<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FORM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 195,571 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 5,024 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 15,235 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,207,486 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 3,039,126 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 3,103,099 <LOANS> 13,645,794 <ALLOWANCE> 112,416 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,841,639 <DEPOSITS> 10,849,413 <SHORT-TERM> 1,590,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 363,099 <LONG-TERM> 5,535,694 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,325 <OTHER-SE> 1,502,108 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 19,841,639 <INTEREST-LOAN> 787,971 <INTEREST-INVEST> 275,651 <INTEREST-OTHER> 24,519 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 1,088,141 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 341,402 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 661,752 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 426,389 <LOAN-LOSSES> 15,935 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 12,987 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 242,853 <INCOME-PRETAX> 301,346 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 301,346 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 200,640 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.46 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 2.99 <LOANS-NON> 57,305 <LOANS-PAST> 20,456 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 6,258 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 35,500 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 113,868 <CHARGE-OFFS> 22,019 <RECOVERIES> 4,632 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 112,416 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 112,416 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0