FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, Balance Sheet Groupings (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	$ 5,163		$ 6,267
Premises held for sale	3,624	[1]	0	[1]
Trading Securities	6,822		4,874
Carrying Amount [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	45,777		79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,341		5,927
Loans, net	3,679,366		3,485,258
Premises held for sale	3,624
Accrued Interest Receivable	12,066		13,518
Loans held for sale			560
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	628		1,115
FHLBNY capital stock	48,051		45,011
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,678,737		1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	828,409		891,975
Escrow and other deposits	69,404		82,753
FHLBNY advances	910,000		842,500
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680		70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	2,642		2,528
Fair Value [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	45,777		79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,163		6,195
Loans, net	3,718,604		3,610,065
Premises held for sale	4,400
Accrued Interest Receivable	12,066		13,518
Loans held for sale			560
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	1,006		1,511
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,678,737		1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	839,059		907,657
Escrow and other deposits	69,404		82,753
FHLBNY advances	934,336		885,774
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680		70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	2,642		2,827
Fair Value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	45,777		79,076
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	0		0
Loans, net	0		0
Premises held for sale	0
Accrued Interest Receivable	0		0
Loans held for sale			0
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	0		0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	1,678,737		1,587,454
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	0		0
Escrow and other deposits	69,404		82,753
FHLBNY advances	0		0
Trust preferred securities payable	0		0
Accrued Interest Payable	0		0
Fair Value [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
Premises held for sale	4,400
Accrued Interest Receivable	178		359
Loans held for sale			560
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	1,006		1,511
Liabilities [Abstract]
Savings, money market and checking accounts	0		0
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)	839,059		907,657
Escrow and other deposits	0		0
FHLBNY advances	934,336		885,774
Trust preferred securities payable	70,680		70,680
Accrued Interest Payable	2,642		2,827
Fair Value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	0		0
Investment securities held to maturity (TRUPS)	5,163		6,195
Loans, net	3,718,604		3,610,065
Premises held for sale	0
Accrued Interest Receivable	11,888		13,159
Loans held for sale			0
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR)	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

[1] At December 31, 2013, the Company had a pending contract of sale on a real estate premises with a net book value of $3,624. The net proceeds from the sale, which is expected to close during the year ending December 31, 2014, are anticipated to exceed the current book value, thus the book value has been retained as its recorded balance as of December 31, 2013.