<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
METROPOLITAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION DECEMBER 31, 1998 ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 
10-K INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND THE 
ACCOMPANYING NOTES
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001003233
<NAME> METROPOLITAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          19,811
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           9,275
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    217,739
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          16,217
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            16,217
<LOANS>                                      1,040,197
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,909
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,363,434
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,051,357
<SHORT-TERM>                                    66,400
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             26,197
<LONG-TERM>                                    149,086
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      42,645
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,363,434
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 74,059
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               11,669
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                85,728
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              42,536
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              53,784
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           31,944
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,650
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  70
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 25,522
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,088
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,039
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    245
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,794
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.87
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.16
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,231
<LOANS-PAST>                                       460
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  3,117
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,622
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,418
<RECOVERIES>                                        55
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,909
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,909
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0