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 (Date of Earliest Event Reported) May 15, 2000
                                                      ---------------


                      NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


        DELAWARE                      1-20458                  36-3154608
----------------------------   -----------------------    ---------------------
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION   (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     OF INCORPORATION)                                     IDENTIFICATION NO.)


               275 Broadhollow Road Melville, New York      11747
           ----------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)



(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)    (516) 844-1004
                                                    ---------------------


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

      On May 15, 2000, North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("North Fork") filed Amendment No. 3 to its registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-4 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission relating to the offer (the "Offer") by North Fork
to exchange 0.9302 shares of North Fork common stock and $2.00 in cash for
each outstanding share of common stock of Dime Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Dime"), including the associated preferred share purchase
rights issued pursuant to the Dime stockholder protection rights plan. This
current report on Form 8-K contains information updating certain
information contained in the Registration Statement.

      1.    Dime Federal Securities Litigation.

            On May 15, 2000, Dime filed a motion to dismiss the
      counterclaims brought by North Fork in Dime's federal securities law
      litigation against North Fork and to strike certain affirmative
      defenses raised by North Fork in its answer to Dime's first amended
      complaint in that litigation.

      2.    Dime Litigation Against Salomon Smith Barney.

            On May 15, 2000, Dime filed a First Amended Complaint with the
      Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, in its
      litigation against Salomon Smith Barney. The amended complaint names
      both Salomon Smith Barney and North Fork as defendants.

            As against defendant Salomon Smith Barney, the amended
      complaint alleges that Dime's 1997 engagement letter with Salomon
      Smith Barney, which was executed in connection with Dime's retention
      of Salomon Smith Barney as its financial advisor with respect to
      Dime's acquisition of North American Mortgage Company in 1997,
      prohibited Salomon Smith Barney from disclosing any confidential
      information about Dime to any entity or advising any entity
      interested in acquiring or otherwise entering into a business
      combination transaction with Dime unless Salomon obtained Dime's
      prior written consent, and that Salomon Smith Barney breached this
      agreement by advising North Fork with respect to its exchange offer
      without obtaining Dime's prior consent.

            The amended complaint seeks the following relief as against
      Salomon Smith Barney: (i) an order permanently enjoining Salomon from
      providing financial or advisory services to North Fork in connection
      with its exchange offer and related proxy solicitations; (ii) an
      unspecified amount of damages; (iii) costs and disbursements of the
      action; and (iv) such further relief as the court may deem just and
      proper.

            As against defendant North Fork, the amended complaint alleges
      that North Fork intentionally interfered with, and caused Salomon
      Smith Barney to breach, its 1997 engagement letter with Dime. Dime
      has based its tortious interference with contract claim against North
      Fork on allegations that (i) an engagement letter between North Fork
      and Salomon Smith Barney expressly states that Salomon Smith Barney
      would use information provided by Dime to provide advice to North
      Fork, (ii) North Fork was obligated under its 1998 confidentiality
      and standstill agreement with Dime to ascertain whether Salomon Smith
      Barney was prohibited from disclosing information about Dime to North
      Fork, (iii) because of this alleged obligation, North Fork was aware
      that the 1997 engagement letter between Salomon Smith Barney and Dime
      prohibited Salomon Smith Barney from disclosing confidential
      information about Dime or advising North Fork in connection with a
      business combination transaction with Dime without Dime's consent,
      and (iv) North Fork nonetheless intentionally induced Salomon Smith
      Barney to breach its agreement with Dime by retaining Salomon Smith
      Barney to advise it in connection with its exchange offer for Dime
      stock, because "North Fork sought to obtain intimate knowledge of the
      business and operations of Dime and [North American Mortgage Company],
      knowledge no other investment banker had."

            Dime's amended complaint seeks the following relief as against
      North Fork: (i) an unspecified amount of damages; (ii) costs and
      disbursements of the action; and (iii) such other relief as the court
      may deem just and proper.

            North Fork believes that the claims made by Dime against North
      Fork in the amended complaint are without merit and intends to
      contest Dime's claims vigorously.

      3.    Dime Savings Employee Solicitation Litigation.

            On May 8, 2000, Dime's principal subsidiary, The Dime Savings
      Bank of New York, FSB ("Dime Savings"), filed a complaint and a
      motion for preliminary injunction against North Fork and its
      subsidiary, North Fork Bank, in New York State Supreme Court. Dime
      Savings' complaint alleges that the defendants breached a
      non-solicitation provision contained in a confidentiality agreement
      originally entered into between North Fork and KeyBank National
      Association ("KeyBank"), whose rights allegedly were assigned to Dime
      Savings when Dime Savings purchased certain KeyBank branches in 1999.
      Dime Savings alleged that the defendants breached this provision by
      allegedly soliciting three Dime Savings employees to work at North
      Fork Bank. Dime Savings also alleges that these employees took with
      them confidential information about Dime Savings customers and then
      began soliciting certain of those customers, allegedly in violation
      of codes of conduct allegedly signed by these employees while
      employed by Dime Savings.

