<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-15-004124.txt : 20151230
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-15-004124.hdr.sgml : 20151230
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20151230104733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-15-004124
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20151229
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20151229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20151230

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000910073
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				061377322
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31565
		FILM NUMBER:		151312545

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		615 MERRICK AVE
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7183596400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		615 MERRICK AVE
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	QUEENS COUNTY BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930802
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a51250675.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. 8-K
<TEXT>
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      <br>
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>UNITED
      STATES</b></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Washington,
      D.C. 20549</font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>FORM
      8-K</b></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>CURRENT
      REPORT</b></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Date
      of Report </font><font style="font-size: 11pt">(Date of earliest event
      reported)</font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">:
      </font><u><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">December
      29, 2015</font></u><br><br><br><u><font style="font-size: 11pt"><b>NEW
      YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.</b></font></u><font style="font-size: 11pt"><br style="font-size: 11pt"></font><font style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font><br><br>
    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
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          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Delaware
          </p>
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          &#160;
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        <td style="width: 32%; border-bottom-style: solid; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-bottom-color: black; padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom-width: 1.0pt; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            1-31565
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="width: 32%; border-bottom-style: solid; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-bottom-color: black; padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom-width: 1.0pt; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            06-1377322
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 32%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization)
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 32%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Commission File Number
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 32%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u>615 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590</u><br>&#160;(Address of
      principal executive offices)<br><br><u>(516) 683-4100</u><br>(Registrant's
      telephone number, including area code)<br><br><u>Not applicable</u><br>&#160;(Former
      name or former address, if changed since last report)<br><br><br>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Check the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
      simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
      of the following provisions:</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8864;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)</font><br><font style="font-size: 10pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)</font><br><font style="font-size: 10pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))</font><br><font style="font-size: 10pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c))</font>
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
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        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
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        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u>CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K</u>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">
      <br>

    </p>
<div style="text-align:left">
    <table style="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top" colspan="2">
          Item 8.01
        </td>
        <td style="width: 90%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <u>Other Events</u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 90%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            On December 29, 2015, New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (the
            &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press release reporting the completion of the
            balance sheet repositioning it announced on October 29, 2015 in
            conjunction with its signing of a definitive merger agreement with
            Astoria Financial Corporation (&#8220;Astoria Financial&#8221;).
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
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        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 90%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            The Company prepaid $10.4 billion of wholesale borrowings with an
            average cost of 3.16% and replaced them with a like amount of
            wholesale borrowings having an average cost of 1.58%. While the
            repositioning resulted in a one-time after-tax prepayment charge
            of approximately $547 million in the current fourth quarter, it
            also will result in an annual after-tax benefit to earnings of
            approximately $100 million, beginning in 2016. A copy of the press
            release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is
            incorporated by reference herein.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
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        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top" colspan="3">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top" colspan="2">
          Item 9.01
        </td>
        <td style="width: 90%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <u>Financial Statements and Exhibits</u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          (d)
        </td>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 90%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Attached as Exhibit 99.1 is the press release issued by the
            Company on December 29, 2015 to report the completion of the
            balance sheet repositioning it announced on October 29, 2015 in
            conjunction with the signing of a definitive merger agreement with
            Astoria Financial.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">

