Its earliest component was Southold Savings Bank in Southold, New York (although the company dates its history from 1905 with the founding of Mattituck Bank in Mattituck, New York, which would become the most active early partner).

In the 1990s, it began an aggressive move into New York City market with the acquisition of At the time of its acquisition, the bank served the New York City metropolitan area with over 350 branches and around $60 billion in assets.

[citation needed] The bank's reporting of unusual transactions made by then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer led to the criminal investigation that led to the Governor stepping down in March 2008.

[6] In 2005,[citation needed] North Fork Bank acquired Greenpoint Finance Corp, one of the first innovators of Alt-A mortgages.

Capital One acquired GreenPoint and its Melville, New York, headquarters for $14.6 billion U.S. dollars.