<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                                                 
<ARTICLE>                                                    9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE FORM 10-Q FOR  THE QUARTER  ENDED JUNE 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>                                                        6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                      4425
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                      1614
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                               223456
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                           0
<LOANS>                                                                   325283
<ALLOWANCE>                                                                 4090
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                            565387
<DEPOSITS>                                                                321664
<SHORT-TERM>                                                               87070
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                         5583
<LONG-TERM>                                                                92700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                      54
<OTHER-SE>                                                                 58316
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                            565387
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                            11152
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                           6733
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                             219
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                           18104
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                          6804
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         10394
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                                       7710
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                                450
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                          (105)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                             6819
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                              977
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   977
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                 543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               0.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                              3.11
<LOANS-NON>                                                                 1689
<LOANS-PAST>                                                                 468
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                            1177
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                             5146
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                            3807
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                                207
<RECOVERIES>                                                                  40
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                           4090
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                        4090
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                        0
        

</TABLE>