1


                              UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                              SCHEDULE 13D

                UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                    NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Name of Issuer)


                              Common Stock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                                857914105
         -------------------------------------------------------
                              (CUSIP Number)

                            Michael F. Manzulli
                      Richmond County Financial Corp.
                          1214 Castleton Avenue
                Staten Island, New York 10310 (718) 448-2800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
             Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               March 27, 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of  ss.ss.240.13(d)-1(e),  240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d- 1(g), check
the following box |_|.


                                                                 SEC 300 (07-98)


 2



---------------------    ----------------------   ------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 857914105         SCHEDULE 13D              PAGE 2 OF 10 PAGES
---------------------    ----------------------   ------------------------------

-----  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY)

             Richmond County Financial Corp.     06-1498455

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*               (a) /__/
            N/A                                                       (b) /__/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   3   SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*
               WC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)         N/A                                 /__/

------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  6      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
             Delaware

-----------------  ------   ----------------------------------------------------
      NUMBER OF      7      SOLE VOTING POWER
       SHARES                  5,765,388*
    BENEFICIALLY
      OWNED BY     ------   ----------------------------------------------------
        EACH         8      SHARED VOTING POWER
      REPORTING                    0
       PERSON
        WITH       ------   ----------------------------------------------------
                     9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                               5,765,388*

                   ------   ----------------------------------------------------
                    10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                   0
------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                   5,765,388*

------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
                     N/A                                              /__/

------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11);
                    16.6%

------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                     CO

---------------------
      *Beneficial  ownership  of  5,765,388  shares  of  common  stock  reported
hereunder is so being reported solely as a result of the stock option  agreement
described in item 4 hereof.  The  option  granted  pursuant to such stock option
agreement  has not yet  become  exercisable.  Richmond  County  Financial  Corp.
expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

                                            2

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Item 1.           Security and Issuer.
                  -------------------

      This Schedule 13D relates to the shares of common  stock,  par value $0.01
per share,  of New York Community  Bancorp,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  the principal executive offices of which are located at 615 Merrick
Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590.

Item 2.           Identity and Background.
                  -----------------------

      (a)-(c)  and (f) This  Schedule  13D is being  filed  by  Richmond  County
Financial Corp.  ("RCF"), a Delaware  corporation,  which is the holding company
for Richmond  County  Savings Bank (the  "Bank").  RCF's  principal  business is
directing the business of the Bank.  The  principal  office of RCF is located at
1214 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10310. The names of the directors
and  executive  officers  of RCF and their  respective  business  addresses  and
present  principal  occupation  or  employment  as well as the names,  principal
business  and address of any  corporation  or other  organization  in which such
employment is conducted,  are set forth on Schedule I hereto,  which Schedule is
incorporated herein by reference.

      (d)-(e) Neither RCF, nor to the best of its knowledge,  any of the persons
listed in Schedule I hereto has during the past five years been  convicted  in a
criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations or similar  misdemeanors).
Neither  RCF,  nor to the best of its  knowledge,  any of the persons  listed in
Schedule  I hereto  has  during  the  past  five  years  been a party to a civil
proceeding of a judicial or administrative  body of competent  jurisdiction and,
as a result of such proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final
order  enjoining  future  violations of, or prohibiting or mandating  activities
subject  to,  federal or state  securities  laws or finding any  violation  with
respect to such laws.

Item 3.           Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
                  --------------------------------------------------

      As more  fully  described  in Item 4, the  Company  has  granted to RCF an
option  pursuant  to which RCF has the  right,  upon the  occurrence  of certain
events (none of which has occurred), to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,765,388
shares  (8,648,082  shares after giving effect to the adjustment  resulting from
the NYCB stock  dividend paid on March 29, 2001) of the common stock,  par value
$0.01 per share of NYCB ("NYCB Common Stock")  (subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances)  at a price per share equal to $40.80 ($27.20 after giving effect
to the adjustment  resulting from the NYCB stock dividend paid on March 29, 2001
(such price, as adjusted if applicable, the "Option Price")); provided, however,
that in no event shall the number of shares for which the Option is  exercisable
exceed 19.9% of the issued and  outstanding  shares of NYCB Common Stock without
giving effect to any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.
(Certain terms of the Option are summarized in Item 4.)

      If the Option were  exercisable and RCF were to exercise the Option on the
date hereof,  the funds required to purchase the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon such exercise would be $235,227,830.  It is currently anticipated that such
funds would be derived from working capital.

                                      3

 4


      Subject to market  conditions and developments  with respect to the Merger
(as defined  below),  RCF may purchase shares of Common Stock in the open market
or in privately negotiated  transactions.  It is currently  anticipated that any
funds used to make such purchases would be derived from working capital.

Item 4.           Purpose of Transaction.
                  -----------------------

      (a)-(j) RCF is merging  with and into the  Company  pursuant to the Merger
(as defined below).  The transactions  reported hereunder are intended to assist
in the achievement of that purpose.

      The Merger  Agreement.  The Company and RCF have entered into an Agreement
      ---------------------
and Plan of  Merger,  dated as of  March  27,  2001  (the  "Merger  Agreement"),
pursuant  to which RCF will be merged  with and into NYCB (the  "Merger"),  with
NYCB being the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Company"). At the effective
time of the Merger (the  "Effective  Time"),  each  outstanding  share of common
stock of RCF, par value $0.01 per share ("RCF Common Stock"),  will be converted
into 1.02 shares of NYCB Common Stock (the "Exchange Ratio"), which gives effect
to the NYCB stock dividend paid on March 29, 2001.

      In the  event  that  NYCB  changes,  (or  establishes  a  record  date for
changing) the number of shares of NYCB Common Stock issued and outstanding prior
to  the  Effective  Date  as  a  result  of  a  stock  split,   stock  dividend,
recapitalization  or similar  transaction  with respect to the outstanding  NYCB
Common Stock and the record date therefor shall be prior to the Effective  Date,
the Exchange Ratio will be proportionately  adjusted.  As of the Effective Time,
each share of NYCB Common Stock held directly or indirectly by Richmond  County,
other than  shares held in a fiduciary  capacity  or in  satisfaction  of a debt
previously contracted, will be canceled, and no exchange or payment will be made
with respect thereto.

      As a result of the  Merger,  RCF will cease to exist as a  separate  legal
entity.

      The Merger is subject to various regulatory approvals, the approval of the
respective  stockholders  of the Company and RCF and the  satisfaction  of other
terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

      The Option Agreement. In connection with the Merger Agreement, RCF and the
      --------------------
Company entered into a Stock Option  Agreement,  dated as of March 27, 2001 (the
"Option Agreement").  The Option Agreement is designed to enhance the likelihood
that the Merger will be  successfully  consummated in accordance  with the terms
contemplated  by the Merger  Agreement.  Pursuant to the Option  Agreement,  the
Company  granted RCF an Option to purchase,  subject to  adjustments  in certain
circumstances,  up to an aggregate of 5,765,388  (which number will be 8,648,081
after giving  effect to the stock  dividend  declared  prior to the date hereof)
fully paid and  nonassessable  shares of NYCB Common Stock, at a price per share
equal to the Option Price; provided,  however, that in no event shall the number
of shares for which the Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the issued and

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outstanding  shares of NYCB Common  Stock  without  giving  effect to any shares
subject to or issued pursuant to the Option.

      Subject to applicable  law and regulatory  restrictions,  RCF may exercise
the Option,  in whole or in part,  if, but only if,  both an Initial  Triggering
Event (as defined  below) and a Subsequent  Triggering  Event (as defined below)
shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as
defined  below),  provided  that RCF shall have sent the written  notice of such
exercise (as required by the Option  Agreement) within six months following such
Subsequent  Triggering  Event (or such later  period as  provided  in the Option
Agreement).

