<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000921768
<NAME> BANKATLANTIC BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          82,787
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 5,067
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    607,490
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          55,213
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            55,213
<LOANS>                                      2,101,275
<ALLOWANCE>                                     28,450
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,064,480
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,763,733
<SHORT-TERM>                                   171,216
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             80,303
<LONG-TERM>                                    842,057
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           322
<OTHER-SE>                                     206,849
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,064,480
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                171,685
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               38,869
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               210,554
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              68,281
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             115,191
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           95,363
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   11,268
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               4,830
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 81,932
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 45,522
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      45,522
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,769
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.78
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.29
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,569
<LOANS-PAST>                                       647
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 4,043
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                25,750
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   11,330
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,762
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               28,450
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            28,327
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                123
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0