<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS OF EAST TEXAS FINANCIAL  SERVICES,  INC., AT
MARCH 31, 1999,  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                             960,755  
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           5,889,793  
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0  
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0  
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     25,181,884  
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          34,759,676  
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            34,827,959             
<LOANS>                                         61,991,987 
<ALLOWANCE>                                        231,933             
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 134,342,771  
<DEPOSITS>                                      87,076,519  
<SHORT-TERM>                                    23,085,909  
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                611,311  
<LONG-TERM>                                      3,821,529  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0  
<PREFERRED>                                              0  
<COMMON>                                            18,845  
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,747,503  
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 134,342,771  
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  2,387,089  
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,914,828  
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0  
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 4,301,917  
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               2,129,252  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,686,089  
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            1,615,828  
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                            0  
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0  
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  1,486,429  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    371,806  
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         371,806  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0  
<CHANGES>                                                0  
<NET-INCOME>                                       233,150  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.17  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.17  
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        6.84   
<LOANS-NON>                                        329,000  
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0  
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0  
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    598,000  
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   233,180  
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                            0  
<RECOVERIES>                                             0  
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  231,933  
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                54,324  
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0  
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            177,609