<ARTICLE>                                                    9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE ANNUAL  REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER 31, 1999 OF AMBANC  HOLDING
CO., INC. AND ITS  SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1000

                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                                  26,380
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   3,231
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                             0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            212,145
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                         0
<LOANS>                                                470,986
<ALLOWANCE>                                              5,509
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         740,672
<DEPOSITS>                                             450,134
<SHORT-TERM>                                            71,200
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     10,040
<LONG-TERM>                                            133,705
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                    54
<OTHER-SE>                                              75,539
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                         740,672
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                         32,578
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                       15,245
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                           944
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                        48,767
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                      16,755
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      26,319
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                   22,448
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                              790
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                           0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                         16,063
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          7,398
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               7,398
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                             4,303
<EPS-BASIC>                                               0.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.87
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                            3.21
<LOANS-NON>                                              2,576
<LOANS-PAST>                                             1,068
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                           566
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          2,498
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                         4,891
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              463
<RECOVERIES>                                               291
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                        5,509
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     5,509
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                      0