As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on June 24, 1999                                      Registration No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  -------------

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

                         WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                DELAWARE                                    06 - 1497903
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or          (I.R.S. Employer
              organization)                              Identification No.)

                                18 Oakland Avenue
                          Warwick, New York 10990-0591
                                 (914) 986-2206
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
                                 ---------------

            STOCK OPTION PLAN OF WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND
        RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN OF WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 ---------------

                             Mr. Timothy A. Dempsey
                Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
                         Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
                                18 Oakland Avenue
                          Warwick, New York 10990-0591
                                 (914) 986-2206

                                    Copy to:

                           Douglas J. McClintock, Esq.
                             Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                       Two World Trade Center - 38th Floor
                            New York, New York 10048
                                 (212) 912-7400
     (Name and address, including Zip Code, telephone number and area code,
                             of agent for service)
                                 ---------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================================
Title of Securities to                                 Proposed Maximum           Proposed Maximum
   be Registered        Amount to be Registered(1) Offering Price Per Share  Aggregate Offering Price(2)  Amount of Registration Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>                             <C>                 <C>                            <C>
   Common Stock,
  $0.01 par value             924,915 shares                  (2)                 $14,201,064.03                 $3,947.90
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Based on the number of shares of common stock of Warwick Community Bancorp,
     Inc. ("Registrant") reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options
     granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp,
     Inc. ("Option Plan") and authorized for awards under the Recognition and
     Retention Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. ("RRP"). In addition,
     this registration statement also covers an undetermined number of shares of
     the Registrant's common stock that may become issuable upon the exercise of
     options or the grant of stock awards through the application of certain
     anti-dilution provisions contained in the Option Plan and the RRP.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
     accordance with Rule 457 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     ("Securities Act"), pursuant to which (i) a total of 561,552 shares subject
     to outstanding options are deemed to be offered at the exercise price of
     $17.00 per share and (ii) a total of 99,102 shares that may be acquired
     upon exercise of options granted in the future and a total of 264,261
     shares awarded under the RRP are deemed to be offered at $12.81 per share,
     the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Registrant's
     common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market at the close of trading
     as of June 18, 1999.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


Item 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

          Not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission").

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

          Not required to be filed with the Commission.

          Note: The documents containing the information specified in this Part
I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such
documents need not be filed with the Commission either as part of this
registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to
Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this
registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this form, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act.


                                     PART II

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

          The following documents and information heretofore filed with the
Commission by the Registrant (File No. 0-23293) are incorporated by reference in
this registration statement:

     (1)  the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1998, which was filed with the Commission pursuant to the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act");

     (2)  the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          March 31, 1999; and

     (3)  the description of the Registrant's common stock ("Common Stock")
          contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
          Registration No. 333-36021, dated September 19, 1997, as amended by
          Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 dated October 30, 1997.

          All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the end of the fiscal quarter
ended March 31, 1999 and prior to the date of the termination of the offering of
the Common Stock offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated
or deemed

                                       -2-


<PAGE>



to be 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 herein or in any document which is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

          The Registrant will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon request of any such person, a copy of any or all
of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits
to such documents). Written requests should be directed to Margaret E. Sgombick,
Assistant Vice President and Marketing Director, Warwick Community Bancorp,
Inc., 18 Oakland Avenue P.O. Box 591, Warwick, New York 10990-0591.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") INTER
ALIA, empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is
authorized for such person against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any such
threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such person acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of
competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been
adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as
authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the shareholders or
disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion
that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable
standard of conduct.

          Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against any liability asserted against him, and incurred by him in any such

                                       -3-


<PAGE>



capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation
would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

          Article IX of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that a director shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its
stockholders for damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director, except
to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is expressly
prohibited by the DGCL. Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of
Incorporation requires the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any person who is or was or has agreed to
become a director or officer of the Registrant, who was or is made a party to,
or is threatened to be made a party to, or has become a witness in, any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, including actions
or suits by or in the right of the Registrant, by reason of such agreement or
service or the fact that such person is, was or has agreed to serve as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or organization at
the written request of the Registrant.

