EXHIBIT 99

               STATEMENT FURNISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
               SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

         The undersigned,  Christopher Martin, is the Chief Executive Officer of
First Sentinel Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company").

         This statement is being  furnished in connection with the filing by the
Company of the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
March 31, 2003 (the "Report").

         By execution of this statement, I certify that:

                  A) the Report fully complies with the  requirements of Section
         13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a)
         or 78o(d)) and

                  B) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
         all  material  respects,   the  financial   condition  and  results  of
         operations  of the Company as of the dates and for the periods  covered
         by the Report.

         This statement is authorized to be attached as an exhibit to the Report
so that this  statement  will accompany the Report at such time as the Report is
filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350. It is not intended that
this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.


May 15, 2003                             /s/ CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
------------                             ----------------------
Dated                                    Christopher Martin,
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer



A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to First Sentinel Bancorp,  Inc. and will be retained by First Sentinel
Bancorp,  Inc. and furnished to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or its
staff upon request.

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 99


               STATEMENT FURNISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
               SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

         The  undersigned,  Thomas M. Lyons, is the Chief  Financial  Officer of
First Sentinel Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company").

         This statement is being  furnished in connection with the filing by the
Company of the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  period  ended
March 31, 2003 (the "Report").

         By execution of this statement, I certify that:

                  A) the Report fully complies with the  requirements of Section
         13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a)
         or 78o(d)) and

                  B) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
         all  material  respects,   the  financial   condition  and  results  of
         operations  of the Company as of the dates and for the periods  covered
         by the Report.

         This statement is authorized to be attached as an exhibit to the Report
so that this  statement  will accompany the Report at such time as the Report is
filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350. It is not intended that
this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.


May 15, 2003                                            /s/ THOMAS M. LYONS
------------                                            -------------------
Dated                                                   Thomas M. Lyons,
                                                        Chief Financial Officer



A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to First Sentinel Bancorp,  Inc. and will be retained by First Sentinel
Bancorp,  Inc. and furnished to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or its
staff upon request.