<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  9
<CIK>     0001035468
<NAME>    COVENANT BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                        1000
<CURRENCY>                                        US DOL
       
<S>                                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                          1
<CASH>                                                               15653
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                         119944
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                               11144
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                 11236
<LOANS>                                                             257585
<ALLOWANCE>                                                           2714
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      419852
<DEPOSITS>                                                          304064
<SHORT-TERM>                                                         79062
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                   4590
<LONG-TERM>                                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                           7500
<COMMON>                                                             15287
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<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                           33
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                       0
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<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       4018
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          2739
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                            0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                        7.88
<LOANS-NON>                                                           1809
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<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                         0
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<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                          378
<RECOVERIES>                                                            43
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<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                  2714
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                  0
        


</TABLE>