<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  is a  compilation  of  information  appearing  in the  financial
statements that are included in the Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for Merchants
New York Bancorp for the quarter  ended  September  30, 1997. It is qualified in
its entirety by reference to those financial statements.
</LEGEND>

       
<S>                                  <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        9-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           49,100,477              57,488,091 
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              607,000                 351,968 
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 11,000,000              26,000,000 
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                          0                       0 
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     568,149,298             561,600,523 
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          193,200,434             166,908,260 
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            198,060,667             169,340,000 
<LOANS>                                         376,068,138             297,080,725 
<ALLOWANCE>                                       6,872,295               5,616,971 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                1,279,180,974           1,137,798,701 
<DEPOSITS>                                      841,677,732             875,693,410 
<SHORT-TERM>                                    248,435,504             127,199,039 
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              31,955,486              31,370,620 
<LONG-TERM>                                               0                       0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0                       0 
<PREFERRED>                                               0                       0 
<COMMON>                                              4,995                   4,988 
<OTHER-SE>                                      105,733,861             103,530,644 
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                1,227,807,578           1,137,798,701 
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  21,279,227              25,300,755 
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                40,195,759              47,473,933 
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    206,444                 320,297 
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 61,681,430              73,094,985 
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               21,781,301              26,438,521 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               29,581,991              33,455,196 
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            32,099,439              39,639,789 
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                     1,000,000               2,580,000 
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   21,901                 372,396 
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  16,760,164              22,264,647 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  18,203,187              20,081,295 
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                0                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0                       0 
<CHANGES>                                                 0                       0 
<NET-INCOME>                                     11,620,076              12,670,771 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          2.33                    2.52 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          2.33                    2.52 
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                         4.22                    4.41 
<LOANS-NON>                                       1,673,000               1,109,000 
<LOANS-PAST>                                        655,000                 687,000 
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                          0                       0 
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                           0                       0 
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                  5,617,000               6,484,000 
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                             0               4,405,000 
<RECOVERIES>                                        255,000                 958,000 
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                 6,872,000               5,617,000 
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                857,000                 579,000 
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                       0                       0 
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                           6,015,000               5,038,000 
                                               


</TABLE>