            The defendants believe Dime Savings' claims are without merit
      and on May 15, 2000, filed an opposition to Dime Savings' preliminary
      injunction motion. On May 17, 2000, the defendants filed a motion to
      dismiss Dime Savings' complaint. Also on May 17, Dime Savings sought
      expedited discovery from the defendants, and also sought to adjourn
      the preliminary injunction motion so that it would have an
      opportunity to submit a reply brief. The request for an adjournment
      was denied and the court scheduled a hearing for the following
      afternoon to discuss the request for expedited discovery.

            On May 18, 2000, the defendants filed a brief in opposition to
      Dime Savings' request for expedited discovery. That same day, the
      court denied Dime Savings' request for expedited discovery and set up
      a briefing schedule for the opposition and reply briefs concerning
      the defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint.

            On May 19, 2000, Dime Savings submitted a letter to the court
      in which it withdrew without prejudice its motion for a preliminary
      injunction.

      4.    Regulatory Approval of the Offer.

            On May 15, 2000, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department
      of Justice issued a civil investigative demand on North Fork seeking
      information relating to North Fork and the Offer, including
      information concerning any agreements, arrangements or understandings
      between North Fork and Fleet Boston Corporation.

      5.    Press Release.

            On May 17, 2000, North Fork held an investor conference call
and issued a press release with respect to certain matters relating to the
Offer. A copy of the press release, which includes a copy of the prepared
remarks delivered on the investor conference call by John A. Kanas,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of North Fork, is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.1.



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits

         99.1      Text of press release issued by North Fork on May 17, 2000.




                                 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 hereunder duly authorized.

Dated: May 22, 2000

                                          NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Daniel M. Healy
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Daniel M. Healy
                                             Title: Executive Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer



                               EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit
      Number      Description

      99.1        Text of press release issued by North Fork on May 17, 2000.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10214}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION INC", "cik": "0000352510", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "363154608", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10458", "film-number": "641564"}, "business-address": {"street1": "275 BROAD HOLLOW RD", "street2": "PO BOX 8914", "city": "MELVILLE", "state": "NY", "zip": "11747", "phone": "6318441004"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "275 BROAD HOLLOW RD", "street2": "PO BOX 8914", "city": "MELVILLE", "state": "NY", "zip": "11747"}}
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 (Date of Earliest Event Reported) May 15, 2000
                                                      ---------------

                      NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

        DELAWARE                      1-20458                  36-3154608
----------------------------   -----------------------    ---------------------
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION   (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     OF INCORPORATION)                                     IDENTIFICATION NO.)

               275 Broadhollow Road Melville, New York      11747
           ----------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)    (516) 844-1004
                                                    ---------------------

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

      On May 15, 2000, North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("North Fork") filed Amendment No. 3 to its registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-4 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission relating to the offer (the "Offer") by North Fork
to exchange 0.9302 shares of North Fork common stock and $2.00 in cash for
each outstanding share of common stock of Dime Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Dime"), including the associated preferred share purchase
rights issued pursuant to the Dime stockholder protection rights plan. This
current report on Form 8-K contains information updating certain
information contained in the Registration Statement.

      1.    Dime Federal Securities Litigation.

            On May 15, 2000, Dime filed a motion to dismiss the
      counterclaims brought by North Fork in Dime's federal securities law
      litigation against North Fork and to strike certain affirmative
      defenses raised by North Fork in its answer to Dime's first amended
      complaint in that litigation.

      2.    Dime Litigation Against Salomon Smith Barney.

            On May 15, 2000, Dime filed a First Amended Complaint with the
      Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, in its
      litigation against Salomon Smith Barney. The amended complaint names
      both Salomon Smith Barney and North Fork as defendants.

            As against defendant Salomon Smith Barney, the amended
      complaint alleges that Dime's 1997 engagement letter with Salomon
      Smith Barney, which was executed in connection with Dime's retention
      of Salomon Smith Barney as its financial advisor with respect to
      Dime's acquisition of North American Mortgage Company in 1997,
      prohibited Salomon Smith Barney from disclosing any confidential
      information about Dime to any entity or advising any entity
      interested in acquiring or otherwise entering into a business
      combination transaction with Dime unless Salomon obtained Dime's
      prior written consent, and that Salomon Smith Barney breached this
      agreement by advising North Fork with respect to its exchange offer
      without obtaining Dime's prior consent.