      As defined in the Option Agreement,  "Initial  Triggering Event" means any
of the  following  events  or  transactions  occurring  on or after  the date of
signing the Option Agreement:

            (i) The Company or any of its  Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02
      of Regulation S-X  promulgated  by the Securities and Exchange  Commission
      (the "SEC")) (each a "Company Subsidiary"),  without having received RCF's
      prior written  consent,  shall have entered into an agreement to engage in
      an Acquisition  Transaction (as hereinafter  defined) with any person (the
      term  "person"  for  purposes of the Option  Agreement  having the meaning
      assigned  thereto in  Sections  3(a)(9)  and  13(d)(3)  of the  Securities
      Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the "1934  Act"),  and the rules and
      regulations thereunder) other than RCF or any of its Subsidiaries (each an
      "RCF  Subsidiary")  or the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company
      Board")  shall  have  recommended  that the  shareholders  of the  Company
      approve  or accept  any  Acquisition  Transaction  other  than the  merger
      transaction as contemplated by the Merger  Agreement.  For purposes of the
      Option  Agreement,  "Acquisition  Transaction"  shall mean (x) a merger or
      consolidation,  or any similar  transaction,  involving the Company or the
      Company  Subsidiary or group of Company  Subsidiaries that is, or would on
      an aggregate basis constitute a Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Rule
      1-02 of  Regulation  S-X) (other than mergers,  consolidations  or similar
      transactions   (i)  involving  solely  the  Company  and/or  one  or  more
      wholly-owned  Subsidiaries of the Company,  or (ii) after which the common
      shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto in the aggregate own
      or continue to own at least 60% of the common  stock of the Company or the
      publicly held  surviving or successor  corporation  immediately  following
      consummation  thereof,  provided that any such  transaction is not entered
      into in violation of the terms of the Merger  Agreement),  (y) a purchase,
      lease or other acquisition of all or any substantial part of the assets or
      deposits  of the  Company or any  Company  Subsidiary  or group of Company
      Subsidiaries  that  is,  or  would  on an  aggregate  basis  constitute  a
      Significant Subsidiary,  or (z) a purchase or other acquisition (including
      by  way  of  merger,  consolidation,   share  exchange  or  otherwise)  of
      securities  representing 25% or more of the voting power of the Company or
      the Company Subsidiary or group of Company  Subsidiaries that is, or would
      on an aggregate basis constitute a Significant  Subsidiary,  provided that
      Acquisition  Transaction  shall not include any  transaction  specifically
      disclosed in the  Company's  Reports filed prior to the date of the Option
      Agreement;


                                      5

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            (ii) Any person other than RCF or any RCF  Subsidiary or any Company
      Subsidiary  acting  in a  fiduciary  capacity  in the  ordinary  course of
      business shall have acquired beneficial  ownership or the right to acquire
      beneficial  ownership of 10% or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common
      Stock  (the  term  "beneficial  ownership"  for  purposes  of  the  Merger
      Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934
      Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder);

            (iii) The shareholders of the Company shall have voted and failed to
      approve the Merger  Agreement  and the Merger at a meeting  which has been
      held for that purpose or any adjournment or postponement  thereof, or such
      meeting  shall not have been held in violation of the Merger  Agreement or
      shall have been canceled prior to termination of the Merger  Agreement if,
      prior to such  meeting  (or if such  meeting  shall  not have been held or
      shall have been canceled,  prior to such termination),  it shall have been
      publicly  announced  that  any  person  (other  than  RCF  or  any  of its
      Subsidiaries)  shall have made,  or  disclosed  an  intention  to make,  a
      proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;

