<ARTICLE>                      9               
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 1997
(unaudited and the condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine
months ended June 30, 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>        9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>          Sep-30-1997                                                                                              
<PERIOD-START>                                 Oct-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Jun-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         33957
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         129513
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1842518
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         22427
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           20465
<LOANS>                                        3644483
<ALLOWANCE>                                    33623
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5908737
<DEPOSITS>                                     3706260
<SHORT-TERM>                                   162731
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            156334
<LONG-TERM>                                    1352031
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       268
<OTHER-SE>                                     531113
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 5908737
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                196937
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              98716
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               295653
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             118217
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             175218
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          120435
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  4500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             7659
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                60747
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     36476
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   36476
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.54
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.94
<LOANS-NON>                                    53287
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               33623
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  5515
<RECOVERIES>                                   726
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           33623
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            33623
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0