EXHIBIT 99.2


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 7, 2000

CONTACTS:  Catherine Califano, S.V.P. /C.F.O., Haven Bancorp
           Tel. (516) 683-4483
           Annette Esposito, F.V.P./Communications Director, Haven
           Bancorp
           Tel. (516) 683-4231


HAVEN BANCORP ANNOUNCES SALE OF PARTS OF ITS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE
       ORIGINATION DIVISON; TAKES RESTRUCTURING CHARGES


Westbury, NY- Haven Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAVN), the holding
company for CFS Bank today announced that it has sold a
substantial part of its residential mortgage origination division
to M&T Mortgage Corporation and is currently in negotiations to
sell its Fishkill, NY residential mortgage origination office in
a separate transaction. The Company will continue to provide
residential mortgage products to its customers from its Westbury,
NY headquarters.

The Company announced that it will record a pre-tax restructuring
charge of approximately $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2000
related to the completed sale of parts of its residential
mortgage origination division to M&T Mortgage Corporation, the
anticipated sale of its Fishkill, NY office and the restructuring
of the remainder of the division.  The Company expects to realize
approximately $7 million in annualized savings as a result of
both the sale of parts of its mortgage origination division and
the restructuring of its mortgage origination operations.

" We have been working diligently to resolve the residential
mortgage origination division issues which have negatively
impacted our operating results," said Philip S. Messina, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Haven Bancorp/ CFS Bank." Now that
we have substantially resolved these issues, we are well
positioned to further capitalize on our supermarket banking
strategy, which we believe will increase shareholder value,"
concluded Messina.

The Company previously announced on March 24th that its Board had
approved a plan to reduce operating expenses through a reduction
in the Company's workforce and the elimination of certain other
discretionary expenses, which is expected to result in annualized
savings of approximately $7 million in addition to the $7 million
in annualized savings resulting from the restructuring of the
mortgage operations.  The Company has already taken the first
step in this initiative by eliminating approximately 70 positions
across all departments and divisions.  Additional positions will
be eliminated through a hiring freeze and normal attrition.  The
Company will record a pre-tax restructuring charge of
approximately $300,000 in the first quarter of 2000 related to
severance payments.

Headquartered in Westbury, New York, Haven Bancorp, Inc. is the
holding company for CFS Bank, a community-oriented institution
offering deposit products, residential and commercial real estate
loans and a full range of financial services including discount
brokerage, mutual funds, annuities and insurance products through
eight full-service banking offices and 62 supermarket branches
located in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and
Westchester counties, New Jersey and Connecticut.  Haven provides
auto, homeowners and business lines of insurance through its
subsidiary, CFS Insurance Agency, Inc. The Bank's deposits are
insured by the FDIC.

Statements made herein that are forward-looking in nature within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially.  Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to
overall business conditions, particularly in the consumer
financial services, mortgage and insurance markets in which Haven
operates, fiscal and monetary policy, competitive products and
pricing, credit risk management, changes in regulations affecting
financial institutions and other risks and uncertainties
discussed in Haven's SEC filings, including its 1999 Form 10-K.
Haven disclaims any obligation to publicly announce future events
or developments, which may affect the forward-looking statements
contained herein.