<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARE CORP'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH DOCUMENT.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          21,519
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                14,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     70,393
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         108,562
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           109,256
<LOANS>                                        311,166
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,150
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 540,894
<DEPOSITS>                                     470,721
<SHORT-TERM>                                     9,693
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              3,658
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,581<F1>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,859
<OTHER-SE>                                      52,382
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 540,894
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 13,305
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,519
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   370
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                19,194
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               8,797
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,954
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           10,240
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       30
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  7,411
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,188
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       4,188
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,079
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.13
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.27
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,385
<LOANS-PAST>                                        95
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,602
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      118
<RECOVERIES>                                       636
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,150
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,150
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1> REPRESENTS DEBT OF THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN, WHICH IS
REFLECTED ON THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT ACCORDING TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>