<PAGE>1

                                      Registration No. 333-
                                                            --------------
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1996

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.
                              --------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------
                                MAF BANCORP, INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer as Specified in its Charter)

   DELAWARE                                                36-3664868
(State of Incorporation)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                           55TH STREET & HOLMES AVENUE
                         CLARENDON HILLS, ILLINOIS 60514
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                              --------------------

                                MAF BANCORP, INC.
                        1990 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

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

Allen H. Koranda                                    Copies to:
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer   Joseph G. Passaic, Jr., Esq.
MAF Bancorp, Inc.                                   Mary M. Sjoquist, Esq.
55th Street & Holmes Avenue                         Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette
Clarendon Hills, Illinois  60514                    5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
(630) 325-7300                                      Washington, D.C.  20016
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
                              --------------------

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. |X|

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Proposed Maximum    Maximum
  Securities       Amount to    Offering Price    Aggregate        Amount of
 be Registered   be Registered    Per Share     Offering Price  Registration Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,      200,000(1)      $32.38(2)     $6,476,000(2)     $2,233(3)
$01. par value

------------------
(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 MAF Bancorp, Inc. 1990 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") as
       the result of a stock split,  stock dividend or similar adjustment of the
       outstanding Common Stock pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss. 230.416(a).
(2)    Determined by a weighted  average of the $24.25 exercise price for 39,500
       options granted to date and $34.38 the average of the high and low prices
       reported to the Nasdaq  Stock Market on November 27, 1996 for the 160,500
       shares reserved but not yet granted under the Plan, pursuant to 17 C.F.R.
       ss. 230.457(h)(i).
(3)    A total of 523,462 shares (as adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split
       distributed on August 26, 1993 and the 10% stock dividend  distributed on
       August 31, 1995) is  registered  on the  original  Form S-8 (SEC File No.
       33-45794)  which was filed on February 14, 1992.  A  registration  fee of
       $928 was paid at such time. The  previously  registered  shares  together
       with the shares being registered  hereby  represents the estimated number
       of total shares intended for issuance pursuant to the Plan.
                               -------------------
        This  Registration  Statement  shall  become  effective  upon  filing in
accordance  with Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended and 17
C.F.R. subsection 230.462.

Number of Pages 5
Exhibit Index begins on Page 5


<PAGE>2



         This  Registration  Statement  relates to the  registration  of 200,000
additional  shares of Common  Stock,  $.01 par value per share,  of MAF Bancorp,
Inc.  (the  "Registrant")  reserved  for  issuance  and  delivery  under the MAF
Bancorp,  Inc. 1990 Incentive  Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Plan").  Such
additional  shares are being  reserved  pursuant to an amendment to increase the
number of shares  authorized  to be issued  under the Plan which was approved by
the  Registrant's  shareholders  on October 23, 1996. On February 14, 1992,  the
Registrant  registered 317,250 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share,
reserved  for  issuance  under the 1990  Incentive  Stock  Option  Plan with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") (SEC File No.  33-45794).  The
amount of shares  registered  was  adjusted  to reflect a 3- for-2  stock  split
distributed  on August 26, 1993 and a 10% stock  dividend  distributed on August
31, 1995 for a total of 523,462 shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. The
contents  of the  original  Form S-8 (SEC File No.  33-45794)  are  incorporated
herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction E for the Form S-8.

ITEM 8.  LIST OF EXHIBITS

         The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

          3.0       Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  MAF  Bancorp,  Inc.,  as
                    amended, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)
                    to the  Registrant's  Form 10-K for the year  ended June 30,
                    1996 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

          3.1       Bylaws  of MAF  Bancorp,  Inc.  is  incorporated  herein  by
                    reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Form 10-K for
                    the year ended June 30, 1990 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

          5.0       Opinion of Muldoon,  Murphy & Faucette as to the legality of
                    the Common Stock registered hereby.

          23.0      Consent  of  Muldoon,  Murphy & Faucette  (contained  in the
                    opinion included as Exhibit 5).

          23.1      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

          24        Power of Attorney (located in the signature pages).

                                        2

<PAGE>3



CONFORMED

                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  MAF
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 the Village of Clarendon Hills, State of Illinois, on the 2nd
day of December, 1996.


                                                     MAF Bancorp, Inc.


                                                     By: /s/ Allen H. Koranda
                                                         ---------------------
                                                     Allen H. Koranda
                                                     Chairman of the Board and
                                                     Chief Executive Officer


         Each person whose  individual  signature  appears  below hereby  makes,
constitutes  and  appoints  Allen H. Koranda to sign for such person and in such
person's  name and capacity  indicated  below,  any and all  amendments  to this
Registration Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments.

