<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DIME
BANCORP, INC.'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         240,891
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          12,236
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                   115
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                63,929
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,974,885
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     16,179,229
<ALLOWANCE>                                    111,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,242,833
<DEPOSITS>                                  13,546,265
<SHORT-TERM>                                 5,056,383
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            497,646
<LONG-TERM>                                    802,737
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,203
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,338,599
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              21,242,833
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                871,847
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              196,655
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 5,397
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,073,899
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             416,210
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             679,830
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          394,069
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   24,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              17,202
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                486,558
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                263,916
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     179,464
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (4,057)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   175,407
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.54<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.51
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.68
<LOANS-NON>                                     98,273
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                74,062
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               104,718
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   23,760
<RECOVERIES>                                     6,991
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              111,949
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           105,949
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          6,000
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS EPS-BASIC
</FN>