            The amended complaint seeks the following relief as against
      Salomon Smith Barney: (i) an order permanently enjoining Salomon from
      providing financial or advisory services to North Fork in connection
      with its exchange offer and related proxy solicitations; (ii) an
      unspecified amount of damages; (iii) costs and disbursements of the
      action; and (iv) such further relief as the court may deem just and
      proper.

            As against defendant North Fork, the amended complaint alleges
      that North Fork intentionally interfered with, and caused Salomon
      Smith Barney to breach, its 1997 engagement letter with Dime. Dime
      has based its tortious interference with contract claim against North
      Fork on allegations that (i) an engagement letter between North Fork
      and Salomon Smith Barney expressly states that Salomon Smith Barney
      would use information provided by Dime to provide advice to North
      Fork, (ii) North Fork was obligated under its 1998 confidentiality
      and standstill agreement with Dime to ascertain whether Salomon Smith
      Barney was prohibited from disclosing information about Dime to North
      Fork, (iii) because of this alleged obligation, North Fork was aware
      that the 1997 engagement letter between Salomon Smith Barney and Dime
      prohibited Salomon Smith Barney from disclosing confidential
      information about Dime or advising North Fork in connection with a
      business combination transaction with Dime without Dime's consent,
      and (iv) North Fork nonetheless intentionally induced Salomon Smith
      Barney to breach its agreement with Dime by retaining Salomon Smith
      Barney to advise it in connection with its exchange offer for Dime
      stock, because "North Fork sought to obtain intimate knowledge of the
      business and operations of Dime and [North American Mortgage Company],
      knowledge no other investment banker had."

            Dime's amended complaint seeks the following relief as against
      North Fork: (i) an unspecified amount of damages; (ii) costs and
      disbursements of the action; and (iii) such other relief as the court
      may deem just and proper.

            North Fork believes that the claims made by Dime against North
      Fork in the amended complaint are without merit and intends to
      contest Dime's claims vigorously.

      3.    Dime Savings Employee Solicitation Litigation.

            On May 8, 2000, Dime's principal subsidiary, The Dime Savings
      Bank of New York, FSB ("Dime Savings"), filed a complaint and a
      motion for preliminary injunction against North Fork and its
      subsidiary, North Fork Bank, in New York State Supreme Court. Dime
      Savings' complaint alleges that the defendants breached a
      non-solicitation provision contained in a confidentiality agreement
      originally entered into between North Fork and KeyBank National
      Association ("KeyBank"), whose rights allegedly were assigned to Dime
      Savings when Dime Savings purchased certain KeyBank branches in 1999.
      Dime Savings alleged that the defendants breached this provision by
      allegedly soliciting three Dime Savings employees to work at North
      Fork Bank. Dime Savings also alleges that these employees took with
      them confidential information about Dime Savings customers and then
      began soliciting certain of those customers, allegedly in violation
      of codes of conduct allegedly signed by these employees while
      employed by Dime Savings.

            The defendants believe Dime Savings' claims are without merit
      and on May 15, 2000, filed an opposition to Dime Savings' preliminary
      injunction motion. On May 17, 2000, the defendants filed a motion to
      dismiss Dime Savings' complaint. Also on May 17, Dime Savings sought
      expedited discovery from the defendants, and also sought to adjourn
      the preliminary injunction motion so that it would have an
      opportunity to submit a reply brief. The request for an adjournment
      was denied and the court scheduled a hearing for the following
      afternoon to discuss the request for expedited discovery.

            On May 18, 2000, the defendants filed a brief in opposition to
      Dime Savings' request for expedited discovery. That same day, the
      court denied Dime Savings' request for expedited discovery and set up
      a briefing schedule for the opposition and reply briefs concerning
      the defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint.

            On May 19, 2000, Dime Savings submitted a letter to the court
      in which it withdrew without prejudice its motion for a preliminary
      injunction.

      4.    Regulatory Approval of the Offer.

            On May 15, 2000, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department
      of Justice issued a civil investigative demand on North Fork seeking
      information relating to North Fork and the Offer, including
      information concerning any agreements, arrangements or understandings
      between North Fork and Fleet Boston Corporation.

      5.    Press Release.

            On May 17, 2000, North Fork held an investor conference call
and issued a press release with respect to certain matters relating to the
Offer. A copy of the press release, which includes a copy of the prepared
remarks delivered on the investor conference call by John A. Kanas,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of North Fork, is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits

         99.1      Text of press release issued by North Fork on May 17, 2000.

                                 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 hereunder duly authorized.

Dated: May 22, 2000

                                          NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                          By: /s/ Daniel M. Healy
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Daniel M. Healy
                                             Title: Executive Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer

                               EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit
      Number      Description

      99.1        Text of press release issued by North Fork on May 17, 2000.