<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Provident Bancorp, Inc.'s 10-K for December 31, 1995 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         213,594
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    959,904
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      4,896,076
<ALLOWANCE>                                     60,235
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,205,351
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,178,551
<SHORT-TERM>                                   637,240
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            136,940
<LONG-TERM>                                    820,083
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      7,000
<COMMON>                                        11,703
<OTHER-SE>                                     413,834
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               6,205,351
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                411,336
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               50,015
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,045
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               462,396
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             192,397
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             259,747
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          202,649
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   14,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (86)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                138,432
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                107,166
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      71,860
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    71,860
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.89
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.86
<LOANS-NON>                                     37,497
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,578
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 4,753
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 27,904
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                51,979
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   14,196
<RECOVERIES>                                     8,452
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               60,235
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            60,235
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0