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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-08-064855.txt : 20081209
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-08-064855.hdr.sgml : 20081209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081209160758
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-08-064855
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANKATLANTIC BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921768
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				650507804
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2100 W. CYPRESS CREEK RD.
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9547605000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2100 W. CYPRESS CREEK RD.
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BFC FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000315858
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GEN BUILDING CONTRACTORS - RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [1520]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13133
		FILM NUMBER:		081238564

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9549404900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 5403
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33310-5403

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANKATLANTIC FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920316

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IRE FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c78154_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921768</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANKATLANTIC BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000315858</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BFC FINANCIAL CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>41049</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.2809</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2215396</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>47367</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.9642</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2262763</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>47367</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7939</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2310130</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person purchased these shares in the open market on December 5, 2008 at prices ranging from $2.98 per share to $3.34 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person purchased these shares in the open market on December 8, 2008 at prices ranging from $3.75 per share to $4.11 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person purchased these shares in the open market on December 9, 2008 at prices ranging from $3.60 per share to $3.85 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person undertakes to provide upon request by the Staff of the Securities Exchange Commission, the issuer, or any shareholder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each purchase price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The reporting person additionally owns 975,225 shares of the issuer's Class B Common Stock which are convertible at any time in the reporting person's discretion on a share-for-share basis into the issuer's Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John K. Grelle, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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