<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE FIRST
QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                           25,571,068
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>            1,662,270
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                 12,979,830
<TRADING-ASSETS>                          0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>     310,123,685
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>            8,084,617
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>              8,163,917
<LOANS>                         573,334,473
<ALLOWANCE>                       1,371,451
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  975,206,982
<DEPOSITS>                      678,794,058
<SHORT-TERM>                     71,045,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>               8,361,299
<LONG-TERM>                      70,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                            104,295
<OTHER-SE>                      146,902,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>  975,206,982
<INTEREST-LOAN>                  11,416,429
<INTEREST-INVEST>                 5,299,183
<INTEREST-OTHER>                    229,676
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                 16,945,288
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                7,207,485
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                9,186,338
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>             7,758,950
<LOAN-LOSSES>                        75,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                        0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                   4,828,476
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   3,552,141
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>        3,552,141
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                      2,146,074
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.22
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                         3.34
<LOANS-NON>                         147,270
<LOANS-PAST>                              0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                      7,881
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                  1,296,451
<CHARGE-OFFS>                             0
<RECOVERIES>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                 1,371,451
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                      0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>           1,371,451