<PAGE> 1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2003
                                                   Registration No. _________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                        NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
             (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         DELAWARE                                        06-1377322
(State or other jurisdiction of                (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)


                               615 MERRICK AVENUE
                            WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590
    (Address, including zip code of registrant's principal executive offices)

                             NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANK
                              EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                         ------------------------------

                                                   COPIES TO:
JOSEPH R. FICALORA
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER              ERIC S. KRACOV, ESQ.
NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.                   SUZANNE A. WALKER, ESQ.
615 MERRICK AVENUE                                 MULDOON MURPHY & FAUCETTE LLP
WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590                           5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
(516) 683-4100                                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20016
(Name, address, including zip code,                (202)  362-0840
and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

=============================== =================== ====================== ====================== ==================
    Title of each Class of            Amount          Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum         Amount of
       Securities to be          to be Registered    Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering    Registration Fee
          Registered                   (1)                  Share                Price(2)
------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
        <S>                      <C>                      <C>                   <C>                    <C>
         Common Stock
        $.01 par Value           2,209,373 Shares         $27.79(3)             $61,398,475            $4,968

------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
        Participation
          Interests                    (4)                                                               (5)
=============================== =================== ====================== ====================== ==================

(1)  Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares
     reserved for issuance pursuant to the New York Community Bank Employee Savings Plan (the "Plan") as the result of
     a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of New York Community Bancorp,
     Inc. (the "Common Stock") pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.416(a).
(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(3)  The average of the high and low price of the Common Stock as reported on June 2, 2003 in accordance with 17 C.F.R.
     ss.230.457(c).
(4)  In addition, pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.416(c), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount
     of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein based upon the maximum
     amount that could be issued under the plan pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.457(h).
(5)  In accordance with 17 C.F.R. ss.230.457(h), where securities are to be offered pursuant to an employer benefit plan,
     the aggregate offering price and the amount of the registration fee shall be computed with respect to the maximum
     number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased with the current assets of such Plan. Accordingly, no separate
     fee is required for the participation interests.
</TABLE>

THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SS.230.462.



<PAGE> 2


NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The documents containing the information for the New York Community
Bank Employee Savings Plan (the "Plan") required by Part I of the Registration
Statement will be sent or given to the participants in the Plan as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents are not filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") either as a part of this Registration Statement or as a
prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule
428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed or to be filed by New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Registrant" or the "Corporation") with the SEC are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement:

         (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002, which includes the consolidated statements of condition
of the Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the
related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2002, together with the related notes (File No.
0-31565) filed with the SEC on March 31, 2003.

         (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 0-31565) filed with the SEC on May 15, 2003.

         (c)  The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in
Registrant's Form 8-A (File No. 0-22278), as filed with the SEC pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and
rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder, on August 19, 1993.

         (d)  The Plan's annual report on Form 11-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2002, to be filed with the SEC on June 30, 2003.

         (e)  All documents filed by the Registrant and the Plan, where
applicable, pursuant to Section 13(a) and (c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

          ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, OR IN A
DOCUMENT INCORPORATED OR DEEMED 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 OTHER SUBSEQUENTLY
FILED DOCUMENT WHICH ALSO IS INCORPORATED OR DEEMED TO BE 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.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

The Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the Plan has been registered pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, a description of the Common
Stock is not required herein.


<PAGE> 3


ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

None.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

Articles X and XI of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as
follows:

TENTH:
-----

A.    Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
      party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding,
      whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
      "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director
      or an Officer 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 of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
      including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an
      "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in
      an official capacity as a Director, Officer, employee or agent or in any
      other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer, employee or agent,
      shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest
      extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same
      exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such
      amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation
      to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the
      Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense,
      liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA
      excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably
      incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided,
      however, that, except as provided in Section C hereof with respect to
      proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall
      indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part
      thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part
      thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

B.    The right to indemnification conferred in Section A of this Article TENTH
      shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses
      incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final
      disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however,
      that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of
      expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or
      Officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered
      by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, services to an employee
      benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an
      undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of such
      indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
      determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right
      to appeal (hereinafter a "final adjudication") that such indemnitee is not
      entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or
      otherwise. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of
      expenses conferred in Sections A and B of this Article TENTH shall be
      contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has
      ceased to be a Director, Officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the
      benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C.    If a claim under Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in
      full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been
      received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an
      advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be
      twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against
      the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful
      in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the
      Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of
      an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the
      expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by
      the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in
      a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of
      expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the
      Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of
      an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses
      upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable
      standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
      Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
      Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
      determination prior