            (iv) The Company Board shall have withdrawn or modified (or publicly
      announced  its  intention to withdraw or modify) in any manner  adverse in
      any respect to RCF its recommendation that the shareholders of the Company
      approve the  transactions  contemplated  by the Merger  Agreement after it
      shall have been publicly  announced that any person (other than RCF or any
      of its  Subsidiaries)  shall have made, or disclosed an intention to make,
      or any  person  (other  than RCF or any of its  Subsidiaries)  shall  have
      otherwise   made  a  bona  fide  proposal  to  engage  in  an  Acquisition
      Transaction,   or  the  Company  or  any  Company  Subsidiary  shall  have
      authorized,  recommended, proposed (or publicly announced its intention to
      authorize,  recommend or propose) an agreement to engage in an Acquisition
      Transaction with any person other than RCF or a RCF Subsidiary;

            (v) Any person other than RCF or any RCF Subsidiary shall have filed
      with the SEC a  registration  statement  or tender  offer  materials  with
      respect to a potential  exchange or tender offer that would  constitute an
      Acquisition  Transaction (or filed a preliminary  proxy statement with the
      SEC with respect to a potential  vote by its  shareholders  to approve the
      issuance of shares to be offered in such an exchange offer); or

            (vi) Any  person  other  than RCF or any RCF  Subsidiary  shall have
      filed an  application or notice with the Board of Governors of the Federal
      Reserve  System (the  "Federal  Reserve  Board") or other federal or state
      bank  regulatory  or  antitrust  authority  for  approval  to engage in an
      Acquisition Transaction.

      As defined in the Option  Agreement,  "Subsequent  Triggering Event" means
any of the following events or transactions  occurring after the date of signing
the Option Agreement:

            (i)  The  acquisition  by any  person  (other  than  RCF or any  RCF
      Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the then outstanding
      Common Stock; or

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            (ii) The  occurrence of the Initial  Triggering  Event  described in
      subparagraph (i) under the definition of Initial Triggering Event.

      As defined in the Option  Agreement,  "Exercise  Termination  Event" means
each of the following: (i) the Effective Time of the Merger; (ii) termination of
the  Merger  Agreement  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  thereof  if  such
termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event except
a termination by RCF pursuant to the Option Agreement due to a willful breach by
the Company (a "Listed Termination"); or (iii) the passage of twelve (12) months
(or such longer period as provided in the Option Agreement) after termination of
the Merger  Agreement if such  termination  follows the occurrence of an Initial
Triggering Event or is a Listed Termination.

      As provided in the Option Agreement,  in the event that RCF is entitled to
and wishes to exercise  the Option (or any part  thereof),  it shall send to the
Company a written notice (the date of which being hereinafter referred to as the
"Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of shares of NYCB Common Stock it
will  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier
than three  business  days nor later than 60 business  days from the Notice Date
for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date");  provided,  that if prior
notification to or approval of the Federal Reserve Board or any other regulatory
or  antitrust  agency is  required  in  connection  with such  purchase,  RCF is
obligated to promptly  file the required  notice or  application  for  approval,
promptly notify the Company of such filing,  and expeditiously  process the same
and the period of time that  otherwise  would run pursuant to this sentence will
run  instead  from the date on which  any  required  notification  periods  have
expired  or been  terminated  or  such  approvals  have  been  obtained  and any
requisite  waiting  period or periods  shall have  passed.  Any  exercise of the
Option will be deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.

      Neither  of the  parties  to the  Option  Agreement  may assign any of its
rights  or  obligations  under  the  Option  Agreement  or  the  Option  created
thereunder to any other person, without the express written consent of the other
party,  except that in the event an Initial Triggering Event shall have occurred
prior to an Exercise  Termination  Event, RCF, subject to the express provisions
of the  Option  Agreement,  may  assign  in  whole  or in part  its  rights  and
obligations thereunder; provided, however, that until the date 15 days following
the date on which the Federal  Reserve Board has approved an  application by RCF
to acquire the shares of NYCB Common  Stock  subject to the Option,  RCF may not
assign  its  rights  under the Option  except in (i) a widely  dispersed  public
distribution,  (ii) a private placement in which no one party acquires the right
to  purchase  in excess of 2% of the  voting  shares  of the  Company,  (iii) an
assignment  to a single  party  (e.g.,  a broker or  investment  banker) for the
purpose of conducting a widely dispersed public  distribution on RCF's behalf or
(iv) any other manner approved by the Federal Reserve Board.

