<ARTICLE>                                                    9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM THE FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 2000 OF AMBANC  HOLDING
CO., INC. AND ITS  SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1000

                                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                                  14110
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   1281
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                            0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                            0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            203442
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                        0
<LOANS>                                                467155
<ALLOWANCE>                                              5689
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         711589
<DEPOSITS>                                             476639
<SHORT-TERM>                                            18600
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                      6559
<LONG-TERM>                                            130481
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                   54
<OTHER-SE>                                              79256
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                         711589
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                         26070
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                       10718
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                          565
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                        37353
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                      13762
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      21188
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                   16165
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                             360
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       (102)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                         12309
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          4762
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               2817
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                             2817
<EPS-BASIC>                                              0.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.60
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                           3.10
<LOANS-NON>                                              2154
<LOANS-PAST>                                              451
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                          547
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                           920
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                         5509
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                             252
<RECOVERIES>                                               72
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                        5689
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     5689
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                     0