<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000799166 <NAME> MASSBANK CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 7,656 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 1,780 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 100,707 <TRADING-ASSETS> 13,229 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 495,702 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 155 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 155 <LOANS> 251,608 <ALLOWANCE> (2,210) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 901,117 <DEPOSITS> 794,973 <SHORT-TERM> 1,406 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 13,856 <LONG-TERM> 937 <COMMON> 5,480 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 84,465 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 901,117 <INTEREST-LOAN> 4,797 <INTEREST-INVEST> 8,142 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,821 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 14,760 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 8,349 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,349 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 6,411 <LOAN-LOSSES> 68 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 468 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 3,195 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,042 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 4,042 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,473 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.90 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.90 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 2.95 <LOANS-NON> 1,275 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 1,275 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 2,237 <CHARGE-OFFS> (130) <RECOVERIES> 35 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 2,210 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 1,913 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 197