         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/ Allen H. Koranda            Chairman of the Board and       December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Chief Executive Officer         ----------------
Allen H. Koranda                          


/s/Jerry A. Weberling           Executive Vice President and    December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Chief Financial Officer         ----------------
Jerry A. Weberling               


/s/ Gerard J. Buccino           Senior Vice President and       December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Controller                      ----------------
Gerard J. Buccino                      





<PAGE>4



         Name                          Title                    Date
         ----                          -----                    ----

/s/ Robert Bowles, M.D.               Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Robert Bowles, M.D.


/s/Nicholas J. DiLorenzo, Sr.         Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Nicholas J. DiLorenzo, Sr.


/s/Terry Ekl                          Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Terry Ekl


/s/Joe F. Hanauer                     Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Joe F. Hanauer 


/s/Kenneth Koranda                    Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Kenneth Koranda


/s/Henry Smogolski                    Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Henry Smogolski


/s/F. William Trescott                Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
F. William Trescott


/s/Lois B. Vasto                      Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Lois B. Vasto


/s/Andrew J. Zych                     Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Andrew J. Zych



<PAGE>5


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
  No.            Description               Method of Filing
-------          -----------               ----------------

 3.0       Certificate of Incorporation    Incorporated by reference
           of MAF Bancorp, Inc., as        to Exhibit 3(i) to MAF Bancorp,
           amended                         Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended
                                           June 30, 1996 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

 3.1       Bylaws of MAF Bancorp,          Incorporated by reference to
           Inc.                            Exhibit 3(ii) to MAF
                                           Bancorp, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
                                           year ended June 30, 1990
                                           (SEC File No. 0-18121).

 5.0       Opinion of Muldoon,             Filed herewith.
           Murphy & Faucette

23.0       Consent of Muldoon,             Located in Exhibit 5 herewith.
           Murphy & Faucette

23.1       Consent of                      Filed herewith.
           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

24         Power of Attorney               Located in the Signature Page.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11874}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MAF BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000854662", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "363664868", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-17129", "film-number": "96674868"}, "business-address": {"street1": "55TH ST & HOLMES AVE", "city": "CLARENDON HILLS", "state": "IL", "zip": "60514", "phone": "6303257300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "55TH STREET & HOLMES AVENUE", "street2": "55TH STREET & HOLMES AVENUE", "city": "CLARENDON HILLS", "state": "IL", "zip": "60514"}}
1

                                      Registration No. 333-
                                                            --------------
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1996

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.
                              --------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------
                                MAF BANCORP, INC.
               (Exact Name of Issuer as Specified in its Charter)

   DELAWARE                                                36-3664868
(State of Incorporation)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                           55TH STREET & HOLMES AVENUE
                         CLARENDON HILLS, ILLINOIS 60514
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                              --------------------

                                MAF BANCORP, INC.
                        1990 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

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

Allen H. Koranda                                    Copies to:
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer   Joseph G. Passaic, Jr., Esq.
MAF Bancorp, Inc.                                   Mary M. Sjoquist, Esq.
55th Street & Holmes Avenue                         Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette
Clarendon Hills, Illinois  60514                    5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
(630) 325-7300                                      Washington, D.C.  20016
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
                              --------------------

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. |X|

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Proposed Maximum    Maximum
  Securities       Amount to    Offering Price    Aggregate        Amount of
 be Registered   be Registered    Per Share     Offering Price  Registration Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,      200,000(1)      $32.38(2)     $6,476,000(2)     $2,233(3)
$01. par value

------------------
(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 MAF Bancorp, Inc. 1990 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") as
       the result of a stock split,  stock dividend or similar adjustment of the
       outstanding Common Stock pursuant to 17 C.F.R. ss. 230.416(a).
(2)    Determined by a weighted  average of the $24.25 exercise price for 39,500
       options granted to date and $34.38 the average of the high and low prices
       reported to the Nasdaq  Stock Market on November 27, 1996 for the 160,500
       shares reserved but not yet granted under the Plan, pursuant to 17 C.F.R.
       ss. 230.457(h)(i).
(3)    A total of 523,462 shares (as adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split
       distributed on August 26, 1993 and the 10% stock dividend  distributed on
       August 31, 1995) is  registered  on the  original  Form S-8 (SEC File No.
       33-45794)  which was filed on February 14, 1992.  A  registration  fee of
       $928 was paid at such time. The  previously  registered  shares  together
       with the shares being registered  hereby  represents the estimated number
       of total shares intended for issuance pursuant to the Plan.
                               -------------------
        This  Registration  Statement  shall  become  effective  upon  filing in
accordance  with Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended and 17
C.F.R. subsection 230.462.

