<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                                        
<ARTICLE>                                                                  9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 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>                                                       9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                     2430
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                     3555
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                           8100
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                              0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                              193991
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                                        0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                          0
<LOANS>                                                                  334573
<ALLOWANCE>                                                                4199
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           554254
<DEPOSITS>                                                               314233
<SHORT-TERM>                                                              25450
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                        4473
<LONG-TERM>                                                              150000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                     54
<OTHER-SE>                                                                60044
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                           554254
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                           17473
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                         10082
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                            504
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                          28059
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                        10072
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        16264
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                                     11795
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                               675
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                         (165)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                           10136
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                            1756
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                                 1756
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                               1021
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.27
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                             3.04
<LOANS-NON>                                                                1488
<LOANS-PAST>                                                                880
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                            924
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                            4721
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                           3807
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                               560
<RECOVERIES>                                                                277
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                          4199
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                       4199
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                           0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                       0
                                                               

</TABLE>