DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC
10-Q, 2000-02-11
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                             UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               FORM 10-Q

[x]  QUARTERLY  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(d)  OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the quarterly period ended December 31, 1999

                                  OR

[ ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

     For the transition period from                 to

     Commission file number 0-27782

                    DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE                                               11-3297463
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

209 HAVEMEYER STREET, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK                 11211
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

                            (718) 782-6200
         (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate  by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed  all  the  reports
required to  be  filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding  12  months  (or  for  such  shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
(1)  YES  X    NO ___


Indicate  the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's  classes  of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     CLASSES OF COMMON STOCK     NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING, JANUARY 31, 2000

           $.01 Par Value                        12,454,088
<PAGE>
                                       -2-

                                                                          PAGE
Item 1.     Financial Statements
            Consolidated  Statements of Condition at December 31, 1999
              (Unaudited) and June 30, 1999                                  3
            Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months
               and Six Months Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 (Unaudited)   4
            Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
               for the Six Months Ended December 31, 1999 (Unaudited)        5
            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months
               Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 (Unaudited)                  6
            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)           7
Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
               and Results of Operations                                  8-25
Item 3      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk       25

                                  PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.     Legal Proceedings                                               26
Item 2.     Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds                       26
Item 3.     Defaults Upon Senior Securities                                 26
Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders             26
Item 5.     Other Information                                               27
Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                27
            Signatures                                                      28
            Exhibits


EXPLANATORY NOTE:  This Form 10-Q contains certain "forward looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and
may be identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," anticipate,"
"should," "planned," "estimated" and "potential".  Examples of forward looking
statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company that are
subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ
materially from these estimates.  These factors include:  changes in general,
economic and market conditions, and legislative and regulatory conditions, or
the development of an adverse interest rate environment that adversely affects
the interest rate spread or other income anticipated from the Company's
operations and investments.

As used in this Form 10-Q, "we" and "us" and "our" refer to Dime Community
Bancshares, Inc. and/or its consolidated subsidiaries, depending on the
context.

<PAGE>
                                       -3-
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                          <C>                           <C>
                                                                                         AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                              1999                     AT JUNE 30,
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)                    1999
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
ASSETS:
Cash and due from banks                                                                           $27,832                  $17,801
Investment securities held to maturity (estimated market value of $21,588
   and $31,768 at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                               21,677                   31,698
Investment securities available for sale:
   Bonds and notes (amortized cost of $112,127 and $133,523 at December 31,
     1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                                                        108,950                  131,490
   Marketable equity securities (historical cost of $14,814 and $14,162 at
     December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                                            15,353                   15,142
Mortgage backed securities held to maturity (estimated market value of
   $18,071 and $23,192 at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                       17,976                   22,820
Mortgage backed securities available for sale (amortized cost of $446,786
   and $507,486 at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                             438,785                  502,847
Federal funds sold                                                                                 49,339                   11,011
Loans:
   Real estate                                                                                  1,571,562                1,375,510
   Other loans                                                                                      7,541                    7,831
   Less: Allowance for loan losses                                                                (14,689)                 (15,081)
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
   Total loans, net                                                                             1,564,414                1,368,260
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
Premises and fixed assets                                                                          14,917                   14,975
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Capital Stock                                                   41,476                   28,281
Other real estate owned, net                                                                        1,180                      866
Goodwill                                                                                           62,562                   64,871
Other assets                                                                                       41,933                   37,553
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                   $2,406,394               $2,247,615
                                                                                       ===================          ===============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Due to depositors                                                                              $1,204,781               $1,247,061
Escrow and other deposits                                                                          16,880                   36,577
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase                                                    418,170                  481,660
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances                                                       535,000                  250,000
Other liabilities                                                                                  20,215                   20,622
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                                               2,195,046                2,035,920
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock ($0.01 par, 9,000,000 shares authorized,
   none outstanding at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999)                                            -                        -
Common stock ($0.01 par, 45,000,000 shares authorized, 14,583,400 shares
   issued at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively, and
   12,454,088 shares and 12,775,588 shares outstanding at December 31,
   1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively)                                                              145                      145
ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL                                                                        149,672                  148,865
RETAINED EARNINGS (SUBSTANTIALLY RESTRICTED)                                                      126,261                  119,100
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS                                                               (5,744)                  (3,323)
UNALLOCATED COMMON STOCK OF EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN                                          (7,434)                  (8,016)
UNEARNED COMMON STOCK OF RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN                                            (5,076)                  (6,040)
COMMON STOCK HELD BY BENEFIT MAINTENANCE PLAN                                                      (1,790)                    (831)
TREASURY STOCK, AT COST (2,129,312 SHARES AND 1,807,812 SHARES AT DECEMBER
   31, 1999 AND JUNE 30, 1999, RESPECTIVELY)                                                      (44,686)                 (38,205)
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                        211,348                  211,695
                                                                                       -------------------          ---------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                     $2,406,394               $2,247,615
                                                                                       ===================          ===============
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements
<PAGE>
                                       -4-
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       FOR THE THREE MONTHS                FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                                        ENDED DECEMBER 31,                  ENDED DECEMBER 31,
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>                 <C>              <C>
                                                                 1999               1998               1999            1998
                                                               --------            --------         --------         ----------
INTEREST INCOME:
Loans secured by real estate                                   $29,093             $20,886          $56,096            $40,815
OTHER LOANS                                                        161                 126              310                253
INVESTMENT SECURITIES                                            2,559               2,458            5,144              4,857
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES                                       7,610               7,208           15,709             14,060
FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD                                               1,783                 397            2,002                673
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
   TOTAL INTEREST  INCOME                                       41,206              31,075           79,261             60,658
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits  and escrow                                            11,130              10,462           22,354             21,342
Borrowed funds                                                  14,039               8,127           24,864             14,230
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
   TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE                                       25,169              18,589           47,218             35,572
      NET INTEREST INCOME                                       16,037              12,486           32,043             25,086
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES                                           60                  60              120                120
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES             15,977              12,426           31,923             24,966
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Service charges and other fees                                   1,163                 618            2,139              1,161
Net gain (loss) on sales and redemptions of
   securities and other assets                                    (145)                510              (14)               754

Net gain (loss) on sales of loans                                   -                    9               (8)                27
Other                                                            1,171               1,270            2,729              1,719
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
   TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME                                     2,189               2,407            4,846              3,661
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits                                   3,532               3,002            6,956              5,798
ESOP and RRP compensation expense                                1,059               1,159            2,189              2,290
Occupancy and equipment                                            945                 662            1,883              1,222
Federal deposit insurance premiums                                 118                  85              233                174
Data processing costs                                              408                 310              840                621
Provision (credit) for losses on Other real estate
   owned                                                            -                   -                -                  (2)
Goodwill amortization                                            1,154                 602            2,308              1,203
Other                                                            1,793               1,254            3,486              2,460
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
   TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE                                    9,009               7,074           17,895             13,766
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                       9,157               7,759           18,874             14,861
INCOME TAX EXPENSE                                               3,741               3,074            7,898              6,193
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
        NET INCOME                                              $5,416              $4,685          $10,976             $8,668
                                                               ========            ========         ========           ========
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
   BASIC                                                         $0.47               $0.46            $0.95              $0.83
                                                               ========            ========         ========           ========
   DILUTED                                                       $0.45               $0.42            $0.90              $0.77
                                                               ========            ========         ========           ========
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
   Net Income                                                   $5,416              $4,685          $10,976             $8,668
   Reclassification adjustment for securities sold,
     net                                                           738                 267             (674)               341
   Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities
     available for sale, net of deferred taxes                  (2,271)             (2,367)          (2,421)            (1,250)
                                                               --------            --------         --------           --------
Total comprehensive income                                      $3,883              $2,585           $7,881             $7,759
                                                               ========            ========         ========           ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements
<PAGE>
                                       -5-
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                          <C>
                                                                         FOR THE SIX
                                                                         MONTHS ENDED
                                                                      DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                                 ---------------------------
COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01):
Balance at beginning of period                                                         $145
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                                145
                                                                 ---------------------------
ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL:
Balance at beginning of period                                                      148,865
Tax benefit of RRP shares                                                               164
Amortization of excess fair value over cost - ESOP stock                                643
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                            149,672
                                                                 ---------------------------
RETAINED EARNINGS:
Balance at beginning of period                                                      119,100
Net income for the period                                                            10,976
Cash dividends declared and paid                                                     (3,815)
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                            126,261
                                                                 ---------------------------
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, NET:
Balance at beginning of period                                                       (3,323)
Change in unrealized loss on securities available for sale
   during the period, net of deferred taxes                                          (2,421)
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                             (5,744)
                                                                 ---------------------------
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN:
Balance at beginning of period                                                       (8,016)
Amortization of earned portion of ESOP stock                                            582
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                             (7,434)
                                                                 ---------------------------
RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN:
Balance at beginning of period                                                       (6,040)
Amortization of earned portion of RRP stock                                             964
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                             (5,076)
                                                                 ---------------------------
BENEFIT MAINTENANCE PLAN:
Balance at beginning of period                                                         (831)
Common stock acquired by BMP                                                           (959)
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                             (1,790)
                                                                 ---------------------------
TREASURY STOCK:
Balance at beginning of period                                                      (38,205)
Purchase of 321,500 shares, at cost                                                  (6,481)
                                                                 ---------------------------
Balance at end of period                                                            (44,686)
                                                                 ---------------------------
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements

<PAGE>
                                       -6-
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                       FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                                                                       ENDED DECEMBER 31,
<S>                                                                                   <C>                     <C>
                                                                                               1999                   1998
                                                                                         --------------------     -----------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                                                                        (In THOUSANDS)
Net Income                                                                                           $10,976                $8,668
ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET INCOME TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss (gain) on investment and mortgage backed securities sold                                      1,249                  (546)
Net gain on investment and mortgage backed securities called                                              -                    (86)
Net gain on sale of other assets                                                                         (12)                   -
Net gain on sale of loans held for sale                                                                   8                    (27)
Net depreciation and amortization                                                                        417                   723
ESOP and RRP compensation expense                                                                      2,189                 2,290
Provision for loan losses                                                                                120                   120
Goodwill amortization                                                                                  2,308                 1,203
Decrease in loans held for sale                                                                           -                    299
Increase in other assets and other real estate owned                                                  (2,164)                 (316)
Decrease in receivable for securities sold                                                                -                 18,008
Increase in payable for securities purchased                                                              -                (12,062)
Increase (Decrease) in accrued postretirment benefit obligation and other liabilities                   (407)                6,121
                                                                                         --------------------  --------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                                                             14,684                24,395
                                                                                         --------------------  --------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Net increase in Federal funds sold                                                                   (38,328)              (20,421)
Proceeds from  maturities of investment securities held to maturity                                       45                 1,290
Proceeds from  maturities of investment securities available for sale                                130,422                 5,479
Proceeds from calls of investment securities held to maturity                                         10,000                35,160
Proceeds from calls of investment securities available for sale                                        2,400                 2,000
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale                                       21,772                 9,873
Proceeds from sales of mortgage backed securities available for sale                                  27,526                    -
Purchases of investment securities available for sale                                               (133,703)              (47,684)
Purchases of mortgage backed securities available for sale                                            (9,799)             (127,931)
Principal collected on mortgage backed securities held to maturity                                     4,844                13,451
Principal collected on mortgage backed securities available for sale                                  41,684                59,985
Net increase in loans                                                                               (196,274)             (142,036)
Purchases of fixed assets                                                                               (489)                 (365)
Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock                                                             (13,195)              (11,089)
                                                                                         --------------------  --------------------
Net cash used in investing activities                                                               (153,095)             (222,288)
                                                                                         --------------------  --------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net decrease in due to depositors                                                                    (42,280)              (14,350)
Net (decrease) increase in escrow and other deposits                                                 (19,697)               15,498
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Advances                                            285,000               123,995
(Decrease) increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase                                (63,490)               95,453
Cash dividends paid                                                                                   (3,815)               (2,418)
Exercise of stock options and tax benefits of stock options and RRP                                      164                   770
Purchase of common stock by Benefit Maintenance Plan and RRP                                            (959)               (1,072)
Purchase of treasury stock                                                                            (6,481)              (15,894)
                                                                                          -------------------      ----------------
Net cash provided by financing activities                                                            148,442               201,982
                                                                                          -------------------      ----------------
DECREASE IN CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS                                                                   10,031                 4,089
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                          17,801                16,266
                                                                                          -------------------      ----------------
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, END OF PERIOD                                                               $27,832               $20,355
                                                                                          ===================      ================
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for income taxes                                                                            12,654                 3,923
                                                                                          ===================      ================
Cash paid for interest                                                                                44,227                34,769
                                                                                          ===================      ================
Transfer of loans to Other real estate owned                                                             412                    48
                                                                                          ===================      ================
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities, net of deferred
   taxes                                                                                              (2,421)               (1,250)
                                                                                          ===================      ================
</TABLE>
 See notes to consolidated financial statements
<PAGE>
                                       -7-

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
               (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

1.   NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Dime  Community  Bancshares,  Inc.  is  a  Delaware  corporation  organized  in
December,  1995 at the direction of the Board of Directors of The Dime  Savings
Bank of Williamsburgh  (referred to as the Bank), a federally chartered savings
bank, for the purpose of  acquiring all of the capital stock of the Bank issued
in the Bank's conversion from  a federal mutual savings bank to a federal stock
savings bank on June 26, 1996.

The  Bank  has  been,  and intends to  continue  to  be,  a  community-oriented
financial institution providing financial services and loans for housing within
its market areas. We maintain  our headquarters in the Williamsburgh section of
the borough of Brooklyn.  As of  December  31,  1999,  the  Bank  has seventeen
additional offices located in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and  the Bronx,
and in Nassau County.

2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

In  our  opinion,  the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
contain all adjustments  (consisting  only  of  normal  recurring  adjustments)
necessary  for a fair presentation of the Company's financial condition  as  of
December 31,  1999, the results of operations for the three-month and six-month
periods ended December  31,  1999 and 1998, cash flows for the six months ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998, and  changes  in  stockholders'  equity for the six
months ended December 31, 1999.  The results of operations for  the three-month
and  six-month periods ended December 31, 1999, are not necessarily  indicative
of  the  results  of  operations  for  the  remainder  of  the  year.   Certain
information  and  note  disclosures  normally  included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles (referred
to  as  GAAP)  have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations  of  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

The preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  GAAP requires
management  to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported  amounts
of assets and  liabilities  and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial  statements  and  the reported amounts of revenues
and  expenses during the reporting period. Actual  results  could  differ  from
those estimates. Areas in the accompanying financial statements where estimates
are significant  include  the allowance for loans losses and the carrying value
of other real estate.

These consolidated financial  statements should be read in conjunction with our
audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30,
1999 and notes thereto.


3.   TREASURY STOCK

During the six months ended December 31, 1999, we repurchased 321,500 shares of
our common stock into treasury.  The  average  price  of  the  treasury  shares
acquired  was  $20.16  per  share,  and  all  shares  have been recorded at the
acquisition cost.

<PAGE>
                                       -8-

Item 2.    Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and
Results of Operations

General

     Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (referred  to  as DCB or the Company) is a
Delaware  corporation  and  parent  corporation  of The Dime  Savings  Bank  of
Williamsburgh (referred to as DSBW or the Bank), a  federally  chartered  stock
savings bank.  The Company was organized in December, 1995 at the direction  of
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the Bank for the purpose of acquiring all of the
capital stock of the Bank issued  in  the conversion of the Bank from a federal
mutual savings bank to a federal stock savings bank.
<PAGE>
                                       -9-
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND OTHER DATA
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             FOR THE THREE MONTHS                       FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                              ENDED DECEMBER 31,                        ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                          -------------------------------            ------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
                                                            1999 <F1>            1998 <F1>            1999 <F1>            1998<F1>
                                                            ---------            ---------            ---------             -------
PERFORMANCE AND OTHER SELECTED RATIOS:
Return on Average Assets                                       0.88%                1.05%                0.93%                1.01%
Return on Average Stockholders' Equity                        10.21%               10.58%               10.36%                9.65%
Core Return on Average Stockholders' Equity                   10.18%                9.61%                9.95%                8.96%
Average Interest Rate Spread <F2>                              2.49%                2.42%                2.58%                2.54%
Net Interest Margin <F2>                                       2.79%                2.92%                2.90%                3.04%
Non-interest Expense to Average Assets <F3>                    1.25%                1.45%                1.29%                1.46%
Efficiency Ratio <F3>                                         41.64%               45.03%               41.11%               44.92%
Effective Tax Rate <F4>                                       40.85%               39.62%               41.85%               41.67%
Tangible Equity to Total Tangible Assets                       6.41%                8.48%                6.41%                8.48%
Loans/Earning Assets                                          69.48%               61.89%               69.48%               61.89%
Loans/Deposits                                               131.07%              106.62%              131.07%              106.62%
CASH EARNINGS DATA:
Cash Earnings                                                $7,837               $6,446              $15,886              $12,161
Cash Return on Average Assets                                  1.28%                1.45%                1.35%                1.42%
Cash Return on Average Stockholders' Equity                   14.77%               14.55%               14.99%               13.53%
Core Cash Return on Average Stockholders' Equity              14.74%               13.59%               14.58%               12.84%
Cash Non-interest Expense to Average Assets <F5>               1.08%                1.19%                1.10%                1.20%
Cash Efficiency Ratio <F5>                                    35.87%               36.96%               35.18%               36.73%
PER SHARE DATA:
Reported EPS (Diluted)                                        $0.45                $0.42                $0.90                $0.77
Core EPS  (Diluted)                                            0.45                 0.38                 0.87                 0.75
Cash EPS (Diluted)                                             0.65                 0.58                 1.31                 1.08
Core Cash EPS  (Diluted)                                       0.65                 0.54                 1.27                 1.02
Stated Book Value                                             16.97                15.42                16.97                15.42
Tangible Book Value                                           12.07                13.31                12.07                13.31
BALANCE SHEET AVERAGES:
Average Loans                                             1,541,466            1,054,953            1,482,239            1,021,666
Average Assets                                            2,451,779            1,780,701            2,357,743            1,718,490
Average Earning Assets                                    2,296,632            1,709,344            2,212,355            1,648,776
Average Deposits                                          1,220,728            1,023,689            1,228,892            1,027,024
Average Equity                                              212,205              177,184              211,919              179,728
Average Tangible Equity                                     149,292              151,842              147,860              153,584
ASSET QUALITY SUMMARY:
Net charge-offs                                                $464                   $5                 $512                 $149
Nonperforming Loans                                           2,967                1,327                2,967                1,327
Nonperforming Assets/Total Assets                              0.17%                0.10%                0.17%                0.10%
Allowance for Loan Loss/Total Loans                            0.93%                1.10%                0.93%                1.10%
Allowance for Loan Loss/Nonperforming Loans                  495.08%              907.76%              495.08%              907.76%
<FN>
<F1>Core earnings  for all periods exclude gains and losses on sales of assets, and
    other significant non-recurring income or expense items.   Cash earnings
    for all periods exclude non-cash expenses related to goodwill and core
    deposit intangible amortization and compensation expense related to stock
    benefit plans.

<F2>Interest expense for the three months and six months ended December 31,
    1998 include $618,000 of prepayment penalties on borrowings.  Excluding
    these penalties, the net interest rate spread and net interest margin would
    have been 2.58% and 3.07%, respectively, for the three months ended
    December 31, 1998 and 2.63% and 3.12%, respectively for the six months
    ended December 31, 1998.

