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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.18(a)

                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.

                      AMENDED AND RESTATED PERFORMANCE PLAN

         1. (a) Purpose. The purpose of the North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.
Performance Plan (the "Plan") is to provide officers and employees of North Fork
Bancorporation, Inc. (the "Company") and its subsidiaries with additional
incentive to work for the long-term financial success and progress of the
Company and, in the event a change in control transaction of the Company should
be proposed or become likely during the term of the Plan, to encourage the
officers and employees to use their best efforts to bring about the successful
completion of the change in control transaction, both by rendering specific
assistance in connection with the transaction itself and by contributing to the
continued financial success of the Company pending completion of the
transaction.

         (b) Basic Operation. Under the Plan, upon the occurrence of a change in
control of the Company, a performance pool may be simultaneously funded and
amounts thereof allocated and distributed to officers and employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries, depending upon the Company's achievement of
certain pre-established objective financial performance targets as a result of
or in the period preceding the transaction involving the change in control. The
particular financial performance targets, the size of the performance pool and
the allocation of any such pool among officers and employees will be established
in advance by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Committee"), subject to the general limitations established in
this Plan. It is intended that no performance pool will be funded or distributed
except in the event that the Company achieves above-average financial

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results for stockholders as a result of or in the period preceding a change in
control of the Company.

         2. Definitions.

         (a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (b) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

                  (i) a consolidation, merger or stock-for-stock exchange
         involving either the Company or the securities of the Company, in which
         the persons holding all voting securities of the Company immediately
         prior to such consummation own, as a group, immediately after such
         consummation, voting securities of the Company (or, if the Company does
         not survive such transaction, voting securities of the corporation
         surviving such transaction which issued securities to such group in
         such transaction) having less than fifty percent (50%) of the total
         voting power in an election of directors of the Company (or such other
         surviving corporation), excluding securities received by any members of
         such group which represent disproportionate percentage increases in
         their shareholdings vis-a-vis the other members of such group;

                  (ii) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
         transaction or a series or related transactions) of all or
         substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, on
         a consolidated basis, to a party which is not controlled by or under
         common control with the Company; or

                  (iii) an acquisition of securities of the Company by any
         person, including a reacquisition by the Company of its own securities,
         as a result of which any individual, corporation (other than the
         Company), partnership, trust, association, pool, syndicate or any other
         entity or any group of persons acting in concert becomes the beneficial
         owner,

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         as that concept is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities
         and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of
         securities of the Company possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
         voting power for the election of directors of the Company.

         (c) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any
successor to such Committee designated by the Board.

         (d) "Company" means North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.

         (e) "Effective Date" means the first day of the first calendar year
following Board adoption of this Plan.

         (f) "Employee Participants" means those employees entitled to
participate in Tranche 3 of a Performance Pool as provided in Section 3(e)
hereof.

         (g) "Executive Participants" means the Mandatory Participants and other
executive officers, if any, designated by the Committee to participate in
Tranche 1 of a Performance Pool, as provided in Section 3(c) hereof.

         (h) "Final Allocation" means a determination by the Committee under
Section 6(a) of the Plan, in which the Committee makes certain final decisions
regarding a Performance Pool or anticipated Performance Pool.

         (i) "Initial Performance Period" means the first full calendar year
following the Effective Date.

         (j) "Mandatory Participants" means those senior executives entitled to
participate in Tranche 1 of a Performance Pool, as defined in Section 3(c)
hereof.

         (k) "Officer Participants" means those officers of the Company or its
subsidiaries designated to participate in Tranche 2 of a Performance Pool, as
provided in Section 3(d) hereof.

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         (l) "Participant" means an Executive Participant, Officer Participant
or Employee Participant.

         (m) "Participation Criteria" means those criteria set forth in Section
3(a) of the Plan that must be met by all Participants.

         (n) "Performance Period" means the Initial Performance Period or any
Subsequent Performance Period.

         (o) "Performance Pool" means a performance pool established by the
Committee under Section 5(c) of the Plan, consisting of one or more cash
amounts, expressed in absolute amounts or as percentages of other amounts.

         (p) "Performance Schedule" means an annual schedule of Performance
Targets and a Performance Pool, as adopted or reconfirmed by the Committee under
Section 5(a) of the Plan.

         (q) "Performance Target" means any target of corporate performance
established by the Committee under Section 5(b) of the Plan.

