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Exhibit  23.1

               Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Letterhead
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY  10154

The Board of Directors
Astoria Financial Corporation as acquiror of
The Greater New York Savings Bank

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Current Report Amendment No. 1
on Form 8-K/A of Astoria Financial Corporation of our report dated January 23,
1997, related to the consolidated statements of financial condition of The
Greater New York Savings Bank and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1996, which report is included in the Annual Report to Stockholders
of The Greater New York Savings Bank for the year 1996, which report has been
incorporated by reference in the December 31, 1996 Annual Report on Form F-2 of
The Greater New York Savings Bank.


/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

New York, New York
December 12, 1997


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