<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000700733 <NAME> NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 52,559 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,553 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 249,715 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 249,715 <LOANS> 1,095,799 <ALLOWANCE> 24,006 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,431,491 <DEPOSITS> 1,069,510 <SHORT-TERM> 86,325 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 16,371 <LONG-TERM> 141,360 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 20,085 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 97,840 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,431,491 <INTEREST-LOAN> 49,623 <INTEREST-INVEST> 7,313 <INTEREST-OTHER> 95 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 57,031 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 19,099 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 25,320 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 31,711 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,400 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 842 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 22,292 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,948 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,919 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,919 <EPS-PRIMARY> .83 <EPS-DILUTED> .82 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.99 <LOANS-NON> 8,226 <LOANS-PAST> 3,629 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 22,746 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,585 <RECOVERIES> 445 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 24,006 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 19,656 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 4,350