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
                                                   Executive Vice President
                                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                                   (631) 844-1258


                        NORTH FORK TO PRESENT AT UPCOMING
                          FINANCIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE

    Melville, N.Y. -- January 28, 2003 -- North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. (NYSE:
NFB) will  be  presenting  at  the  Salomon  Smith  Barney  Financial  Services
Conference in New York City on Wednesday, January 29 at 10:45 a.m. (ET).

    Salomon will host a webcast of the  conference.  North Fork's  presentation
will  be  available   for  viewing  by  visiting   North   Fork's   website  at
http://www.northforkbank.com  and clicking on Salomon Smith  Barney  Conference
Webcast -- January 29, 2003. A printable  version of the presentation slideshow
will also be available on the North Fork website.