<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOUND ON PAGES 2 AND 3 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10Q FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000357262 <NAME> NORTH COUNTY BANCORP <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 25,491,000 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 199,000 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 9,000,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 21,644,000 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 11,360,000 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 11,411,000 <LOANS> 206,045,000 <ALLOWANCE> 3,527,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 285,871,000 <DEPOSITS> 254,020,000 <SHORT-TERM> 2,464,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 4,765,000 <LONG-TERM> 1,685,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,008,000 <OTHER-SE> 10,929,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 285,871,000 <INTEREST-LOAN> 14,569,000 <INTEREST-INVEST> 1,379,00 <INTEREST-OTHER> 353,000 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 16,301,000 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 4,235,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,487,000 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 11,814,000 <LOAN-LOSSES> 722,000 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (21,000) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 11,937,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,020,000 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,405,000 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,405,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .58 <EPS-DILUTED> .55 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 9.37 <LOANS-NON> 3,881,000 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 3,711,000 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 3,129,000 <CHARGE-OFFS> 897,000 <RECOVERIES> 573,000 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 3,527,000 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 3,527,000 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0