<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF CENTRAL BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS
OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 (UNAUDITED) AND DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND THE RELATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND IS 
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                      56,502,490
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         502,398
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             6,400,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                173,708,642
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                     362,259,805
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                       358,843,000
<LOANS>                                    481,102,402
<ALLOWANCE>                                  5,235,878
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,127,680,233
<DEPOSITS>                                 998,455,678
<SHORT-TERM>                                37,690,023
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         13,635,329
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,800,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,558,443       
<OTHER-SE>                                  67,540,760
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>           1,127,680,233
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             29,494,460
<INTEREST-INVEST>                           22,891,548
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               591,741
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            52,977,749
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          23,349,449
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          24,912,897
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       28,064,852
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  747,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             26,436,082
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             10,187,002
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   7,978,212
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,978,212
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.04
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.28
<LOANS-NON>                                  3,435,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                 1,324,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               218,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             4,672,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                1,262,000
<RECOVERIES>                                   394,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            5,236,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         1,703,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      3,533,000
        

</TABLE>