Provident Financial Services, Inc. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. For the quarter, the company reported net interest income of $53,911,000, income before income tax expense of $20,379,000, net income of $14,870,000 or $0.26 per basic and diluted share as compared to net interest income of $53,021,000, income before income tax expense of $15,914,000, net income of $12,115,000 or $0.21 per basic and diluted share for the same period prior year. Annualized return on average assets was 0.84% as compared to 0.70% for the same period prior year. Annualized return on average equity was 6.18% as compared to 5.19% for the same period prior year. For the year, the company reported net interest income of $215,990,000, income before income tax expense of $77,186,000, net income of $57,344,000 or $1.01 per basic and diluted share as compared to net interest income of $208,965,000, income before income tax expense of $66,269,000, net income of $49,705,000 or $0.88 per basic and diluted share for the same period prior year. Annualized return on average assets was 0.83% as compared to 0.73% for the same period prior year. Annualized return on average equity was 6.09% as compared to 5.46% for the same period prior year. At December 31, 2011, book value per share and tangible book value per share were $15.88 and $9.87, respectively, compared with $15.38 and $9.47, respectively, at December 31, 2010. The company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per common share payable on February 29, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2012.