      In addition, any purchase of shares of NYCB Common Stock upon the exercise
of the Option may be adjusted pursuant to the Option Agreement.

      In the event of any change in, or distributions in respect of, NYCB Common
Stock by reason of stock dividends (excluding any stock dividend announced prior
to the date of the Option

                                      7

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Agreement  but  not  yet   effective),   split-ups,   recapitalizations,   stock
combinations,  subdivisions,  conversions, exchanges of shares or the like, this
Option shall be automatically  adjusted so that RCF shall receive, upon exercise
of the Option,  the number and class of shares or other  securities  or property
that RCF would have  received in respect of NYCB Common  Stock if the Option had
been exercised  immediately prior to such event, or the record date therefor, as
applicable  and  the  exercise  price  shall  be,  if  necessary,  appropriately
adjusted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the provisions of Section 10 of the
Option Agreement are applicable,  the adjustments  provided for in the preceding
sentence  shall not be made and the  adjustments  set forth in Section 10 of the
Option Agreement shall be made.

      At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase  Event (as defined below)
and prior to the date that is twelve (12) months  immediately  thereafter (i) at
the request of the Holder,  delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event (or
such later  period as  provided  in the Option  Agreement),  the Company (or any
successor  thereto) shall  repurchase the Option from the Holder at a price (the
"Option  Repurchase  Price")  equal to the amount by which (A) the  market/offer
price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price,  multiplied by the number
of shares for which the Option may then be exercised  and (ii) at the request of
the owner of Option Shares from time to time (the "Owner"),  delivered  prior to
an Exercise  Termination  Event (or such later  period as provided in the Option
Agreement),  the Company (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase such number
of the  Option  Shares  from the Owner as the Owner  designates  at a price (the
"Option Share Repurchase  Price") equal to the market/offer  price multiplied by
the number of Option Shares so designated.

      A "Repurchase  Event" will be deemed to have occurred upon the  occurrence
of any of the  following  events or  transactions  after the date of the  Option
Agreement:

            (i)  the  acquisition  by any  person  (other  than  RCF or any  RCF
      Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding
      NYCB Common Stock; or

            (ii) the  consummation of any Acquisition  Transaction  described in
      subparagraph (i) under the definition of Initial Triggering Event,  except
      that the percentage referred to in clause (z) shall be 50%.

      "Market/offer  price" means the highest of (i) the price per share of NYCB
Common Stock at which a tender or exchange  offer has been made,  (ii) the price
per share of NYCB  Common  Stock to be paid by any third  party  pursuant  to an
agreement with the Company,  (iii) the highest  closing price for shares of NYCB
Common Stock within the  one-month  period  immediately  preceding  the date the
Holder gives notice of the required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives
notice of the required  repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv)
in the event of a sale of all or any substantial part of the Company's assets or
deposits, the sum of the net price paid in such sale for such assets or deposits
and the  current  market  value of the  remaining  net assets of the  Company as
determined by a nationally  recognized  investment  banking firm selected by the
Holder or the  Owner,  as the case may be,  divided  by the  number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company outstanding at the time of such sale. In determining
the  market/offer  price,  the value of  consideration  other than cash shall be
determined by a nationally  recognized  investment  banking firm selected by the
Holder or Owner, as the case may be.

