<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>           9
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE BELOW CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
ALLEGIANT BANCORP, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          13,693
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,430
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     42,740
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          12,040
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            12,132
<LOANS>                                        495,669
<ALLOWANCE>                                     (6,442)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 596,274
<DEPOSITS>                                     450,766
<SHORT-TERM>                                    53,542
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              3,587
<LONG-TERM>                                     40,275
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            65
<OTHER-SE>                                      48,039
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 596,274
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 44,412
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                4,295
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   511
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                49,218
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              21,948
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,267
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           21,951
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,420
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  68
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 21,295
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,560
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,560
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,534
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.68
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.57
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,495
<LOANS-PAST>                                       283
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  2,300
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,193
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,226
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,171
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,442
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             5,941
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            501
        

</TABLE>