<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR HAMILTON BANCORP INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000894172
<NAME> HAMILTON BANCORP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          23,967
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         181,844
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                73,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     54,474
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          30,351
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            30,289
<LOANS>                                      1,202,013
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,663,085
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,466,328
<SHORT-TERM>                                     6,116
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             74,619
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           100
<OTHER-SE>                                      58,314
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,663,085
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 77,640
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,295
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 8,527
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                89,463
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              50,161
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              50,592
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           38,871
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,121
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 19,132
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 25,612
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      25,612
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,144
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        2
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        2
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       4
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                10,317
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    7,343
<RECOVERIES>                                       213
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,308
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,080
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                              7,228
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         10,308