<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
the form 10-K filed as of December 31, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001018380
<NAME> EMERALD ISLE BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           5,521
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          11,680
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     30,761
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          83,512
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            81,522
<LOANS>                                        265,832
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (2,623)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 409,639
<DEPOSITS>                                     337,090
<SHORT-TERM>                                    11,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,944
<LONG-TERM>                                     30,688
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,211
<OTHER-SE>                                      25,725
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 409,639
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 20,771
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,623
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   389
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                28,783
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              14,243
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              16,737
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           12,046
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,211
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (39)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  6,970
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,826
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,381
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,381
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.33
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,058
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,542
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,298
<RECOVERIES>                                       168
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,263
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,211
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            432