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	$ 88,075	$ 95,916	$ 66,593
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net amortization on loans	11,625	11,738	20,511
Net amortization on securities and borrowings	8,921	9,021	15,794
Net provision for loan and real estate losses (credited) charged to operations	(10,488)	(8,113)	20,899
Depreciation and amortization	13,069	11,872	11,566
Net gain on sales of loans and securities	(2,070)	(1,012)	(9,059)
Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net	1,739	2,522	(2,172)
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP stock	11,411	8,672	17,976
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(2,686)	4,811	9,503
Originations of loans held-for-sale	(127,746)	(105,176)	(256,048)
Proceeds from sales and principal repayments of loans held-for-sale	128,537	104,947	325,088
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	1,632	1,298	3,762
Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net	(8,878)	(7,393)	(5,220)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	4,301	(15,218)	41,728
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities	(10,233)	20,191	(28,257)
Net cash provided by operating activities	107,209	134,076	232,664
Cash flows from investing activities:
Originations of loans receivable	(1,446,856)	(1,560,090)	(2,228,450)
Loan purchases through third parties	(229,419)	(196,283)	(407,532)
Principal payments on loans receivable	2,450,264	1,985,246	3,302,519
Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans	7,483	181,295	19,511
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(685,918)	(630,366)	(850,716)
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(125,674)	(25,479)	(221,080)
Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity	515,441	338,691	687,902
Principal payments on securities available-for-sale	70,799	40,906	95,687
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale	19,026	14,447	41,640
Net redemptions of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	9,617	11,453	18,987
Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities	0	0	3,866
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net	22,895	49,089	35,949
Purchases of premises and equipment, net of proceeds from sales	(11,225)	(10,961)	(9,621)
Net cash provided by investing activities	596,433	197,948	488,662
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net decrease in deposits	(398,882)	(350,401)	(588,648)
Net (decrease) increase in borrowings with original terms of three months or less	(394,000)	200,000	317,000
Proceeds from borrowings with original terms greater than three months	470,000	0	0
Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months	(300,000)	(150,000)	(553,866)
Net increase (decrease) in mortgage escrow funds	35	5,942	(3,643)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	6,168	8,121	0
Cost to repurchase common stock	(6,869)	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	0	135,000
Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs	0	0	(5,204)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders	(24,856)	(24,643)	(20,688)
Net tax benefit excess (shortfall) from stock-based compensation	2,115	192	(800)
Net cash used in financing activities	(646,289)	(310,789)	(720,849)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	57,353	21,235	477
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	143,185	121,950	121,473
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	200,538	143,185	121,950
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	132,687	150,026	180,871
Income taxes paid	35,925	21,658	28,820
Additions to real estate owned	8,554	43,532	51,360
Loans transferred to held-for-sale	$ 8,948	$ 190,594	$ 16,605