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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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

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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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