<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. Merchants New
York Bancorp for the quarter ended June 30, 1997. It is qualified in its
entirety by reference to those financial statements.
</LEGEND>

       
<S>                             <C>                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                            12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1997                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                JUN-30-1997                    DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                       58,061,794                     57,488,091    
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          479,158                        351,968    
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                      0                     26,000,000    
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                      0                              0    
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 600,398,821                    561,600,523    
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      194,745,752                    166,908,260    
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        197,137,074                    169,340,000    
<LOANS>                                     323,877,784                    297,080,725    
<ALLOWANCE>                                   6,332,081                      5,616,971    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            1,210,447,507                  1,137,798,701    
<DEPOSITS>                                  839,160,198                    875,693,410    
<SHORT-TERM>                                229,000,000                    127,199,039    
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          35,969,889                     31,370,620    
<LONG-TERM>                                           0                              0    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0                              0    
<PREFERRED>                                           0                              0    
<COMMON>                                          4,994                          4,988    
<OTHER-SE>                                  106,312,426                    103,530,644    
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>            1,210,447,507                  1,137,798,701    
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              13,240,025                     25,300,755    
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            26,581,893                     47,473,933    
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                204,256                        320,297    
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             40,026,174                     73,094,985    
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           14,518,630                     26,438,521    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           18,816,259                     33,455,196    
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        21,209,915                     39,639,789    
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   500,000                      2,580,000    
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               21,901                        372,396    
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              11,246,063                     22,264,647    
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              11,959,251                     20,081,295    
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                            0                              0    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0                              0    
<CHANGES>                                             0                              0    
<NET-INCOME>                                  7,266,871                     12,670,771    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.45                           2.52 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.45                           2.52 
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     4.25                           4.41 
<LOANS-NON>                                   1,307,000                      1,109,000    
<LOANS-PAST>                                  2,655,000                        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>                                    215,111                        958,000    
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                             6,332,081                      5,617,000    
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            674,000                        579,000    
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                   0                              0    
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                       5,658,081                      5,038,000    
                                         


</TABLE>