<PAGE> 4


      to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is
      proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable
      standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor
      an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
      Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the
      indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a
      presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
      conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a
      defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a
      right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by
      the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
      terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not
      entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this
      Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D.    The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred
      in this Article TENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
      person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporation's
      Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
      Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

E.    The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself
      and any Director, Officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
      subsidiary or Affiliate or another corporation, partnership, joint
      venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss,
      whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such
      person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General
      Corporation Law.

F.    The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the
      Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement
      of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest
      extent of the provisions of this Article TENTH with respect to the
      indemnification and advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of
      the Corporation.

ELEVENTH: A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a Director, except for liability: (i) for any breach of the Director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to
authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of Directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as so amended.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this registration statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds generally to the
Exhibit Table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K).

         (a)    List of Exhibits (filed herewith unless otherwise noted)

                10    New York Community Bank Employee Savings Plan
                23    Consent of KPMG LLP
                24    Powers of Attorney (contained on the signature pages).




<PAGE> 5


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

         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 unless the information or prospectus required by (i)
                 and (ii) is contained in periodic reports filed by the
                 Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
                 that are incorporated by reference into this registration
                 statement:

                 (i)     To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                         of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (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.

         (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, 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; and

         (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.

         (4)      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 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.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, 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 SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
trustee, 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 such Act will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.




<PAGE> 6


                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, New York
Community Bancorp, Inc. 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 Westbury, New York on May 20, 2003.

                                     NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Joseph R. Ficalora
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Joseph R. Ficalora
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
                                         (Principal Executive Officer)

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears
below (other than Mr. Ficalora) constitutes and appoints Joseph R. Ficalora and
Mr. Ficalora hereby constitutes and appoints Michael F. Manzulli, as the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities to sign any or all amendments to the Form S-8 registration
statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
respectively, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things requisite and
necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      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/ Michael F. Manzulli            Chairman of the Board            May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Michael F. Manzulli



/s/ Joseph R. Ficalora             President and Chief              May 20, 2003
------------------------------     Executive Officer (Principal
Joseph R. Ficalora                 Executive Officer)


/s/ Robert Wann                    Executive Vice President         May 20, 2003
------------------------------     and Chief Financial Officer
Robert Wann                        (Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)






<PAGE> 7


/s/ Donald M. Blake                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Donald M. Blake



/s Anthony E. Burke                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Anthony E. Burke



/s/ Dominick Ciampa                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Dominick Ciampa



/s/ Robert S. Farrell              Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Robert S. Farrell



/s/ William C. Frederick, M.D.     Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
William C. Frederick, M.D.



/s/ Max L. Kupferberg              Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Max L. Kupferberg




/s/ Howard C. Miller               Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Howard C. Miller



/s/ John A. Pileski                Director                         May 20, 2003
---------------------------
John A. Pileski




<PAGE> 8


The Plan.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees
(or other persons who administer the New York Community Bank Employee Savings
Plan have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Westbury, New York on
May 20, 2003.


                            NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANK EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN


                             By:  /s/ Bernie Terlizzi
                                  -----------------------------------
                                  Bernie Terlizzi
                                  Plan Administrator



<PAGE> 9
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                                    Sequentially
                                                                                      Numbered
                                                                                        Page
  Exhibit No.            Description                  Method of Filing                Location
---------------    -------------------------    ------------------------------   ------------------

       <S>         <C>                          <C>
       10          New York Community Bank      Filed herewith.
                   Employee Savings Plan
       23          Consent of KPMG LLP          Filed herewith.

