<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 of Merchants
New York Bancorp for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. 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-31-1996                      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996                      DEC-31-1995         
<CASH>                                          45,581,005                       50,919,219
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             350,960                                0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 5,000,000                       52,000,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0                                0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    525,337,726                      584,377,564
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         173,737,562                       45,434,596
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           175,204,233                       47,758,971
<LOANS>                                        324,087,767                      270,904,241
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,015,782                        6,483,935
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,102,277,654                    1,027,191,423
<DEPOSITS>                                     803,419,912                      792,397,688
<SHORT-TERM>                                   170,000,000                      105,065,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             27,362,233                       29,574,132
<LONG-TERM>                                              0                                0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0                                0
<PREFERRED>                                              0                                0
<COMMON>                                             4,984                            4,982
<OTHER-SE>                                     101,490,525                      100,149,621
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,102,277,654                    1,027,191,423
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 18,027,182                       26,604,396
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               35,248,972                       42,782,617
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   167,188                          182,593
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                53,443,342                       69,569,606
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              19,326,797                       27,032,507
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,397,437                       31,907,403
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           29,045,905                       37,662,203
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      600,000                        2,080,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 372,396                          127,697
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 15,763,744                       22,731,545
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,723,349                       18,004,619
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               0                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0                                0
<CHANGES>                                                0                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,092,022                       11,465,430
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         2.00                             2.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         2.00                             2.28
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        4.41                             4.55
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,677,000                        2,169,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                       135,000                          281,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0                                0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 6,484,000                        6,188,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,995,000                        2,348,000
<RECOVERIES>                                       927,000                          564,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,016,000                        6,483,935
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,851,000                        1,108,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0                                0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          4,165,000                        5,376,000
        


</TABLE>