CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Interest income:
Residential mortgage loans	$ 241,417	$ 289,790	$ 372,478
Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans	178,795	163,352	149,694
Consumer and other loans	8,532	8,797	9,258
Mortgage-backed and other securities	57,065	49,563	61,757
Repurchase agreements and interest-earning cash accounts	321	263	338
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	6,220	6,665	6,984
Total interest income	492,350	518,430	600,509
Interest expense:
Deposits	51,355	62,617	98,021
Borrowings	98,707	113,911	154,219
Total interest expense	150,062	176,528	252,240
Net interest income	342,288	341,902	348,269
Provision for loan losses (credited) charged to operations	(9,469)	19,601	40,400
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	351,757	322,301	307,869
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees	35,710	36,786	39,520
Other loan fees	2,493	2,230	2,640
Gain on sales of securities	141	2,057	8,477
Mortgage banking income, net	3,326	13,241	6,820
Income from bank owned life insurance	8,476	8,404	9,439
Other	4,702	6,854	6,339
Total non-interest income	54,848	69,572	73,235
General and administrative:
Compensation and benefits	138,177	133,689	139,140
Occupancy, equipment and systems	71,948	70,711	67,406
Federal deposit insurance premium	26,179	37,188	47,363
Advertising	12,450	6,400	6,392
Extinguishment of debt	0	4,266	1,212
Other	35,656	35,277	38,620
Total non-interest expense	284,410	287,531	300,133
Income before income tax expense	122,195	104,342	80,971
Income tax expense	26,279	37,749	27,880
Net income	95,916	66,593	53,091
Preferred stock dividends	8,775	7,214	0
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 87,141	$ 59,379	$ 53,091
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.60	$ 0.55
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.60	$ 0.55
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	98,384,443	97,121,497	95,455,344
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	98,384,443	97,121,497	95,455,344