8-K

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                       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) - SEPTEMBER 20, 2001
                                                         -------------------



                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
                         -------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)




  DELAWARE                            1-10458                36-3154608
  --------------------------          --------------         --------------
 (State or other jurisdiction          (Commission           (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                     File Number)          Identification No.)



   275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD
     MELVILLE, NEW YORK                                          11747
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)




  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (631) 844-1004
                                                              --------------



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ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS
        North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.'s Chairman, John A. Kanas, sends a
special message to our shareholders, customers and friends concerning the recent
World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001.




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS


(a)     Financial Statements of the Business Acquired.
        Not Applicable


(b)     Pro Forma Financial Information
        Not Applicable


(c)     Exhibits
        99.1   Press Release dated September 20, 2001




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                                    SIGNATURE



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


Date:    September 21, 2001





NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.


By:   /s/  Daniel M. Healy
     -------------------------------
     Daniel M. Healy
     Executive Vice President
     Chief Financial Officer



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EX-99.1

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EXHIBIT 99.1
                               NORTH FORK BANCORP
   275 BROADHOLLOW ROAD, MELVILLE, NY 11747 (631) 844-1258 FAX (631) 844-1471


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DANIEL M. HEALY
NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 631-844-1258
NYSE:NFB
MELVILLE, N.Y. - SEPTEMBER 20, 2001

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM JOHN A. KANAS, CHAIRMAN, TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS,

CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS CONCERNING THE RECENT TRAGEDY

The aftermath of last week's tragedy has begun to be absorbed into everyday
life. Quite naturally, we are being called upon to respond to questions from the
public ranging from what has been the immediate impact on our company, to how we
view our role in the reparation efforts. This communication is intended to
answer those inquiries.

As to the question of the immediate impact on our company, we are pleased to
report that we have experienced very little disruption to our banking system and
virtually all customer transactions continue uninterrupted. Backup systems have
been successfully deployed where telecommunications have been interrupted. These
systems, and the immediate implementation of emergency procedures adopted by our
retail and technical staffs, have made it possible to continue to operate all
customer functions seamlessly. All ATM's, except those to which
telecommunication lines have been disrupted continue to function normally. Only
two of our 150 branches have been forced to close temporarily. These branches,
located in downtown Manhattan, are expected to resume service within a few days.

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We have conducted a specific review of our loan portfolio with particular
emphasis on loans in lower Manhattan. The result of that review indicates no
current need to establish any additional or specific reserves to absorb losses
not already provided. As a result of the nature and relative diversity of our
entire loan portfolio, we have confidence in its ability to withstand further
economic downturn without major dislocation.

Though we are grateful to report these positive results, we are by no means
naive about prospects for the future. It remains far too early to make
intelligent estimates as to the ultimate level of damage that will be sustained
by our economy. Clearly, prospects are uncertain.

Owing to the tremendous success our company has enjoyed over the past decade, we
enter these uncertain times well prepared. Armed with excess capital and
reserves consistent with the current estimates of loan loss risk, we intend to
continue to pursue our previously announced expansion plans with the zeal and
vigor that has become the hallmark of our company. Our pending acquisition of
Commercial Bank of New York will close soon, and we are pleased to report that
it has also been operating normally.

Finally, we want everyone to understand the lengths to which we are currently
going to make specific and deliberate contributions to the reparation effort in
our marketplace.

Thus far we have:

        -- Required our bankers to reach out proactively to those customers
known to have been effected by the recent tragedy in order to assess the need
for our help.

        -- Joined with other banking institutions in participating in Governor
Pataki's program to help collect individual contributions to be forwarded to the
relief effort.


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        -- Underwritten scores of community-based grassroots initiatives geared
toward providing various levels of help to both the rescue personnel as well as
the families of the victims in this tragedy.

        -- Established a task force, chaired by myself, for the specific purpose
of evaluating customer needs on a one-by-one basis. This group will convene
daily, as long as is necessary, to consider, among other things; the waiver of
late fees, the forgiveness of certain transaction fees that may have been caused
by the tragedy, and the modification or extension of debts in extreme
circumstances.

Consistent with our intention to make meaningful and targeted contributions to
the reparation effort, we will establish a special reserve, in an amount to be
determined over the next few weeks, for the specific purpose of absorbing the
cost of these efforts. Although we remain hopeful that our nation's economy will
soon rebound from the effects of these devastating events, we suspect that the
solutions we collectively seek will take some time to evolve. As such, we intend
to play an active and ongoing role as an important local financial intermediary
in helping to restore the confidence that we, as Americans, share in our great
society. Supported by the strength of our balance sheet and the energy and
enthusiasm of all of our employees, we will continue to execute on our ambitious
expansion plans. In doing so we intend to fulfill our obligation to help
re-ignite the growth of our local economy.


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