<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DIME BANCORP INC.'S
FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         295,369
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           5,095
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               152,063
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  4,992,304
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     14,826,369
<ALLOWANCE>                                    104,718
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,848,000
<DEPOSITS>                                  13,847,275
<SHORT-TERM>                                 5,613,794
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            366,555
<LONG-TERM>                                    705,518
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,203
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,313,655
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              21,848,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                919,890
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              430,555
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                32,370
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,382,815
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             559,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             899,753
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          483,062
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   49,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                            (17,794)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                381,145
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                198,208
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     123,174
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,460)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   121,714
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.51
<LOANS-NON>                                    118,988
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                84,209
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               106,495
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   71,608
<RECOVERIES>                                     7,582
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              104,718
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           103,218
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,500