    </p>
    <p>
      <u>Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information</u>
    </p>
    <p>
      The information presented herein, and in other related communications,
      may contain certain &#8220;forward-looking statements&#8221; within the meaning of
      the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.&#160; These statements
      include, but are not limited to, the expected completion date, financial
      benefits, and other effects of the proposed merger of the Company and
      Astoria Financial.&#160;
    </p>
    <p>
      Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words
      &#8220;anticipate,&#8221; &#8220;expect,&#8221; &#8220;intend,&#8221; &#8220;estimate,&#8221; &#8220;target,&#8221; and other words
      of similar import.&#160; Forward-looking statements are not historical facts
      but, instead, express only management&#8217;s beliefs regarding future results
      or events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and
      outside of management&#8217;s control.&#160; It is possible that actual results and
      outcomes may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results
      or outcomes indicated in these forward-looking statements.&#160;
    </p>
    <p>
      Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited
      to, the reaction to the transaction of the companies&#8217; customers,
      employees, and counterparties; customer disintermediation; inflation;
      expected synergies, cost savings, and other financial benefits of the
      proposed transaction might not be realized within the expected time
      frames or might be less than projected; the requisite stockholder and
      regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction might not be obtained;
      credit and interest rate risks associated with the Company&#8217;s and Astoria
      Financial&#8217;s respective businesses, customers, borrowings, repayment,
      investment, and deposit practices, and general economic conditions,
      either nationally or in the market areas in which the Company and
      Astoria Financial operate or anticipate doing business, are less
      favorable than expected; new regulatory or legal requirements or
      obligations; and other risks and important factors that could affect the
      Company&#8217;s and Astoria Financial&#8217;s future results are identified in their
      Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December&#160;31, 2014 and
      other reports filed with the SEC.&#160;
    </p>
    <p>
      Forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release
      and any related communications, and neither the Company nor Astoria
      Financial undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking
      statements contained herein to reflect events or conditions after the
      date hereof.
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      <u>Important Additional Information</u>
    </p>
    <p>
      This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger
      transaction involving the Company and Astoria Financial. The Company has
      filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which includes
      a joint proxy statement of Astoria Financial and the Company and a
      prospectus of the Company, and each party will file other documents
      regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.&#160;&#160;A definitive joint
      proxy statement/prospectus will also be sent to shareholders of Astoria
      Financial and of the Company seeking any required stockholder approvals. <b>Before
      making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders
      of Astoria Financial and the Company are urged to carefully read the
      entire registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, as
      well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they
      will contain important information about the proposed transaction</b>.&#160;&#160;The
      documents filed by the Company and Astoria Financial with the SEC may be
      obtained free of charge at the SEC&#8217;s website at www.sec.gov.&#160;&#160;In
      addition, the documents filed by the Company may be obtained free of
      charge at its website at http://ir.mynycb.com/ and the documents filed
      by Astoria Financial may be obtained free of charge at its website at
      http://ir.astoriabank.com/.&#160;&#160;&#160;Alternatively, these documents, when
      available, can be obtained free of charge from the Company upon written
      request to New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary,
      615 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590 or by calling (516)
      683-4420, or from Astoria Financial upon written request to Astoria
      Financial Corporation, Attn: Monte N. Redman, President, One Astoria
      Bank Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 or by calling (516) 327-3000.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Company, Astoria Financial, their directors, executive officers, and
      certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the
      solicitation of proxies from the Company&#8217;s and Astoria Financial&#8217;s
      stockholders in favor of the approval of the merger.&#160;&#160;Information about
      the directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership
      of its common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for its 2015
      annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on
      April 24, 2015.&#160;&#160;Information about the directors and executive officers
      of Astoria Financial and their ownership of its common stock is set
      forth in the proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of
      stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on April 17,
      2015.&#160;&#160;Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the
      interests of such participants by reading the registration statement and
      the proxy statement/prospectus.
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">

    </p>
    <div style="margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">SIGNATURE</font></u>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">

    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">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 hereunto duly authorized.</font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px">

    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
    <table style="width: 100%; font-size: 10pt; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-bottom: 10.0px" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Date:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <u>December 29, 2015</u>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <u>/s/ Ilene A. Angarola</u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Ilene A. Angarola
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Executive Vice President
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            and Director, Investor Relations
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u>EXHIBIT INDEX</u>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">
      Exhibit 99.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Press release issued by the Company on
      December 29, 2015.
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">

