<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORT BEND
HOLDING CORP.'S 9/30/97 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                       7,046,352
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      40,066,399
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,284,953
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                     100,714,713
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                       100,415,496
<LOANS>                                    149,981,095
<ALLOWANCE>                                  1,619,369
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             319,413,856
<DEPOSITS>                                 269,083,871
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         11,964,424
<LONG-TERM>                                 16,129,196
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        18,321
<OTHER-SE>                                  21,430,198
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             319,413,856
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              6,731,290
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            4,151,422
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            10,882,712
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           5,455,295
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           6,116,147
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        4,766,565
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   77,980
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,146,045
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,569,952
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   1,569,952
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,022,484
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.49
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.37
<LOANS-NON>                                  1,205,664
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               559,334
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             1,701,008
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  109,620
<RECOVERIES>                                    50,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            1,619,369
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           251,039
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      1,368,330