<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORT BEND HOLDING CORP.'S 9/30/98 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 7,399 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 47,526 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,247 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 74,920 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 75,202 <LOANS> 177,479 <ALLOWANCE> 1,665 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 327,495 <DEPOSITS> 275,695 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 11,164 <LONG-TERM> 14,367 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 20 <OTHER-SE> 25,251 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 327,495 <INTEREST-LOAN> 7,639 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,693 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 11,332 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 5,552 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,116 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 5,216 <LOAN-LOSSES> 90 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 1,620 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,771 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,771 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,104 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.48 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.49 <LOANS-NON> 944 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 536 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 1,592 <CHARGE-OFFS> 17 <RECOVERIES> 0 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 1,665 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 142 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 1,523