<PAGE>   1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                                               36-3154608
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

        275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD
         MELVILLE, NEW YORK                                   11747
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)

         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC. 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                                 JOHN ADAM KANAS
                 CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
                              275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD
                            MELVILLE, NEW YORK 11747
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (631) 844-1004
                        (Telephone number, including area
                           code, of agent for service)

                        Copies of all correspondence to:
                             THOMAS B. KINSOCK, ESQ.
                          STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C.
                       100 SOUTH FOURTH STREET, SUITE 700
                            ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63102
================================================================================


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       Title of         Amount to         Proposed maximum           Proposed maximum       Amount of
      securities      be registered   offering price per share     aggregate offering      registration
   to be registered        (1)                   (2)                    price (2)            fee (3)
   ----------------        ---                   ---                    ---------            -------
   <S>                   <C>                   <C>                      <C>                 <C>
   Common Stock          350,000               $26.16                   $9,156,000          $2,289.00
     $0.01 par value
     per share
</TABLE>



(1)      Represents estimated number of additional shares to be acquired in the
         foreseeable future by employees of the registrant under the North Fork
         Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. The registrant
         previously filed with the Commission on September 28, 1992, a
         Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-52504), and on February
         2, 1996, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-00675),
         relating to securities offered under the plan.

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
         Such estimate has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under
         the Securities Act of 1933 and is based upon the average of the high
         and low prices per share of the registrant's Common Stock as reported
         by the New York Stock Exchange on September 17, 2001.

(3)      The registration fee has been calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of
         the Securities Act of 1933 as follows: 0.025% of $9,156,000, the
         Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price of the shares registered
         hereby.
<PAGE>   2
                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

         The information specified by Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is
omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The
documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to
the participants in the plan covered by this registration statement as required
by Rule 428(b).


                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         The Registrant previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on September 28, 1992 and February 2, 1996,
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 33-52504 and 333-00675,
respectively) relating to securities offered under the North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. The contents of such
previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8, including exhibits
thereto, are incorporated herein by reference, except to the extent superseded
or modified by the specific information set forth below or the specific exhibits
attached hereto.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, filed by the Registrant or the Plan with the
Commission, are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)      The Registrant's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
         Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act");

(b)      All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
         the annual report referred to in (a) above; and

(c)      The description of the Registrant's common stock, which is contained in
         the Registration Statement filed by the Registrant under Section 12 of
         the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the
         purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant or the Plan pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or that deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

         Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein
and filed prior to the filing hereof shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement, and any
statement contained herein or in any other document incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in any other
subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.



                                       1
<PAGE>   3
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

         The following additional exhibits are filed as part of this
Registration Statement or incorporated by reference herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit       Description
-------       -----------
<S>           <C>
4             North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, as
              amended.

5             Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.

23.1          Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants.

23.2          Consent of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24            Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration
              Statement).
</TABLE>




                                       2
<PAGE>   4
                                   SIGNATURES

        The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in the City of Melville, State of New York, on August 28, 2001.

                                      NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.


                                      By:    /s/  John Adam Kanas
                                             -----------------------------
                                             John Adam Kanas
                                             Chairman, President and
                                             Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint
John Adam Kanas and Daniel M. Healy and each of them, the true and lawful
attorneys and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead of
each of us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and all instruments
necessary or advisable in connection therewith and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and agents to have
the power to act with or without the other and to have full power and authority
to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act
whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, and
we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorneys and agents and each of them to any and all such amendments and
instruments.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                              TITLE                               DATE
----                              -----                               ----
<S>                               <C>                                 <C>
/s/  John Adam Kanas              President, Chief Executive          August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
John Adam Kanas                   Officer and Chairman of the Board
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/  Daniel M. Healy              Executive Vice President, Chief     August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
Daniel M. Healy                   Financial Officer and Director
                                  (Principal Financial and
                                  Accounting Officer)

/s/  John Bohlsen                 Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
John Bohlsen


/s/  Irvin L. Cherashore          Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Irvin L. Cherashore


/s/  Allan C. Dickerson           Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Allan C. Dickerson


/s/  Lloyd A. Gerard              Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
Lloyd A. Gerard
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                               <C>                                 <C>
/s/  Raymond A. Nielsen           Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Raymond A. Nielsen


/s/  James F. Reeve               Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
James F. Reeve


/s/  George H. Rowsom             Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
George H. Rowsom


/s/  Dr. Kurt R. Schmeller        Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Dr. Kurt R. Schmeller


/s/  Raymond W. Terry, Jr.        Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Raymond W. Terry, Jr.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   6
                                    FORM S-8
                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                             Description
------                             -----------
<S>            <C>
4              North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan,
               as amended.

5              Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.

23.1           Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants.

23.2           Consent of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. (included in Exhibit
               5.1).