         (r) "Stock" means the common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the
Company.

         (s) "Subsequent Performance Period" means any calendar year following
the Initial Performance Period prior to termination of the Plan.

         3. Division of Performance Pool; Participants.

         (a) Any Performance Pool distributable under the Plan shall consist of
three tranches as follows:

                  (i) Tranche 1, which shall be distributable exclusively among
         certain executive officers of the Company, including the Mandatory
         Participants as defined in Section 3(c), below;

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                  (ii) Tranche 2, which shall be distributable among the Officer
         Participants as defined in Section 3(d), below; and

                  (iii) Tranche 3, which shall be distributable among the
         Employee Participants as defined in Section 3(e), below;

provided, however, that, in identifying those individuals who will be entitled
to participate in any of the three Tranches of the Plan (other than Mandatory
Participants, who must participate), the Committee, shall select those officers
or employees whose efforts on behalf of the Company may reasonably be expected
to have some significance in assisting the Company to achieve a successful
completion of a planned, contemplated or possible Change in Control transaction,
either (i) by rendering specific assistance in connection with such a
transaction or (ii) by contributing in a significant way to the financial
success of the Company pending completion of such a transaction (the foregoing
(i) and (ii) to be referred to in this Plan collectively as the"Participation
Criteria").

         (b) As part of its annual approval of a Performance Schedule for each
calendar year under Section 5(a), below, the Committee shall determine the
precise percentages of any Performance Pool distributable under that Performance
Schedule to be received by each of the three Tranches and the names or specific
offices of the executive officers, if any, in addition to Mandatory Participants
entitled to participate in Tranche 1 of any Performance Pool under that
Performance Schedule, provided that the maximum percentage of any Performance
Pool that may be received by Tranche 3 will be ten percent (10%) of the total
dollar amount of any Performance Pool. The precise percentages of Tranche 1 of
any Performance Pool to be received by the Mandatory Participants and other
executive officers, if any, entitled to participate therein, as well as the
identity of Officer Participants entitled to participate in Tranche 2 of any

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Performance Plan and the precise percentage of such Tranche to be received by
each will be determined by the Committee as part of a Final Allocation of a
Performance Pool under Section 6(a) of the Plan and not in connection with
approval by the Committee of a Performance Schedule under Section 5(a) of the
Plan, provided that in all cases and notwithstanding any other provision of this
Plan or any Performance Schedule approved hereunder, the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company shall be entitled to receive not less than thirty percent (30%)
of Tranche 1 of any Performance Pool distributable under the Plan.

         (c) The following senior executives (the "Mandatory Participants"),
each of whom shall conclusively be presumed to meet either or both of the
Participation Criteria, shall be entitled to participate in Tranche 1 of any
Performance Pool: (i) the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (ii) the
President of the Company (if different from the Chief Executive Officer), and
(iii) the Chairman of the Board of the Company (if different from the Chief
Executive Officer and President). In addition, in connection with its approval
of an annual Performance Schedule, the Committee may designate, by name or
specific position, any other executive officers of the Company or any subsidiary
who, in the estimation of the Committee, meet one or both of the Participation
Criteria as a person entitled to participate in Tranche 1 of any Performance
Pool distributable under such Performance Schedule (such Mandatory Participants
and such other designated executive officer participants to be referred to
collectively as the "Executive Participants"), provided that the designation of
any such other executive officer as an Executive Participant under the
Performance Schedule for a particular year shall not mean that such other
executive officer must be designated as an Executive Participant under the
Performance Schedule for any subsequent year.

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         (d) In connection with any Change in Control transaction or proposed or
anticipated Change in Control transaction, the Committee may designate, as
person entitled to participate in Tranche 2 of a Performance Pool for such
transaction, any officers of the Company or any subsidiary (other than the
Executive Participants) who, in the estimation of the Committee, meet one or
both of the Participation Criteria (such persons to be referred to collectively
as "Officer Participants").

         (e) In connection with any Change in Control transaction or proposed or
anticipated Change in Control transaction, the Committee may designate, as
persons entitled to participate in Tranche 3 of a Performance Pool for such
transaction, any employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than
Executive Participants and Officer Participants) who, in the estimation of the
Committee, meet one or both of the Participation Criteria (such employees to be
referred to as "Employee Participants").

