<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR FIRST LIBERTY FINANCIAL CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 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>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          55,404
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 4,311
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    394,243
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,038,210
<ALLOWANCE>                                     16,079
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,588,043
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,150,539
<SHORT-TERM>                                   183,624
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             16,856
<LONG-TERM>                                    112,312
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       124,712
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,588,043
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 23,201
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,864
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   202
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                29,267
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              11,849
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              15,754
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           13,513
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      845
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 11,006
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,465
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       4,680
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,680
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.345
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.339
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   3.890
<LOANS-NON>                                      8,958
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                16,384
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,699
<RECOVERIES>                                       549
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               16,079
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            16,079
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          3,847
        

</TABLE>