FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, Balance Sheet Groupings (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	$ 5,541	$ 6,267
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	61,291	79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,541	6,267
Loans, net	3,665,525	3,610,065
Loans held for sale	234	560
Accrued Interest Receivable	12,477	13,518
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	1,195	1,511
FHLBNY capital stock	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,732,576	1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	888,638	907,657
Escrow and other deposits	86,028	82,753
FHLBNY advances	770,108	885,774
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680	70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	2,864	2,827
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	61,291	79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	0	0
Loans, net	0	0
Loans held for sale	0	0
Accrued Interest Receivable	9	0
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	0	0
FHLBNY capital stock	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,732,576	1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	0	0
Escrow and other deposits	86,028	82,753
FHLBNY advances	0	0
Trust preferred securities payable	0	0
Accrued Interest Payable	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	0	0
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	0	0
Loans, net	0	0
Loans held for sale	234	560
Accrued Interest Receivable	234	359
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	1,195	1,511
FHLBNY capital stock	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	0	0
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	888,638	907,657
Escrow and other deposits	0	0
FHLBNY advances	770,108	885,774
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680	70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	2,864	2,827
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	0	0
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,541	6,267
Loans, net	3,665,525	3,609,505
Loans held for sale	0	0
Accrued Interest Receivable	12,234	13,159
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	0	0
FHLBNY capital stock	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	0	0
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	0	0
Escrow and other deposits	0	0
FHLBNY advances	0	0
Trust preferred securities payable	0	0
Accrued Interest Payable	0	0
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	61,291	79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,617	5,927
Loans, net	3,586,262	3,485,258
Loans held for sale	232	560
Accrued Interest Receivable	12,477	13,518
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	832	1,115
FHLBNY capital stock	40,288	45,011
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,732,576	1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	875,083	891,975
Escrow and other deposits	86,028	82,753
FHLBNY advances	737,500	842,500
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680	70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	$ 2,864	$ 2,827