<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            9 
<LEGEND>
      This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
      Dime Bancorp. Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 
      1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000 
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998 
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998 
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998 
<CASH>                                             259,974 
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               5,201 
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                    20,201 
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0 
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      3,535,120 
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0 
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0 
<LOANS>                                         16,581,744 
<ALLOWANCE>                                        109,096 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  22,023,998 
<DEPOSITS>                                      13,991,123 
<SHORT-TERM>                                     5,695,269 
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                349,598 
<LONG-TERM>                                        688,373 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0 
<PREFERRED>                                              0 
<COMMON>                                             1,203 
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,298,432 
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  22,023,998 
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    289,019 
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   80,931 
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     2,849 
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   372,799 
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                 139,028 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 236,888 
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              135,911 
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        8,000 
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  14,116 
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    150,256 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     84,189 
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          84,189 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0 
<CHANGES>                                                0 
<NET-INCOME>                                        57,249 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.50 <F1> 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.49 
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        2.63 
<LOANS-NON>                                        122,577 
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0 
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    79,468 
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0 
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   104,718 
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        7,126 
<RECOVERIES>                                         3,504 
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  109,096 
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                               105,346 
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0 
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              3,750
<FN>
<F1> Represents EPS-Basic
</FN>
                                               

</TABLE>