<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORT BEND
HOLDING CORP'S 12/31/98 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          10,006
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          30,036
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      2,760
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          67,117
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            67,375
<LOANS>                                        189,841
<ALLOWANCE>                                      1,699
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 316,870
<DEPOSITS>                                     270,076
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              6,108
<LONG-TERM>                                      4,362
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            30
<OTHER-SE>                                      35,179
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 316,870
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 11,528
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,353
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                16,881
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               8,328
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,057
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            7,824
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      135
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  2,340
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,366
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,366
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,487
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.63
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.85
<LOANS-NON>                                        808
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   151
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,592
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       28
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                1,699
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                               139
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,560