<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