<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK>  0000700733
<NAME> NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       Sep-30-1997
<CASH>                                  50,533
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                   1,280
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                         2,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>            316,276
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                   316,276
<LOANS>                              1,105,148
<ALLOWANCE>                             24,851
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,506,938
<DEPOSITS>                           1,073,389
<SHORT-TERM>                           101,716
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                     16,498
<LONG-TERM>                            195,710
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   20,085
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                     0
<OTHER-SE>                              99,540
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>       1,506,938
<INTEREST-LOAN>                         75,656
<INTEREST-INVEST>                       11,727
<INTEREST-OTHER>                           159
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                        87,542
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                      29,663
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      39,568
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                   47,974
<LOAN-LOSSES>                            3,600
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                       1,462
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                         33,940
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         19,658
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>              13,638
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                            13,638
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             1.28<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                             1.26<F1>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                            4.93
<LOANS-NON>                              6,953
<LOANS-PAST>                             2,599
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                             0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                        22,746
<CHARGE-OFFS>                            2,132
<RECOVERIES>                               637
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                       24,851
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                    20,163
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                  4,688
<FN>
<F1> The registrant split its stock 4-for-3 effective July 31, 1997. Prior
financial data schedules have not been restated for this stock split.
</FN>