Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 46,441	$ 36,175
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net amortization on loans	16,966	20,081
Net amortization on securities and borrowings	13,084	11,919
Net provision for loan and real estate losses	17,135	31,995
Depreciation and amortization	8,653	8,906
Net gain on sales of loans and securities	(8,595)	(9,874)
Net (gain) loss on dispositions of premises and equipment	(4)	62
Other asset impairment charges	89	457
Originations of loans held-for-sale	(229,041)	(268,766)
Proceeds from sales and principal repayments of loans held-for-sale	295,076	264,432
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP stock	13,121	10,771
Decrease in accrued interest receivable	2,038	180
Mortgage servicing rights amortization and valuation allowance adjustments, net	(512)	3,996
Bank owned life insurance income and insurance proceeds received, net	(3,027)	(6,152)
Decrease in other assets	31,534	76,824
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities	(13,902)	6,743
Net cash provided by operating activities	189,056	187,749
Cash flows from investing activities:
Originations of loans receivable	(1,782,858)	(2,741,316)
Loan purchases through third parties	(348,550)	(850,905)
Principal payments on loans receivable	2,724,868	3,212,449
Proceeds from sales of delinquent and non-performing loans	18,501	21,631
Purchases of securities held-to-maturity	(828,835)	(533,031)
Purchases of securities available-for-sale	(221,080)	(208,195)
Principal payments on securities held-to-maturity	602,321	699,899
Principal payments on securities available-for-sale	86,270	166,554
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale	41,640	54,318
Net redemptions (purchases) of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	17,977	(50,165)
Redemption of Astoria Capital Trust I common securities	3,866
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net	29,560	48,235
Purchases of premises and equipment	(6,142)	(5,899)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment	50
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	337,588	(186,425)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net decrease in deposits	(383,584)	(706,732)
Net increase in borrowings with original terms of three months or less	189,000	684,000
Proceeds from borrowings with original terms greater than three months		950,000
Repayments of borrowings with original terms greater than three months	(453,866)	(944,000)
Cash payments for debt issuance costs		(2,643)
Net increase in mortgage escrow funds	24,147	21,236
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	135,000
Cash payments for preferred stock issuance costs	(5,204)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders	(14,577)	(20,249)
Net tax benefit shortfall from stock-based compensation	(1,296)	(2,067)
Net cash used in financing activities	(510,380)	(20,455)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	16,264	(19,131)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	121,473	132,704
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	137,737	113,573
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	137,551	197,198
Income taxes paid	13,455	5,524
Additions to real estate owned	36,962	33,496
Loans transferred to held-for-sale	$ 15,642	$ 1,982