<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-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                        MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                               23,231,327
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>               11,515,185
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                     18,866,681
<TRADING-ASSETS>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>         193,057,503
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                3,844,202
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                  3,888,367
<LOANS>                             723,280,487
<ALLOWANCE>                           2,372,677
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,013,241,169
<DEPOSITS>                          724,177,185
<SHORT-TERM>                         45,000,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                  13,376,753
<LONG-TERM>                         122,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         0
<PREFERRED>                                   0
<COMMON>                                 79,327
<OTHER-SE>                          108,607,904
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>    1,013,241,169
<INTEREST-LOAN>                      27,904,038
<INTEREST-INVEST>                     7,244,947
<INTEREST-OTHER>                        815,088
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                     35,964,073
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                   14,681,561
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   19,248,719
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                16,715,354
<LOAN-LOSSES>                           426,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                      195,072
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                      10,026,555
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       7,995,492
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>            7,995,492
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<CHANGES>                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                          4,749,266
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                              0.57
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                             3.40
<LOANS-NON>                           3,905,521
<LOANS-PAST>                                  0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                              0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                               0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                      1,949,677
<CHARGE-OFFS>                             3,000
<RECOVERIES>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                     2,372,677
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>               2,372,677