<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM
10-Q OF FIRST BELL BANCORP, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                           2,218
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          26,663
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                   825
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     60,356
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           9,971
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            10,417
<LOANS>                                        566,634
<ALLOWANCE>                                        715
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 681,215
<DEPOSITS>                                     506,469
<SHORT-TERM>                                    86,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            523,453
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            86
<OTHER-SE>                                      71,676
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 681,215
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 30,880
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,326
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                37,206
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              20,007
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,485
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           12,721
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       50
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  3,731
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,598
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,756
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .89
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.43
<LOANS-NON>                                        540
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   715
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  715
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                               715
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0