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 May 14, 1998                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                             AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC.                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)             
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Delaware                      0-27036                  14-1783770      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File No.)        (IRS Employer     
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.) 
                                                                                
                                                                                
 11 Division Street, Amsterdam, New York                              12010-4303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (518) 842-7200       
                                                            --------------------
                                                                                
                                       N/A                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)          
                                                                                
                                                                                
<PAGE>                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Item 5. Other Events                                                            
--------------------                                                            
                                                                                
     On May 14, 1998, the Registrant issued the press release attached hereto as
Exhibit 99 announcing its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 1998.
                                                                                
                                               
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits                                       
-----------------------------------------                                       
                                                                                
     (c)  Exhibits                                                              
                                                                                
     The  Exhibits  referred  to in  Item 5 of this  Report  and  listed  on the
accompanying Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Report and are incorporated
herein by reference.                                                            
                                                                                
<PAGE>                                                                          
                                                                                
                                   SIGNATURES                                   
                                                                                
     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 thereunto duly authorized.                                          
                                                                                
                            AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Date:     May 14, 1998                  By:           
      ---------------------------           ---------------------------------   
                                            Robert J. Brittain                  
                                            President & Chief Executive Officer 
                                                                                
<PAGE>                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Exhibit                                                                         
Number                            Description                                   
-------        ---------------------------------------------------              
                                                                                
  99           Press release dated May 14, 1998
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6762}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AMBANC HOLDING CO INC", "cik": "0001000301", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "141783770", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27036", "film-number": "98620675"}, "business-address": {"street1": "11 DIVISION ST", "city": "AMSTERDAM", "state": "NY", "zip": "12010", "phone": "5188427200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 669", "city": "AMSTERDAM", "state": "NY", "zip": "12010"}}
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 May 14, 1998                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                             AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC.                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)             
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Delaware                      0-27036                  14-1783770      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File No.)        (IRS Employer     
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.) 
                                                                                
                                                                                
 11 Division Street, Amsterdam, New York                              12010-4303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (518) 842-7200       
                                                            --------------------
                                                                                
                                       N/A                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events                                                            
--------------------                                                            
                                                                                
     On May 14, 1998, the Registrant issued the press release attached hereto as
Exhibit 99 announcing its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 1998.
                                                                                
                                               
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits                                       
-----------------------------------------                                       
                                                                                
     (c)  Exhibits                                                              
                                                                                
     The  Exhibits  referred  to in  Item 5 of this  Report  and  listed  on the
accompanying Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Report and are incorporated
herein by reference.
SIGNATURES                                   
                                                                                
     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 thereunto duly authorized.                                          
                                                                                
                            AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Date:     May 14, 1998                  By:           
      ---------------------------           ---------------------------------   
                                            Robert J. Brittain                  
                                            President & Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit                                                                         
Number                            Description                                   
-------        ---------------------------------------------------              
                                                                                
  99           Press release dated May 14, 1998