SCHEDULE 14A

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                              Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  /  /

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  /x/

Check the appropriate box:

/  /  Preliminary Proxy Statement

/  /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
        Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

/  /  Definitive Proxy Statement

/  /  Definitive Additional Materials

/x/   Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240a-12


                               HAVEN BANCORP, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                             FINANCIAL EDGE FUND, LP
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):

/x/  No fee required.

/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

          (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
          (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
          (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed
               pursuant to Exchange Act 0-11:
          (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
          (5)  Total fee paid:

/  /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ / Check box if any part of the fee as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and  identify for which the  offsetting  fee was paid  previously.  Identify the
previous filing by registration  statement  number,  or the form or schedule and
the date of its filing.

          (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
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                                 PL CAPITAL LLC

        2015 Spring Road                    323 Main Street
        Suite 290                           Chatham, New Jersey  07928
        Oak Brook, Illinois  60523          Tel: (973) 635-1177
        Tel: (630) 928-0231                 Fax: (973) 635-9078
        Fax: (630) 928-0232


                              AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
                 FOR FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS OF HAVEN BANCORP, INC.
                            FROM THE PL CAPITAL GROUP

March 15, 2000

Dear Fellow Haven Stockholder:

The PL Capital  Group (A) is the  beneficial  owner of  578,500  shares of Haven
Bancorp, Inc.  (approximately 6.4% of Haven's outstanding stock) as of March 13,
2000. As one of Haven's largest  shareholders,  we are extremely concerned about
Haven's  deteriorating  financial performance and declining stock price. We have
repeatedly  communicated  our concerns to Haven's Board and management  (see our
numerous  Schedule 13Ds filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission).  We
have also  repeatedly  requested  that we be placed on  Haven's  Board,  without
success.

We believe Haven's deteriorating financial performance is the result of a flawed
supermarket banking expansion strategy and other significant missteps.  Below is
key  financial  data  evidencing  Haven's  deteriorating  financial  performance
between 1996 and 1999 (NOTE: Haven's supermarket strategy began in late 1996):

                     Performance Comparisons, 1996 vs. 1999
                               Haven Bancorp, Inc.

         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
                 CATEGORY             1996(1)       1999(2)        % Change
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Total Non-Interest           $32 mil       $82 mil         +156%
         Expenses
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Net Income                  $13.5 mil     $12.6 mil         (7%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Earnings Per Share            $1.55         $1.38          (11%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Return on Assets              0.89%         0.46%          (48%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Return on Equity              14.0%         11.0%          (21%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Tangible Book Value/Share    $11.44        $11.22           (2%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Efficiency Ratio(3)            55%           79%            +44%
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Net Interest Margin           3.29%         2.72%          (17%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------
         Tangible Equity/Assets        6.3%          3.4%           (46%)
         -------------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------------

(1)     As of and for the year  ended  December  31,  1996  (excluding  SAIF/BIF
        charge, net of taxes, per Haven's Annual Report)
(2)     As of and for the year ended December 31, 1999 (per Haven's  January 27,
        2000 press release)
(3)     Measures  expenses as a percentage of gross revenue (lower percentage is
        regarded as better and more  efficient);  the average thrift in the U.S.
        has a 50% efficiency ratio (per SNL Securities)



     Haven spent $82 million on overhead in 1999, yet generated only $13 million
in net income,  one of the worst ratios in the thrift industry.  Most thrifts in
Haven's market area earn $.60 or more for every dollar spent on overhead,  while
Haven only returned $.15 for every dollar spent. Haven spent $50 million more on
overhead in 1999 than in 1996, yet its earnings actually declined!  For the past
3 years  Haven has  consistently  ranked as one of the  worst  performing  large
thrifts in the United States. We believe it's time to put a stop to this wasting
of the shareholder's money.



Because of our  concerns,  we  recently  filed proxy  materials  with the SEC in
connection with Haven's upcoming Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  scheduled for
May 17, 2000.  We intend to use those  materials to solicit  proxies from fellow
Haven  stockholders  to elect two  members of our  Group,  Richard  Lashley  and
Garrett Goodbody, to Haven's Board of Directors.

If elected, our nominees will push Haven to consider all strategic  alternatives
to maximize the value of Haven's franchise and stock by:

1.  Aggressively reducing expenses, and
2.  Pursuing the sale of Haven to a larger banking or financial institution,  at
    a premium to Haven's current stock price

You will receive a proxy  statement from Haven's  management and Board,  and you
will be asked to return that proxy card.

We encourage  you NOT to vote your shares until you receive and review our proxy
materials.

If you have any questions or need further  assistance  please  contact our proxy
solicitor,  Beacon Hill  Partners,  Inc., 90 Broad  Street,  New York, NY 10004;
(800) 755-5001;  or PL Capital (Richard  Lashley (973) 635-1177,  or John Palmer
(630) 928-0231).

Thank you for your consideration.

On behalf of the PL Capital Group,

/s/ Richard Lashley

Richard Lashley
Principal

We encourage you to read our proxy statement, which is available for free at the
SEC's website  (www.sec.gov).  A copy of our proxy  statement  will also be sent
directly to you. In addition, copies of our recent 13-D filings are available on
the SEC's website. You may also contact us directly to obtain free copies.