<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 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>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         4834
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         2650
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    176547
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           0
<LOANS>                                        263149
<ALLOWANCE>                                    4348
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 458988
<DEPOSITS>                                     305355
<SHORT-TERM>                                   54770
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            4441
<LONG-TERM>                                    19600
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       54
<OTHER-SE>                                     74768
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 458988
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                10046
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              3777
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               715
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               14538
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             6320
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             6943
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          7595
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  2061
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             (98)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                5519
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                401
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     401
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   196
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .04
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 3.89
<LOANS-NON>                                    9388
<LOANS-PAST>                                   128
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               3707
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                6395
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               2647
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  396
<RECOVERIES>                                   36
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              4348
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           4348
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        537