<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000812348 <NAME> CENTURY BANCORP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 38,371 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 82,544 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 113,168 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 111,483 <LOANS> 297,033 <ALLOWANCE> 4,348 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 548,475 <DEPOSITS> 451,203 <SHORT-TERM> 41,454 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 7,444 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,843 <OTHER-SE> 42,531 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 548,475 <INTEREST-LOAN> 6,665 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,056 <INTEREST-OTHER> 175 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 9,896 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 3,559 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,845 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 6,051 <LOAN-LOSSES> 255 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 1,011 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,310 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,310 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,376 <EPS-PRIMARY> .24 <EPS-DILUTED> .24 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.90 <LOANS-NON> 1,812 <LOANS-PAST> 249 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 2,695 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,756 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 4,179 <CHARGE-OFFS> 159 <RECOVERIES> 73 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 4,348 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 4,348 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0