<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE FOURTH
QUARTER/FISCAL  YEAR END 10-K AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH 10-K.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                           24,503,768
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>            1,431,087
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                  6,108,341
<TRADING-ASSETS>                          0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>     326,714,953
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>           28,384,271
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>             28,487,645
<LOANS>                         551,463,590
<ALLOWANCE>                       1,296,451
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  980,078,048
<DEPOSITS>                      673,977,901
<SHORT-TERM>                     76,077,500
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>              15,560,204
<LONG-TERM>                      70,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                            104,295
<OTHER-SE>                      144,358,148
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>  980,078,048
<INTEREST-LOAN>                  40,850,478
<INTEREST-INVEST>                12,058,788
<INTEREST-OTHER>                  1,257,501
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                 54,166,767
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>               22,464,345
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               29,855,818
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>            24,310,949
<LOAN-LOSSES>                       370,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                  (14,531)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                  11,749,824
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  12,987,202
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>       12,987,202
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                      8,557,750
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.88
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                         2.28
<LOANS-NON>                         254,016
<LOANS-PAST>                              0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                      8,151
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                    927,820
<CHARGE-OFFS>                         1,369
<RECOVERIES>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                 1,296,451
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                      0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>           1,296,451