EXHIBIT 32.1

                Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
      as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

         In connection with the Quarterly Report of BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Alan B. Levan, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, that:

         1)       the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         2)       the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.



BY /S/ ALAN B. LEVAN
  ----------------------------
NAME:  ALAN B. LEVAN
TITLE: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
DATE:  AUGUST 14, 2003

The foregoing certificate is provided solely for purposes of complying with
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and for no other purpose
whatsoever. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any
of the Company's previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate the
Company's future filings, including this Report on Form 10-Q, in whole or in
part, this Certificate shall not be incorporated by reference into any such
filings. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has
been provided to BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc. and will be retained by BankAtlantic
Bancorp, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.