<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
* The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001061580
<NAME>                        UCBH HOLDINGS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998 
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1998 
<PERIOD-END>                                   Dec-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         15,109
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    429,347
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         158,210 
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           153,072
<LOANS>                                        1,492,148
<ALLOWANCE>                                    14,922
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,147,332
<DEPOSITS>                                     1,633,895
<SHORT-TERM>                                   135,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            11,799
<LONG-TERM>                                    233,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       93
<OTHER-SE>                                     103,545
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 2,147,332
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                101,823
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              28,525
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               483
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               130,831
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             64,890
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             78,393
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          52,438
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  3,412
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             6
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                33,685
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                18,743
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     18,743
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   10,888
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.26
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 7.37
<LOANS-NON>                                    6,108
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               1,251
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                17,722
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               12,142
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  681
<RECOVERIES>                                   49
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              14,922
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           10,678
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        4,244
        


</TABLE>