ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NYSE:AF) Files An 8-K Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On March7, 2017, Astoria Financial Corporation (Astoria) and
Sterling Bancorp (Sterling) issued a joint press release
announcing the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of March6, 2017, by and between Sterling and Astoria, to
which Sterling and Astoria will merge, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit99.1 and is incorporated herein by
reference. In addition, Sterling and Astoria intend to make
available to investors the slides attached hereto as Exhibit99.2,
which are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and
Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

About ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NYSE:AF)

Astoria Financial Corporation is the unitary savings and loan holding company of Astoria Bank and its subsidiaries. The Company’s principal business is the operation of its subsidiary, Astoria Bank, which is a local, community-oriented bank. Astoria Bank’s business is attracting retail deposits from the general public and businesses and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations, principal repayments on loans and securities and borrowings, in multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans, one- to four- family, or residential, mortgage loans, and mortgage-backed securities. Astoria Bank also invests in consumer and other loans, the United States Government, government agency and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), securities and other investments. The Company offers negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) and demand deposit accounts, money market accounts, passbook and statement savings accounts, and certificates of deposit.

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NYSE:AF) Recent Trading Information

ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NYSE:AF) closed its last trading session 00.00 at 18.48 with 506,887 shares trading hands.