<F3> In calculating these ratios, non-interest expense excludes  goodwill
    amortization.  The actual efficiency ratio and ratio of  non-interest
    expense to average assets were 49.04% and 1.47%, respectively, for the
    three months ended  December 31, 1999, 49.21% and 1.59%, respectively,  for
    the three months ended December 31, 1998, 48.48% and 1.52%, respectively,
    for the six months ended December 31, 1999, and  49.22% and 1.60%,
    respectively, for the six months ended December 31, 1998.

<F4>Excluding non-recurring New York State and New York City deferred income
    tax recoveries, the effective tax rate was 42.8% and 42.5%, respectively,
    during the three months  and six months ended December 31, 1998.

<F5>In calculating these ratios, non-interest expense excludes non-cash
    expenses related to goodwill and core deposit intangible amortization and
    amortization costs related to stock benefit plans.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                      -10-

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

   Our  primary  sources of funds are deposits,  proceeds  from  principal  and
interest  payments   on  loans,  mortgage-backed  securities  and  investments,
borrowings, and, to a  lesser  extent,  proceeds  from  the  sale of fixed-rate
mortgage loans to the secondary mortgage market. While maturities and scheduled
amortization  of  loans  and  investments  are a predictable source  of  funds,
deposit flows, mortgage prepayments and mortgage  loan  sales are influenced by
interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

   Our  primary  investing activities are the origination of  multi-family  and
single-family mortgage  loans,  and  the  purchase of mortgage-backed and other
securities.  During  the  six  months  ended  December   30,   1999,  our  loan
originations  totaled  $296.7  million compared to $258.9 million for  the  six
months  ended  December  31, 1998.   Purchases  of  mortgage-backed  and  other
securities totaled $143.5  million  for  the six months ended December 31, 1999
compared to $175.6 million for the three months  ended  December 31, 1998.  The
decline in security purchases resulted from a reduction in  securities acquired
in conjunction with the Bank's capital leverage strategy during  the six months
ended  December  31,  1999,  which  can  be  attributed  to a reduction in  the
potential  interest  rate spread to be earned on capital leverage  transactions
during this period resulting  from  increased interest rates on borrowed funds.
Funding for loan originations and security  purchases  was  obtained  primarily
from  principal  repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities
of investment securities,  and borrowings by means of repurchase agreements and
Federal Home Loan Bank of New  York  (referred  to  as  the  FHLBNY)  advances.
Principal  repayments  on  real  estate  loans  and  mortgage-backed securities
totaled $150.3 million during the six months ended December  31, 1999, compared
to $193.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 1998.   Maturities  and
calls  of  investment  securities  totaled $142.9 million during the six months
ended December 31, 1999, and $43.9 million during the six months ended December
31, 1998.  The increased purchase of  short-term  investments  during  the  six
months  ended  December 31, 1999, resulted in an overall increase in securities
maturities compared  to  the prior year. Loan sales, which totaled $1.2 million
during the six months ended  December  31, 1999 and $2.9 million during the six
months ended December 31, 1998, provided  some  additional  cash flows.  During
the quarter ended December 31, 1999, we received proceeds of  $21.4  million on
sales  of  investment  securities and $27.5 million on sales of mortgage-backed
securities.   These  sales  were  utilized  primarily  to  generate  additional
liquidity due to concerns surrounding the Year 2000.

   Deposits decreased  $42.3  million  during the six months ended December 31,
1999,  compared to a decrease of $14.4 million  during  the  six  months  ended
December  31,  1998.   The  decrease  in  deposits  during the six months ended
December  31, 1999, primarily reflects the sale of $19.0  million  of  deposits
formerly housed  at  our  Gates Avenue, Brooklyn branch in November, 1999.  The
deposit decline during the  six  months  ended  December 31, 1999 also reflects
runoff of maturing higher cost certificates of deposits gathered during deposit
rate promotions which occurred and ended during the  fiscal year ended June 30,
1998.  Deposit flows are affected by the level of interest  rates, the interest
rates   and   products   offered  by  local  competitors,  and  other  factors.
Certificates of deposit which  are scheduled to mature in one year or less from
December 31, 1999 totaled $429.2  million.   Based  upon  our  current  pricing
strategy  and  deposit retention experience, management believes that a portion
of such deposits  will remain with us.  Net borrowings increased $221.5 million
during the six months ended December 31, 1999, and was comprised of an increase
of $285.0 million in  FHLBNY advances, which were partially offset by a decline
of $63.5 million in securities  sold under agreement to repurchase (referred to
as Repo) agreements.

   Stockholders' equity decreased $347,000 during the six months ended December
31, 1999. This decrease resulted  primarily  from  repurchases  of common stock
into treasury of $6.5 million, cash dividends paid of $3.8 million  during  the
period  and  an  increase  in  the accumulated other comprehensive loss of $2.4
million related to the decline in  market  value  of  investment  and  mortgage
backed  securities  available  for  sale.   Offsetting these decreases, was net
income of $11.0 million and stock benefit plan  amortization  of  $2.2  million
during the six months ended December 31, 1999.
<PAGE>
                                      -11-

   On  October  14, 1999, we declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per common share
to all shareholders  of  record  on October 29, 1999. This dividend was paid on
November 9, 1999. On January 20, 2000, we declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per
common share to all shareholders of  record  on January 25, 2000. This dividend
was paid on February 9, 2000.

   The Bank is required to maintain a minimum  average  daily balance of liquid
assets  as  a percentage of net withdrawable deposit accounts  plus  short-term
borrowings by  the  Office  of  Thrift  Supervision  (referred  to  as the OTS)
regulations.  The  minimum  required  liquidity  ratio  is  currently 4.0%.  At
December 31, 1999, the Bank's liquidity ratio was 17.1%.  At December 31, 1999,
the actual ratio was significantly higher than the minimum required  ratio  due
primarily  to  an increase in short-term securities (comprised of federal funds
sold and commercial  paper  investments) attributable to concerns with possible
increased deposit outflows resulting  from  concerns  over  the Year 2000.  The
levels  of  the  Bank's  short-term liquid assets are dependent on  the  Bank's
operating, financing and investing activities during any given period.

   We monitor our liquidity  position  on  a  daily  basis.  Excess  short-term
liquidity is invested in overnight federal funds sales and various money market
investments.  In  the event that we should require funds beyond our ability  to
generate them internally, additional sources of funds are available through the
use of our $706.5 million  borrowing limit at the FHLBNY. At December 31, 1999,
we had $535.0 million in short-  and  medium-term  advances  outstanding at the
FHLBNY, and a remaining borrowing limit of $171.5 million.

   The  Bank is subject to minimum capital regulatory requirements  imposed  by
the OTS,  which  requirements are, as a general matter, based on the amount and
composition of an  institution's  assets. At December 31, 1999, the Bank was in
compliance  with  all  applicable  regulatory  capital  requirements.  Tangible
capital totaled $129.8 million, or 5.66%  of total tangible assets, compared to
a 1.50% regulatory requirement; leverage capital,  at 5.66% of adjusted assets,
exceeded the 3.0% regulatory minimum, and total risk-based  capital,  at 10.73%
of risk weighted assets, exceeded the 8.0% regulatory minimum. In addition,  at
December   31,  1999,  the  Bank  was  considered  "well-capitalized"  for  all
regulatory purposes.

ASSET QUALITY

     Non-performing  loans  (loans  past due 90 days or more as to principal or
interest) totaled $3.0 million at December 31, 1999, virtually flat compared to
June  30, 1999.  In addition, the Bank  had  18  loans  totaling  $1.4  million
delinquent  60-89  days at December 31, 1999, as compared to 23 such delinquent
loans totaling $819,000  at  June 30, 1999.  The majority of the non-performing
loans  and  loans delinquent 60-89  are  represented  by  FHA/VA  mortgage  and
consumer loans which possess small outstanding balances.

   Under Generally  Accepted Accounting Priciples (referred to as GAAP), we are
required  to  account for  certain  loan  modifications  or  restructurings  as
''troubled-debt restructurings.'' In general, our modification or restructuring
as  a result of  economic  or  legal  issues  associated  with  the  borrower's
financial  difficulties constitutes a troubled-debt restructuring when we grant
a concession  to the borrower that we would not otherwise consider.  We had one
loan classified as a troubled-debt restructuring at December 31, 1999, totaling
$700,000, compared  to  two  such loans totaling $1.3 million at June 30, 1999.
The one troubled-debt restructuring  as  of December 31, 1999, is performing in
accordance with its restructured terms.  During  the  six months ended December
31, 1999, one troubled-debt restructuring with an outstanding principal balance
of $590,000, was paid-in-full.

   Under  GAAP,  we  established  guidelines  for  determining   and  measuring
impairment  in  loans.   For  loans determined to be impaired, if the  carrying
balance of the loan, including  all  accrued  interest, exceeds the estimate of
fair value, a reserve is established.  The recorded  investment in loans deemed
impaired was approximately $1.1 million as of December  31,  1999,  compared to
$1.6  million  at June 30, 1999, and the
<PAGE>
                                      -12-

average balance of impaired loans  was
$1.3 million for  the  six  months  ended  December  31,  1999 compared to $2.5
million  for the six months ended December 31, 1998.  The impaired  portion  of
these loans  is  represented  by  specific  reserves totaling $25,000 allocated
within the allowance for loan losses at December  31,  1999.  At  December  31,
1999,  reserves  have  been  provided  on  all  impaired  loans.  Generally, we
consider  non-performing  loans  to be impaired loans.  At December  31,  1999,
approximately $1.8 million of one-to-four  family,  cooperative  apartment  and
consumer  loans  on  nonaccrual  status are not deemed impaired.  Each of these
loans has an outstanding balances  less  than  $227,000,  and  are considered a
homogeneous  loan  pool which are not required to be evaluated for  impairment.
During the six months ended December 31, 1999, we did not incur any charge-offs
related to loans deemed  impaired,  as  all  of the charge-offs recorded during
this  period  have  related to one- to four-family,  cooperative  apartment  or
consumer loans which  are  deemed  as  homogeneous  loan  pools  under GAAP.  A
significant  portion  of these charge-offs relate to one- to four-family  loans
acquired from FIBC.