         4. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors, or any successor committee thereof as the
Board may designate (the "Committee"). Subject to the specific provisions of
this Plan, the Committee shall approve or reconfirm Performance Schedules under
Section 5(a) hereof, determine Performance Targets under Section 5(b) hereof and
the amounts of Performance Pools under Section 5(c) hereof, make all
determinations in connection with any Final Allocation under Section 6(a)
hereof, be responsible for any funding of a Performance Pool in connection with
a Change in Control under Section 6(b) hereof, and make all other appropriate
determinations and all interpretations of the Plan. All determinations and
interpretations of the Plan by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding
upon all persons affected thereby.

         5. Performance Schedules, Targets and Pools.

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         (a) On or about the commencement of each Performance Period, the
Committee shall approve a Performance Schedule applicable to such Performance
Period. The Performance Schedule shall specify one or more Performance Targets,
as further described in Section 5(b) below, that will apply for the duration of
the Performance Period and shall set forth the parameters of any Performance
Pool, as further described in Section 5(c) below, which may be distributable
upon a Change in Control if the Performance Targets for the Period have been
met. The Performance Schedule applicable to any particular Performance Period
shall apply to any Change in Control that is first announced in such Performance
Period. If a Change in Control transaction has been announced prior to, but not
consummated or formally terminated or abandoned as of the end of, a particular
Performance Period, no additional or revised Performance Schedule shall be
considered or approved by the Committee at such time for the ensuing Performance
Period, and the Performance Schedule then in effect shall carry over to and
remain effective during such ensuing Performance Period. The Committee shall, at
the end of a Performance Period, be required to leave the existing Performance
Schedule in place for the ensuing Performance Period, if significant
negotiations are then taking place between the Company and any other party
concerning a possible future Change in Control transaction, but if such
negotiations are discontinued during the ensuing Performance Period the
Committee may then approve a new Performance Schedule for the remainder of such
ensuing Performance Period. Any Performance Schedule for a Performance Period,
once established, may not be subsequently amended or modified for such
Performance Period, by the Committee or otherwise, and shall remain in effect
for the duration of the Performance Period.

         (b) A Performance Schedule shall set forth one or more specific,
objectively-determinable criteria of financial performance of the Company (the
"Performance Targets") the

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attainment of which, prior to or in connection with a Change in Control, will
result in distribution to eligible Participants on or after the Change in
Control of cash amounts from a Performance Pool. The Performance Targets which
may be utilized in a Performance Schedule are the following: (i) the market
value of the Stock, as of one or more designated dates within the Performance
Period (including the date of a Change in Control or the announcement thereof),
adjusted, if and as appropriate, for stock splits and stock dividends (and, if
the Committee so determines, assuming reinvestment of cash dividends), and/or
any change therein as of some period preceding any such date, if the Committee
so determines; (ii) the book value per share of Stock, determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, as of one or more such dates
within the Performance Period, adjusted, if and as appropriate, for stock splits
and stock dividends, and/or any change therein as of some period preceding any
such date, if the Committee so determines; (iii) earnings per share of Stock
during one or more periods ending as of any such date, determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles (but excluding or including gains
or losses from extraordinary items, at the discretion of the Committee); or (iv)
any combination of (i), (ii) and (iii), above, in the conjunctive or
disjunctive, at the discretion of the Committee. A Performance Target may be
established as one or a series of absolute market prices or dollar amounts or as
a comparative amount, percentage or ratio, or as a ratio of ratios. If a Change
in Control transaction involves the issuance by a party other than the Company
of consideration in exchange for some or all of the outstanding Stock, the
market value of the Stock may be established by reference to the market or fair
value of such other consideration, determined in a reasonable manner as
established by the Committee. The Performance Target or Targets established
shall be sufficiently objective so as to be capable of reasonably exact
ascertainment or measurement by any disinterested third party, given actual

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corporate developments over the related Performance Period. For purposes of
determining the availability or size of a Performance Pool, the Performance
Target or Targets may be measured, in whole or in part, as of a date relating to
but preceding the consummation date of a Change in Control, such as the
announcement date of a proposed Change in Control, although actual distribution
of a Performance Pool may only be made upon completion of a Change in Control.
In establishing Performance Targets for a particular Performance Period, the
Committee, using its informed judgment and reasonable good faith, shall follow
the general precept that consistently below-average financial performance by the
Company in any Performance Period, including the effect of any Change in Control
occurring during such Performance Period, should result in no Performance Pool
for any Change in Control occurring therein, and, if a tiered Performance Pool
is to be established for a Performance Period under Section 5(c) hereof,
achievement of the highest level of funding for the Performance Pool upon a
Change in Control occurring in the Performance Period should take place only if
the Company has achieved significantly above-average financial results in the
Performance Period, again including the effect of any such Change in Control.

