<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM
10-Q FILED AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001018380
<NAME> EMERALD ISLE BANCORP, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           4,249
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           8,500
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     29,968
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          80,521
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            77,523
<LOANS>                                        276,190
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (2,693)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 412,141
<DEPOSITS>                                     347,761
<SHORT-TERM>                                     6,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,022
<LONG-TERM>                                     27,668
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,235
<OTHER-SE>                                      26,456
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 412,142
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  5,894
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,684
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   246
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 7,824
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               3,910
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,421
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            3,403
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      100
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (38)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  2,185
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,267
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       1,267
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       881
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.38
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.44
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,454
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,623
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       42
<RECOVERIES>                                        12
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,693
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,311
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            382