<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information
     extracted from the Consolidated Statement of Financial
     Condition at December 31, 1996 and the 
     Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year
     ended December 31, 1996 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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         102,995
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               6,148
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    439,345
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         54,511
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           54,511
<LOANS>                                        1,850,606
<ALLOWANCE>                                    25,750
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,605,527
<DEPOSITS>                                     1,832,780
<SHORT-TERM>                                   310,553
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            60,255
<LONG-TERM>                                    254,235
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       183
<OTHER-SE>                                     147,521
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 2,605,527
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                107,944
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              44,687
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               152,631
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             55,028
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             77,031
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          75,600
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  5,844
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             5,959
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                72,241
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                31,252
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     19,011
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   19,011
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.58
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 8.23
<LOANS-NON>                                    12,424
<LOANS-PAST>                                   2,961
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               3,718
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               19,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  7,718
<RECOVERIES>                                   2,224
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              25,750
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           25,750
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0