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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 21, 2004

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

         Delaware                       0-22228                11-3170868
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission            (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)       File Number)         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)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[_]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12(b) under the Exchange Act (17
      CFR 240.14a-12(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Items 1, 3 through 8 Not Applicable.

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

      On October 21, 2004,  Astoria Financial  Corporation  ("Astoria") issued a
press release  which,  among other things,  highlights  the Company's  financial
results for the quarter and nine months ended  September 30, 2004. A copy of the
press release is included herewith as an exhibit to this report.

      The information  provided pursuant hereto shall not be deemed incorporated
by reference by any general  statement  incorporating by reference this Form 8-K
into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under
such Acts.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibits.

      Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated October 21, 2004.


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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 21, 2004


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit Number   Description
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      99.1        Press release dated October 21, 2004.


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