Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Interest income:
Residential mortgage loans	$ 53,962	$ 64,954
Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans	47,492	43,390
Consumer and other loans	2,190	2,086
Mortgage-backed and other securities	15,070	13,677
Interest-earning cash accounts	89	69
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	1,522	1,833
Total interest income	120,325	126,009
Interest expense:
Deposits	10,729	13,229
Borrowings	23,875	24,810
Total interest expense	34,604	38,039
Net interest income	85,721	87,970
Provision for loan losses (credited) charged to operations	(343)	1,631
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	86,064	86,339
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees	8,211	9,020
Other loan fees	553	608
Mortgage banking income, net	327	800
Income from bank owned life insurance	2,197	1,989
Other	1,645	1,252
Total non-interest income	12,933	13,669
General and administrative:
Compensation and benefits	36,281	33,388
Occupancy, equipment and systems	19,658	18,174
Federal deposit insurance premium	4,201	8,569
Advertising	2,264	1,712
Other	7,708	8,380
Total non-interest expense	70,112	70,223
Income before income tax expense (benefit)	28,885	29,785
Income tax expense (benefit)	9,578	(1,764)
Net income	19,307	31,549
Preferred stock dividends	2,194	2,194
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 17,113	$ 29,355
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.30
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.30
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	99,252,031	98,106,045
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	99,252,031	98,106,045