Long Island Thrift Reported on Sales Block

Long Island's Jamaica Savings Bank is for sale, according to a local newspaper report.

Analysts, shareholders, and bankers told Long Island's Newsday last week that as many as five New York-area banks and thrifts have bid in recent weeks for Jamaica Savings' parent, the $1.6 billion-asset JSB Financial Inc.

Among the rumored bidders: North Forth Bancorp in Melville, N.Y.; Astoria Corp. in Lake Success, N.Y.; Queens County Bancorp in Flushing and two Manhattan banks, Dime Bancorp and GreenPoint Financial Corp.

Observers hesitated to put a price tag on JSB, which operates 13 branches in New York and on Long Island.

JSB's shares were trading at $55.50 Friday.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER