<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
REGISTRANT'S  UNAUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001035373
<NAME>                        LAFAYETTE BANCORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
<S>                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                           17,353
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                  5,200
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      79,160
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                            5,880
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                              6,086
<LOANS>                                         336,611
<ALLOWANCE>                                       3,868
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  469,049
<DEPOSITS>                                      381,941
<SHORT-TERM>                                     15,259
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                               5,707
<LONG-TERM>                                      23,946
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                          2,394
<OTHER-SE>                                       39,802
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  469,049
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  21,843
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                 3,117
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    576
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 25,536
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               11,066
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               12,593
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            12,943
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       540
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                    0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                   9,928
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   6,262
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                        6,262
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      4,132
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.70
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     4.29
<LOANS-NON>                                         124
<LOANS-PAST>                                      1,245
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    237
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                   2,744
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                  3,464
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       267
<RECOVERIES>                                        131
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                 3,868
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                              2,682
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                   0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                           1,186
        


</TABLE>