<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR FIRST LIBERTY CORP. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AS OF MARCH 31, 1999 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATE OF
OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999 
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          43,442
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                17,589
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    412,858
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,016,508
<ALLOWANCE>                                     16,318
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,599,848
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,180,650
<SHORT-TERM>                                   161,322
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             17,199
<LONG-TERM>                                    112,305
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       128,372
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,599,848
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 22,410
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,659
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   169
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                28,238
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              11,765
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              14,767
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           13,471
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      808
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (51)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,066
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,848
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       5,124
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,124
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.380
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.370
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   3.860
<LOANS-NON>                                     11,526
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                16,079
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,696
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,127
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               16,318
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            16,318
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          4,176
        

</TABLE>