    </p>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a51250675_ex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
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    <p style="text-align: right">
      <b>Exhibit 99.1</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>New
      York Community Bancorp, Inc. Completes the Strategic Balance Sheet
      Repositioning Announced in Conjunction with the Proposed Merger with
      Astoria Financial Corporation</b></font></u>
    </p>
    <p>
      WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 29, 2015--New York Community
      Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) today reported that it has
      completed the strategic balance sheet repositioning it announced on
      October 29, 2015 in conjunction with the signing of a definitive merger
      agreement with Astoria Financial Corporation (&#8220;Astoria Financial&#8221;).
    </p>
    <p>
      In connection with the repositioning, the Company prepaid $10.4 billion
      of wholesale borrowings with an average cost of 3.16% in the current
      fourth quarter, and replaced them with a like amount of wholesale
      borrowings having an average cost of 1.58%. The 158-basis point
      reduction in the average cost will result in an annual after-tax benefit
      to earnings of approximately $100 million, beginning in 2016.
    </p>
    <p>
      The repositioning resulted in a one-time after-tax prepayment charge of
      approximately $547 million, which will be reflected in the Company&#8217;s
      results of operations for the three and twelve months ended December 31,
      2015. The impact on capital of this charge will be more than offset by
      the net proceeds of the Company&#8217;s follow-on common stock offering, which
      also was announced on October 29th. The offering produced net proceeds
      of $630.5 million upon its completion on November 4th.
    </p>
    <p>
      Commenting on the repositioning, President and Chief Executive Officer
      Joseph R. Ficalora noted, &#8220;It is encouraging that this strategy,
      together with the offering completed in November, will be even more
      beneficial to the combined company than we originally thought. In
      addition to the positive impact on our earnings going forward, the
      combination of these strategies will add approximately $83 million to
      our capital at December 31, 2015.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      A registration statement on Form S-4, including a preliminary joint
      proxy statement of Astoria Financial and the Company and a prospectus of
      the Company, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed
      transaction, was filed on December 18, 2015 with the U.S. Securities and
      Exchange Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;), and the required applications were
      filed with the Company&#8217;s federal and state bank regulatory agencies
      earlier this month.
    </p>
    <p>
      <u><b>About New York Community Bancorp, Inc.</b></u>
    </p>
    <p>
      One of the largest U.S. bank holding companies, with assets of $49.0
      billion at the end of September, New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is a
      leading producer of multi-family loans on rent-regulated buildings in
      New York City and the parent of New York Community Bank and New York
      Commercial Bank. With deposits of $28.3 billion and 269 branches in
      Metro New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, and Arizona, the Company also
      ranks among the largest depositories in the United States.
    </p>
    <p>
      Reflecting its growth through a series of acquisitions, the Community
      Bank currently operates through seven local divisions, each with a
      history of service and strength: Queens County Savings Bank, Roslyn
      Savings Bank, Richmond County Savings Bank, and Roosevelt Savings Bank
      in New York; Garden State Community Bank in New Jersey; Ohio Savings
      Bank in Ohio; and AmTrust Bank in Florida and Arizona. Similarly, New
      York Commercial Bank operates 18 of its 30 New York-based branches under
      the divisional name Atlantic Bank. Additional information about the
      Company and its bank subsidiaries is available at <u>www.myNYCB.com</u>
      and <u>www.NewYorkCommercialBank.com</u>.
    </p>
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    <p>
      <u><b>Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information</b></u>
    </p>
    <p>
      The information presented herein, and in other related communications,
      may contain certain &#8220;forward-looking statements&#8221; within the meaning of
      the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
      include, but are not limited to, the expected completion date, financial
      benefits, and other effects of the proposed merger of the Company and
      Astoria Financial.
    </p>
    <p>
      Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words
      &#8220;anticipate,&#8221; &#8220;expect,&#8221; &#8220;intend,&#8221; &#8220;estimate,&#8221; &#8220;target,&#8221; and other words
      of similar import. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts
      but, instead, express only management&#8217;s beliefs regarding future results
      or events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and
      outside of management&#8217;s control. It is possible that actual results and
      outcomes may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results
      or outcomes indicated in these forward-looking statements.
    </p>
    <p>
      Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited
      to, the reaction to the transaction of the companies&#8217; customers,
      employees, and counterparties; customer disintermediation; inflation;
      expected synergies, cost savings, and other financial benefits of the
      proposed transaction might not be realized within the expected time
      frames or might be less than projected; the requisite stockholder and
      regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction might not be obtained;
      credit and interest rate risks associated with the Company&#8217;s and Astoria
      Financial&#8217;s respective businesses, customers, borrowings, repayment,
      investment, and deposit practices, and general economic conditions,
      either nationally or in the market areas in which the Company and
      Astoria Financial operate or anticipate doing business, are less
      favorable than expected; new regulatory or legal requirements or
      obligations; and other risks and important factors that could affect the
      Company&#8217;s and Astoria Financial&#8217;s future results are identified in their
      Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December&#160;31, 2014 and
      other reports filed with the SEC.
    </p>
    <p>
      Forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release
      and any related communications, and neither the Company nor Astoria
      Financial undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking
      statements contained herein to reflect events or conditions after the
      date hereof.
    </p>
    <p>
      <u><b>Important Additional Information</b></u>
    </p>
    <p>
      This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger
      transaction involving the Company and Astoria Financial. The Company has
      filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which includes
      a joint proxy statement of Astoria Financial and the Company and a
      prospectus of the Company, and each party will file other documents
      regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. A definitive joint
      proxy statement/prospectus will also be sent to shareholders of Astoria
      Financial and of the Company seeking any required stockholder approvals. <b>Before
      making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders
      of Astoria Financial and the Company are urged to carefully read the
      entire registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, as
      well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they
      will contain important information about the proposed transaction</b>.
      The documents filed by the Company and Astoria Financial with the SEC
      may be obtained free of charge at the SEC&#8217;s website at <u>www.sec.gov</u>.
      In addition, the documents filed by the Company may be obtained free of
      charge at its website at <u>http://ir.mynycb.com/</u> and the documents
      filed by Astoria Financial may be obtained free of charge at its website
      at <u>http://ir.astoriabank.com/</u>. Alternatively, these documents,
      when available, can be obtained free of charge from the Company upon
      written request to New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Attn: Corporate
      Secretary, 615 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590 or by calling
      (516) 683-4420, or from Astoria Financial upon written request to
      Astoria Financial Corporation, Attn: Monte N. Redman, President, One
      Astoria Bank Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 or by calling (516)
      327-3000.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Company, Astoria Financial, their directors, executive officers, and
      certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the
      solicitation of proxies from the Company&#8217;s and Astoria Financial&#8217;s
      stockholders in favor of the approval of the merger. Information about
      the directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership
      of its common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for its 2015
      annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on
      April 24, 2015. Information about the directors and executive officers
      of Astoria Financial and their ownership of its common stock is set
      forth in the proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of
      stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on April 17, 2015.
      Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests
      of such participants by reading the registration statement and the proxy
      statement/prospectus.
    </p>
    <p>

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    <p>
      CONTACT:<br>New York Community Bancorp, Inc.<br>Investors:<br>Ilene A.
      Angarola, 516-683-4420<br>or<br>Media:<br>Kelly Maude Leung, 516-683-4032
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