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                        EXHIBIT 23 - ACCOUNTANTS CONSENT


The Stockholders and Board of Directors
North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.:



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Nos. 2-99984, 33-34372, 33-52504, 33-53467, 333-05513, 333-00675, 333-56329,
333-39536, 333-74713, 333-94381, and 333-94385) on Form S-8, (Nos. 333-64219 and
333-24419) on Form S-4 and (Nos. 33-54222, and 333-40311) on Form S-3 of North
Fork Bancorporation, Inc. of our report dated January 18, 2001, except for note
2 (c) which is as of February 13, 2001, relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31,
2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows,
changes in stockholders' equity, and comprehensive income for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000, which report appears in the
December 31, 2000, Annual Report on Form 10-K of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.



KPMG LLP

New York, New York
March  27, 2001