24             Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration
               Statement).
</TABLE>
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{"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": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-69700", "film-number": "1741230"}, "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"}}
1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                                               36-3154608
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

        275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD
         MELVILLE, NEW YORK                                   11747
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)

         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC. 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                                 JOHN ADAM KANAS
                 CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
                              275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD
                            MELVILLE, NEW YORK 11747
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (631) 844-1004
                        (Telephone number, including area
                           code, of agent for service)

                        Copies of all correspondence to:
                             THOMAS B. KINSOCK, ESQ.
                          STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C.
                       100 SOUTH FOURTH STREET, SUITE 700
                            ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63102
================================================================================

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of         Amount to         Proposed maximum           Proposed maximum       Amount of
      securities      be registered   offering price per share     aggregate offering      registration
   to be registered        (1)                   (2)                    price (2)            fee (3)
   ----------------        ---                   ---                    ---------            -------
Common Stock          350,000               $26.16                   $9,156,000          $2,289.00
     $0.01 par value
     per share
(1)      Represents estimated number of additional shares to be acquired in the
         foreseeable future by employees of the registrant under the North Fork
         Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. The registrant
         previously filed with the Commission on September 28, 1992, a
         Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 33-52504), and on February
         2, 1996, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-00675),
         relating to securities offered under the plan.

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
         Such estimate has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under
         the Securities Act of 1933 and is based upon the average of the high
         and low prices per share of the registrant's Common Stock as reported
         by the New York Stock Exchange on September 17, 2001.

(3)      The registration fee has been calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of
         the Securities Act of 1933 as follows: 0.025% of $9,156,000, the
         Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price of the shares registered
         hereby.
2
                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

         The information specified by Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is
omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The
documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to
the participants in the plan covered by this registration statement as required
by Rule 428(b).

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         The Registrant previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on September 28, 1992 and February 2, 1996,
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 33-52504 and 333-00675,
respectively) relating to securities offered under the North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. The contents of such
previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8, including exhibits
thereto, are incorporated herein by reference, except to the extent superseded
or modified by the specific information set forth below or the specific exhibits
attached hereto.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, filed by the Registrant or the Plan with the
Commission, are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)      The Registrant's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
         Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act");

(b)      All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
         the annual report referred to in (a) above; and

(c)      The description of the Registrant's common stock, which is contained in
         the Registration Statement filed by the Registrant under Section 12 of
         the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the
         purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant or the Plan pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby
have been sold or that deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

         Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein
and filed prior to the filing hereof shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement, and any
statement contained herein or in any other document incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in any other
subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

                                       1
3
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

         The following additional exhibits are filed as part of this
Registration Statement or incorporated by reference herein.
Exhibit       Description
-------       -----------
4             North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, as
              amended.

5             Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.

23.1          Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants.

23.2          Consent of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24            Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration
              Statement).
2
4
                                   SIGNATURES

        The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in the City of Melville, State of New York, on August 28, 2001.

                                      NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                      By:    /s/  John Adam Kanas
                                             -----------------------------
                                             John Adam Kanas
                                             Chairman, President and
                                             Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint
John Adam Kanas and Daniel M. Healy and each of them, the true and lawful
attorneys and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead of
each of us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and all instruments
necessary or advisable in connection therewith and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and agents to have
the power to act with or without the other and to have full power and authority
to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act
whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, and
we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by our said
attorneys and agents and each of them to any and all such amendments and
instruments.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
NAME                              TITLE                               DATE
----                              -----                               ----
/s/  John Adam Kanas              President, Chief Executive          August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
John Adam Kanas                   Officer and Chairman of the Board
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/  Daniel M. Healy              Executive Vice President, Chief     August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
Daniel M. Healy                   Financial Officer and Director
                                  (Principal Financial and
                                  Accounting Officer)

/s/  John Bohlsen                 Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
John Bohlsen

/s/  Irvin L. Cherashore          Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Irvin L. Cherashore

/s/  Allan C. Dickerson           Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Allan C. Dickerson

/s/  Lloyd A. Gerard              Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
Lloyd A. Gerard
5
/s/  Raymond A. Nielsen           Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Raymond A. Nielsen

/s/  James F. Reeve               Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
James F. Reeve

/s/  George H. Rowsom             Director                            August 28, 2001
-----------------------------
George H. Rowsom

/s/  Dr. Kurt R. Schmeller        Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Dr. Kurt R. Schmeller

/s/  Raymond W. Terry, Jr.        Director                            August 28, 2001
----------------------------------
Raymond W. Terry, Jr.
6
                                    FORM S-8
                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number                             Description
------                             -----------
4              North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan,
               as amended.

5              Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.

23.1           Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants.

23.2           Consent of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. (included in Exhibit
               5.1).

24             Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration
               Statement).