         (c) A Performance Schedule shall include, in addition to the specific
Performance Target or Targets applicable to the Performance Period, the
parameters of any Performance Pool to be funded and distributed upon attainment
of such Performance Target or Targets in connection with any Change in Control
occurring within the Performance Period. The amount of the Performance Pool may
be expressed as an absolute dollar amount or as a percentage of some other
readily-ascertainable dollar amount, such as the aggregate market value of the
Stock or the book value of the stockholders' equity of the Company on or as of a
particular date (which may be the effective date of a Change in Control) or the
market or fair value of the consideration

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received by stockholders of the Company upon such Change in Control. The
Committee may establish a tiered Performance Pool, with different amounts to be
funded depending upon the attainment of different levels of the Performance
Target or Targets during the Performance Period or portions of the Performance
Period. In no event shall the amount of any Performance Pool or the highest
level of any tiered Performance Pool thus established by the Committee exceed
three percent (3.0%) of the market value of the outstanding Stock of the Company
as of the measurement date of the Performance Pool, and if the Performance
Schedule establishes the parameters of the Performance Pool other than by
references to the market value of the Stock, best efforts shall be taken to keep
the estimated maximum amount of any such Performance Pool within such limit.

         (d) In reviewing and approving any Performance Schedule, the Committee
is authorized and directed to retain such consultants and experts as may be
necessary or appropriate in assisting the Committee to make reasonably informed
decisions.

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         6. Final Allocation of Performance Pool.

         (a) In the event the Committee concludes that a Change in Control has
occurred or is substantially likely to occur in the foreseeable future,
including as a result of the execution of a definitive agreement providing for a
Change in Control, the Committee, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall make
a Final Allocation of the Performance Pool, if any, which may then be
distributable or may become distributable upon consummation of the anticipated
Change in Control. As part of such Final Allocation, the Committee shall (i)
determine the precise percentage of Tranche 1 of the Performance Pool to be
received by each Executive Participant, subject to any limitations in Section 3
of the Plan; (ii) identify each of the Officer Participants who will be entitled
to participate in Tranche 2 of the Performance Pool and the precise percentage
of Tranche 2 to be received by each such Officer Participant; (iii) identify, to
the extent not previously identified, the general class of employees who will be
entitled to participate as Employee Participants in Tranche 3 of the Performance
Pool, by reference to a specified retirement plan or plans of the Company, and
determine or establish a mechanism or formula for determining the relative
proportion or exact amount of Tranche 3 to be received by each such Employee
Participant, which proportion or amount should bear some (but not necessarily an
exact) relationship to the relative employer contribution most recently made on
behalf of each such Employee Participant under such retirement plan or plans;
and (iv) make any other determinations necessary to ensure that the ultimate
allocation of any Performance Pool incident to the Change in Control is certain,
clear, and in conformity with the principles and purposes of this Plan. In no
event may the Committee determine not to allocate the Performance Pool or any
portion thereof, nor may any Final Allocation for a specific Change in Control,
once determined, be canceled or modified other than as provided in Section 6(c)
below, unless the express consent

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of any and all Participants adversely affected thereby shall be received. In
making discretionary determinations in connection with a Final Allocation, the
Committee shall take into account such objective and subjective considerations
as it deems appropriate and reasonable.

         (b) As soon as practicable following a Final Allocation, the Committee
shall deliver to each Participant entitled to receive an allocation of the
Performance Pool or anticipated Performance Pool written notice of such
allocation, identifying the specific amount or percentage of such Pool that the
Participant will be entitled to receive upon the Change in Control, or the
formula by which such amount will be calculated.

