CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	$ 44,772	$ 44,246	$ 43,548
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	(1,384)	(997)	(110)
Net loss (gain) recognized on trading securities	111	(13)	(265)
Net gain on sale of loans held for sale	0	(27)	(13)
Net (gain) loss on sales of OREO and other assets	0	(649)	21
Net depreciation, amortization and accretion	2,738	2,641	2,834
Stock plan compensation expense (excluding ESOP)	1,886	2,087	2,205
ESOP compensation expense	1,307	1,230	1,213
Provision (credit) for loan losses	(1,330)	(1,872)	369
Provision for losses on OREO	0	0	180
Credit to reduce the liability for loans sold with recourse	0	(1,040)	(305)
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI	(2,405)	(1,743)	(1,672)
Deferred income tax provision (credit)	6,883	771	(940)
Excess tax benefit of stock plans	(303)	(71)	(292)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Originations of loans held for sale during the period	0	0	(1,621)
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	0	0	2,194
(Increase) Decrease in other assets	(1,692)	(2,873)	8,168
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	(430)	5,573	5,637
Net cash provided by operating activities	50,153	47,263	61,151
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held-to-maturity	340	88	949
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available-for-sale	0	15,000	14,750
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale	2,070	3,780	366
Proceeds from sales of MBS available-for-sale	24,307	0	0
Proceeds from sales of trading securities	1,340	7,115	131
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale	(2,134)	(3,884)	(458)
Purchases of mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	0	(875)	0
Acquisition of trading securities	(3,090)	(8,839)	(1,814)
Principal collected on mortgage backed securities available-for-sale	1,602	5,863	17,372
Purchase of BOLI	0	(25,000)	0
Purchases of loans	(99,745)	(225,604)	(52,031)
Proceeds from the sale of portfolio loans	9,572	16,892	5,893
Net increase in loans	(486,142)	(210,770)	(149,122)
Proceeds from the sale of OREO and real estate investment owned	0	0	564
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets	0	4,273	0
Purchases of fixed assets	(1,488)	(1,618)	(1,963)
Purchase of FHLBNY capital stock	(306)	(10,356)	(3,040)
Net cash used in investing activities	(553,674)	(433,935)	(168,403)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in due to depositors	524,518	152,646	27,717
(Decrease) Increase in escrow and other deposits	(14,791)	22,517	(13,349)
Repayments of FHLBNY advances	(2,897,500)	(1,224,500)	(218,500)
Proceeds from FHLBNY advances	2,890,500	1,488,225	286,000
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	6,549	278	11,228
Excess tax benefit of stock plans	303	71	292
Equity award distribution	251	201	293
Treasury shares repurchased (20,000 shares during the year ended December 31, 2015)	(300)	0	0
Cash dividends paid to stockholders	(20,292)	(20,106)	(19,728)
Net cash provided by Financing Activities	489,238	419,332	73,953
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(14,283)	32,660	(33,299)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	78,437	45,777	79,076
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	64,154	78,437	45,777
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for income taxes	25,659	29,035	29,858
Cash paid for interest	46,698	48,329	47,155
Loans transferred to OREO	130	0	783
Loans transferred to held for sale	9,572	16,865	7,514
Amortization of unrealized loss on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	125	65	271
Net increase (decrease) in non-credit component of OTTI	$ 9	$ (32)	$ (32)