<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
      This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
      June 30, 1996, 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
      financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000926039
<NAME>                        LIFE BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S.DOLLARS     
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996                   
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1.000
<CASH>                                               8,343
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               3,091
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        462,182
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                             154,238
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                               153,000
<LOANS>                                            568,024
<ALLOWANCE>                                          9,505
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,240,520
<DEPOSITS>                                         705,796
<SHORT-TERM>                                       366,681
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                 13,336
<LONG-TERM>                                          5,989
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               101
<OTHER-SE>                                         148,617
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   1,240,520
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                     23,213
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    1,468
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    19,790
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                    44,471
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                  17,081
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  27,719
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                               16,752
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                           (4)
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                      9,455
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      8,843
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           8,843
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         5,278
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.53
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        2.94
<LOANS-NON>                                          1,767
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     2,520
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     4,438
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                          309
<RECOVERIES>                                           188
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    9,505
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              9,505