   The balance of other  real  estate  owned  (referred  to  as  OREO) was $1.2
million,  consisting  of  11  properties,  at  December  31,  1999 compared  to
$866,000, consisting of 9 properties, at June 30, 1999. During  the  six months
ended December 31, 1999, one multi-family loan approximating $315,000  and  two
cooperative   unit   apartment   loans   totaling  approximately  $97,000  were
transferred to OREO. Offsetting these additions, were OREO disposals of $98,000
in  one-to  four-family residential properties  during  the  six  months  ended
December 31,  1999.   The allowance for losses on OREO was $149,000 at December
31, 1999.


     The following table sets forth information regarding our non-performing
loans, non-performing assets, impaired loans and troubled-debt restructurings
at the dates indicated.
<PAGE>
                                      -13-

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                     <C>                        <C>
                                                                 AT DECEMBER 31,             AT JUNE 30,
                                                                       1999                     1999
                                                               -------------------         ---------------
                                                                              (Dollars In Thousands)
NON-PERFORMING LOANS:
   One- to four-family                                                      $1,668                  $1,577
   Multi-family and underlying cooperative                                   1,149                   1,248
   Non-residential                                                              -                       -
   Cooperative apartment                                                        69                     133
   Other loans                                                                  81                      43
                                                                ------------------         ---------------
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING LOANS                                                   2,967                   3,001
TOTAL OREO                                                                   1,180                     866
                                                                ------------------         ---------------
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS                                                 $4,147                  $3,867
                                                                ==================         ===============
TROUBLED-DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS                                                  $700                  $1,290
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS AND TROUBLED-DEBT
   RESTRUCTURINGS                                                            4,847                   5,157
IMPAIRED LOANS                                                               1,149                   1,563
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING LOANS TO TOTAL LOANS                                     0.19%                   0.22%
TOTAL IMPAIRED LOANS TO TOTAL LOANS                                           0.07                    0.11
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS TO TOTAL ASSETS                                   0.17                    0.17
TOTAL NON-PERFORMING ASSETS AND TROUBLED-DEBT
   RESTRUCTURINGS TO TOTAL ASSETS                                             0.20                    0.23
</TABLE>

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999

   ASSETS. Our assets totaled  $2.41  billion at December 31, 1999, an increase
of $158.9 million from total assets of  $2.25  billion  at  June 30, 1999.  The
growth in assets was experienced primarily in real estate loans which increased
$196.1 million since June 30, 1999.  The increase in real estate loans resulted
primarily  from  originations  of  $296.7 million during the six  months  ended
December 31, 1999, of which $284.8 million  were  multi-family  and  underlying
cooperative loans.

   Offsetting  the  increase  in real estate loans was an aggregate decline  of
$86.6 million in investment and  mortgage-backed securities available for sale,
of which $64.1 million was experienced in mortgage-backed securities available-
for-sale.  The decline in available  for sale securities reflects both the sale
of $22.2 million of investment securities  and $28.4 million of mortgage-backed
securities available for sale during the six  months  ended  December 31, 1999.
These  sales were utilized in order to generate additional liquidity  resulting
from concerns with possible increased deposit outflows attributable to concerns
over the  Year 2000.  See "Liquidity and Capital Resources."  Additionally, the
decline in  mortgage-backed  securities available for sale reflects the reduced
level of purchase activity for  such  securities  during  the  six months
<PAGE>
                                      -14-

ended December 31, 1999, as we reduced our capital leverage transaction  level
during this period.  See "Capital Leverage Strategy."

   LIABILITIES.  Deposits decreased $42.3 million to $1.20 billion at  December
31, 1999 from $1.25  billion  at  June  30,  1999 due to both the sale of $19.0
million in deposits formerly housed at our Gates  Avenue,  Brooklyn  branch  in
November,  1999,  and  the  cessation  of  a  deposit  rate  promotion  that we
maintained  from  July,  1997  to June, 1998.  FHLBNY advances increased $285.0
million during the quarter, and  these funds were utilized primarily to replace
deposit  outflows and fund loan originations.   Repos  declined  $63.5  million
during the  six  months  ended  December 31, 1999, due to our decreased capital
leverage activity during the period.

   STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY. Stockholders' equity decreased $347,000 during the six
months  ended  December  31,  1999.  This   decrease  resulted  primarily  from
repurchases of common stock into treasury of  $6.5 million, cash dividends paid
of  $3.8 million during the period and an increase  in  the  accumulated  other
comprehensive  loss  of  $2.4 million related to the decline in market value of
investment and mortgage backed securities available for sale.  Offsetting these
decreases, was net income  of $11.0 million and stock benefit plan amortization
of $2.2 million during the six months ended December 31, 1999.

   CAPITAL LEVERAGE STRATEGY.  As  a  result  of the initial public offering in
June,   1996,   our  capital  level  significantly  exceeded   all   regulatory
requirements.  A  portion  of  the  "excess"  capital  generated by the initial
public  offering  has  been  deployed  through  the  use of a capital  leverage
strategy whereby we invest in high quality mortgage-backed securities (referred
to as leverage assets) funded by short term borrowings from various third party
lenders under securities sold under agreement to repurchase  transactions.  The
capital leverage strategy generates additional earnings for us  by  virtue of a
positive interest rate spread between the yield on the leverage assets  and the
cost  of  the  borrowings.   Since the average term to maturity of the leverage
assets exceeds that of the borrowings  used  to  fund  their  purchase, the net
interest income earned on the leverage strategy would be expected to decline in
a rising interest rate environment.  See "Market Risk."  To date,  the  capital
leverage strategy has been undertaken in accordance with limits established  by
our  Board of Directors, aimed at enhancing profitability under moderate levels
of interest  rate  exposure.  During the six months ended December 31, 1999, we
undertook little new  activity  related to the capital leverage strategy due to
both unfavorable interest rate spreads  on  new  transactions  available during
this  period,  and  the  reduced  need to leverage the Bank's capital,  as  its
overall capital percentage continues  to  decline.   As a result of the reduced
activity  in  the  capital  leverage  strategy  during the three  months  ended
December 31, 1999, our balance of mortgage-backed securities available for sale
declined  $64.1  million  during this period as sales  and  paydowns  on  these
securities exceeded new purchases.

COMPARISON OF THE OPERATING  RESULTS  FOR  THE  THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
     1999 AND 1998


   GENERAL. Net income increased $731,000, to $5.4 million for the three months
ended December 31, 1999, compared to $4.7 million  for  the  three months ended
December 31, 1998.  The increase in net income resulted from increases  of $3.6
million  in  net  interest income, which was offset, in part, by a decrease  of
$218,000 in non-interest  income, and increases of $1.9 million in non-interest
expense and $667,000 in income tax expense, respectively.

   NET INTEREST INCOME.  The  discussion  of  net interest income for the three
months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, presented  below,  should  be  read in
conjunction  with  the  following  table,  which sets forth certain information
relating  to our consolidated statements of operations  for  the  three  months
ended December  31, 1999 and 1998, and reflects the average yield on assets and
average cost of liabilities  for  the  periods indicated. Such yields and costs
are derived by dividing income or expense  by  the average balance of assets or
liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown.  Average balances are derived
from  average  daily  balances.  The yields and costs include  fees  which  are
considered adjustments to yields.
<PAGE>
                                      -15-

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1999                                        1998
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>
                                                                      AVERAGE                                       AVERAGE
                                         AVERAGE                       YIELD/           AVERAGE                      YIELD/
                                         BALANCE        INTEREST       COST             BALANCE       INTEREST       COST
                                        -----------     ---------     ---------        ---------      --------      --------
                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
    Real Estate Loans <F1>               $1,533,984       $29,093          7.59%      $1,049,096       $20,886         7.96%
    Other loans                               7,482           161          8.61            5,857           126         8.61
    MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES <F2>         472,838         7,610          6.44          464,429         7,208         6.21
    INVESTMENT SECURITIES <F2>              150,379         2,559          6.30          156,189         2,458         6.29
    FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD                      131,949         1,783          5.41           33,773           397         4.70
                                        -----------     ---------                      ---------      --------
     TOTAL INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS        2,296,632       $41,206          7.18%       1,709,344       $31,075         7.27%
                                        -----------     =========                      ---------      ========
     NON-INTEREST EARNING ASSETS            155,147                                       71,357
                                        -----------                                    ---------
TOTAL ASSETS                             $2,451,779                                   $1,780,701
                                        ===========                                    =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
  INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES:
    NOW, SUPER NOW AND
       MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS               $110,313          $967          3.48%         $49,879          $297         2.36%
    SAVINGS ACCOUNTS                        393,292         2,022          2.04          341,004         1,812         2.11
    CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT                 644,213         8,141          5.01          596,877         8,353         5.55
    BORROWED FUNDS <F3>                     981,257        14,039          5.68          533,426         8,127         6.04
                                        -----------     ---------                      ---------      --------
    TOTAL INTEREST-BEARING
      LIABILITIES                         2,129,075       $25,169          4.69%       1,521,186       $18,589         4.85%
                                        -----------     =========                      ---------      ========
  CHECKING ACCOUNTS                          72,910                                       41,019
  OTHER NON-INTEREST-BEARING
     LIABILITIES                             37,589                                       41,312
                                        -----------                                    ---------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES                       2,239,574                                    1,603,517
  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                      212,205                                      177,184
                                        -----------                                    ---------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
   EQUITY                                $2,451,779                                   $1,780,701
                                        ===========                                    =========
NET INTEREST INCOME/ INTEREST RATE
   SPREAD<F4>                                             $16,037          2.49%                       $12,486         2.42%
                                                        =========                                     ========
NET INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS/NET
   INTEREST MARGIN <F5>                    $167,557                        2.79%        $188,158                       2.92%
                                        ===========                                    =========
RATIO OF INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS
   TO INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES                                       107.87%                                     112.37%
<FN>
<F1>In computing the average balance of loans, non-accrual loans have been
      included.
<F2>Includes securities classified "held to maturity" and "available for sale."
<F3>In calculating the average cost of borrowed funds for the three months
      ended December 31, 1998, a non-recurring prepayment penalty of $618,000 is
      included in interest expense.  Excluding the effect of this prepayment
      penalty, the average cost of borrowings would have been 5.58% for the three
      months ended December 31, 1998.
<F4>Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average rate
     on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing
     liabilities.
<F5>Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of
     average interest-earning assets.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                      -16-


RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                               COMPARED TO
                                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1998
                                                           INCREASE/ (DECREASE)
                                                                   DUE TO
                                                  VOLUME              RATE             TOTAL
<S>                                          <C>              <C>               <C>
                                               --------------      ------------     ------------
  Interest-earning assets:                                         (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
    Real Estate Loans                                 $9,415           $(1,208)           $8,207
    Other loans                                           35                -                 35
    Mortgage-backed securities                           133               269               402
    Investment securities                                  3                98               101
    Federal funds sold                                 1,240               146             1,386
                                               --------------      ------------     ------------
      Total                                          $10,826             $(695)          $10,131
                                               ==============      ============     ============
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
    NOW, Super Now and money market accounts            $444              $226              $670
    Savings accounts                                     274               (64)              210
    Certificates of deposit                              631              (843)             (212)
    Borrowed funds                                     6,610              (698)            5,912
                                               --------------      ------------     ------------
      Total                                            7,959            (1,379)            6,580
                                               --------------      ------------     ------------
Net change in net interest income                     $2,867              $684            $3,551
                                               ==============      ============     ============
</TABLE>

   Net  interest  income for the three months ended December  31,  1999
increased $3.6 million  to  $16.1 million from $12.5 million during the
three months ended December 31,  1998.  The  increase  was attributable
primarily  to an increase of $587.3 million in average interest-earning
assets, coupled  with an increase of 7 basis points in average interest
spread.  Despite the increase in interest rate spread, the net interest
margin declined 13  basis  points from 2.92% for the three months ended
December 31, 1998 to 2.79% for  the  three  months  ended  December 31,
1999.

   The  increase in interest rate spread resulted primarily from  a  16
basis  point   reduction  in  the  average  cost  of  interest  bearing
liabilities, resulting  primarily from reduced rates on certificates of
deposit,  due  to  the  cessation   of   interest  rate  promotions  on
certificate  accounts offered during the fiscal  year  ended  June  30,
1998.  In addition,  the  increase in interest rate spread reflects the
shift  in  the  overall percentage  of  interest  earning  assets  from
investment  and mortgage-backed  securities  into  real  estate  loans.
Despite their recent declines in average yield, real estate loans still
earn a higher  average  yield than either investment or mortgage-backed
securities. The narrowing  of  the  interest  rate  margin reflects the
reduction  from  112.37%  to  107.87% in the ratio of interest  earning
assets  to  interest  bearing liabilities,  resulting  from  a  reduced
percentage of non-interest  bearing liabilities and stockholders equity
to total liabilities and stockholders  equity.   The narrowing interest
rate  margin  also  reflects, in part, our continued  capital  leverage
strategy activities over  the  past twelve months, as the interest rate
differential  between  assets  and  underlying  liabilities  under  the
capital leverage strategy are significantly less than the interest rate
differential between our other interest-earning  assets  and  interest-
bearing liabilities.
<PAGE>
                                      -17-

   INTEREST  INCOME.   Interest  income  for  the  three  months  ended
December 31, 1999, was $41.2 million, an increase of $10.1 million from
$31.1  million  during  the  three  months ended December 31, 1998. The
increase  in interest income was primarily  attributable  to  increased
interest income  on real estate loans of $8.2 million and on short-term
investments (commercial  paper and federal funds sold) of $1.4 million.
The increase in interest income  on  real estate loans was attributable
primarily to an increase of $484.9 million  in  the  average balance of
real estate loans, resulting from both $512.4 million  of  real  estate
loans  originated  during  the  twelve-month  period ended December 31,
1999,  and $192.3 million of real estate loans acquired  in  connection
with the  acquisition  of Financial Bancorp, Inc., and its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Financial Federal  Savings  Bank,  referred  to as the FIBC
acquisition.  The FIBC acquisition was completed on January  21,  1999.
The increase in interest income on short-term securities (comprised  of
federal   funds   sold  and  commercial  paper  investments)  was  also
attributable primarily  to  an increase in the average balance of $98.2
million, resulting from securities  purchased  during  the three months
ended  December 31, 1999, in order to maintain added liquidity  related
to concerns  with  possible  increased  deposit outflows resulting from
consumer concerns over the Year 2000.  The  average yield on short-term
investments increased 71 basis points due to  recent  general increases
in  short-term  interest rates.  Overall, the yield on interest-earning
assets decreased  9  basis  points  from  7.27% during the three months
ended December 31, 1998 to 7.18% during the three months ended December
31, 1999. The decline was attributable primarily  to  a  decrease of 37
basis  points  in  the  average  yield  on  real estate loans resulting
primarily from continued competition in the real  estate lending market
and the continued flat yield curve environment during  much of the past
twelve  months.  While overall interest rates recently have  increased,
their effect upon  the  overall  yield on real estate loans was minimal
during the quarter ended December 31, 1999, since real estate loans, on
average,  have  a longer term to repricing  than  our  other  interest-
earning assets.   The  effects  of  these  increases  in  rates will be
recognized  in upcoming quarters.  The increase in interest  rates  was
reflected in the average yield of mortgage-backed securities and short-
term investments,  whose average yield increased by 23 basis points and
71 basis points respectively.

   INTEREST EXPENSE.  Interest expense increased $6.6 million, to $25.2
million during the three  months  ended  December  31, 1999, from $18.6
million during the three months ended December 31, 1998.  This increase
resulted primarily from increased interest expense of $5.9  million  on
borrowed  funds, which resulted from an increase in the average balance
of $447.8 million  during  the  three  months  ended  December 31, 1999
compared to the three months ended December 31, 1998. The  increase  in
the  average  balance  of borrowed funds resulted from $66.1 million of
borrowed funds added during  the twelve-month period ended December 31,
1999, under the capital leverage strategy, and growth of $307.5 million
in FHLBNY advances during the  period  January  1, 1999 to December 31,
1999.   The FHLBNY advances are generally medium-term  interest-bearing
liabilities,  which  are utilized to fund loan originations and replace
deposit outflows.  The  average  cost  of  interest-bearing liabilities
decreased  16  basis  points  to 4.69% during the  three  months  ended
December 31, 1999, from 4.85% during  the  three  months ended December
31, 1998, reflecting the decline in the average cost of certificates of
deposit  and  borrowed  funds of 54 basis points and 36  basis  points,
respectively.  The decline  in  the  average  cost  of  borrowed  funds
resulted  from a non-recurring charge of $618,000 recorded in borrowing
expense  during   the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1998  related  to
prepayment of certain  borrowings.   Excluding this charge, the average
cost of borrowings would have increased  by  10  basis  points from the
quarter  ended  December 31, 1998, due to recent increases  in  general
interest rates, and  a  shift  in  borrowings  towards FHLBNY advances,
which  possess  longer periods to maturity than Repo  borrowings.   The
reduction in the  average cost of certificates of deposit resulted from
the cessation of deposit  rate  promotions that we maintained from July
1997  to  June  1998.  While  the  decline   in  the  average  cost  of
certificates of deposits and borrowed funds helped  reduce  the average
cost  of  interest-bearing  liabilities  during the three months  ended
December 31, 1999, their respective average  balance increases of $47.3
million and $447.8 million offset, in part, that decrease.

     PROVISION  FOR LOAN LOSSES.  The provision  for  loan  losses  was
$60,000 during both  the three months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998,
reflecting the continued  stability of non-performing loans and charge-
offs.  The allowance for loan losses declined $404,000 during the three
months ended December 31,
<PAGE>
                                      -18-


1999, as net charge-offs of $464,000 exceeded
the provision of $60,000 during  the  period.  Of the total net charge-
offs during the quarter ended December 31, 1999,  $454,000 related to a
loan   pool   participation   investment  acquired  from  FIBC.    Upon
consummating the FIBC acquisition,  we  provided  reserves  within  its
overall  loan  loss  allowance to cover this potential loss on the loan
pool investment.  After attempting to recover this portion of the total
investment, we recently determined that it would not be collectible and
should be charged-off.  No additional significant delinquencies related
to the loan pool investment were noted prior to the consummation of the
FIBC acquisition, nor  have  any additional potential losses been noted
on this investment since we assumed its ownership.


   NON-INTEREST INCOME.  Non-interest income decreased $218,000 to $2.2
million during the three months  ended  December  31,  1999,  from $2.4
million  during  the three months ended December 31, 1998.  The decline
resulted  primarily   from  sales  of  investment  and  mortgage-backed
securities, which resulted in a net loss of $145,000 during the quarter
ended December 31, 1999,  compared to a net gain of $510,000 during the
quarter  ended  December  31,   1998.    See   "Liquidity  and  Capital
Resources."  Service charges and fees increased  $545,000 due primarily
to  increased  service  fees  and  charges  on  deposits  of  $355,000,
resulting  primarily from adjustments in our deposit  fee  and  service
charges and  the  addition  of  the  five  branches acquired from FIBC.
Other income decreased $99,000 due to a decline  in  prepayment penalty
income resulting from recent interest rate increases.  This decline was
partially  offset  by  increased  income from FHLBNY capital  stock  of
$342,000, due to an increase in the  balance  of  FHLBNY  capital stock
from  $21.8  million at December 31, 1998 to $41.5 million at  December
31, 1999. The  increase  in the average balance of FHLBNY capital stock
resulted from our increased  borrowings  with  the  FHLBNY  during this
period.