          Article X also empowers the Registrant to purchase and maintain
insurance to protect itself and its directors and officers, and those who were
or have agreed to become directors or officers, against any liability,
regardless of whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify
those persons against such liability under the law or the provisions set forth
in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Registrant is also authorized by its
Certificate of Incorporation to enter into individual indemnification contracts
with directors and officers. The Registrant currently maintains directors' and
officers' liability insurance consistent with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation.

          The Registrant has entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of
December 23, 1997 and amended as of December 15, 1998, with each of Timothy A.
Dempsey, Ronald J. Gentile, Arthur W. Budich and Nancy L. Sobotor-Littell, which
agreements require that the Company obtain a directors' and officers' liability
policy for the benefits of such officers and that the Company will indemnify
such officers to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

          4.1  Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. (1)
          4.2  First Amendment to the Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community
               Bancorp, Inc. (2)
          4.3  Recognition and Retention Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
               (1)
          4.4  First Amendment to the Recognition and Retention Plan of Warwick
               Community Bancorp, Inc. (2)
          4.5  Form of Stock Option Agreement for Directors under the Stock
               Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
          4.6  Form of Stock Option Agreement for Employees under the Stock
               Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.


                                       -4-


<PAGE>



          4.7  Form of Award Notice under the Recognition and Retention Plan of
               Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
          4.8  Certificate of Incorporation of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
               (3)
          4.9  By-Laws of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. (3)
          5.1  Opinion of Thacher Proffitt & Wood, counsel for Registrant, as to
               the legality of the securities being registered.
          23.1 Consent of Thacher Proffitt & Wood (included in Exhibit 5.1
               hereof).
          23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
__________________
(1)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive Proxy
     Statement for the Special Meeting of Stockholders held on June 24, 1998.
(2)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive Proxy
     Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 20, 1999.
(3)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement
     on Form S-1, dated September 19, 1997, as amended by Pre-Effective
     Amendment No. 1, dated October 30, 1997 (Registration No. 333-36021).

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        A. RULE 415 OFFERING. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement; and

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;

               PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3,
and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.

                                       -5-


<PAGE>



               (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

          B. FILINGS INCORPORATING SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE ACT DOCUMENTS BY
REFERENCE. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering
thereof.

          C. INCORPORATED ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS. The undersigned
Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the
prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest
annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the
prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3
or Rule 14c-3 under the Exchange Act; and, where interim financial information
required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the
prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the
prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically
incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial
information.

          D. FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8. Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant for expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.



                                       -6-


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing the Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Village of Warwick, State of New York on June 15, 1999.

                                            Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
                                           (Registrant)


                                            By: /s/ Timothy A. Dempsey
                                                -------------------------
                                                Timothy A. Dempsey
                                                Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                                Executive Officer


          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.

Signature                      Title                               Date
---------                      -----                               ----

/s/ Timothy A. Dempsey         Chairman of the Board, Chief        June 15, 1999
----------------------         Executive Officer and Director
Timothy A. Dempsey             (Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ Ronald J. Gentile          President, Chief Operating          June 15, 1999
----------------------         Officer and Director
Ronald J. Gentile



/s/ Arthur W. Budich           Senior Vice President, Treasurer    June 15, 1999
----------------------         and Chief Financial Officer
Arthur W. Budich               (Principal Financial Officer)



/s/ Frances M. Gorish          Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Frances M. Gorish



/s/ R. Michael Kennedy         Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
R. Michael Kennedy



                                          -7-


<PAGE>



/s/ Fred M. Knipp              Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Fred M. Knipp



/s/ Emil R. Krahulik           Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Emil R. Krahulik



/s/ Thomas F. Lawrence, Jr.    Director                            June 15, 1999
---------------------------
Thomas F. Lawrence, Jr.



/s/ Henry L. Nielsen, Jr.      Director                            June 15, 1999
--------------------------
Henry L. Nielsen, Jr.



/s/ John W. Sanford III        Director                            June 15, 1999
--------------------------
John W. Sanford III



/s/ Robert N. Smith            Director                            June 15, 1999
-------------------------
Robert N. Smith



                                       -8-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP INC", "cik": "0001046209", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "061497903", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-81467", "film-number": "99651643"}, "business-address": {"street1": "18 OAKLAND AVE", "street2": "PO BOX 591", "city": "WARWICK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10990-0591", "phone": "9149862206"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "18 OAKLAND AVE", "street2": "PO BOX 591", "city": "WARWICK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10990-0591"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on June 24, 1999                                      Registration No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  -------------

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

                         WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                DELAWARE                                    06 - 1497903
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or          (I.R.S. Employer
              organization)                              Identification No.)

