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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

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     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 1, 2003

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                          ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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           Delaware                       0-22228                 11-3170868
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

          ONE ASTORIA FEDERAL PLAZA, LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK 11042-1085
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (516) 327-3000

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 AND 12. NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REQUIRED FD DISCLOSURE.

      On October 1, 2003,  Astoria Financial  Corporation issued a press release
announcing  that it had  completed the  redemption of all 2,000,000  outstanding
shares  of its  12%  Noncumulative  Perpetual  Preferred  Stock,  Series  B (the
"Preferred  Shares"),  at a redemption price of $27.25 per share,  plus $1.00 in
accrued and unpaid  dividends,  for an aggregate  redemption price of $28.25 per
Preferred Share (the "Redemption  Price").  The press release is included herein
as Exhibit 99.1

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a) - (b)   Not applicable.

(c)         Exhibits

            The following Exhibit is filed as part of this report.

            Exhibit 99.1      Press release dated October 1, 2003.


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                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                               ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                               By: /s/ Peter J. Cunningham
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                  Peter J. Cunningham
                                                  First Vice President and
                                                  Director of Investor Relations

Dated: October 1, 2003

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number      Description
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99.1        Press release dated October 1, 2003.


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