   NON-INTEREST  EXPENSE. Non-interest expense increased $1.9  million,
from $7.1 million  during  the three months ended December 31, 1998, to
$9.0 million during the three  months  ended  December  31,  1999.  The
increase in non-interest expense reflects increases of $530,000 related
to  salaries  and  benefits expense, $283,000 related to occupancy  and
equipment expense, $98,000  related  to data processing costs, $552,000
related  to  goodwill  amortization,  and  $539,000  related  to  other
expenses.

   A significant portion of the increase  in salaries and benefits, and
occupancy  and equipment expenses resulted from  the  addition  of  new
employees,  property  and  equipment  in  the  FIBC  acquisition.   The
remaining salary  and benefit expense increase reflects base salary and
staff increases over the past twelve months.

   Increased data processing  costs of $98,000 resulted from additional
systems  activity  related to growth  in  both  loan  activity  due  to
originations over the  past  twelve months and deposit activity related
to the acquisition of the five branches from FIBC.

   The  increase  in  goodwill  expense   of   $552,000  resulted  from
additional goodwill of $44.2 million due to the  FIBC acquisition.  The
increase  in other expenses resulted primarily from  $206,000  in  core
deposit premium  amortization  added in the FIBC acquisition, increased
supplies, postage and telephone  expenses associated with operations of
the  branches acquired from FIBC, and  increased  advertising  expenses
associated with recent customer promotions.

   INCOME  TAX  EXPENSE. Income tax expense increased $667,000, or 22%, during
the quarter ended December 31, 1999 compared to the quarter ended December 31,
1998, due primarily to the increase of $1.4 million, or 18%, in pre-tax income
during the same period.   Our effective tax rate increased slightly from 39.7%
to 40.9% during this period  due  to  a  non-recurring  income tax recovery of
$350,000 recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 1998.   Excluding this
recovery,  the  effective  tax  rate would have been 44.1% during the  quarter
ended December 31, 1998.  The decline  in  effective  tax  rate  from 44.1% to
40.9%  in the most recent quarter reflects additional tax benefits  associated
with activities of subsidiary companies.
<PAGE>
                                      -19-

COMPARISON  OF  THE OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER
     31, 1999 AND 1998


   GENERAL. Net income increased $2.3 million, to $11.0 million for the
six months ended  December  31,  1999, compared to $8.7 million for the
six  months  ended  December 31, 1998.   The  increase  in  net  income
resulted from increases of $7.0 million in net interest income and $1.2
million in non-interest  income,  which increases were partially offset
by increases of $4.1 million in non-interest  expense  and $1.7 million
in income tax expense.

   NET INTEREST INCOME.  The discussion of net interest  income for the
six months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, presented below, should be
read in conjunction with the following table, which sets forth  certain
information  relating to our consolidated statements of operations  for
the six months  ended  December  30,  1999  and  1998, and reflects the
average yield on assets and average cost of liabilities for the periods
indicated.  Such  yields  and costs are derived by dividing  income  or
expense by the average balance  of assets or liabilities, respectively,
for the periods shown. Average balances  are derived from average daily
balances.  The  yields  and  costs include fees  which  are  considered
adjustments to yields.
<PAGE>
                                      -20-

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1999                                        1998
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>
                                                                      AVERAGE                                       AVERAGE
                                         AVERAGE                       YIELD/           AVERAGE                      YIELD/
                                         BALANCE        INTEREST       COST             BALANCE       INTEREST       COST
                                        -----------     ---------     ---------        ---------      --------      --------
                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
    Real Estate Loans <F1>               $1,474,700       $56,096          7.61%      $1,015,970       $40,815         8.03%
    Other loans                               7,539           310          8.22            5,696           253         8.88
    MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES <F2>         494,109        15,709          6.36          442,282        14,060         6.36
    INVESTMENT SECURITIES <F2>              161,317         5,144          6.22          157,567         4,857         6.16
    FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD                       74,690         2,002          5.36           27,261           673         4.94
                                        -----------     ---------                      ---------      --------
     TOTAL INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS        2,212,355       $79,261          7.17%       1,684,776       $60,658         7.36%
                                        -----------     =========                      ---------      ========
     NON-INTEREST EARNING ASSETS            145,388                                       69,714
                                        -----------                                    ---------
TOTAL ASSETS                             $2,357,743                                   $1,718,490
                                        ===========                                    =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
  INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES:
    NOW, SUPER NOW AND
       MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS                $96,877        $1,557          3.19%         $49,840          $589         2.34%
    SAVINGS ACCOUNTS                        400,814         4,120          2.04          341,860         3,758         2.18
    CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT                 660,060        16,677          5.01          600,753        16,995         5.61
    BORROWED FUNDS <F3>                     884,918        24,864          5.57          472,598        14,230         5.97
                                        -----------     ---------                      ---------      --------
    TOTAL INTEREST-BEARING
      LIABILITIES                         2,042,669       $47,218          4.59%       1,465,051       $35,572         4.82%
                                        -----------     =========                      ---------      ========
  CHECKING ACCOUNTS                          71,141                                       39,428
  OTHER NON-INTEREST-BEARING
     LIABILITIES                             32,014                                       34,282
                                        -----------                                    ---------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES                       2,145,824                                    1,538,761
  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                      211,919                                      179,728
                                        -----------                                    ---------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
   EQUITY                                $2,357,743                                   $1,718,489
                                        ===========                                    =========
NET INTEREST INCOME/ INTEREST RATE
   SPREAD<F4>                                             $32,043          2.58%                       $25,086         2.54%
                                                        =========                                     ========
NET INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS/NET
   INTEREST MARGIN <F5>                    $169,686                        2.90%        $183,725                       3.04%
                                        ===========                                    =========
RATIO OF INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS
   TO INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES                                       108.31%                                     112.54%
<FN>
<F1>In computing the average balance of loans, non-accrual loans have been
      included.
<F2>Includes securities classified as "held to maturity" and "available for
      sale."
<F3>In calculating the average cost of borrowed funds for the six months ended
      December 31, 1998, a non-recurring prepayment penalty of $618,000 is
      included in interest expense.  Excluding the effect of this prepayment
      penalty, the average cost of borrowings would have been 5.84% for the six
      months ended December 31, 1998.
<F4>Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the average
      rate on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing
      liabilities.
<F5>Net interest margin represents net interest income as a percentage of
      average interest-earning assets.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                      -21-


RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                               COMPARED TO
                                                             SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1998
                                                           INCREASE/ (DECREASE)
                                                                   DUE TO
<S>                                          <C>              <C>               <C>
                                                  VOLUME              RATE             TOTAL
                                               --------------      ------------     -------------
  Interest-earning assets:                        (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
    Real Estate Loans                                $17,922           $(2,641)          $15,281
    Other loans                                           79               (22)               57
    Mortgage-backed securities                         1,648                 1             1,649
    Investment securities                                178               109               287
    Federal funds sold                                 1,221               108             1,329
                                               --------------      ------------     -------------
      Total                                          $21,048           $(2,445)          $18,603
                                               ==============      ============     =============
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
    NOW, Super Now and money market accounts            $655               $313             $968
    Savings accounts                                     626              (264)              362
    Certificates of deposit                            1,589            (1,907)             (318)
    Borrowed funds                                    12,001            (1,367)           10,634
                                               --------------      ------------     -------------
      Total                                           14,871            (3,225)           11,646
                                               --------------      ------------     -------------
Net change in net interest income                     $6,177              $780            $6,957
                                               ==============      ============     =============
</TABLE>

   Net interest income for the  six  months  ended  December 31,
1999 increased $7.0 million to $32.1 million from $25.1  million
during the six months ended December 31, 1998. The increase  was
attributable  primarily  to  an  increase  of  $563.6 million in
average interest-earning assets, coupled with an  increase  of 4
basis  points  in  average  interest  rate  spread.  Despite the
increase  in  interest  rate  spread,  the  net interest  margin
declined  15  basis points from 3.04% for the six  months  ended
December 31, 1998 to 2.90% for the six months ended December 31,
1999.

