<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORT BEND
HOLDING CORP.'S 12/31/97 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                       6,359,405
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      19,669,753
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,309,424
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      97,123,725
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        97,048,091
<LOANS>                                    157,977,918
<ALLOWANCE>                                  1,610,403
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             302,728,255
<DEPOSITS>                                 255,726,406
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          7,898,815
<LONG-TERM>                                 15,968,630
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        18,444
<OTHER-SE>                                  22,139,199
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             302,728,255
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              9,987,360
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            6,300,768
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            16,288,128
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           8,282,277
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           9,260,175
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        7,027,953
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   77,980
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,837,099
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,325,214
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   2,325,214
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,514,005
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.71
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.28
<LOANS-NON>                                    781,513
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               553,233
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             1,701,008
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  118,665
<RECOVERIES>                                    50,080
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            1,610,403
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           233,007
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      1,377,396