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 6, 1999


                   DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                  0-27782                      11-3297463
    -----------------      ------------------------        ------------------
    (State or other        (Commission File Number)          (IRS Employer
     jurisdiction of                                       Identification No.)
     incorporation)



             209 HAVEMEYER STREET, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK   11211
       (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


    Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (718) 782-6200



                                   NONE
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>





ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4, 6, 8 & 9.  NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5.       OTHER EVENTS.

     On January 6, 1999, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. ("DCB") and its
wholly owned subsidiary, The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh ("DSBW"),
publicly announced, in a press release dated January 6, 1999, a copy of
which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by
reference, the conclusion of the ten-day pricing period and the scheduled 
closing date of January 21, 1999, relating to its planned acquisition of
Financial Bancorp, Inc.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

          Not applicable.

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

          Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.  The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report:

              EXHIBIT NO.               DESCRIPTION

               99             Press Release issued January 6, 1999.

                                        -2-

<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 hereunto duly authorized.



                              DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.



                    BY:  /s/ KENNETH J. MAHON
                         ___________________________________________
                         Kenneth J. Mahon
                         Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                         Officer


Dated: January 7, 1999



<PAGE>





                               EXHIBIT INDEX




EXHIBIT                  DESCRIPTION

   99                    Press Release issued January 6, 1999.




                                        -4-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC", "cik": "0001005409", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "113297463", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27782", "film-number": "99503075"}, "business-address": {"street1": "209 HAVEMEYER ST", "street2": "C/O DIME SAVINGS BANK OF WILLIAMSBURGH", "city": "BROOKLYN", "state": "NY", "zip": "11211", "phone": "7187826200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "209 HAVEMEYER STREET", "city": "BROOKLYN", "state": "NY", "zip": "11211"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "DIME COMMUNITY BANCORP INC", "date-changed": "19951227"}}
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 6, 1999

                   DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                  0-27782                      11-3297463
    -----------------      ------------------------        ------------------
    (State or other        (Commission File Number)          (IRS Employer
     jurisdiction of                                       Identification No.)
     incorporation)

             209 HAVEMEYER STREET, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK   11211
       (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (718) 782-6200

                                   NONE
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4, 6, 8 & 9.  NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5.       OTHER EVENTS.

     On January 6, 1999, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. ("DCB") and its
wholly owned subsidiary, The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh ("DSBW"),
publicly announced, in a press release dated January 6, 1999, a copy of
which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by
reference, the conclusion of the ten-day pricing period and the scheduled 
closing date of January 21, 1999, relating to its planned acquisition of
Financial Bancorp, Inc.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

          Not applicable.

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

          Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.  The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report:

              EXHIBIT NO.               DESCRIPTION

               99             Press Release issued January 6, 1999.

                                        -2-
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 hereunto duly authorized.

                              DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

                    BY:  /s/ KENNETH J. MAHON
                         ___________________________________________
                         Kenneth J. Mahon
                         Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                         Officer

Dated: January 7, 1999
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT                  DESCRIPTION

   99                    Press Release issued January 6, 1999.

                                        -4-