<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information
extracted from the Consolidated Statement of Financial
     Condition at March 31, 1998 and the
     Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months
     ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified in its
     entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                        921768
<NAME>                                       BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                        U.S. Dollars
       
                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                    JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                      MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                   1
<CASH>                                                            72,102
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                            0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                  21,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                  7,804
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                       458,123
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                            48,499
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                              48,499
<LOANS>                                                           2,666,363
<ALLOWANCE>                                                       29,950
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,526,508
<DEPOSITS>                                                        1,830,083
<SHORT-TERM>                                                      191,389
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                               135,938
<LONG-TERM>                                                       1,152,055
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                       0
<COMMON>                                                          330
<OTHER-SE>                                                        216,713
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                    3,526,508
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                   47,599
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                 12,211
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                  0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                  59,810
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                16,458
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                35,117
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                             24,693
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                     3,407
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                1,891
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                   22,910
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   8,311
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                        5,256
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0
<CHANGES>                                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      5,256
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     0.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                    7.86
<LOANS-NON>                                                       23,465
<LOANS-PAST>                                                      6,853
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                  1,125
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                   0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                  28,450
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                     3,040
<RECOVERIES>                                                      849
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                 29,950
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                              29,650
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                               300
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                           0