<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM
10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001050996
<NAME> NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA FINANCIAL CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           1,871
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           8,248
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    106,286
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          67,166
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            67,504
<LOANS>                                        279,696
<ALLOWANCE>                                      2,022
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 477,807
<DEPOSITS>                                     322,872
<SHORT-TERM>                                       349
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,125
<LONG-TERM>                                     65,503
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            64
<OTHER-SE>                                      84,894
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 477,807
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 15,971
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,694
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,299
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                21,964
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               9,464
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,190
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           10,774
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                     (779)
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   9
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,205
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (1,678)
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      (1,678)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (942)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.16)
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.46
<LOANS-NON>                                        954
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,272
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     (36)
<RECOVERIES>                                         7
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,022<F1>
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,451
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            571<F2>
<FN>
<F1>ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSS AT END OF PERIOD INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOWANCE
THROUGH THE PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES.
<F2>ALL UNALLOCATED IS FOR DOMESTIC LOANS.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>