   The increase  in interest rate spread resulted primarily from
a 23 basis point reduction  in  the  average  cost  of  interest
bearing  liabilities, resulting primarily from reduced rates  on
certificates  of  deposit, due to the cessation of interest rate
promotions on certificate  accounts  offered  during  the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1998.  In addition, the increase in interest
rate  spread  reflects  the  shift in the overall percentage  of
interest  earning  assets  from investment  and  mortgage-backed
securities  into  real  estate   loans.   Despite  their  recent
declines in average yield, real estate loans still earn a higher
average   yield  than  either  investment   or   mortgage-backed
securities.  The  narrowing of the interest rate margin reflects
the reduction from  112.54%  to 108.31% in the ratio of interest
earning assets to interest bearing liabilities, resulting from a
reduced  percentage  of  non-interest  bearing  liabilities  and
stockholders  equity  to  total   liabilities  and  stockholders
equity.  The narrowing interest rate  margin  also  reflects, in
part,  our  continued capital leverage strategy activities  over
the  past twelve  months,  as  the  interest  rate  differential
between  assets  and  underlying  liabilities  under the capital
leverage strategy are significantly less than the  interest rate
differential  between  our  other  interest-earning  assets  and
interest-bearing liabilities.
<PAGE>
                                      -22-

   INTEREST  INCOME.   Interest income for the six months  ended
December  31, 1999, was $79.3  million,  an  increase  of  $18.6
million from  $60.7 million during the six months ended December
31,  1998.  The  increase   in  interest  income  was  primarily
attributable to increased interest  income  on real estate loans
of $15.3 million, short-term investments (commercial  paper  and
federal   funds  sold)  of  $1.3  million,  and  mortgage-backed
securities  of $1.6 million.  The increase in interest income on
real estate loans  was  attributable primarily to an increase of
$458.7 million in the average  balance  of  real  estate  loans,
resulting   from  both  $512.4  million  of  real  estate  loans
originated during  the  twelve-month  period  ended December 31,
1999,  and  $192.3  million  of  real  estate loans acquired  in
connection with the FIBC acquisition.  The  FIBC acquisition was
completed on January 21, 1999.  The increase  in interest income
on short-term securities (comprised of federal  funds  sold  and
commercial paper investments) was also attributable primarily to
an  increase  in  the average balance of $47.4 million resulting
securities purchased  during  the  six months ended December 31,
1999, in order to maintain added liquidity  related  to concerns
over the Year 2000.  The average yield on short-term investments
increased  42  basis  points due to recent general increases  in
short-term interest rates.   The increase in income on mortgage-
backed securities resulted from  an  increase in average balance
of $51.8 million in mortgage-backed securities,  resulting  from
the  purchase  of  $145.5  million of mortgage-backed securities
during the period January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999,virtually
all of which were purchased under our capital leverage strategy.
Overall, the yield on interest-earning assets decreased 19 basis
points from 7.36% during the  six months ended December 31, 1998
to 7.17% during the six months  ended  December  31,  1999.  The
decline  was  attributable  primarily  to a decrease of 42 basis
points  in  the  average  yield on real estate  loans  resulting
primarily from continued competition  in the real estate lending
market  and  the continued flat yield curve  environment  during
much of the past  twelve  months.  While  overall interest rates
recently have increased, their effect upon  the overall yield on
real  estate  loans  was  minimal  during the six  months  ended
December 31, 1999, since real estate  loans,  on average, have a
longer term to repricing than our other interest-earning assets.
The  effects of these increases in rates will be  recognized  in
upcoming quarters.  The increase in interest rates was reflected
in the  average  yield  of investment  securities and short-term
investments, whose average yield increased by 6 basis points and
42 basis points, respectively.

   INTEREST EXPENSE.  Interest  expense increased $11.6 million,
to $47.2 million during the six months  ended December 31, 1999,
from  $35.6  million during the six months  ended  December  31,
1998. This increase  resulted  primarily from increased interest
expense of $10.6 million on borrowed  funds, which resulted from
an increase in the average balance of $412.3  million during the
six months ended December 31, 1999 compared to  the  six  months
ended December 31, 1998. The increase in the average balance  of
borrowed  funds  resulted  from  $66.1 million of borrowed funds
added during the twelve-month period  ended  December  31, 1999,
under  the  capital  leverage  strategy,  and  growth  of $307.5
million in FHLBNY advances during the period January 1,  1999 to
December  31,  1999.   The FHLBNY advances are generally medium-
term interest-bearing liabilities,  which  are  utilized to fund
loan  originations  and replace deposit outflows.   The  average
cost of interest-bearing  liabilities  decreased 23 basis points
to  4.59% during the six months ended December  31,  1999,  from
4.82%  during the six months ended December 31, 1998, reflecting
the decline  in  the average cost of certificates of deposit and
borrowed  funds  of   60  basis  points  and  40  basis  points,
respectively. The decline  in the average cost of borrowed funds
resulted from a non-recurring  charge  of  $618,000  recorded in
borrowing  expense  during  the quarter ended December 31,  1998
related  to prepayment of certain  borrowings.   Excluding  this
charge, the  average  cost of borrowings would have decreased by
14 basis points from the six months ended December 31, 1998, due
to declines in general  interest rates during the period January
1, 1999 to March 31, 1999.  The reduction in the average cost of
certificates of deposit resulted  from  the cessation of deposit
rate promotions that we maintained from July  1997 to June 1998.
While  the  decline  in  the  average  cost  of certificates  of
deposits and borrowed funds helped reduce the  average  cost  of
interest-bearing   liabilities   during  the  six  months  ended
December 31, 1999, their respective average balance increases of
$59.3 million and $412.3 million offset, in part, that decrease.
<PAGE>
                                      -23-

     PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES.  The  provision  for loan losses
was $120,000 during both the six months ended December  31, 1999
and  1998,  reflecting the continued stability of non-performing
loans and charge-offs.   The  allowance for loan losses declined
$392,000 during the six months  ended  December 31, 1999, as net
charge-offs of $512,000 exceeded the provision of $60,000 during
the period. Of the total net charge-offs  during  the six months
ended  December  31,  1999,  $454,000  related  to  a loan  pool
participation  investment acquired from FIBC.  Upon consummating
the FIBC acquisition,  the  Company provided reserves within our
overall loan loss allowance to  cover this potential loss on the
loan pool investment.  After attempting  to recover this portion
of the total investment, we recently determined  that  it  would
not  be  collectible  and  should be charged-off.  No additional
significant delinquencies related  to  the  loan pool investment
were  noted  prior to the consummation of the FIBC  acquisition,
nor have any additional  potential  losses  been  noted  on this
investment since we assumed its ownership.


   NON-INTEREST  INCOME.   Non-interest  income  increased  $1.2
million to $4.9 million during the six months ended December 31,
1999, from $3.7 million during the six months ended December 31,
1998.  Service  charges  and  fees  increased  $1.2  million due
primarily  to increased service fees and charges on deposits  of
$675,000, resulting  primarily  from  adjustments in our deposit
fees and service charges and the addition  of  the five branches
acquired from FIBC.  Other income increased $1.0  million due to
an increase in prepayment penalty income of $191,000  related to
high prepayment activity during the September, 1999 quarter, and
increased income from FHLBNY capital stock of $666,000,  due  to
an  increase  in  the balance of FHLBNY capital stock from $21.8
million at December  31,  1998  to $41.5 million at December 31,
1999.  The increase in the average  balance  of  FHLBNY  capital
stock resulted  from  our  increased  borrowings with the FHLBNY
during this period.

   Offsetting these increases was a decline  in  the net gain or
loss  on  sales  of  investment  and mortgage-backed securities,
which resulted in a net loss of $14,000  during  the  six months
ended  December  31,  1999,  compared  to a net gain of $754,000
during  the  six  months  ended December 31,  1998.   The  sales
transactions related to securities  during  the six months ended
December  31,  1998,  which  resulted  in  a  gain,  related  to
disposals of equity investments which we felt were at attractive
sales  values.   The  sales  transactions  involving  securities
during the six months ended December 31, 1999, which resulted in
a  loss,  were  made  in order to generate additional  liquidity
related to possible increased  deposit  outflows  resulting from
consumer  concerns  over  the  Year  2000.   See "Liquidity  and
Capital  Resources."   The  significant  loss  on  the  sale  of
securities  during the six months ended December 31,  1999,  was
offset by a gain  on the sale of deposits formerly housed at our
Gates Avenue, Brooklyn branch.

   NON-INTEREST EXPENSE.  Non-interest  expense  increased  $4.1
million, from $13.8 million during the six months ended December
31,  1998, to $17.9 million during the six months ended December
31,  1999.    The  increase  in  non-interest  expense  reflects
increases of $1.2  million  related  to  salaries  and  benefits
expense,  $661,000  related  to occupancy and equipment expense,
$219,000 related to data processing  costs, $1.1 million related
to  goodwill  amortization, and $1.0 million  related  to  other
expenses.

   A  significant  portion  of  the  increase  in  salaries  and
benefits  and occupancy and equipment expenses resulted from the
addition of  new  employees,  property and equipment in the FIBC
acquisition.  The remaining salary  and benefit expense increase
reflects base salary and staff increases  over  the  past twelve
months.   The  remaining  increase  in  occupancy  and equipment
expense  reflects  non-recurring  real  estate  tax  refunds  of
$144,000 on branch properties which were recorded as a reduction
of  occupancy  and  equipment  expense during the quarter  ended
September 30, 1998.

   Increased data processing costs  of  $661,000  resulted  from
additional  systems  activity  related  to  growth  in both loan
activity  due  to  originations over the past twelve months  and
deposit activity related to the acquisition of the five branches
from FIBC.
<PAGE>
                                      -24-

   The increase in goodwill  expense  of  $1.1  million resulted
from  additional  goodwill  of  $44.2  million due to  the  FIBC
acquisition.  The increase in other expenses  resulted primarily
from $412,000 in core deposit premium amortization  added in the
FIBC  acquisition,  increased  supplies,  postage  and telephone
expenses  associated  with  operations of the branches  acquired
from FIBC, and increased advertising  expenses  associated  with
recent customer promotions.

   INCOME  TAX EXPENSE. Income tax expense increased $1.7 million,  or
28%, during the six months ended December 31, 1999 compared to the six
months ended  December 31, 1998, due primarily to the increase of $4.0
million, or 27%,  in  pre-tax  income  during  the  same  period.  Our
effective tax rate remained relatively constant during this period, as
a  non-recurring  income tax recovery of $350,000 recorded during  the
six months ended December  31,  1998,  was  offset  by  additional tax
benefits  realized  during  the  six  months ended December 31,  1999,
associated with activities of subsidiary companies.

THE YEAR 2000 COMPUTER ISSUE

   Over the past several quarters, we had reported, on a regular
basis,  concerns  related  to the  "Year 2000  Computer  Issue,"
which  centered  upon  the  inability  of  computer  systems  to
recognize the change into the  year 2000.  We did not experience
any significant interruptions in any computer operations related
to  the  Year  2000  Computer Concern.   Our  loan  and  deposit
functions were not effected  by  the  change into the year 2000.
We estimate that total costs related to  the  Year 2000 Computer
Concern, from inception to date, did not exceed $100,000, and we
do not anticipate any additional costs to be incurred related to
this matter.  Additionally, we did not encounter any significant
delays in loan payments from our borrowers due  to  difficulties
they  may  have  encountered  as  a result of Year 2000 Computer
Concern.