                                18 Oakland Avenue
                          Warwick, New York 10990-0591
                                 (914) 986-2206
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
                                 ---------------

            STOCK OPTION PLAN OF WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND
        RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN OF WARWICK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 ---------------

                             Mr. Timothy A. Dempsey
                Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
                         Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
                                18 Oakland Avenue
                          Warwick, New York 10990-0591
                                 (914) 986-2206

                                    Copy to:

                           Douglas J. McClintock, Esq.
                             Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                       Two World Trade Center - 38th Floor
                            New York, New York 10048
                                 (212) 912-7400
     (Name and address, including Zip Code, telephone number and area code,
                             of agent for service)
                                 ---------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================================
Title of Securities to                                 Proposed Maximum           Proposed Maximum
   be Registered        Amount to be Registered(1) Offering Price Per Share  Aggregate Offering Price(2)  Amount of Registration Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
  $0.01 par value             924,915 shares                  (2)                 $14,201,064.03                 $3,947.90
===================================================================================================================================
(1)  Based on the number of shares of common stock of Warwick Community Bancorp,
     Inc. ("Registrant") reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options
     granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp,
     Inc. ("Option Plan") and authorized for awards under the Recognition and
     Retention Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. ("RRP"). In addition,
     this registration statement also covers an undetermined number of shares of
     the Registrant's common stock that may become issuable upon the exercise of
     options or the grant of stock awards through the application of certain
     anti-dilution provisions contained in the Option Plan and the RRP.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
     accordance with Rule 457 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     ("Securities Act"), pursuant to which (i) a total of 561,552 shares subject
     to outstanding options are deemed to be offered at the exercise price of
     $17.00 per share and (ii) a total of 99,102 shares that may be acquired
     upon exercise of options granted in the future and a total of 264,261
     shares awarded under the RRP are deemed to be offered at $12.81 per share,
     the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Registrant's
     common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market at the close of trading
     as of June 18, 1999.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

          Not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission").

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

          Not required to be filed with the Commission.

          Note: The documents containing the information specified in this Part
I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such
documents need not be filed with the Commission either as part of this
registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to
Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this
registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this form, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act.

                                     PART II

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

          The following documents and information heretofore filed with the
Commission by the Registrant (File No. 0-23293) are incorporated by reference in
this registration statement:

     (1)  the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1998, which was filed with the Commission pursuant to the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act");

     (2)  the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          March 31, 1999; and

     (3)  the description of the Registrant's common stock ("Common Stock")
          contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
          Registration No. 333-36021, dated September 19, 1997, as amended by
          Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 dated October 30, 1997.

          All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the end of the fiscal quarter
ended March 31, 1999 and prior to the date of the termination of the offering of
the Common Stock offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated
or deemed

                                       -2-
to be 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 herein or in any document which is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

          The Registrant will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon request of any such person, a copy of any or all
of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits
to such documents). Written requests should be directed to Margaret E. Sgombick,
Assistant Vice President and Marketing Director, Warwick Community Bancorp,
Inc., 18 Oakland Avenue P.O. Box 591, Warwick, New York 10990-0591.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

          Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") INTER
ALIA, empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is
authorized for such person against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any such
threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such person acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of
competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been
adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as
authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the shareholders or
disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion
that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable
standard of conduct.

          Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise,
against any liability asserted against him, and incurred by him in any such

                                       -3-
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation
would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

          Article IX of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that a director shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its
stockholders for damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director, except
to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is expressly
prohibited by the DGCL. Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of
Incorporation requires the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any person who is or was or has agreed to
become a director or officer of the Registrant, who was or is made a party to,
or is threatened to be made a party to, or has become a witness in, any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, including actions
or suits by or in the right of the Registrant, by reason of such agreement or
service or the fact that such person is, was or has agreed to serve as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or organization at
the written request of the Registrant.

