Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Interest and dividend income
Interest and fees on loans	$ 191,454	$ 197,469	$ 194,317
Interest and dividends on securities:
Interest	32,121	31,252	34,523
Dividends	811	813	1,130
Other interest income	112	94	91
Total interest and dividend income	224,498	229,628	230,061
Interest expense
Deposits	48,431	53,655	66,778
Other interest expense	28,292	38,112	48,497
Total interest expense	76,723	91,767	115,275
Net interest income	147,775	137,861	114,786
Provision for loan losses	21,500	21,000	19,500
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	126,275	116,861	95,286
Non-interest income
Other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charge	(9,365)	(7,130)	(17,454)
Less: Non-credit portion of OTTI charge recorded in Other Comprehensive Income, before taxes	7,787	5,085	11,560
Net OTTI charge recognized in earnings	(1,578)	(2,045)	(5,894)
Loan fee income	1,941	1,695	1,755
Banking services fee income	1,699	1,747	1,755
Net gain on sale of loans held for sale	343		208
Net gain on sale of loans	168	17	4
Net (loss) gain on sale of securities		(10)	1,401
Net gain from fair value adjustments	1,960	47	4,968
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock dividends	1,502	2,102	2,237
Bank owned life insurance	2,769	2,638	2,476
Other income	1,477	2,109	2,045
Total non-interest income	10,281	8,300	10,955
Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits	38,262	34,785	29,934
Occupancy and equipment	7,803	7,246	6,874
Professional services	6,697	6,344	5,716
FDIC deposit insurance	4,378	4,889	6,407
Data processing	4,458	3,996	4,121
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment	3,185	2,795	2,663
Other real estate owned / foreclosure expense	2,471	1,194	950
Other operating expenses	10,485	9,136	8,244
Total non-interest expense	77,739	70,385	64,909
Income before income taxes	58,817	54,776	41,332
Provision for income taxes
Federal	17,749	19,343	12,187
State and local	5,720	(3,402)	3,584
Total provision for income taxes	23,469	15,941	15,771
Net income	35,348	38,835	25,561
Preferred dividends and amortization of issuance costs			4,443
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 35,348	$ 38,835	$ 21,118
Basic earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.15	$ 1.28	$ 0.91
Diluted earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.15	$ 1.28	$ 0.91