SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
  
                           Washington, D.C. 20549 
  
  
                                  FORM 8-K 
  
                               CURRENT REPORT 
  
   PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
  
  
     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 8, 1999 
                                       
  
  
                          FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 
           ------------------------------------------------------ 
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
  
  

    Delaware                      0-18126                06-1391814 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State or other               (Commission             (IRS Employer 
 jurisdiction of               File Number)          Identification No.) 
 incorporation)                                       
  
  
 42-25 Queens Boulevard 

 Long Island City, NY                                   11104 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code) 
  
  
                               (718) 729-5002 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
  
  
                               Not Applicable 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 
  

   
 ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS. 
  
           On January 8,1999, Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") issued
 a press release announcing the declaration by its Board of Directors of a
 special cash dividend of $1.00 per share payable to stockholders of record
 as of January 21, 1999, the expected closing date of the Company's pending
 merger with Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.  The press release is attached
 hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
  
  
 ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. 
  
 (c)    Exhibits 
  
           99.1      Press Release issued by Financial Bancorp, Inc. on
                     January 8, 1999  
  
            
  


                                 SIGNATURE 
  

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
 the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
 the undersigned hereunder duly authorized. 
  
  
 Dated:  January 8, 1999 
  
  
                          FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 
        
                          By:  /s/ Frank Latawiec          
                             ---------------------------------
                               Name:  Frank Latawiec  
                               Title: President



                               EXHIBIT INDEX 
  
 Exhibit 
 Number              Description 
  
 99.1      Press Release issued by Financial Bancorp, Inc. on January 8,
           1999
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3013}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FINANCIAL BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000855932", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "061391814", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-18126", "film-number": "99502928"}, "business-address": {"street1": "45-25 QUEENS BLVD", "city": "LONG ISLAND CITY", "state": "NY", "zip": "11104", "phone": "7187295002"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "45-25 QUEENS BLVD", "city": "LONG ISLAND CITY", "state": "NY", "zip": "11104"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
  
                           Washington, D.C. 20549 
  
  
                                  FORM 8-K 
  
                               CURRENT REPORT 
  
   PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
  
  
     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 8, 1999 
                                       
  
  
                          FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 
           ------------------------------------------------------ 
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
  
  

    Delaware                      0-18126                06-1391814 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State or other               (Commission             (IRS Employer 
 jurisdiction of               File Number)          Identification No.) 
 incorporation)                                       
  
  
 42-25 Queens Boulevard 

 Long Island City, NY                                   11104 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code) 
  
  
                               (718) 729-5002 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
  
  
                               Not Applicable 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 
  

   
 ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS. 
  
           On January 8,1999, Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") issued
 a press release announcing the declaration by its Board of Directors of a
 special cash dividend of $1.00 per share payable to stockholders of record
 as of January 21, 1999, the expected closing date of the Company's pending
 merger with Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.  The press release is attached
 hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
  
  
 ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. 
  
 (c)    Exhibits 
  
           99.1      Press Release issued by Financial Bancorp, Inc. on
                     January 8, 1999  
  
            
  

                                 SIGNATURE 
  

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
 the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
 the undersigned hereunder duly authorized. 
  
  
 Dated:  January 8, 1999 
  
  
                          FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. 
        
                          By:  /s/ Frank Latawiec          
                             ---------------------------------
                               Name:  Frank Latawiec  
                               Title: President

                               EXHIBIT INDEX 
  
 Exhibit 
 Number              Description 
  
 99.1      Press Release issued by Financial Bancorp, Inc. on January 8,
           1999