-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BhlmLJHby+vR5LMxwzDuh+oELpe2uY3pQK42BDzRhAiUDnIPCcHuzCJOXd2tADuJ
 CHJHDZYpjBko8806NYeLNg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001240070-03-000001.txt : 20031231
<SEC-HEADER>0001240070-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031231123131
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001240070-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031231

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIMPSON WALTER K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240070

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23809
		FILM NUMBER:		031079805

	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>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051092</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST SENTINEL BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSLA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240070</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TIMPSON WALTER K</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 Awards 1998</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3310</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-01-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePe
rShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>175631.8052</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3240</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAc
quiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>172391.8052</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1655</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>170736.8052</value></sharesOwnedFoll
owingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1104</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>169632.8052</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirec
tOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Options 1998</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-12-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>82750</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>82750</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Deferred Fee Plan</value></securit
yTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F7"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>283153.798</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>283153.798</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares granted under the Company's 1998 Stock Based Incentive Plan; awards are earned at a rate of 20% per year commencing December 16, 1999.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The change in number of shares reflects the vesting of shares granted under the Company
's 1998 Stock Based Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Transfer by gift.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The change in number of shares also reflects the vesting of shares granted under the Company's 1998 Stock Based Incentive Plan and purchases made under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan since the last filing.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Options granted under the Company's 1998 Stock Based Incentive Plan. All options are now currently exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F6">All options are currently exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F7">1 - for - 1.</footnote><footnote id="F8">The units are to be settled in First Sentinel Bancorp, Inc. common stock over a ten year period beginning Jan. 1, 2002.</footnote><footnote id="F9">Balance reflects purchase through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan at various prices since the last filing.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann Clancy, power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownership
Document>

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