76,691                 82,195
    Conservative equity portfolio                             326,344                486,483
    Balanced value portfolio                                  105,223                256,107
    Overseas equity portfolio                                 374,928                421,524
    Mid-cap growth portfolio                                   35,705                169,673
    Strategic bond portfolio                                   56,312                 64,406
                                                          ------------------     -------------------
                                                         $  1,078,883              6,017,984


(7)      Other Contributions

During 2004, several errors were discovered with respect to the calculation of
benefits under the Plan during the 2001 through 2003 Plan Years. The errors
resulted from the misapplication of the Plan's definition of compensation and/or
coding errors in the computerized payroll program. To the extent the errors
could be corrected by plan amendment, such plan amendments were adopted and
included in the determination letter request (Form 1023) filed with the Internal
Revenue Service on March 31, 2005. The remaining errors were self-corrected
without having to notify the Internal Revenue Service, through the Bank making
corrective contributions to restore the affected participants' account balances
to what they would have been had the failures not occurred. These corrective
contributions totaled $26,905, in the aggregate, and were recorded in 2004.

                                       7




                                                                     Schedule 1

                               THE PROVIDENT BANK
                         EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN

        Schedule H, Item 4(i) - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

                                December 30, 2004






                                                                                                       Market
                                                                                          Cost           value
                                                                                ------------------------------------
                                                                                                  
UBS Fiduciary Trust Company
    General account                                                              $        135,979         135,979  
    Money market portfolio                                                              1,462,066       1,462,066  
    Guaranteed investment contracts portfolio                                           1,899,599       2,291,763  
    Balanced value portfolio                                                            1,546,186       2,008,463  
    Conservative equity portfolio                                                       1,882,150       2,619,514  
    Capital growth portfolio                                                            2,348,057       2,695,094  
    Mid-cap growth portfolio                                                              965,847         963,740  
    Overseas equity portfolio                                                           1,196,401       1,802,196  
    Strategic bond portfolio                                                              772,536         908,118  
                                                                                -----------------------------------
                                                                                       12,208,821      14,886,933  
                                                                                    ===============================

    Provident Financial Services, Inc., investment in common stock               $      5,009,275       8,400,150  
                                                                                    ===============================
    See accompanying report of independent registered public accountant.




                                       8




                                   SIGNATURES


         The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit
plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                  THE PROVIDENT BANK
                                  EMPLOYEE SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN



                                  By:  UBS FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY, 
                                         TRUSTEE
                                         AS DIRECTED TRUSTEE



Date: June 28, 2005               By:      /s/ Georgette Thomas
                                               ------------------ 
                                           Name:    Georgette Thomas
                                           Title:   Vice President