         (c) After the Committee has determined the Final Allocation for an
anticipated Change in Control, each of the Executive Participants shall be
entitled to receive distribution from the Performance Pool of the allocation
thus determined for each, regardless of subsequent continuation of employment of
each Executive Participant with the Company, unless such Executive Participant
voluntarily elects to terminate such employment or is terminated "for cause" (as
defined below) prior to the Change in Control, in which case the Executive
Participant will be removed from the Final Allocation. If, after a Final
Allocation but before the Change in Control to which the Final Allocation
relates, any Participant other than an Executive Participant ceases to be
employed by the Company for any reason, the Committee may, at its discretion,
permit such Participant (or his successors or heirs) to continue as a
Participant in the allocation of the Performance Pool (unless such Participant
is terminated "for cause"), or in the alternative the Committee may remove such
Participant from the Final Allocation. In the event any Executive Participant or
Officer Participant is removed from the Final Allocation before the Change in
Control, the Committee may make suitable adjustments to Tranche 1 or Tranche 2,
as appropriate, including by adding one or more replacement Participants to such
Tranches or by

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reducing or adjusting the aggregate percentages of such Tranches in the
Performance Pool, provided no such adjustment shall reduce the share in the
Final Allocation of any Participant not thus removed. For purposes of this
provision, termination for cause shall mean: (i) willful misconduct by the
Participant that is materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or
otherwise; or (ii) conviction of the Participant with no further possibility of
appeal of a felony under applicable state or federal banking or financial
institution laws, or the agreement of the Participant to plead guilty to any
such felony.

         7. Distribution of Performance Pool.

         (a) If during the term of the Plan there shall have occurred both a
Change in Control and a Final Allocation of the Performance Pool payable with
respect thereto, the Company (or its successor) immediately shall determine the
precise dollar amount of, and shall fund, the Performance Pool, if any,
depending upon attainment of the applicable Performance Target or Targets for
the relevant Performance Period measured as of the appropriate date or dates,
subject to the following provisions of this Section 7(a) and to Section 7(b). As
soon as practicable thereafter, the Company (or its successor) shall distribute
to each Participant his/her appropriate portion of the Performance Pool, if any,
allocable to such Participant, based upon the Final Allocation, in cash or
same-day funds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant entitled to
participate in a Performance Pool in connection with an anticipated Change in
Control, shall advise the Committee, prior to such Change in Control, that the
Participant elects not to receive some or all of such Participant's allocable
share of the Performance Pool hereunder until some date or dates after the
normal distribution date or until the occurrence of one or more specified future
events (e.g., such Participant's termination of employment or retirement), then
the distribution to such Participant of such amount shall not occur on the
normal distribution date but

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only on such future date or dates or on or after such future occurrence or
occurrences, provided that any amounts the receipt of which is thus deferred but
the ultimate receipt of which is not uncertain shall bear interest pending
distribution thereof at a rate set from time to time at the 6-month certificate
of deposit rate of a major money center bank designated by the Company. If the
Participant elects that the distribution of such amount shall be contingent upon
one or more future occurrences or events the occurrence of which is not certain,
such amount shall not bear interest pending such distribution. Any election by a
Participant to defer receipt of a distribution amount under the preceding
sentence shall become irrevocable upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.

         (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event the
Performance Pool distributable upon any Change in Control exceeds the percentage
amount specified in Section 5(c) hereof, based upon the market value of the
outstanding Stock as of the Change in Control, the total amount of the
Performance Pool to be funded and distributed to Participants upon such Change
in Control under this Section 7 shall be reduced to such amount.

         (c) In no event shall the Company (or any successor) be entitled to
offset against or deduct from the amount otherwise distributable to any
Participant under Section 7 of this Plan (i) the amount of any other payment,
distribution or benefit payable to the Participant on or after such Change in
Control by the Company or its successor or any affiliate of either, under any
other contract, plan or arrangement, or (ii) any amount then due and payable by
the Participant to the Company or its successor or any affiliate of either, nor
shall the Participant be required to terminate his/her employment with the
Company or perform any service, accept any arrangement or satisfy any other
condition in order to receive such distribution.

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         (d) In the event that any Executive Participant receives a distribution
under Section 7(a) of the Plan, the Company will pay on behalf of such Executive
Participant any and all taxes, federal, state or local, payable by such
Executive Participant on or as a result of such distribution, including any
taxes payable by such Executive Participant on or as a result of amounts
received under any other agreement, contract, plan or arrangement which would
not have been payable absent such distribution to the Executive Participant
under Section 7(a) hereof. Taxes payable hereunder on behalf of an Executive
Participant shall include, without limitation, all income and excise taxes,
including excise taxes under Section 4999(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), and income and excise taxes payable as a result
of payments of taxes under this Section 7(d).

