<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CHESTER BANCORP, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001010838
<NAME>                        CHESTER BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                        JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                          MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                      1,783
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                      2,267
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                            4,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                     23,304
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                       53,380
<LOANS>                                                    55,561
<ALLOWANCE>                                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            142,265
<DEPOSITS>                                                101,006
<SHORT-TERM>                                                8,340
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                         1,243
<LONG-TERM>                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                     0
<COMMON>                                                       22
<OTHER-SE>                                                 31,654
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                            142,265
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                             1,168
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                             961
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                              175
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                            2,304
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                          1,089
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          1,173
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                       1,131
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                  15
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                              4
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                               669
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               512
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                 0
<CHANGES>                                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                                  367
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                   0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                  0
<LOANS-NON>                                                     0
<LOANS-PAST>                                                    0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                0
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                   0
<RECOVERIES>                                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                               0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                            0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                             0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                         0