Exhibit 23.1

            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors
North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Nos. 33-52504, 333-00675 and 333-697000) on Form S-8 of North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. of our report dated June 24, 2005, relating to the
statements of assets available for benefits of the North Fork Bancorporation,
Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the
related statement of changes in assets available for benefits for the years then
ended, and the related supplemental schedule H, line 4i - schedule of assets
(held at end of year), which report appears in the December 31, 2004 Annual
Report on Form 11-K of the North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 401(k) Retirement
Savings Plan.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York
June 29, 2005