SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2008

PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	0-25233	80-0091851
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

400 Rella Boulevard, Montebello, New York	10901
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (845) 369-8040

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events

On December 19, 2008, Provident New York Bancorp issued a press release announcing that it had decided not to participate in the U.S. Treasury Department’s TARP Capital Purchase Program. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

99.1 — Press release dated December 19, 2008.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP
DATE: December 19, 2008	By:	/s/Daniel Rothstein
		Daniel Rothstein
		Executive Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Provident New York Bancorp Dated December 19, 2008