<TABLE> <S> <C>




<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
                     Seacoast Financial Services Corporation
                         EDGAR--FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                           Article 9 of Regulation S-X
                  Bank Holding Companies (Dollars in Thousands)

</LEGEND>
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         $32,140
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                15,374
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    189,496
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          13,695
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            13,748
<LOANS>                                        907,404
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,534
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,201,704
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,008,417
<SHORT-TERM>                                    12,808
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             10,198
<LONG-TERM>                                     61,560
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     108,721
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,201,704
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 54,168
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                9,498
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,110
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                64,776
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              28,907
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              32,395
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           32,381
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      837
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  (3)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 20,148
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,443
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      16,443
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,020
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.92
<LOANS-NON>                                      4,592
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                10,642
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,214
<RECOVERIES>                                       269
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,534
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            10,534
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        




</TABLE>