<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FILER'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000702904 <NAME> AMBANC CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 26,409 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 590 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 5,875 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 170,249 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 170,724 <LOANS> 494,467 <ALLOWANCE> 5,630 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 718,754 <DEPOSITS> 633,458 <SHORT-TERM> 5,286 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 5,518 <LONG-TERM> 2,309 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 33,142 <OTHER-SE> 39,041 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 718,754 <INTEREST-LOAN> 42,560 <INTEREST-INVEST> 10,614 <INTEREST-OTHER> 748 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 54,311 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 26,761 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,288 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 27,023 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,366 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 28 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 17,799 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,248 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 11,248 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,966 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.40 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.40 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.30 <LOANS-NON> 1,421 <LOANS-PAST> 1,313 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 3,089 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,022 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,266 <RECOVERIES> 508 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 5,630 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 2,081 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 3,549