CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	$ 43,548	$ 40,308	$ 47,309
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain on the sales of investment securities and mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	(110)	(1,022)	(32)
Net (gain) loss recognized on trading securities	(265)	(113)	34
Net (gain) loss on sale of loans held for sale	(13)	(68)	9
Net (gain) loss on sales of OREO and other assets	21	(13,726)	0
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	28,772	0
Net depreciation, amortization and accretion	2,834	2,880	2,935
Stock plan compensation expense (excluding ESOP)	2,205	2,164	2,105
ESOP compensation expense	1,213	1,078	1,041
Provision for loan losses	369	3,921	6,846
Provision for losses on OREO	180	0	0
Credit to reduce the liability for loans sold with recourse	(305)	(1,286)	0
Net OTTI recognized in earnings	0	181	727
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI	(1,672)	(1,689)	(1,758)
Deferred income tax provision (credit)	(940)	(2,068)	(1,223)
Excess tax benefit of stock plans	(292)	(389)	(431)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Originations of loans held for sale during the period	(1,621)	(32,665)	(5,650)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	2,194	36,755	8,556
Decrease in other assets	8,168	6,009	5,671
Increase (Decrease) in other liabilities	5,637	3,663	(3,552)
Net cash provided by operating activities	61,151	72,705	62,587
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held-to-maturity	949	983	1,152
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available-for-sale	14,750	200,320	204,000
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale	366	22,415	236
Proceeds from sales of mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	0	21,949	0
Proceeds from sales of trading securities	131	171	136
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale	(458)	(80,153)	(293,157)
Purchases of mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	0	(23,186)	0
Acquisition of trading securities	(1,814)	(3,158)	(454)
Principal collected on mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	17,372	42,822	48,911
Proceeds from the sale of portfolio loans	5,893	30,906	29,772
Purchases of loans	(52,031)	(30,425)	0
Net increase in loans	(149,122)	(50,609)	(28,839)
Proceeds from the sale of OREO and real estate investment property owned	564	17,477	0
Purchases of fixed assets, net	(1,963)	(4,422)	(3,884)
(Purchase) Redemption of FHLBNY capital stock	(3,040)	4,478	2,229
Net cash used in Investing Activities	(168,403)	149,568	(39,898)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase (Decrease) in due to depositors	27,717	135,728	(6,880)
Increase in escrow and other deposits	(13,349)	10,941	3,270
Repayments of FHLBNY advances	(218,500)	(172,275)	(105,750)
Proceeds from FHLBNY advances	286,000	75,000	55,000
Repayments of securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("REPOS")	0	(195,000)	0
Prepayment penalty on debt	0	(28,772)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,228	5,608	3,669
Excess tax benefit of stock plans	292	389	431
Equity award distribution	293	145	0
Cash dividends paid to stockholders and cash disbursed in payment of stock dividends	(19,728)	(19,221)	(18,898)
Net cash (used in) provided by Financing Activities	73,953	(187,457)	(69,158)
INCREASE(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(33,299)	34,816	(46,469)
Cash and due from banks, beginning of period	79,076	44,260	90,729
Cash and due from banks, end of period	45,777	79,076	44,260
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for income taxes	29,858	26,913	36,618
Cash paid for interest	47,155	87,281	70,041
Loans transferred to OREO	783	0	0
Loans transferred to held for sale	0	1,560	2,628
Amortization of unrealized loss on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	271	202	446
Net increase in non-credit component of OTTI	$ (32)	$ 296	$ 25