SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                             KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


  
     United States                                            22-3803741     
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(State of Incorporation                                     (IRS Employer
    or Organization)                                     Identification No.)


614 Kearny Avenue, Kearny, New Jersey                           07032    
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)



                                                        
If this form relates to the registration of a class of        If this form relates to the registration of a class of  
securities pursuant to Section  12(b) of the                  securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the  
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to                     Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to 
General Instruction A.(c), please check the                   General Instruction A.(d), please check the
following box |_|                                             following box |X|

Securities  Act  registration  statement file number to which this form relates: 333-118815

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

         Title of Each Class                                  Name of Each Exchange on Which
         To be so Registered                                  Each Class is to be Registered      

                 None                                                         N/A


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                     Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
                     ---------------------------------------
                                (Title of class)


                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                 ----------------------------------------------

Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered

         Information set forth under the captions "Description of Capital Stock"
and  "Restrictions  on Acquisition  of Kearny  Financial  Corp."  contained in a
prospectus filed on December 22, 2004 as part of the  Registrant's  Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-118815) is  incorporated  by reference into
this registration statement.

Item 2.  Exhibits

3(i) Charter of Kearny Financial Corp.*

3(ii) Bylaws of Kearny Financial Corp.*

____________
*    Incorporated by reference to the identically numbered exhibits filed in the
     Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-118815) filed
     on September 3, 2004.



                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  as amended,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized.


                                     KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.


Date: December 28, 2004              By:   /s/ John N. Hopkins     
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John N. Hopkins
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer