Note 5 - Loans (Details) - Age analysis of recorded investment in loans: (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	$ 46,770	$ 61,110
60 - 89 Days Past Due	9,764	13,833
Greater than 90 Days	52,824	82,703
Total Past Due	109,358	157,646
Current	3,275,297	3,063,729
Total Loans	3,384,655	3,221,375
Multi-Family Residential [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	15,471	24,059
60 - 89 Days Past Due	2,864	4,828
Greater than 90 Days	17,999	13,095
Total Past Due	36,334	41,982
Current	1,647,943	1,492,456
Total Loans	1,684,277	1,534,438
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	9,378	9,764
60 - 89 Days Past Due	5,015	3,622
Greater than 90 Days	10,653	15,639
Total Past Due	25,046	29,025
Current	491,268	486,413
Total Loans	516,314	515,438
One-To-Four Family - Mixed-Use Property [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	19,497	21,012
60 - 89 Days Past Due	685	3,368
Greater than 90 Days	9,854	16,554
Total Past Due	30,036	40,934
Current	565,399	596,419
Total Loans	595,435	637,353
One-To-Four Family - Residential [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	2,276	3,407
60 - 89 Days Past Due	1,200	2,010
Greater than 90 Days	13,018	13,602
Total Past Due	16,494	19,019
Current	180,165	179,949
Total Loans	196,659	198,968
Co-Operative Apartments [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Greater than 90 Days	160	234
Total Past Due	160	234
Current	10,005	6,069
Total Loans	10,165	6,303
Construction [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due		2,462
Greater than 90 Days	367	7,695
Total Past Due	367	10,157
Current	4,278	4,224
Total Loans	4,645	14,381
Small Business Administration [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due	148	404
Greater than 90 Days		283
Total Past Due	148	687
Current	7,855	8,809
Total Loans	8,003	9,496
Taxi Medallion [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Current	5,088	9,922
Total Loans	5,088	9,922
Commercial Business And Other [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
30 - 59 Days Past Due		2
60 - 89 Days Past Due		5
Greater than 90 Days	773	15,601
Total Past Due	773	15,608
Current	363,296	279,468
Total Loans	$ 364,069	$ 295,076