         (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary,
in the event that the Committee from time to time should conclude, before or
after any proposed Change in Control is announced or in the absence of any
anticipated Change in Control, that the rights that would be awarded to
Participants upon a Final Allocation under the Performance Schedule then
proposed or in effect may constitute "derivative securities" for purposes of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") or any rules or
regulations promulgated thereunder, the Committee shall take all appropriate and
necessary actions and implement all appropriate measures to ensure that any
Participants who qualify or may qualify at the time of any Final Allocation as
"reporting persons" under Section 16 will be entitled to receive and will
receive their respective shares of any Distribution under the Plan on or as soon
as practicable after the anticipated Change in Control without thereby violating
Section 16(b) of the Act. In furtherance of the foregoing provision, if the
Committee reaches such a conclusion, the Committee shall ensure that any Final
Allocation for a proposed Change in Control occurs as soon as possible

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after such Change in Control is publicly disclosed, and shall provide a
procedure, if necessary or appropriate, to ensure that any possible required
deferral of any Distribution to such Participants after a Change in Control
shall be as brief as possible in duration and shall not materially impair the
value of the share of the Performance Pool distributable to each such
Participant as a result of such Change in Control.

         8. Termination or Amendment of the Plan. This Plan shall terminate as
of the earliest of (i) the date of any termination of the Plan by the Board
(subject to Section 9 hereof), (ii) the date of any liquidation of the Company
and its principal subsidiaries, (iii) the date of any Change in Control of the
Company not involving funding and/or distribution of a Performance Pool, or (iv)
if any Change in Control does involve funding and/or distribution of a
Performance Pool, then the date of the last act necessary to complete such
distribution or any other task required to be performed under the Plan as a
result thereof. In the event of a proposed merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving the Company that does not constitute a Change in
Control but in which the Company is not to be the surviving corporation, the
Board shall ensure that this Plan is assumed by and continues as a plan of such
surviving corporation and the Committee shall take appropriate steps to ensure
that this Plan is modified in such reorganization in an equitable fashion so as
to provide similar incentives for similar executives of the surviving
corporation and, to the extent possible, shall provide for the continuation of
any then existing Performance Schedule for pending Performance Periods, with
appropriate adjustments. Prior to termination of the Plan, the Plan may be
amended by the Board, provided that any such amendment shall not change any
Performance Schedule previously established under Section 5(a) and then in
effect, the definition of Mandatory Participants under Section 3(c), the

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provisions of Section 3(b) governing minimum percentages for certain Tranches or
officers, or the provisions of any Final Allocation previously determined by the
Committee.

         9. Binding Contract. While any Performance Schedule approved hereunder
for any Performance Period is in place, the provisions of this Plan shall
constitute a binding agreement between the Company and each of the Executive
Participants under such Performance Schedule as identified in accordance with
Section 3(c). During any such Performance Period, termination or material
amendment of the Plan with respect to such Performance Period in a manner
adverse to such Participants shall constitute a material breach by the Company
of such agreement with each such Participant, and such Participants and each of
them shall be entitled to seek appropriate remedies at law or in equity,
including recovery from the Company (or any successor) of appropriate damages.

         10. Withholding. The Company will deduct or cause to be deducted from
any distribution under the Plan the amount of tax, if any, required by any
governmental authority to be withheld upon such distribution.

         11. Effectiveness of the Plan. The Plan shall become effective as of
the first day of the first calendar year following its adoption by the Board.

         12. Applicable Law. The Plan will be construed and administered in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

                                       18<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.19(A)

                         NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
                       ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1.       Name. The name of the Plan is the North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.
         Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

2.       Basic Function. The Plan provides for payment of annual bonuses at
         year-end to select key employees of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.
         (the "Company") and its subsidiaries, depending upon the financial
         performance of the Company or certain subsidiaries or departments
         and/or the job performance of the individual employees in question.
         Bonuses, if paid, are paid at year-end out of a bonus pool, the
         existence and aggregate size of which are determined by the actual
         performance of the Company or its subsidiaries or departments against
         one or more pre-established financial goals or targets. Payments of
         awards to top executives are made pursuant to the "Executive Award
         Feature" (see Section 10).