       24          Power of Attorney            Located on the signature page.


</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "newyorks8.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 25829}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000910073", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "061377322", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-105901", "film-number": "03735438"}, "business-address": {"street1": "615 MERRICK AVE", "city": "WESTBURY", "state": "NY", "zip": "11590", "phone": "7183596400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "615 MERRICK AVE", "city": "WESTBURY", "state": "NY", "zip": "11590"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "QUEENS COUNTY BANCORP INC", "date-changed": "19930802"}}
1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2003
                                                   Registration No. _________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                        NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
             (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                        06-1377322
(State or other jurisdiction of                (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

                               615 MERRICK AVENUE
                            WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590
    (Address, including zip code of registrant's principal executive offices)

                             NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANK
                              EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                         ------------------------------

                                                   COPIES TO:
JOSEPH R. FICALORA
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER              ERIC S. KRACOV, ESQ.
NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.                   SUZANNE A. WALKER, ESQ.
615 MERRICK AVENUE                                 MULDOON MURPHY & FAUCETTE LLP
WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590                           5101 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W.
(516) 683-4100                                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20016
(Name, address, including zip code,                (202)  362-0840
and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
=============================== =================== ====================== ====================== ==================
    Title of each Class of            Amount          Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum         Amount of
       Securities to be          to be Registered    Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering    Registration Fee
          Registered                   (1)                  Share                Price(2)
------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
Common Stock
        $.01 par Value           2,209,373 Shares         $27.79(3)             $61,398,475            $4,968

------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
        Participation
          Interests                    (4)                                                               (5)
=============================== =================== ====================== ====================== ==================

(1)  Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary to adjust the number of shares
     reserved for issuance pursuant to the New York Community Bank Employee Savings Plan (the "Plan") as the result of
     a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of New York Community Bancorp,
     Inc. (the "Common Stock") pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.416(a).
(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(3)  The average of the high and low price of the Common Stock as reported on June 2, 2003 in accordance with 17 C.F.R.
     ss.230.457(c).
(4)  In addition, pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.416(c), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount
     of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein based upon the maximum
     amount that could be issued under the plan pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss.230.457(h).
(5)  In accordance with 17 C.F.R. ss.230.457(h), where securities are to be offered pursuant to an employer benefit plan,
     the aggregate offering price and the amount of the registration fee shall be computed with respect to the maximum
     number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased with the current assets of such Plan. Accordingly, no separate
     fee is required for the participation interests.
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND 17 C.F.R. SS.230.462.
2

NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

PART I     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEMS 1 & 2. The documents containing the information for the New York Community
Bank Employee Savings Plan (the "Plan") required by Part I of the Registration
Statement will be sent or given to the participants in the Plan as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents are not filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") either as a part of this Registration Statement or as a
prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule
428.

PART II   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed or to be filed by New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Registrant" or the "Corporation") with the SEC are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement:

         (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002, which includes the consolidated statements of condition
of the Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the
related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 2002, together with the related notes (File No.
0-31565) filed with the SEC on March 31, 2003.

         (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 0-31565) filed with the SEC on May 15, 2003.

         (c)  The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in
Registrant's Form 8-A (File No. 0-22278), as filed with the SEC pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and
rule 12b-15 promulgated thereunder, on August 19, 1993.

         (d)  The Plan's annual report on Form 11-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2002, to be filed with the SEC on June 30, 2003.

         (e)  All documents filed by the Registrant and the Plan, where
applicable, pursuant to Section 13(a) and (c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

          ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, OR IN A
DOCUMENT INCORPORATED OR DEEMED 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 OTHER SUBSEQUENTLY
FILED DOCUMENT WHICH ALSO IS INCORPORATED OR DEEMED TO BE 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.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

The Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the Plan has been registered pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, a description of the Common
Stock is not required herein.
3

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

None.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

Articles X and XI of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provide as
follows:

TENTH:
-----

A.    Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
      party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding,
      whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
      "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director
      or an Officer 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 of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
      including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an
      "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in
      an official capacity as a Director, Officer, employee or agent or in any
      other capacity while serving as a Director, Officer, employee or agent,
      shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest
      extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same
      exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such
      amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation
      to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the
      Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense,
      liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA
      excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably
      incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided,
      however, that, except as provided in Section C hereof with respect to
      proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall
      indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part
      thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part
      thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

B.    The right to indemnification conferred in Section A of this Article TENTH
      shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses
      incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final
      disposition (hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however,
      that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of
      expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a Director or
      Officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered
      by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, services to an employee
      benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an
      undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of such
      indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
      determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right
      to appeal (hereinafter a "final adjudication") that such indemnitee is not
      entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or
      otherwise. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of
      expenses conferred in Sections A and B of this Article TENTH shall be
      contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has
      ceased to be a Director, Officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the
      benefit of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators.

