<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 1997
(unaudited) and the condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the 
three months ended December 31, 1997 (unaudited) and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                 0000916837 
<NAME>                                Long Island Bancorp 
<MULTIPLIER>                          1000               
<CURRENCY>                            U.S. Dollars              
       
                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     Sep-30-1998               
<PERIOD-START>                        Oct-01-1997              
<PERIOD-END>                          Dec-31-1997               
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1               
<CASH>                                67923        
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                53105        
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                      0      
<TRADING-ASSETS>                      0        
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>           188744       
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                21957         
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                  19959         
<LOANS>                               3709492        
<ALLOWANCE>                           33734         
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        6072524        
<DEPOSITS>                            3742432         
<SHORT-TERM>                          186000         
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                   158905         
<LONG-TERM>                           1427934         
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0         
<PREFERRED>                           0         
<COMMON>                              268        
<OTHER-SE>                            556985       
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>        6072524         
<INTEREST-LOAN>                       69786         
<INTEREST-INVEST>                     34731         
<INTEREST-OTHER>                      0         
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                      104517        
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                    41442         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    65550        
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                 38967        
<LOAN-LOSSES>                         1500         
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                    4178        
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                       0        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       21581         
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>            13182        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0        
<CHANGES>                             0        
<NET-INCOME>                          13182         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         0.59       
<EPS-DILUTED>                         0.57         
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                        2.67         
<LOANS-NON>                           53824       
<LOANS-PAST>                          0       
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                      0      
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                       0        
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                      33734      
<CHARGE-OFFS>                         1852         
<RECOVERIES>                          208       
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                     0         
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                  33734      
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                   33734      
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>               0