<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DIME
BANCORP, INC.'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         262,630
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          11,933
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                   199
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                   458
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,919,605
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     15,932,080
<ALLOWANCE>                                    109,934
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              20,913,891
<DEPOSITS>                                  14,032,643
<SHORT-TERM>                                 4,085,826
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            455,172
<LONG-TERM>                                  1,009,867
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,203
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,329,180
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              20,913,891
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                584,009
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              141,486
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 4,415
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               729,910
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             278,065
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             463,162
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          266,748
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   16,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              16,946
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                315,397
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                169,875
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     169,875
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   115,515
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.01<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.99
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.64
<LOANS-NON>                                    105,578
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                76,702
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               104,718
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   15,861
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,077
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              109,934
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           104,934
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          5,000
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS EPS-BASIC
</FN>