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                                                                    Exhibit 99.2

                                                      Contact:  Dime
                                                                William S. Burns
                                                                (212) 326-6170


April 20, 2001
01/9


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   DIME BANCORP, INC. INCREASES CASH DIVIDEND

         New York, NY - April 20, 2001 - Dime Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: DME) today
announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per
share on its common stock, representing a 20% increase over last quarter's
dividend. The dividend will be paid on June 1, 2001 to stockholders of record as
of the close of business on May 18, 2001.

         Lawrence J. Toal, Dime's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Yesterday,
Dime announced strong earnings results for the 2001 first quarter. We believe
that these results underscore our continuing progress, and we are pleased to be
able to share our success with our investors through this increased dividend."

         At March 31, 2001, Dime had assets of $27.0 billion and deposits of
$14.6 billion. It's principal subsidiary, The Dime Savings Bank of New York, FSB
(www.dime.com), is a regional bank serving consumers and businesses throughout
the greater New York City metropolitan area. Directly and through its mortgage
banking subsidiary, North American Mortgage Company (www.namc.com), Dime also
provides consumer loans, insurance products and mortgage banking services
throughout the United States.

         Certain statements in Dime's press releases may be forward-looking. A
variety of factors could cause Dime's actual results and experience to differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the
operations, performance, development, and results of Dime's business, include
litigation, interest rate movements, competition from both financial and
non-financial institutions, changes in applicable laws and regulations, the
timing and occurrence (or non-occurrence) of transactions and events that may be
subject to circumstances beyond Dime's control and general economic conditions.

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