3.       Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a meaningful incentive
         on an annual basis to all key employees of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, and to motivate them to assist the Company in achieving
         ambitious but realistic short-term goals, as established by the
         Committee. The Plan concentrates on Company-wide performance objectives
         but also includes, in select cases, consideration of operational
         department performance, so as to enable the Committee to establish a
         program of internal incentives where it determines that this may be the
         most effective and appropriate way to motivate and reward performance.
         Individual bonus determinations are, in certain cases, also affected by
         individual job performance.

4.       Termination; Amendment. The Plan shall continue to be in effect, unless
         and until terminated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
         "Board"). The Plan was initially adopted by the Board on July 18, 1994,
         and as set forth below reflects amendments made by the Compensation
         Committee of the Board (the "Committee") on March 11, 1996. The Plan as
         thus amended is subject to the approval of the stockholders of the
         Company, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
         shares present in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote
         thereon, at a meeting of the stockholders at which a quorum is present
         or represented. The Plan may be further amended from time to time by
         the Board or, if the Board delegates a power to amend to the Committee,
         by the Committee, provided that any amendment which, if effected
         without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, would result
         in the loss of an exemption from federal income taxation under Section
         162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
         for amounts payable thereunder but would not result in such loss if
         approved by the stockholders, shall become effective only upon approval
         thereof by the stockholders of the Company within the meaning of
         Section 162(m).
<PAGE>   2
5.       Administration. The Plan is administered by the Committee, which has
         sole authority to make all discretionary determinations under the Plan.
         In suitable circumstances, the Committee may elicit recommendations and
         advice from management of the Company, as well as from any outside
         parties it deems appropriate.

6.       Participation. Key employees eligible for participation in the Plan
         will be determined by the Committee on a year-to-year basis. Top
         executives eligible to receive awards under the Executive Award Feature
         of the Plan will be identified each year by the Committee as described
         in Section 10 below.

7.       General Bonus Pool; Determination of Annual Targets; Distribution of
         Pool. The Committee will determine the measure or measures of financial
         performance and/or the target levels of performance, the attainment of
         which in any year will result in the funding of the general bonus pool
         at year-end, out of which awards will be made to all participants
         except for those executives covered by the Executive Award Feature.
         Such determinations on financial performance measures or target levels
         may be made, and under appropriate circumstances may subsequently be
         modified, by the Committee at any time prior to termination of the Plan
         year, provided that at the time such measures or target levels are set
         or modified, the attainment thereof will continue to serve as a
         meaningful incentive to key employees throughout the remainder of the
         year. Alternative performance measures or targets may be established
         and different target levels may be selected with different general pool
         amounts established for each. The general bonus pool, if funded upon
         attainment of the target goals, need not be distributed in full. The
         amount of the general bonus pool may be adjusted before distribution
         thereof, depending upon the size of awards paid under the Executive
         Award Feature (see Section 11).

8.       Performance Measures. Measures of financial performance selected by the
         Committee on a year-to-year basis for determination of the general
         bonus pool, for the Company or for designated subsidiaries, departments
         or employees, may include one or more of the following: stock price,
         earnings per share (with or without extraordinary items), net income
         (with or without extraordinary items), return on equity, return on
         assets, net interest income, net interest margin, net interest spread,
         non-performing assets, total assets, operating expenses, other
         expenses, other income, loan income, fee income, and any sub-categories
         or ratios of or between any of the above, on a GAAP basis,
         tax-equivalent basis or any other regularly-utilized method of
         financial or regulatory accounting or presentation. Target performance
         may be expressed as absolute or average dollar amounts, percentages,
         changes in dollar amounts or changes in percentages, and may be
         considered on an institution-alone basis or measured against specified
         peer groups or companies. The size of the general bonus pool
         distributable upon attainment of the target levels determined may be
         expressed as a dollar amount, or as a percentage of some other
         measurement or amount, or as a ratio, and may be adjusted by the
         Committee as it deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
         foregoing, the measures of financial or Company performance for
         determination of awards payable under the Plan to those executives
         covered under the Executive Award Feature and the calculation of the
         maximum amount payable and amounts actually paid to such executives
         under the Plan shall be as set forth in the Executive Award Feature of
         the Plan (see Section 10).

9.       Individual Factors. The Committee, in exercising discretion under the
         Plan on determinations of cash bonuses payable to individuals, may
         consider particular individual goals as well as subjective factors,
         including any unique contributions.

10.      Executive Award Feature. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
         Plan to the contrary, any awards under the Plan for any year to those
         individuals identified by the Committee as "Executive Officers" for
         purposes of the Plan for such year shall be governed by the provisions
         of this Section 10.

