EXHIBIT 99.1


                                             March 17, 1999



Dear Participant:

     As of March 3, 1999, the trust ("RRP Trust") established for
the Columbia Federal Savings Bank (now known as CFS Bank, the
"Bank") Recognition and Retention Plan for Officers and Employees
("RRP") held 5,603 shares of common stock of Haven Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Company"), the parent holding company for the Bank.  As a
participant in the RRP, you may direct the voting of the shares of
the Company's common stock held by the RRP Trust that have been
granted to you under the RRP.

     Chase Manhattan Bank has been appointed as the trustee for the
RRP Trust (the "RRP 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 RRP
Trustee.  The RRP Trustee will vote those shares of the Company's
common stock held in the RRP Trust that have been granted to
participants in accordance with instructions received from the
participants.  If the RRP Trustee does not receive voting
instructions with respect to shares that have been granted to
participants, the RRP Trustee will vote such shares in the same
proportion as the Trustee votes the shares for which it has
received voting instructions.  

     At this time to direct the voting of shares granted to you
under the RRP, you must complete and sign the enclosed Vote
Authorization Form and return it in the accompanying envelope to
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. ("ChaseMellon"). 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 ChaseMellon, on a confidential basis. 
ChaseMellon will then provide the tabulated results to the RRP
Trustee. The RRP Trustee will then vote the shares in the RRP 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
                      April 21, 1999

                  VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM


I, having signed this card, hereby instruct the Columbia Federal
Savings Bank Recognition and Retention Plan for Officers and
Employees ("RRP") Trustee to vote all shares of common stock of
Haven Bancorp, Inc. granted to me under the RRP as set forth on the
reverse side at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
April 21, 1999, and at any adjournments thereof.




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                                          Please mark your 
                                          votes as indicated  X
                                          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)

George S. Worgul, Michael J. Levine

     FOR                                     VOTE WITHHOLD

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

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

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

2.  The ratification of KPMG LLP as independent auditors of Haven
Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

          FOR            AGAINST             ABSTAIN

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

I acknowledge that I have received from the Company prior to the
execution of this proxy a Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
a Proxy Statement dated March 17, 1999, the Annual Report to
Stockholders and a letter dated March 17, 1999 from the Board of
Directors.

I understand that my voting instructions are solicited by the Board
of Directors on behalf of the RRP Trustee for the Annual
Stockholders Meeting to be held on April 21, 1999, and any
adjournments thereof.  The RRP Trustee is hereby authorized to vote
the shares granted to me, in its trust capacity, as indicated
above.
                                       -------------------------
                                              Signature

                                       -------------------------
                                                 Date

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

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