<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, 1999 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                                  11065
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   1748
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                        18300
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                            0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            254461
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                        0
<LOANS>                                                425105
<ALLOWANCE>                                              5150
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         733290
<DEPOSITS>                                             458628
<SHORT-TERM>                                            22400
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     16186
<LONG-TERM>                                            151299
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                   54
<OTHER-SE>                                              84723
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                         733290
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                          7781
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        3792
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                          391
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                        11964
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       4212
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       6571
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                    5393
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                             255
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                          0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                          3746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          1816
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               1816
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                             1035
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.20
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                           3.12
<LOANS-NON>                                              1922
<LOANS-PAST>                                              391
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                          707
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          3686
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                         4891
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              44
<RECOVERIES>                                               48
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                        5150
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     5150
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                     0
        

</TABLE>