Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$ 140,592	$ 194,029
Federal funds sold and other overnight deposits	690,096	560,051
Total cash and cash equivalents	830,688	754,080
Securities available for sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	9,039,762	9,170,390
Investment securities	318,608	7,368
Securities held to maturity:
Mortgage-backed securities (fair value of $4,108,287 at March 31, 2012 and $4,368,423 at December 31, 2011)	3,853,733	4,115,523
Investment securities (fair value of $45,312 at March 31, 2012 and $545,761 at December 31, 2011)	39,011	539,011
Total securities	13,251,114	13,832,292
Loans	28,731,298	29,327,345
Net deferred loan costs	83,495	83,805
Allowance for loan losses	(280,713)	(273,791)
Net loans	28,534,080	29,137,359
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock	470,064	510,564
Foreclosed real estate, net	34,770	40,619
Accrued interest receivable	113,509	129,088
Banking premises and equipment, net	71,348	70,610
Goodwill	152,109	152,109
Other assets	680,902	729,164
Total Assets	44,138,584	45,355,885
Deposits:
Interest-bearing	24,497,169	24,903,311
Noninterest-bearing	624,372	604,449
Total deposits	25,121,541	25,507,760
Repurchase agreements	6,950,000	6,950,000
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances	7,225,000	8,125,000
Total borrowed funds	14,175,000	15,075,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	224,534	212,685
Total liabilities	39,521,075	40,795,445
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 3,200,000,000 shares authorized; 741,466,555 shares issued; 528,132,975 and 527,571,496 shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	7,415	7,415
Additional paid-in capital	4,724,671	4,720,890
Retained earnings	1,741,571	1,709,821
Treasury stock, at cost; 213,333,580 and 213,895,059 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	(1,714,526)	(1,719,114)
Unallocated common stock held by the employee stock ownership plan	(196,721)	(198,223)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	55,099	39,651
Total shareholders' equity	4,617,509	4,560,440
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ 44,138,584	$ 45,355,885