<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 March 31, 1998 (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>                        Jan-01-1998              
<PERIOD-END>                          Mar-31-1998               
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1               
<CASH>                                40512        
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                41338        
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                      0      
<TRADING-ASSETS>                      0        
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>           2194100       
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                21462         
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                  19525         
<LOANS>                               37575047        
<ALLOWANCE>                           34041         
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        6295868        
<DEPOSITS>                            3762115         
<SHORT-TERM>                          186000         
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                   182380         
<LONG-TERM>                           1601629         
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0         
<PREFERRED>                           0         
<COMMON>                              268        
<OTHER-SE>                            563476       
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>        6295868         
<INTEREST-LOAN>                       68511         
<INTEREST-INVEST>                     36484         
<INTEREST-OTHER>                      0         
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                      104995        
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                    39539         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    64604
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                 340391        
<LOAN-LOSSES>                         1500         
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                    4019        
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                       0        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       22753         
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>            13937        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0        
<CHANGES>                             0        
<NET-INCOME>                          13937         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         0.63       
<EPS-DILUTED>                         0.60         
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                        2.73         
<LOANS-NON>                           47347       
<LOANS-PAST>                          0       
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                      0      
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                       0        
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                      34041      
<CHARGE-OFFS>                         1952         
<RECOVERIES>                          208       
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                     0         
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                  34041      
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                   34041     
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>               0