<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Dime
Bancorp, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
information.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         279,490
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           5,937
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                45,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     3
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,329,444
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     16,632,954
<ALLOWANCE>                                    105,081
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              22,320,850
<DEPOSITS>                                  13,651,460
<SHORT-TERM>                                 6,001,951
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            510,877
<LONG-TERM>                                    770,897
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,203
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,384,462
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              22,320,850
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,159,364
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              255,719
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 5,802
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,420,855
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             545,827
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             893,652
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          527,233
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   32,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              21,855
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                665,641
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                354,622
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     241,143
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (4,057)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   237,086
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.06
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.68
<LOANS-NON>                                     55,111
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                12,198
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               104,718
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   40,067
<RECOVERIES>                                     8,430
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              105,081
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            99,081
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          6,000