<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                                                 
<ARTICLE>                                                    9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 OF AMBANC  HOLDING CO.,
INC. AND ITS  SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1000
                                                                       
<S>                                                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                                   5039
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   1792
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         9000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                            0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              4640
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                        0
<LOANS>                                                287668
<ALLOWANCE>                                              3952
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         519831
<DEPOSITS>                                             324448
<SHORT-TERM>                                            53650
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     17979
<LONG-TERM>                                             63000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                   54
<OTHER-SE>                                              60700
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                         519831
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                          5506
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        3405
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                           98
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                         9009
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       3466
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       5147
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                    3862
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                             225
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                          7
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                          3154
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           808
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                808
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                              446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.11
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                           3.18
<LOANS-NON>                                              1485
<LOANS-PAST>                                              420
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         1187
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          5667
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                         3807
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              98
<RECOVERIES>                                               18
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                        3952
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     3952
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                     0
        

</TABLE>