<ARTICLE>               9
<LEGEND>
THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 OF
AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFRENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>             1000
       
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                        Jun-30-1997
<CASH>                                     3742
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                     2130
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                          14300
<TRADING-ASSETS>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>              184020
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                        0   
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                          0
<LOANS>                                  271547
<ALLOWANCE>                                3798
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           484979
<DEPOSITS>                               326139
<SHORT-TERM>                              67330
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                        8256
<LONG-TERM>                               20500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         0
<PREFERRED>                                   0
<COMMON>                                     54
<OTHER-SE>                                62700
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>           484979
<INTEREST-LOAN>                            9944
<INTEREST-INVEST>                          7157
<INTEREST-OTHER>                            347
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                          17448
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                         6451
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9420
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                      8028
<LOAN-LOSSES>                               638
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                          177
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                            6128          
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            1965
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                 1965
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<CHANGES>                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                               1224
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 0.30
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                3.43
<LOANS-NON>                               1500
<LOANS-PAST>                               260
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                          1012
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                           6732
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                          3438
<CHARGE-OFFS>                              326
<RECOVERIES>                                48
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                         3798
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                      3798
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      0