SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20552


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 March 31, 2005
             ------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                             Kearny Financial Corp.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


         United States                       0-51093           22-3803741  
----------------------------                ----------       -------------
(State or other jurisdiction                (File No.)       (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                                        Identification Number)


120 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, New Jersey                        07004   
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(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (973) 244-4500   
                                                      --------------   


                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last Report)

         Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act
|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act



                             KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.

                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT
                      ------------------------------------


Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
            Appointment of Principal Officers.

         On March 21, 2005,  Edward T. Rushforth,  a director of the Registrant,
submitted  notice to the Board of  Directors  of his decision to retire from the
Registrant's  Board of Directors  effective as of March 31, 2005.  Effective the
same date, Mr.  Rushforth will also retire from the Board of Directors of Kearny
MHC, the mutual holding company for the Registrant.

         Mr. Leopold  Montanaro,  currently a director of Kearny Federal Savings
Bank, the Registrant's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  was appointed by the Board of
Directors to the vacant seat on the Board of  Directors  of both the  Registrant
and Kearny MHC effective March 31, 2005. Mr.  Montanaro  currently serves on the
following  board  committees:  Budget  Committee,  Asset  Quality  Committee and
Buildings & Grounds Committee.

         Mr.  Montanaro  is retired and was the  chairman,  president  and chief
executive  officer of West Essex Bancorp,  Inc. and West Essex Bank,  located in
Caldwell,  New Jersey,  until Kearny Financial Corp.'s acquisition of West Essex
Bancorp, Inc. and the merger of West Essex Bank into Kearny Federal Savings Bank
on July 1,  2003.  He was  employed  by West  Essex  Bank  from  1972  until the
completion of the merger with Kearny Federal Savings Bank. Mr.  Montanaro became
a director of Kearny  Federal  Savings Bank in July 2003 upon  completion of the
merger.



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                       KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.




Date: March 31, 2005                   By: /s/John N. Hopkins
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John N. Hopkins
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer