<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Provident Bancorp, Inc.'s 10-Q for September 30, 1995 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                         175,801
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               108,150
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    618,664
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         255,286
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           255,178
<LOANS>                                      4,646,366
<ALLOWANCE>                                     55,830
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,955,257
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,051,464
<SHORT-TERM>                                   862,115
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            121,208
<LONG-TERM>                                    508,035
<COMMON>                                        10,437
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     37,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     364,998
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,955,257
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                301,310
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               35,970
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   886
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               338,166
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             144,045
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             191,360
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          146,806
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    9,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (92)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                102,556
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 77,616
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      52,485
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    52,485
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.85
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.82
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,227
<LOANS-PAST>                                     6,309
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 4,886
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 54,810
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                51,979
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   11,054
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,905
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               55,830
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            55,830
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0