Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 72,657	$ 46,441
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net amortization on loans	8,905	16,966
Net amortization on securities and borrowings	6,947	13,084
Net provision for loan and real estate losses (credited) charged to operations	(6,137)	17,135
Depreciation and amortization	8,889	8,653
Net gain on sales of loans and securities	(528)	(8,595)
Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net	1,681	(512)
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP stock	6,488	13,121
Originations of loans held-for-sale	(73,653)	(229,041)
Proceeds from sales and principal repayments of loans held-for-sale	73,289	295,076
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	290	2,038
Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net	(5,195)	(3,027)
Decrease in other assets	7,162	31,619
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities	32,159	(13,902)
Net cash provided by operating activities	132,954	189,056
Cash flows from investing activities:
Originations of loans receivable	(1,062,910)	(1,782,858)
Loan purchases through third parties	(141,033)	(348,550)
Principal payments on loans receivable	1,482,443	2,724,868
Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans	178,470	18,501
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(459,943)	(828,835)
Purchases of securities available-for-sale		(221,080)
Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity	250,468	602,321
Principal payments on securities available-for-sale	31,031	86,270
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale	14,447	41,640
Net redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	18,809	17,977
Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities		3,866
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net	40,718	29,560
Purchases of premises and equipment, net of proceeds from sales	6,945	6,092
Net cash provided by investing activities	345,555	337,588
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net decrease in deposits	(242,549)	(383,584)
Net (decrease) increase in borrowings with original terms of three months or less	(76,000)	189,000
Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months	(150,000)	(453,866)
Net increase in mortgage escrow funds	28,885	24,147
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	6,092
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock		135,000
Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs		(5,204)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders	(18,511)	(14,577)
Net tax benefit excess (shortfall) from stock-based compensation	51	(1,296)
Net cash used in financing activities	(452,032)	(510,380)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	26,477	16,264
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	121,950	121,473
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	148,427	137,737
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	110,171	137,551
Income taxes paid	10,665	13,455
Additions to real estate owned	41,556	36,962
Loans transferred to held-for-sale	$ 187,769	$ 15,642