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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): November 1, 2004

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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          (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)            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 THROUGH 7 NOT APPLICABLE.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

      On November 1, 2004,  Astoria  Financial  Corporation (the  "Corporation")
issued a press  release  stating  that, on November 11, 2004, it is scheduled to
participate in an investor conference in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,  sponsored
by Sandler O'Neill & Partners, LP.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibits.

      The following Exhibit is filed as part of this report:

      Exhibit 99.1   Press release dated November 1, 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: November 1, 2004


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit
 Number           Description
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    99.1          Press release dated November 1, 2004.


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