<ARTICLE>                                                                 9
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CHEMICAL FINANCIAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                               90,356
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                  998
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                    106,700
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                          0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                         471,735
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                              203,923
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                204,102
<LOANS>                                                             799,661
<ALLOWANCE>                                                          16,865
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    1,705,212
<DEPOSITS>                                                        1,437,049
<SHORT-TERM>                                                         33,484
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                  17,200
<LONG-TERM>                                                           9,000
<COMMON>                                                            102,284
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          106,195
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                    1,705,212
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                      16,734
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                    10,187
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                      1,272
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                     28,193
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                   10,977
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   11,457
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                                16,736
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                           329
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                        0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                      11,464
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       8,235
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                            8,235
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          5,526
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.53
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                         4.39
<LOANS-NON>                                                           1,585
<LOANS-PAST>                                                            337
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                          0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                       1,922
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                     16,607
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                           172
<RECOVERIES>                                                            101
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                    16,865
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                 16,865
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                   0