<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements of West Essex Bank, F.S.B at and for the year ended
December 31, 1997 and for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 MAR-31-1998
<CASH> 1,832,548 1,839,621
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 6,863,570 20,489,434
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0
<TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 7,080,550 7,105,300
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 153,103,157 151,401,058
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 155,019,654 153,480,741
<LOANS> 114,619,762 116,165,430
<ALLOWANCE> 1,885,021 1,862,971
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 299,024,832 312,521,792
<DEPOSITS> 238,192,141 239,120,486
<SHORT-TERM> 25,350,000 7,350,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 1,257,982 1,300,210
<LONG-TERM> 4,950,000 34,950,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 0 0
<OTHER-SE> 29,274,709 29,801,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 299,024,832 312,521,792
<INTEREST-LOAN> 7,908,541 2,298,412
<INTEREST-INVEST> 9,806,093 2,720,076
<INTEREST-OTHER> 400,842 96,925
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 18,115,476 5,115,413
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 8,089,473 2,433,347
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,655,638 2,869,975
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 8,459,838 2,245,438
<LOAN-LOSSES> 487,015 (22,050)
<SECURITIES-GAINS> (20,245) 0
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 7,172,941 1,636,699
<INCOME-PRETAX> 1,173,119 770,700
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 736,840 511,141
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 736,840 511,141
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0 0
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.44 3.17
<LOANS-NON> 2,413,000 2,214,000
<LOANS-PAST> 76,000 48,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 94,000 92,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 1,563,991 1,885,021
<CHARGE-OFFS> 165,985 0
<RECOVERIES> 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 1,885,021 1,862,971
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 1,367,021 1,328,971
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 518,000 534,000