EXHIBIT 99.3


                                         April 11, 2000


Dear Participant:

         As of March 29, 2000, the trust ("ESOP Trust") established for the
Columbia Federal Savings Bank (now known as CFS Bank, the "Bank") Employee Stock
Ownership Plan ("ESOP") held 631,925 shares of common stock of Haven Bancorp,
Inc. (the "Company"), the parent holding company for the Bank, for the benefit
of participants in the ESOP. As of the Record Date, March 29, 2000, 387,560
shares of Common Stock in the ESOP had been allocated to participating
employees. As a participant in the ESOP, you may direct the voting of the shares
of the Company's common stock held by the ESOP Trust allocated to your account.

         Chase Manhattan Bank has been appointed as the corporate trustee for
the ESOP Trust (the "ESOP Trustee"). We, the Board of Directors, are forwarding
to you the attached Vote Authorization Form, provided for the purpose of
conveying your voting instructions to the ESOP Trustee. The ESOP Trustee will
vote those shares of the Company's common stock held in the ESOP Trust allocated
to participants in accordance with instructions of the participants.

          All unallocated shares held in the ESOP Trust, and allocated shares
with respect to which no written instructions are received, will be voted by the
Trustee in the same proportion as those allocated shares for which voting
instructions are received, so long as such vote is in accordance with the
provisions of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

         At this time to direct the voting of shares allocated to your account
under the ESOP, you must complete and sign the enclosed Vote Authorization Form
and return it in the accompanying envelope to Ellen Philip Associates, Inc.
("Ellen Philip Associates"). Your vote will not be revealed, directly or
indirectly, to any director, officer or other employee of the Company or the
Bank. Your shares will be tallied by Ellen Philip Associates and then the ESOP
Trustee will vote the shares in the ESOP Trust based on the voting instructions
it has received from participants, as described above.



                                            Sincerely,




                                            The Board of Directors





                               HAVEN BANCORP, INC.

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 17, 2000


                             VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM

I, having signed this form, understand that the ESOP Trustee is the holder of
record and custodian of all shares of Haven Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") common
stock allocated to me under the Columbia Federal Savings Bank Employee Stock
Ownership Plan and Trust ("ESOP Trust"). Further, I understand that my voting
instructions are solicited on behalf of the Company's Board of Directors for the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 17, 2000, and at any adjournment or
postponement thereof. Accordingly, you are instructed to vote all shares
allocated to me and held by the ESOP Trust as set forth below.

                                             Please  mark your
                                             votes as             /X/
                                             indicated in
                                             this example

                 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
                          EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.

1.   The Election as directors of all nominees listed: (Except as marked to the
     contrary below)

     Philip S. Messina, Msgr. Thomas J. Hartman, Michael A. McManus, Jr.

         FOR                                                  VOTE WITHHELD
         / /                                                   / /


INSTRUCTION: To withhold your vote for any individual nominee, write that
nominee's name on the space provided below:

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

2.   The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors of
     Haven Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.

         FOR                  AGAINST                       ABSTAIN
         / /                  / /                             / /

I acknowledge that I have received from the Company prior to the execution of
this vote authorization form, a Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a
Proxy Statement dated April 11, 2000, the Annual Report to Stockholders and a
letter dated April 11, 2000 from the Board of Directors.

I understand that my voting instructions are solicited by the Board of Directors
on behalf of the ESOP Trustee for the Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on
May 17, 2000, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The ESOP Trustee
is hereby authorized to vote the shares allocated to me, in its trust capacity,
as indicated above.


                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Signature
- ------------------------
Date

Please sign, date and return this form in the enclosed business reply envelope.