<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000812348
<NAME> CENTURY BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          49,567
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              60
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     81,642
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         109,223
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           109,340
<LOANS>                                        310,869
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,434
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 567,883
<DEPOSITS>                                     461,036
<SHORT-TERM>                                    47,050
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,868
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         5,855
<OTHER-SE>                                      46,074
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 567,883
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 21,057
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                9,183
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   383
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                30,623
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              10,752
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,828
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           18,795
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      525
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 13,987
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,930
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,930
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,770
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .83
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.91
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,441
<LOANS-PAST>                                       457
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 3,343
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  5,241
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 4,179
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      475
<RECOVERIES>                                       205
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,434
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             4,434
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0