<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 1997
(unaudited) and the condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations For the
Six Months Ended March 31, 1997 (unaudited) and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                           0000916837                        
<NAME>                          Long Island Bancorp, Inc.                       
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Sep-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 Oct-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         35859
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         93841
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1832922
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         22818
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           20706
<LOANS>                                        3588737
<ALLOWANCE>                                    33954
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5814296
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<SHORT-TERM>                                   225000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            178026
<LONG-TERM>                                    1220233
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 5814296
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<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               195237
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             78276
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             114851
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          80386
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  3000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             4336
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                40458
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     24051
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   24051
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.01
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.98
<LOANS-NON>                                    51388
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
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<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  3455
<RECOVERIES>                                   497
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              33954
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           33954
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0