<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE SECOND
QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                           20,277,001
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>            3,528,842
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                 20,015,585
<TRADING-ASSETS>                          0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>     296,718,216
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>            7,671,767
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>              7,749,168
<LOANS>                         605,662,050
<ALLOWANCE>                       1,462,451
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  994,192,592
<DEPOSITS>                      680,635,103
<SHORT-TERM>                     68,584,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>              10,723,897
<LONG-TERM>                      85,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                            104,295
<OTHER-SE>                      149,145,297
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>  994,192,592
<INTEREST-LOAN>                  23,479,371
<INTEREST-INVEST>                10,084,121
<INTEREST-OTHER>                    561,682
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                 34,125,174
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>               14,356,659
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               18,309,300
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>            15,815,874
<LOAN-LOSSES>                       166,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                        0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                   9,716,396
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   7,206,640
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>        7,206,640
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                      4,353,847
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.45
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                         3.40
<LOANS-NON>                         195,096
<LOANS-PAST>                              0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                      7,607
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                  1,296,451
<CHARGE-OFFS>                             0
<RECOVERIES>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                 1,462,451
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                      0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>           1,462,451