                                      8

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      In the event that prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  the  Company
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate  with or merge into any person,
other than RCF or a RCF  Subsidiary,  or engage in a plan of  exchange  with any
person,  other  than  RCF or a RCF  Subsidiary,  and  the  Company  is  not  the
continuing  or  surviving  corporation  of such  consolidation  or merger or the
acquirer in such plan of exchange,  (ii) to permit any person, other than RCF or
a RCF  Subsidiary,  to merge into the Company or be acquired by the Company in a
plan of exchange  and the Company is the  continuing  or  surviving or acquiring
corporation,  but, in connection with such merger or plan of exchange,  the then
outstanding  shares of NYCB Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged  for
stock or other  securities of any other person or cash or any other  property or
the then outstanding shares of  NYCB Common Stock after  such  merger or plan of
exchange represent less than 60% of the outstanding shares and share equivalents
of the merged or acquiring  company,  or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all
or a substantial part of its or the Company  Subsidiary's  assets or deposits to
any person,  other than RCF or a RCF  Subsidiary,  then, in each such case,  the
agreement  governing  such  transaction  must make proper  provision so that the
Option will, upon the  consummation  of any such  transaction and upon the terms
and  conditions  set  forth in the  Option  Agreement,  be  converted  into,  or
exchanged  for,  an option (the  "Substitute  Option"),  at the  election of the
Holder,  of either  (x) the  Acquiring  Corporation  (as  defined  in the Option
Agreement) or (y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.

      RCF  may,  at any time  following  a  Repurchase  Event  and  prior to the
occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as provided in
the Option  Agreement),  relinquish the Option  (together with any Option Shares
issued to and then owned by RCF) to the Company in exchange for a cash fee equal
to the Surrender Price;  provided,  however, that RCF may not exercise its right
pursuant to the Option  Agreement if the Company has  repurchased the Option (or
any portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to the Option Agreement.  The
"Surrender  Price" will be equal to $22 million (i) plus, if  applicable,  RCF's
purchase price with respect to any Option Shares being so relinquished  and (ii)
minus, if applicable,  the sum of (1) the excess of (A) the net cash amounts, if
any,  received by RCF pursuant to the arm's length sale of Option Shares (or any
other  securities  into which such Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to
any unaffiliated  party, over (B) RCF's purchase price of such Option Shares and
(2) the net cash  amounts,  if any,  received by RCF pursuant to an arm's length
sale of any portion of the Option sold.

      Copies of the  Option  Agreement  and the  Merger  Agreement  are filed as
exhibits to this  Schedule 13D and are  incorporated  herein by  reference.  The
foregoing  summary  is not  intended  to be  complete  and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such exhibits.

      Purchase of Common Stock.  Subject to market  conditions and  developments
with respect to the Merger,  RCF may purchase shares of Common Stock in the open
market or in privately negotiated transactions.






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Item 5.           Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
                  ------------------------------------

      (a) RCF may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Option Shares.  As
provided  in the Option  Agreement,  RCF may  exercise  the Option only upon the
happening of one or more events, none of which has occurred.  See Item 4 hereof.
If the  Option  were  exercised  in full,  the  Option  Shares  would  represent
approximately  16.6% of the  currently  outstanding  Common Stock (after  giving
effect  to the  issuance  of such  Option  Shares).  RCF has no right to vote or
dispose of the  shares of Common  Stock  subject to the Option  unless and until
such  time as the  Option  is  exercised.  RCF  expressly  disclaims  beneficial
ownership of such shares.

      (b) If RCF were to exercise  the Option,  it would have sole power to vote
and,  subject  to the terms of the  Option  Agreement,  sole power to direct the
disposition of the shares of Common Stock covered thereby.

      (c)   RCF acquired the Option in connection with the Merger Agreement. See
            Item 4 hereof.

      To the best  knowledge  of RCF,  none of the persons  listed in Schedule I
hereto has effected any transactions in Common Stock during the past 60 days.

      (d)   Not applicable.

      (e)   Not applicable.