Number of Pages 5
Exhibit Index begins on Page 5
2

         This  Registration  Statement  relates to the  registration  of 200,000
additional  shares of Common  Stock,  $.01 par value per share,  of MAF Bancorp,
Inc.  (the  "Registrant")  reserved  for  issuance  and  delivery  under the MAF
Bancorp,  Inc. 1990 Incentive  Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Plan").  Such
additional  shares are being  reserved  pursuant to an amendment to increase the
number of shares  authorized  to be issued  under the Plan which was approved by
the  Registrant's  shareholders  on October 23, 1996. On February 14, 1992,  the
Registrant  registered 317,250 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share,
reserved  for  issuance  under the 1990  Incentive  Stock  Option  Plan with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") (SEC File No.  33-45794).  The
amount of shares  registered  was  adjusted  to reflect a 3- for-2  stock  split
distributed  on August 26, 1993 and a 10% stock  dividend  distributed on August
31, 1995 for a total of 523,462 shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. The
contents  of the  original  Form S-8 (SEC File No.  33-45794)  are  incorporated
herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction E for the Form S-8.

ITEM 8.  LIST OF EXHIBITS

         The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

          3.0       Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  MAF  Bancorp,  Inc.,  as
                    amended, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)
                    to the  Registrant's  Form 10-K for the year  ended June 30,
                    1996 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

          3.1       Bylaws  of MAF  Bancorp,  Inc.  is  incorporated  herein  by
                    reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Form 10-K for
                    the year ended June 30, 1990 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

          5.0       Opinion of Muldoon,  Murphy & Faucette as to the legality of
                    the Common Stock registered hereby.

          23.0      Consent  of  Muldoon,  Murphy & Faucette  (contained  in the
                    opinion included as Exhibit 5).

          23.1      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

          24        Power of Attorney (located in the signature pages).

                                        2
3

CONFORMED

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  MAF
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 the Village of Clarendon Hills, State of Illinois, on the 2nd
day of December, 1996.

                                                     MAF Bancorp, Inc.

                                                     By: /s/ Allen H. Koranda
                                                         ---------------------
                                                     Allen H. Koranda
                                                     Chairman of the Board and
                                                     Chief Executive Officer

         Each person whose  individual  signature  appears  below hereby  makes,
constitutes  and  appoints  Allen H. Koranda to sign for such person and in such
person's  name and capacity  indicated  below,  any and all  amendments  to this
Registration Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments.

         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/ Allen H. Koranda            Chairman of the Board and       December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Chief Executive Officer         ----------------
Allen H. Koranda                          

/s/Jerry A. Weberling           Executive Vice President and    December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Chief Financial Officer         ----------------
Jerry A. Weberling               

/s/ Gerard J. Buccino           Senior Vice President and       December 2, 1996
--------------------------      Controller                      ----------------
Gerard J. Buccino
4

         Name                          Title                    Date
         ----                          -----                    ----

/s/ Robert Bowles, M.D.               Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Robert Bowles, M.D.

/s/Nicholas J. DiLorenzo, Sr.         Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Nicholas J. DiLorenzo, Sr.

/s/Terry Ekl                          Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Terry Ekl

/s/Joe F. Hanauer                     Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Joe F. Hanauer 

/s/Kenneth Koranda                    Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Kenneth Koranda

/s/Henry Smogolski                    Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Henry Smogolski

/s/F. William Trescott                Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
F. William Trescott

/s/Lois B. Vasto                      Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Lois B. Vasto

/s/Andrew J. Zych                     Director                  December 2, 1996
-----------------------------                                   ----------------
Andrew J. Zych
5

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.            Description               Method of Filing
-------          -----------               ----------------

 3.0       Certificate of Incorporation    Incorporated by reference
           of MAF Bancorp, Inc., as        to Exhibit 3(i) to MAF Bancorp,
           amended                         Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended
                                           June 30, 1996 (SEC File No. 0-18121).

 3.1       Bylaws of MAF Bancorp,          Incorporated by reference to
           Inc.                            Exhibit 3(ii) to MAF
                                           Bancorp, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
                                           year ended June 30, 1990
                                           (SEC File No. 0-18121).

 5.0       Opinion of Muldoon,             Filed herewith.
           Murphy & Faucette

23.0       Consent of Muldoon,             Located in Exhibit 5 herewith.
           Murphy & Faucette

23.1       Consent of                      Filed herewith.
           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

24         Power of Attorney               Located in the Signature Page.