<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000799166
<NAME> MASSBANK CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                           8,643
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           1,667
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                61,991
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                41,567
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    460,367
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                             172
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                               172
<LOANS>                                        249,935
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (2,504)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 858,922
<DEPOSITS>                                     765,384
<SHORT-TERM>                                     1,098
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,094
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,093
<COMMON>                                         5,453
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      81,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 858,922
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  4,845
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,457
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,822
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                14,124
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               8,009
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,009
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,115
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       30
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 207
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  3,056
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,646
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,646
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,223
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.80
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.93
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,586
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  2,586
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,529
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     (59)
<RECOVERIES>                                         4
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,504
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,362
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            142