EXHIBIT 99.2


New Release
For Immediate Release


                    NEW YORK BANCORP ANNOUNCES TERMINATION OF
                   SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING OF CAPITAL SECURITIES


                  Douglaston, New York (October 9, 1997) (NYSE-NYB), New York
Bancorp Inc., today announced that it has terminated its previously announced
subscription offering of $50,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of capital
securities of New York Bancorp Capital Trust, a trust specially formed for the
purpose of the offering. The subscription offering, made to existing holders of
common stock of New York Bancorp, commenced on September 23, 1997 and was to
expire on October 14, 1997. New York Bancorp terminated the subscription
offering following the announcement that it had entered into a merger agreement
on October 7, 1997 with North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., pursuant to which New
York Bancorp will be merged at the effective time of the merger with and into
North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.

                  New York Bancorp Inc. with assets of approximately $3.3
billion and deposits of $1.7 billion as of June 30, 1997, provides retail and
commercial banking and mortgage and consumer loan services through the
thirty-four offices of its subsidiary, Home Federal Savings Bank, which are
located in Kings, Queens, Nassau, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties.

                                                            -END-

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael A. McManus, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
(718) 631-8100


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