          Article X also empowers the Registrant to purchase and maintain
insurance to protect itself and its directors and officers, and those who were
or have agreed to become directors or officers, against any liability,
regardless of whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify
those persons against such liability under the law or the provisions set forth
in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Registrant is also authorized by its
Certificate of Incorporation to enter into individual indemnification contracts
with directors and officers. The Registrant currently maintains directors' and
officers' liability insurance consistent with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation.

          The Registrant has entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of
December 23, 1997 and amended as of December 15, 1998, with each of Timothy A.
Dempsey, Ronald J. Gentile, Arthur W. Budich and Nancy L. Sobotor-Littell, which
agreements require that the Company obtain a directors' and officers' liability
policy for the benefits of such officers and that the Company will indemnify
such officers to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

          4.1  Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. (1)
          4.2  First Amendment to the Stock Option Plan of Warwick Community
               Bancorp, Inc. (2)
          4.3  Recognition and Retention Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
               (1)
          4.4  First Amendment to the Recognition and Retention Plan of Warwick
               Community Bancorp, Inc. (2)
          4.5  Form of Stock Option Agreement for Directors under the Stock
               Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
          4.6  Form of Stock Option Agreement for Employees under the Stock
               Option Plan of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.

                                       -4-
4.7  Form of Award Notice under the Recognition and Retention Plan of
               Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
          4.8  Certificate of Incorporation of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
               (3)
          4.9  By-Laws of Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc. (3)
          5.1  Opinion of Thacher Proffitt & Wood, counsel for Registrant, as to
               the legality of the securities being registered.
          23.1 Consent of Thacher Proffitt & Wood (included in Exhibit 5.1
               hereof).
          23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
__________________
(1)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive Proxy
     Statement for the Special Meeting of Stockholders held on June 24, 1998.
(2)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive Proxy
     Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 20, 1999.
(3)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement
     on Form S-1, dated September 19, 1997, as amended by Pre-Effective
     Amendment No. 1, dated October 30, 1997 (Registration No. 333-36021).

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        A. RULE 415 OFFERING. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement; and

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;

               PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3,
and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.

                                       -5-
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

          B. FILINGS INCORPORATING SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE ACT DOCUMENTS BY
REFERENCE. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering
thereof.

          C. INCORPORATED ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS. The undersigned
Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the
prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest
annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the
prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3
or Rule 14c-3 under the Exchange Act; and, where interim financial information
required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the
prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the
prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically
incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial
information.

          D. FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8. Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant for expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                       -6-
SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing the Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Village of Warwick, State of New York on June 15, 1999.

                                            Warwick Community Bancorp, Inc.
                                           (Registrant)

                                            By: /s/ Timothy A. Dempsey
                                                -------------------------
                                                Timothy A. Dempsey
                                                Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                                Executive Officer

          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.

Signature                      Title                               Date
---------                      -----                               ----

/s/ Timothy A. Dempsey         Chairman of the Board, Chief        June 15, 1999
----------------------         Executive Officer and Director
Timothy A. Dempsey             (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Ronald J. Gentile          President, Chief Operating          June 15, 1999
----------------------         Officer and Director
Ronald J. Gentile

/s/ Arthur W. Budich           Senior Vice President, Treasurer    June 15, 1999
----------------------         and Chief Financial Officer
Arthur W. Budich               (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Frances M. Gorish          Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Frances M. Gorish

/s/ R. Michael Kennedy         Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
R. Michael Kennedy

                                          -7-
/s/ Fred M. Knipp              Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Fred M. Knipp

/s/ Emil R. Krahulik           Director                            June 15, 1999
----------------------
Emil R. Krahulik

/s/ Thomas F. Lawrence, Jr.    Director                            June 15, 1999
---------------------------
Thomas F. Lawrence, Jr.

/s/ Henry L. Nielsen, Jr.      Director                            June 15, 1999
--------------------------
Henry L. Nielsen, Jr.

/s/ John W. Sanford III        Director                            June 15, 1999
--------------------------
John W. Sanford III

/s/ Robert N. Smith            Director                            June 15, 1999
-------------------------
Robert N. Smith

                                       -8-