<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     Financial Data Schedule Worksheet for:
     FIRST SENTINEL BANCORP, INC.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000


<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                              19,020
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        862,446
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                            968,487
<ALLOWANCE>                                         10,617
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,904,339
<DEPOSITS>                                       1,237,628
<SHORT-TERM>                                       184,650
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                 21,236
<LONG-TERM>                                        198,675
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               431
<OTHER-SE>                                         261,719
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   1,904,339
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                     50,270
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   41,243
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                    91,513
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                  35,764
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  47,954
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                               43,559
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        1,200
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                     850
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                     18,550
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     26,705
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          26,705
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        17,643
<EPS-BASIC>                                           0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.43
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        2.47
<LOANS-NON>                                          2,333
<LOANS-PAST>                                           320
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     9,505
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                           88
<RECOVERIES>                                             0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                   10,617
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                10,617
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0



</TABLE>