<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 289 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,870 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 4,696 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 4,713 <LOANS> 35,977 <ALLOWANCE> 293 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 45,092 <DEPOSITS> 35,086 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 524 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8 <OTHER-SE> 9,318 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 45,092 <INTEREST-LOAN> 748 <INTEREST-INVEST> 75 <INTEREST-OTHER> 55 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 878 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 434 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 434 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 444 <LOAN-LOSSES> 0 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 346 <INCOME-PRETAX> 123 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 123 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 70 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.98 <LOANS-NON> 590 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 293 <CHARGE-OFFS> 0 <RECOVERIES> 0 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 293 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 293 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0