EXHIBIT 4.3

                Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into
                   with respect to Non-Incentive Stock Options








                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                         FOR NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           LITTLE FALLS BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------




         STOCK  OPTIONS  for a total of  __________  shares of  Common  Stock of
Little Falls Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") is hereby granted to ________________
(the  "Optionee")  at the price  determined  as provided in, and in all respects
subject to the terms,  definitions  and provisions of the 1996 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") adopted by the Company which is  incorporated by reference  herein,
receipt of which is hereby  acknowledged.  Such Stock Options do not comply with
Options  granted  under  Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended.

         1. Option Price. The Option price is $__________ for each Share,  being
100% of the fair market value,  as determined  by the  Committee,  of the Common
Stock on the date of grant of this Option.

         2. Exercise of Option.  This Option shall be  exercisable in accordance
with provisions of the Plan as follows:

                  (a)      Schedule of Rights to Exercise.

                                              Percentage of Total Shares
                                                   Awarded Which Are
                      Date                          Non-forfeitable
                      ----                          ---------------

Upon grant..........................                      0%
As of __________ ___, 1997..........                      20%
As of __________ ___, 1998..........                      40%
As of __________ ___, 1999..........                      60%
As of __________ ___, 2000..........                      80%
As of __________ ___, 2001..........                     100%


         Options  shall  continue  to vest  annually  provided  that such holder
remains a director or  director's  emeritus of Little Falls Bank or the Company.
Notwithstanding  any provisions in this Section 2, in no event shall this Option
be exercisable prior to six months following the date of grant. Options shall be
100% vested and  exercisable  upon the death or disability  of the Optionee,  or
upon a Change in Control of the Company,  subject to non-objection by the Office
of Thrift Supervision.







                  (b) Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by a
written notice which shall:

                             (i) State the election to exercise the Option,  the
         number of  Shares  with  respect  to which it is being  exercised,  the
         person in whose name the stock  certificate  or  certificates  for such
         Shares of Common  Stock is to be  registered,  his  address  and Social
         Security  Number (or if more than one, the names,  addresses and Social
         Security Numbers of such persons);

                            (ii) Contain such  representations and agreements as
         to the holder's investment intent with respect to such shares of Common
         Stock as may be satisfactory to the Company's counsel;

                           (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to
         exercise the Option and, if the Option is being exercised by any person
         or  persons  other  than  the  Optionee,   be   accompanied  by  proof,
         satisfactory to counsel for the Company, of the right of such person or
         persons to exercise the Option; and

                            (iv) Be in  writing  and  delivered  in person or by
         certified mail to the Treasurer of the Company.

         Payment of the  purchase  price of any Shares with respect to which the
Option is being  exercised  shall be by certified or bank  cashier's or teller's
check.  The certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option shall be exercised  shall be  registered in the name of the person or
persons exercising the Option.

                  (c) Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised
if the issuance of the Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the Optionee's  exercise of this Option,  the Company may require
the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

         3. Non-transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.


                                        2





         4. Term of Option.  This Option may not be exercised more than ten (10)
years  from the date of grant of this  Option,  as set forth  below,  and may be
exercised  during  such term only in  accordance  with the Plan and the terms of
this Option.

         5. Related  Matters.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary,
additional  conditions or restrictions  related to such Options may be contained
in the Plan or the resolutions of the Plan Committee  authorizing  such grant of
Options.

                                      Little Falls Bancorp, Inc.




Date of Grant:                        By:
               ----------------           --------------------------------------


Attest:



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[SEAL]







                                        3




                    NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE FORM
                    ----------------------------------------

                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           LITTLE FALLS BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                                            -----------
                                                               (Date)


Little Falls Bancorp, Inc.



Dear Sir:

         The undersigned  elects to exercise the  Non-Incentive  Stock Option to
purchase _______  shares of Common Stock of Little Falls Bancorp, Inc. under and
pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement dated , 19 .

         Delivered  herewith is a certified or bank  cashier's or teller's check
and/or shares of Common  Stock,  valued at the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise, as set forth below.

                              $________              of cash or check
                               ________              of Common Stock
                              $                      Total
                               ========

         The name or names to be on the stock  certificate or  certificates  and
the address and Social Security Number of such person(s) is as follows:

         Name
               ----------------------------------------------
         Address
                 --------------------------------------------
         Social Security Number
                                -----------------------------

                                Very truly yours,



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