8-K

                       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 July 3, 1997


                             AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC.
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             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


         Delaware                      0-27036                  14-1783770
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(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File No.)        (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)


 11 Division Street, Amsterdam, New York                              12010-4303
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(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (518) 842-7200
                                                            --------------------

                                       N/A
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         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 5. Other Events
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     On June 23 1997, the Registrant issued the press release attached hereto as
Exhibit 99 announcing its intentions to commence a stock repurchase program.






                                   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:      July 3, 1997                 By:  /S/ Robert J. Brittain 
      ---------------------------           ---------------------------------
                                             Robert J. Brittain
                                             President & Chief Executive Officer




Exhibit                                                               
Number                            Description                         
- -------        ---------------------------------------------------    

  99           Press release dated June 23, 1997                      

EX-99

                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Robert J. Brittain, President & C.E.O.
(518) 842 - 7200
(518) 842 - 7500 (FAX)

           AMBANC HOLDING CO., INC. ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


Amsterdam,  N.Y.,  June 23, 1997 -- Ambanc  Holding  Co.,  Inc.  (NASDAQ:  AHCI)
announced  its  intention  today  to  repurchase  up to  216,890  shares  of its
outstanding  common  stock in the open  market.  The shares will be purchased at
prevailing market prices from time to time depending upon market conditions.

Robert J. Brittain, President & C.E.O. of the Company, indicated that the shares
reacquired  will be used to fund  awards  under the  Company's  Recognition  and
Retention Plan which was ratified at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders  held on
May 23, 1997. Mr.  Brittain stated that an aggregate of 131,285 shares have been
awarded, which will leave 85,605 shares available for future awards.

Over the past three months,  the  Company's  shares  traded  between  $12.50 and
$16.00.  At March 31,  1997,  the  Company  had  $478.1  million  in assets  and
stockholders' equity of $60.8 million. As of June 23, 1997, there were 4,392,023
shares of common stock outstanding.