UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2009
                                                         -----------------

                       PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
                       ----------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

    Delaware                          001-31566                42-1547151
-----------------------------    ---------------------    ----------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction)     (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
   of Incorporation)                                        Identification No.)


830 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey                      07306-4599
------------------------------------------                      ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (201) 333-1000
                                                     --------------

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ] Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 8.01   Other Events.
            -------------

     Provident  Financial  Services,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  announced  that in
accordance with the Company's  retirement policy Paul M. Pantozzi,  Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer,  will retire effective  September 1, 2009. Mr. Pantozzi
will remain as Chairman of the Board.  Christopher  Martin,  President and Chief
Operating  Officer since 2007 will assume the title of Chief  Executive  Officer
and  President  of both  the  Company  and  The  Provident  Bank.  A copy of the
Company's  news release  dated  February 27, 2009 is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to
this report and is being  furnished  to the SEC and shall not be deemed  "filed"
for any purpose.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
            ---------------------------------

          (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable.

          (b) Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.

          (c) Shell Company Transactions. Not applicable.

          (d) Exhibits.

                  Exhibit No.            Description
                  -----------            -----------
                    99.1                 News release dated February 27, 2009.





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                        PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.



DATE:  March 3, 2009                    By:     /s/ Paul M. Pantozzi
                                                --------------------
                                                Paul M. Pantozzi
                                                Chairman and
                                                Chief Executive Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit           Description
-------           -----------

 99.1            News release dated February 27, 2009.