Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Interest income:
Residential mortgage loans	$ 80,207	$ 99,292
Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans	38,623	36,470
Consumer and other loans	2,228	2,341
Mortgage-backed and other securities	10,899	18,021
Interest-earning cash accounts	55	53
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	2,029	1,602
Total interest income	134,041	157,779
Interest expense:
Deposits	17,321	29,427
Borrowings	32,688	40,156
Total interest expense	50,009	69,583
Net interest income	84,032	88,196
Provision for loan losses	9,126	10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	74,906	78,196
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees	9,046	10,482
Other loan fees	522	887
Gain on sales of securities		2,477
Mortgage banking income, net	4,776	1,355
Income from bank owned life insurance	2,136	2,423
Other	1,798	1,943
Total non-interest income	18,278	19,567
General and administrative:
Compensation and benefits	31,998	42,160
Occupancy, equipment and systems	19,785	16,724
Federal deposit insurance premiums	10,184	11,203
Advertising	1,340	1,834
Other	8,244	10,280
Total non-interest expense	71,551	82,201
Income before income tax expense	21,633	15,562
Income tax expense	7,781	5,566
Net income	$ 13,852	$ 9,996
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.11
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.11
Basic weighted average common shares (in shares)	96,674,729	95,018,867
Diluted weighted average common and common equivalent shares (in shares)	96,674,729	95,018,867