POWER OF ATTORNEY


     I hereby appoint Kevin J. Ward, John F. Kuntz, John J. Gorman, Marc P. Levy
or Edward A. Quint to act as my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact with authority
to execute on my behalf any Form 3, 4 or 5 or any amendment  thereto required to
be filed by the undersigned  under Section 16 of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, with the
appropriate  regulatory  authorities and to do all things incident and necessary
to that end,  until such time as I notify Mr. Ward, Mr. Kuntz,  Mr. Gorman,  Mr.
Levy,  or Mr.  Quint in writing  that his  authority to act on my behalf in this
manner has been withdrawn.

     I have signed this power of  attorney on  December 24,  2002.
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                                           by  /s/ Linda A. Niro
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                                               Linda A. Niro


                               In presence of  /s/ John F. Kuntz
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                                           at   Jersey City         New Jersey
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                                                City                State