EXHIBIT 99.4


                                             March 17, 1999




Dear Participant:

     As of March 3, 1999, the trust ("ESOP Trust") established for
the Columbia Federal Savings Bank (now known as CFS Bank, the
"Bank") Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") held 664,116 shares
of common stock of Haven Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the parent
holding company for the Bank, for the benefit of participants in
the ESOP. As of the Record Date, March 3, 1999, 358,306 shares of
Common Stock in the ESOP had been allocated to participating
employees.  As a participant in the ESOP, you may direct the voting
of the shares of the Company's common stock held by the ESOP Trust
allocated to your account.

     Chase Manhattan Bank has been appointed as the corporate
trustee for the ESOP Trust (the "ESOP 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 ESOP Trustee.  The ESOP Trustee will vote those
shares of the Company's common stock held in the ESOP Trust
allocated to participants in accordance with instructions of the
participants.

      All unallocated shares held in the ESOP Trust, and allocated
shares with respect to which no written instructions are received,
will be voted by the Trustee in the same proportion as those
allocated shares for which voting instructions are received, so
long as such vote is in accordance with the provisions of the
Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

     At this time to direct the voting of shares allocated to your
account under the ESOP, you must complete and sign the enclosed
Vote Authorization Form and return it in the accompanying envelope
to ChaseMellon Shareholders 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 and then the ESOP Trustee will vote
the shares in the ESOP 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, understand that the ESOP Trustee is the
holder of record and custodian of all shares of Haven Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Company") common stock allocated to me under the Columbia
Federal Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust ("ESOP
Trust").  Further, I understand that my voting instructions are
solicited on behalf of the Company's Board of Directors for the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 21, 1999, and any
adjournments thereof.  Accordingly, you are instructed to vote all
shares allocated to me and held by the ESOP Trust as set forth on
the reverse side.




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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 ESOP Trustee for the Annual
Stockholders Meeting to be held on April 21, 1999, and any
adjournments thereof.  The ESOP Trustee is hereby authorized to
vote the shares allocated 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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