                  (i) On or before the ninetieth (90th) day of each calendar
         year while the Plan is in effect, the Committee will (a) identify those
         individuals who it reasonably anticipates will qualify as the "covered
         employees" of the Company for such calendar year within the meaning of
         Section 162(m) of the Code (the "Covered Executives"), (b) established
         the Earnings Per Share Target (as defined below) for such calendar
         year, and (c) establish the Stock Valuation Target (as defined below)
         for such year (the Earnings Per Share Target and the Stock Valuation
         Target to be referred to collectively as the "Executive Targets"). The
         Executive Targets for any year will be treated as confidential by the
         Committee, the Covered Executives and all other directors, officers and
         employees of the Company who become aware thereof.

             (ii) The Earnings Per Share Target shall be expressed as a specific
         target earnings per share for such year for the Company's common stock
         on a fully diluted basis, before the after-tax effect of any
         extraordinary items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, or
         other nonrecurring items of income or expense including restructuring
         charges.

            (iii) The Stock Valuation Target shall be expressed as a target
         market price for the Company's common stock at year-end, based upon the
         average of the reported closing prices of the Company's common stock
         for the last thirty (30) trading days of such calendar year, adjusted
         to reflect any intervening stock splits or stock dividends or similar
         capital changes.

             (iv) If for any calendar year, either of the Executive Targets for
         such year is met, the maximum bonus amount payable under the Plan for
         such year to each of the Covered Executives identified for such year by
         the Committee shall be as follows: (a) for the Chief Executive Officer,
         .0175 of net income for such year (excluding the after-tax effect of
         any extraordinary items, the cumulative effect of accounting changes,
         or other nonrecurring

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         items of income or expense including restructuring charges) ("Defined
         Net Income"), (b) for the Chairman (if not the CEO) and the Vice
         Chairman, .00875 of Defined Net Income, (c) for the Chief Financial
         Officer, .0075 of Defined Net Income, and (d) for any other Covered
         Executive designated by the Committee for such year, .005 of Defined
         Net Income. The maximum aggregate bonus amount payable under the Plan
         for such year to all Covered Executives as a group shall be .04375 of
         Defined Net Income. At the discretion of the Committee, taking into
         account such factors as it may deem appropriate in the case of any such
         Covered Executive, the actual amount of the bonus award under the Plan
         paid to such Covered Executive may be less than the maximum bonus
         amount payable to such Covered Executive identified above (including
         zero), but in no event may the actual amount of the bonus award paid
         exceed such maximum amount. No Covered Executive shall be entitled to
         any additional award under the Plan for such year from the general
         bonus pool out of which awards to key employees other than Covered
         Executives will be made.

11.      Relationship of General Bonus Pool to Executive Award Feature. The
         overall bonus pool available for distribution under the Plan at
         year-end shall equal (a) the total of the maximum awards distributable
         to Covered Executives under the Executive Award Feature (if any), plus
         (b) the amount of the general bonus pool otherwise determined to be
         available for distribution to non-Covered Executives (if any). In
         calculating or determining the amount of the general bonus pool
         available for distribution to non-Covered Executives, the Committee
         may, where appropriate, deduct from any calculation of such general
         bonus pool amount the maximum amount distributable to Covered
         Executives, provided that in no case shall any calculation of any
         maximum amount determined to be distributable under the general bonus
         pool feature of the Plan, or under any formula applicable thereto
         adopted by the Committee, reduce or affect in any way the maximum
         amount distributable to any Covered Executive or to the Covered
         Executives as a group under the Executive Award Feature. Distribution
         of less than the maximum amounts available for distribution to Covered
         Executives under the Executive Award Feature shall not necessarily
         result in availability of additional amounts for distribution to
         non-Covered Executives from the general bonus pool, if any.
         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the overall bonus pool
         available for distribution under the Plan may not, in any Plan year,
         exceed the threshold limitation specified in Section 402.08(B)(13)(a)
         of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE"),
         regarding member organizations of NYSE voting proxies on the
         authorization of special remuneration plans without specific
         instructions from beneficial owners, as such Section may be amended
         from time to time and be interpreted by the NYSE (such section
         currently providing as such threshold amount an amount equal to 10
         percent of the Company's average annual net income before taxes for the
         preceding five years).

                                       4

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