SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT



                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                                       of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report: December 21, 1998



                        BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



      FLORIDA                   5-43936                        65-0377773    
---------------         ------------------------          --------------------
(State or other         (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)


                255 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (305) 569-2000

<PAGE>

Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

                  Attached hereto as Exhibit 20.1 is a press release announcing
         the resignation of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive Vice
         President and Chief Financial Officer of BankUnited Financial
         Corporation and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment of Diane DeLella,
         currently Vice President and Controller, as acting Chief Financial
         Officer.


Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         20.1     Press Release dated December 18, 1998 announcing the
                  resignation of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive
                  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BankUnited
                  Financial Corporation and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment
                  of Diane DeLella, currently Vice President and Controller, as
                  acting Chief Financial Officer.


<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


         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.

                                              BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION




                                              By:
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                    Diane DeLella
                                                    Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


Dated:

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                        BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                    FORM 8-K

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


                                                                                                       SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                                                  NUMBERED
  NO.                                                                                                      PAGE     
-------                                                                                                ------------
<S>            <C>                                                                                     <C>
  20.1         Press Release dated December 18, 1998 announcing the resignation
               of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive Vice President
               and Chief Financial officer of BankUnited Financial Corporation
               and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment of Diane DeLella,
               currently Vice President and Controller, as acting Chief
               Financial Officer.
</TABLE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000894490", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "650377773", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-13921", "film-number": "98772817"}, "business-address": {"street1": "255 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE", "city": "CORAL GABLES", "state": "FL", "zip": "33134", "phone": "3055692000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "255 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE", "city": "CORAL GABLES", "state": "FL", "zip": "33134"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                                       of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        Date of Report: December 21, 1998

                        BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      FLORIDA                   5-43936                        65-0377773    
---------------         ------------------------          --------------------
(State or other         (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)

                255 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (305) 569-2000
Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

                  Attached hereto as Exhibit 20.1 is a press release announcing
         the resignation of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive Vice
         President and Chief Financial Officer of BankUnited Financial
         Corporation and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment of Diane DeLella,
         currently Vice President and Controller, as acting Chief Financial
         Officer.

Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         20.1     Press Release dated December 18, 1998 announcing the
                  resignation of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive
                  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BankUnited
                  Financial Corporation and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment
                  of Diane DeLella, currently Vice President and Controller, as
                  acting Chief Financial Officer.
SIGNATURE

         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.

                                              BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                              By:
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                    Diane DeLella
                                                    Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer

Dated:
BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                    FORM 8-K

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                                                       SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                                                  NUMBERED
  NO.                                                                                                      PAGE     
-------                                                                                                ------------
20.1         Press Release dated December 18, 1998 announcing the resignation
               of Clifford A. Hope from the position of Executive Vice President
               and Chief Financial officer of BankUnited Financial Corporation
               and BankUnited, FSB, and the appointment of Diane DeLella,
               currently Vice President and Controller, as acting Chief
               Financial Officer.