<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000760079 <NAME> The Boston Bancorp <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 21,976 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 9,825 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,052,682 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 162,148 <ALLOWANCE> 1,989 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,565,619 <DEPOSITS> 1,351,051 <SHORT-TERM> 6,243 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 8,687 <LONG-TERM> 1,386 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,284 <OTHER-SE> 192,968 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,565,619 <INTEREST-LOAN> 15,114 <INTEREST-INVEST> 44,294 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 59,408 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 29,807 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 33,561 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 25,847 <LOAN-LOSSES> 0 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 23,265 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 12,778 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,554 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 39,554 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,054 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.51 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.51 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.40 <LOANS-NON> 1,807 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 59 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 1,390 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 2,121 <CHARGE-OFFS> 159 <RECOVERIES> 27 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 1,989 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 1,989 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0