<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000776901 <NAME> Independent Bank Corp. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US_Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 52,836 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 650 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 26,449 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 290,894 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 288,932 <LOANS> 695,406 <ALLOWANCE> (12,221) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,092,793 <DEPOSITS> 918,572 <SHORT-TERM> 3,136 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 11,975 <LONG-TERM> 78,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 146 <OTHER-SE> 80,964 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,092,793 <INTEREST-LOAN> 57,842 <INTEREST-INVEST> 19,154 <INTEREST-OTHER> 215 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 77,211 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 27,670 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 32,354 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 44,857 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,750 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 38,066 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,750 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 17,750 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,597 <EPS-PRIMARY> .79 <EPS-DILUTED> .78 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.06 <LOANS-NON> 3,946 <LOANS-PAST> 516 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,658 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 12,088 <CHARGE-OFFS> (2,825) <RECOVERIES> 1,208 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 12,221 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 12,221 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0