<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 32448 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 551 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 14775 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 294721 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 1281 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1281 <LOANS> 601511 <ALLOWANCE> 6496 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 977075 <DEPOSITS> 532472 <SHORT-TERM> 60800 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 15725 <LONG-TERM> 220212 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 109 <OTHER-SE> 147757 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 977075 <INTEREST-LOAN> 33091 <INTEREST-INVEST> 15031 <INTEREST-OTHER> 575 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 48697 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 15886 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26364 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 22333 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1151 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 14636 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8794 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 6302 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6302 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.64 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.55 <LOANS-NON> 1073 <LOANS-PAST> 331 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 246 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 4051 <CHARGE-OFFS> 167 <RECOVERIES> 45 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6496 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 0 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 6496