Item 6.           Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings, or Relationships with
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  Respect to Securities of the Company.
                  ------------------------------------

      Except as described  in Item 4 and Item 5 hereof,  neither RCF nor, to the
best of its knowledge,  any of the persons listed on Schedule I hereto,  has any
contract, arrangement,  understanding or relationship with any other person with
respect to any  securities  of the Company,  including the transfer or voting of
any  of  the  securities,   finder's  fees,  joint  ventures,   loan  or  option
arrangements,  puts or calls,  guarantees  of  profits,  division  of profits or
losses, or the giving or withholding proxies.

ITEM 7.           MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
                  --------------------------------

1.    Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger, dated March 27, 2001, by and between New
      York Community Bancorp, Inc. and Richmond County Financial Corp. (filed as
      Exhibit 2.1 to  Richmond  County  Financial Corp.'s current report on Form
      8-K dated March 28, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

2.    Stock  Option  Agreement,  dated  as  of  March 27, 2001, between New York
      Community  Bancorp,  Inc.,  issuer,  and  Richmond County Financial Corp.,
      grantee  (filed  as  Exhibit 10.2  to Richmond  County  Financial  Corp.'s
      current report on Form 8-K dated March 28, 2001 and incorporated herein by
      reference).


                                      10

 11



                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------

      After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.


                                       RICHMOND COUNTY FINANCIAL CORP.



                                       By: /s/Thomas R. Cangemi
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Thomas R. Cangemi
                                              Executive Vice President and
                                                Chief Financial Officer


Date: April 6, 2001


 12



                                  Schedule I

      Directors and Executive Officers of Richmond County Financial Corp.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------

      The names,  business  address and  present  principal  occupation  of each
director,  executive officer and controlling person of Richmond County Financial
Corp. are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated,  all persons are citizens
of the United States.




NAME                            BUSINESS ADDRESS               PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
----                            ----------------               --------------------

                                                         
Michael F. Manzulli           1214 Castleton Avenue            Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Officer of Richmond County Financial Corp., and
                                                               Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of
                                                               Richmond County Savings Bank.

Anthony E. Burke              1214 Castleton Avenue            President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Richmond County Financial Corp. and Richmond County
                                                               Savings Bank.

James L. Kelley               1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank.  Mr. Kelley
                                                               is a partner of the law firm of Lahr, Dillon, Manzulli,
                                                               Kelley & Penett, P.C., which serves as general counsel to
                                                               Richmond County Savings Bank.

T. Ronald Quinlan, Jr.        1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank.

William C. Frederick          1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank.  Dr.
                                                               Frederick is a surgeon in Staten Island and is affiliated
                                                               with St. Vincent's Hospital, Staten Island University
                                                               Hospital and Bayley Seton Hospital.

Maurice K. Shaw               1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank. Mr. Shaw is
                                                               currently  Senior Vice  President in charge of corporate
                                                               affairs of Brooklyn Union Gas Co.

Godfrey H. Carstens, Jr.      1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank.  Mr.  Carstens
                                                               is currently the owner and president of Carstens Electrical
                                                               Supply Co., an electrical supply company located in Staten
                                                               Island, New York.

Robert S. Farrell             1214 Castleton Avenue            Director of Richmond County Financial Corp. and
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    Director of Richmond County Savings Bank.  Mr. Farrell
                                                               is currently president of H.S. Farrell, Inc., a lumber,
                                                               millwork and building materials supply company located
                                                               in Staten Island, New York.

Thomas R. Cangemi             1214 Castleton Avenue            Chief Financial Officer of Richmond County Financial
                              Staten Island,  New York 10310   Corp. and Richmond County Savings Bank.

Andrew M. Sisock              1214 Castleton Avenue            Senior Vice President, Senior Financial Officer, and Vice
                              Staten Island, New York 10310    President-Accounting of Richmond County Financial
                                                               Corp.  Mr. Sisock is also a Director and Treasurer of
                                                               Richmond County Savings Bank and Richmond Enterprises, Inc.