C.    If a claim under Section A or B of this Article TENTH is not paid in
      full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been
      received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an
      advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be
      twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against
      the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful
      in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the
      Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of
      an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the
      expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by
      the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in
      a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of
      expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the
      Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of
      an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses
      upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable
      standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
      Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
      Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
      determination prior
4

      to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is
      proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable
      standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor
      an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
      Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the
      indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a
      presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
      conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a
      defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a
      right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by
      the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
      terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not
      entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this
      Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

D.    The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred
      in this Article TENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
      person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Corporation's
      Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
      Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

E.    The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself
      and any Director, Officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
      subsidiary or Affiliate or another corporation, partnership, joint
      venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss,
      whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such
      person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General
      Corporation Law.

F.    The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the
      Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement
      of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest
      extent of the provisions of this Article TENTH with respect to the
      indemnification and advancement of expenses of Directors and Officers of
      the Corporation.

ELEVENTH: A Director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a Director, except for liability: (i) for any breach of the Director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper
personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to
authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of Directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as so amended.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this registration statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds generally to the
Exhibit Table in Item 601 of Regulation S-K).

         (a)    List of Exhibits (filed herewith unless otherwise noted)

                10    New York Community Bank Employee Savings Plan
                23    Consent of KPMG LLP
                24    Powers of Attorney (contained on the signature pages).
5

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

         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 unless the information or prospectus required by (i)
                 and (ii) is contained in periodic reports filed by the
                 Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
                 that are incorporated by reference into this registration
                 statement:

                 (i)     To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                         of the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (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.

         (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, 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; and

         (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.

         (4)      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 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.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, 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 SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
trustee, 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 such Act will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
6

                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, New York
Community Bancorp, Inc. 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 Westbury, New York on May 20, 2003.

                                     NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

                                     By: /s/ Joseph R. Ficalora
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Joseph R. Ficalora
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer
                                         (Principal Executive Officer)

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears
below (other than Mr. Ficalora) constitutes and appoints Joseph R. Ficalora and
Mr. Ficalora hereby constitutes and appoints Michael F. Manzulli, as the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities to sign any or all amendments to the Form S-8 registration
statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
respectively, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things requisite and
necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      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/ Michael F. Manzulli            Chairman of the Board            May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Michael F. Manzulli

/s/ Joseph R. Ficalora             President and Chief              May 20, 2003
------------------------------     Executive Officer (Principal
Joseph R. Ficalora                 Executive Officer)

/s/ Robert Wann                    Executive Vice President         May 20, 2003
------------------------------     and Chief Financial Officer
Robert Wann                        (Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)
7

/s/ Donald M. Blake                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Donald M. Blake

/s Anthony E. Burke                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Anthony E. Burke

/s/ Dominick Ciampa                Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Dominick Ciampa

/s/ Robert S. Farrell              Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Robert S. Farrell

/s/ William C. Frederick, M.D.     Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
William C. Frederick, M.D.

/s/ Max L. Kupferberg              Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Max L. Kupferberg

/s/ Howard C. Miller               Director                         May 20, 2003
------------------------------
Howard C. Miller

/s/ John A. Pileski                Director                         May 20, 2003
---------------------------
John A. Pileski
8

The Plan.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees
(or other persons who administer the New York Community Bank Employee Savings
Plan have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Westbury, New York on
May 20, 2003.

                            NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANK EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN

                             By:  /s/ Bernie Terlizzi
                                  -----------------------------------
                                  Bernie Terlizzi
                                  Plan Administrator
9
EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                                    Sequentially
                                                                                      Numbered
                                                                                        Page
  Exhibit No.            Description                  Method of Filing                Location
---------------    -------------------------    ------------------------------   ------------------
10          New York Community Bank      Filed herewith.
                   Employee Savings Plan
       23          Consent of KPMG LLP          Filed herewith.

       24          Power of Attorney            Located on the signature page.