-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SWIGTmcmm+0Fi5PeHRVqgDFufqTT2S/HvyyScHcNVTrFFbIn1Pd5vcBbsvCd7JTP
 +zeYbqnCkiXBbGMaoPuQVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001240066-04-000001.txt : 20040325
<SEC-HEADER>0001240066-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040325
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040325151507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001240066-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19980408
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040325

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCLAUGHLIN KEITH H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240066

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23809
		FILM NUMBER:		04689642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST SENTINEL BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		1000 WOODBRIDGE CENTER DRIVE PO BOX 5003
		CITY:			WOODBRIDGE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7327269700

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST SENTINEL BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051092
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				223566151
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 WOODBRIDGE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			WOODBRIDGE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7327268700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 WOODBRIDGE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			WOODBRIDGE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07095

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST SOURCE BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971209
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>1998-04-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051092</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST SENTINEL BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSLA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240066</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCLAUGHLIN KEITH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WOODBRIDGE CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07095</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>178963</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1998-04-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3449</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Deferred Fee Plan</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>48349.6279</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48349.6279</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>In Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">146 shares accumulated over time through one or more brokerage accounts, not previoulsy reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares purchased by a family member pursuant to the Company's conversion from a Mutual Holding Company to a fully public company in April, 1998, not previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1,460.9402 shares acquired under the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan, at various times and prices since the last filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">1 - for - 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The units are to be settled in First Sentinel Bancorp, Inc. Common Stock, upon the later of the reporting person's retirement or attainment of age 65, unless otherwise elected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith H. McLaughlin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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