Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
WARD KEVIN J
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC [PFS]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Former Vice Chairman
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
830 BERGEN AVENUE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2007
(Street)

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07306
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 12/31/2007(1)   J(1)   21,500 D $ 0 49,505 D  
Common Stock               3,800 I By Wife
Common Stock               35,830 (2) I By 401(k)
Common Stock               2,593 (2) I By SERP
Common Stock               5,398 I By ESOP

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options $ 17.94 12/31/2007(3)   J(3)     5,000 01/29/2008 01/29/2017 Common Stock 5,000 $ 0 0 D  
Stock Options $ 18.57 12/31/2007(3)   J(3)     66,000 07/17/2004 07/17/2013 Common Stock 330,000 (4) $ 0 264,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
WARD KEVIN J
830 BERGEN AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07306
      Former Vice Chairman  

Signatures

 /s/ Kevin J. Ward   01/03/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This transaction reflects the forfeiture of restricted shares on which restrictions have not yet lapsed. The forfeiture occurred pursuant to Mr. Ward's resignation from the company.
(2) Reflects transactions not required to be reported pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(3) This transaction reflects the forfeiture of unvested stock options pursuant to Mr. Ward's resignation from the company.
(4) Stock options vest at a rate of 20% per year over a period ending July 17, 2008.

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