<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM
10-Q FILED AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001018380
<NAME> EMERALD ISLE BANCORP, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                           4,675
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           4,235
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     35,590
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          77,320
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            75,405
<LOANS>                                        291,179
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (2,589)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 425,014
<DEPOSITS>                                     362,247
<SHORT-TERM>                                     3,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,031
<LONG-TERM>                                     27,668
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,246
<OTHER-SE>                                      27,823
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 425,014
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 12,245
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,579
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   141
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                15,965
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               7,925
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,917
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            7,048
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      200
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (24)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  4,385
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,785
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,985
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,853
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.81
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.51
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,545
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,623
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      266
<RECOVERIES>                                        32
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,589
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,312
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            277