<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000799166
<NAME> MASSBANK CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           6,612
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           1,751
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               119,902
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 4,672
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    471,752
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                             160
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                               160
<LOANS>                                        249,661
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (2,237)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 888,237
<DEPOSITS>                                     788,350
<SHORT-TERM>                                     1,271
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,429
<LONG-TERM>                                        937
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            5,476
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      86,774
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 888,237
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 19,414
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               32,341
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,354
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                58,109
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              33,062
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              33,062
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           25,047
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      160
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 868
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,124
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,428
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      15,428
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,001
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.43
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.96
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,601
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  1,601
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,529
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    (542)
<RECOVERIES>                                        90
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,237
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,094
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            143