<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR CHESTER BANCORP, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001010838
<NAME> CHESTER BANCORP, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           3,104
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          15,615
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                  6000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     24,053
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          44,128
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                         55,977
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 154,771
<DEPOSITS>                                     122,358
<SHORT-TERM>                                    18,340
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      12,055
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 154,771
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  4,476
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,857
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   553
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 6,886
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               3,320
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,007
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            2,880
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       18
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  24
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  2,689
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    256
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                         0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      313
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     0
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0
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<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0