EXHIBIT 23.1


              CONSENT OF INDEPENDANT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
              ---------------------------------------------------


The Board of Directors of
New York Bancorp, Inc.


We consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No. 1 to the
registration statement on Form S-3 of New York Bancorp Inc. of our report dated
October 29, 1996, related to the consolidated statements of financial condition
of New York Bancorp Inc. as of September 30, 1996 and 1995, and the related
consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 1996,
which report is included in the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders of New York
Bancorp Inc. and has been incorporated by reference in the September 30, 1996
Annual Report on Form 10-K of New York Bancorp Inc., and to the reference to our
firm under the headings "Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data" and
"Experts" in Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement.



                                        /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                                        KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Jericho, New York
September 17, 1997