<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     9                      
<CIK>                         0000704469 
<NAME>                        Trans Financial, Inc.                  
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
<S>                           <C>         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR            YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              Dec-31-1997   Dec-31-1996                
<PERIOD-START>                 Jan-01-1997   Jan-01-1996               
<PERIOD-END>                   Dec-31-1997   Dec-31-1996               
<CASH>                          70,774       75,054                                  
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>              98           98
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                     0            0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                     0            0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>    278,098      285,155
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>               0            0     
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                 0            0
<LOANS>                      1,656,305    1,519,813             
<ALLOWANCE>                     22,017       18,065               
<TOTAL-ASSETS>               2,115,011    2,003,952                     
<DEPOSITS>                   1,573,838    1,579,217                     
<SHORT-TERM>                   179,348      126,879          
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>             25,755       25,637      
<LONG-TERM>                    185,293      140,903                
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                0            0     
<PREFERRED>                          0            0     
<COMMON>                        21,510       21,324              
<OTHER-SE>                     129,267      109,992                     
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>2,115,011   2,003,952             
<INTEREST-LOAN>                 146,284     131,466          
<INTEREST-INVEST>                15,117      16,403              
<INTEREST-OTHER>                     10          66         
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                161,411     147,935           
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>               64,389      59,795               
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>               81,200      73,066             
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>            80,211      74,869              
<LOAN-LOSSES>                     9,500      13,914        
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                 (356)         20               
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                  69,133      80,642             
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  35,988      10,002        
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>       23,933       6,882            
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0           0 
<CHANGES>                             0           0
<NET-INCOME>                     23,933       6,882       
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      2.09         .61  
<EPS-DILUTED>                      2.04         .60
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                     4.46        4.52
<LOANS-NON>                      21,803       4,717        
<LOANS-PAST>                      1,991       5,863
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                    687           4          
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                   4,053       8,443  
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                 18,065      15,779        
<CHARGE-OFFS>                     6,387      12,467            
<RECOVERIES>                        839         839        
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                22,017      18,065                  
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>             22,017      18,065           
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                   0           0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>               0           0   
        

</TABLE>