<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000870992 <NAME> FIRST FINANCIAL CORP OF WESTERN MARYLAND <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 2,884 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 4,610 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 48,211 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 290,785 <ALLOWANCE> 6,588 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 364,726 <DEPOSITS> 280,953 <SHORT-TERM> 10,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 5,108 <LONG-TERM> 25,483 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,260 <OTHER-SE> 40,922 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 364,726 <INTEREST-LOAN> 18,826 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,541 <INTEREST-OTHER> 225 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 21,592 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 8,829 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,914 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 11,678 <LOAN-LOSSES> 75 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 8,527 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,040 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 4,040 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,478 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.15 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.32 <LOANS-NON> 2,713 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 407 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,301 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 7,795 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,316 <RECOVERIES> 34 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,588 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 3,471 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 3,117