IMPACT OF ENACTMENT OF THE GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT

   On November 12, 1999, President  Clinton  signed  the  Gramm-
Leach  Bliley  Act,  which  among  other  things,  establishes a
comprehensive framework to permit affiliations among  commercial
banks, insurance companies and securities firms.  Generally, the
new  law  (i) repeals the historical restrictions and eliminates
many federal  and state law barriers to affiliations among banks
and securities  firms,  insurance  companies and other financial
service  providers, (ii) provides a uniform  framework  for  the
activities  of  banks,  savings  institutions  and their holding
companies, (iii) broadens the activities that may  be  conducted
by subsidiaries of national banks and state banks, (iv) provides
an  enhanced framework for protecting the privacy of information
gathered by financial institutions regarding their customers and
consumers,  (v)  adopts  a  number  of provisions related to the
capitalization,  membership,  corporate   governance  and  other
measures  designed  to  modernize  the Federal  Home  Loan  Bank
System, (vi) requires public disclosure  of  certain  agreements
relating  to  funds expended in connection with an institution's
compliance with  the Community Retirement Act, (vii) addresses a
variety of other legal and regulatory issues affecting both day-
to-day  operations   and   long-term   activities  of  financial
institutions,  including  the  functional  regulation   of  bank
securities and insurance activities.

   The Act also restricts the powers of new unitary savings  and
loan  association  holding  companies.  Unitary savings and loan
holding  companies  that  are  "grandfathered,"   I.E.,  unitary
savings  and  loan  holding  companies  in  existence  or   with
applications  filed  with the OTS on or before May 4, 1999, such
as the Company, retain their authority under the prior law.  All
other unitary savings  and loan holding companies are limited to
financially  related activities  permissible  for  bank  holding
companies, as  defined  under  the  Act.  The Act also prohibits
non-financial  companies  from acquiring  grandfathered  unitary
savings and loan association holding companies.

   The Act also requires financial  institutions to disclose, on
ATM machines, any non-customer fees and  to  disclose  to  their
customers upon the issuance of an ATM card any fees that may  be
imposed  by  the
<PAGE>
                                      -25-

institutions  on  ATM  users.  For older ATMs, financial  institutions
will have until December  31,  2004  to provide such notices.

   Bank holding companies  are  permitted  to  engage in a wider
variety of financial activities than permitted under  the  prior
law,  particularly  with  respect  to  insurance  and securities
activities.  In addition, in a change from the prior  law,  bank
holding  companies  are in a position to be owned, controlled or
acquired  by  any  company   engaged   in   financially  related
activities.

   The  OTS has recently proposed regulations  implementing  the
privacy  protection   provisions   of  the  Act.   The  proposed
regulations would require each financial  institution  to  adopt
procedures  to  protect  customers'  and  consumers'  "nonpublic
personal  information"  by  November  13,  2000.    We would  be
required  to  disclose our privacy policy, including identifying
with  whom  we  share    "nonpublic  personal  information,"  to
customers at the time of establishing  the customer relationship
and annually thereafter.  In addition, we  would  be required to
provide our customers with the ability to "opt-out" of having us
share   their  personal  information  with  unaffiliated   third
parties.  We currently have a privacy protection policy in place
and intend  to  review  and amend that policy, if necessary, for
compliance with the regulations  when  they are adopted in final
form.

   The Act also provides for the ability  of each state to enact
legislation  that  is  more  protective  of consumers'  personal
information.   Currently, there are a number  of  privacy  bills
pending in the New  York  Assembly.  No action has been taken on
any of these bills, and we  cannot  predict what impact, if any,
these bills would have.

   We  do  not believe that the new law  will  have  a  material
adverse affect  upon  our operations in the near term.  However,
to the extent the new law  permits  banks,  securities firms and
insurance   companies  to  affiliate,  the  financial   services
industry  may  experience  further  consolidation.   This  could
result in a growing number of larger financial institutions that
offer a wider  variety  of  financial services than we currently
offer  and  that can aggressively  compete  in  the  markets  we
currently serve.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE  AND  QUALITATIVE  DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET
RISK

Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about   market  risk  is
presented  at June 30, 1999 in Exhibit 13.1 to our Annual Report
on Form 10-K,  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on September 28,  1999.   There have been no material changes in
our market risk at  December 31, 1999 compared to June 30, 1999.
The following is an update of the discussion provided therein:

   GENERAL. Our largest component of market risk continues to be
interest rate risk.   Virtually  all  of  this risk continues to
reside  at  the Bank level.  The Bank still is  not  subject  to
foreign currency  exchange or commodity price risk.  At December
31, 1999, we owned no trading assets, nor did we utilize hedging
transactions such as interest rate swaps and caps.

   ASSETS, DEPOSIT  LIABILITIES  AND WHOLESALE FUNDS.  There has
been no material change in the composition  of  assets,  deposit
liabilities  or  wholesale  funds from June 30, 1999 to December
31, 1999.

   GAP ANALYSIS.  The one-year and five-year cumulative interest
sensitivity  gap as a percentage  of  total  assets  still  fall
within 2% of their  levels  at  June 30, 1999 utilizing the same
assumptions as at June 30, 1999.

   INTEREST RATE RISK COMPLIANCE.   We  continue  to monitor the
impact of interest rate volatility upon net interest  income and
net  portfolio  value  in  the  same manner as at June 30, 1999.
There  have  been no changes in our  board  approved  limits  of
acceptable variance  in  net  interest  income and net portfolio value
<PAGE>
                                      -26-

at December 31, 1999 compared to June  30,  1999,  and the
projected  changes  continue  to  fall within the board approved
limits at all levels of potential interest rate volatility.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in various legal actions arising in the ordinary
course of its business which, in the  aggregate, involve amounts
which are believed to be immaterial to  our  financial condition
and results of operations.

ITEM 2.    CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

     None.

ITEM 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

     None.

ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     (l) Our Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on November
        10, 1999.

     (m) Not applicable.

     (c) The following is a summary of the matters voted upon at
the meeting and the votes obtained:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
                                                       VOTES                          VOTES          BROKER
DESCRIPTION                         VOTES FOR         AGAINST     ABSTENTIONS        WITHHELD       NON-VOTES

1)  Election of the following
individuals as Director for a
term of six years:
     Vincent F. Palagiano           9,416,006             -0-             -0-         247,717             -0-
     George L. Clark, Jr.           9,333,845             -0-             -0-         329,878             -0-
     Steven D. Cohn                 9,332,945             -0-             -0-         330,778             -0-
     John J. Flynn                  9,416,606             -0-             -0-         247,117             -0-

2)   Approval   of  the  Dime
Community  Bancshares,   Inc.
Annual Incentive Plan               8,912,663         705,241          45,819             -0-             -0-

3)    Ratification   of   the
appointment   of  Deloitte  &
Touche   LLP   to   act    as
independent  auditors for the
Company for the  fiscal  year
ended June 30, 2000                 9,610,724          41,289          11,710             -0-             -0-

</TABLE>

     (d) Not applicable.
<PAGE>
                                      -27-

ITEM 5.     OTHER INFORMATION

     None.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (n) EXHIBITS
           Exhibit  11.  Statement Re:  Computation of Per Share
Earnings
           Exhibit 27. Financial  Data  Schedule  (included only
                           with EDGAR filing).

     (B)   REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

                      None.

<PAGE>
                                      -28-


                              SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                 Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.


Dated:   February 11, 2000          By:   /s/ VINCENT F. PALAGIANO
                                         -------------------------------
                                          Vincent F. Palagiano
                                          Chairman  of the Board and
                                            Chief Executive Officer






Dated:   February 11, 2000            By: /s/   KENNETH J. MAHON
                                         -------------------------------
                                         Kenneth J. Mahon
                                         Executive  Vice  President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer



                                   EXHIBITS
                                   ========

                                                              EXHIBIT NUMBER 11

DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
STATEMENT RE:  COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              For the Three Months                   For the Six Months
                                               Ended December 31,                     Ended December 31,
                                              ---------------------                 --------------------
                                                                    Amounts in thousands
<S>                                       <C>           <C>                     <C>          <C>
                                                 1999          1998                  1999           1998
                                                -------       -------               -------       -------
Net income                                       $5,416        $4,685               $10,976       $8,668
Weighted average common shares
  outstanding                                    11,425        10,219                11,517       10,392

Basic earnings per common shares                  $0.47         $0.46                 $0.95        $0.83
                                                =======       =======               =======      =======
Total weighted average common shares
  outstanding                                    11,425        10,219                11,517       10,392

Unvested shares of Recognition and

Retention Plan and common stock
  equivalents due to dilutive
  effect of stock options                           581           922                   616          906
                                                -------       -------               -------      -------
Total weighted average common shares and
  common share equivalents utilized for
  diluted earnings per share                     12,006        11,141                12,133       11,298
                                                =======       =======               =======      =======
Diluted earnings per common share and
  common share equivalents                        $0.45         $0.42                 $0.90        $0.77
                                                =======       =======               =======      =======
</TABLE>



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                          27,832
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                49,339
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    563,088
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          39,653
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            39,659
<LOANS>                                      1,579,103
<ALLOWANCE>                                     14,689
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,406,394
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,204,781
<SHORT-TERM>                                   373,022
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             37,095
<LONG-TERM>                                    580,148
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           145
<OTHER-SE>                                     211,203
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,406,394
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 56,406
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               20,853
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,002
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                79,261
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              22,354
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,864
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           32,043
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      120
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             (1,249)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 17,895
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 18,874
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      10,976
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,976
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.90
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.17
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,967
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   700
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  2,340
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                15,081
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      515
<RECOVERIES>                                         3
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               14,689
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            14,689
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         14,689


</TABLE>


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