WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

                                                                      Exhibit 27

                         "FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE"
<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-KSB  and  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to  such  financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0001013274
<NAME>                       IBW Financial Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000 
<CURRENCY>                                   US DOLLAR
                             
<S>                             <C>       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  12-MOS              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          11,842
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,000
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                11,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    101,106
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        116,476
<ALLOWANCE>                                      1,702
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 250,702
<DEPOSITS>                                     208,196
<SHORT-TERM>                                    19,496
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,833
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              668
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           500
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,009
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 250,702
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 10,434
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,652
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   372
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                17,458
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               5,096
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,916
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           11,542
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,195
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 242
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 11,645
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,036
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       1,576
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,576
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.44
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.30
<LOANS-NON>                                        852
<LOANS-PAST>                                       753
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  7,931
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,266
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      889
<RECOVERIES>                                       130
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                1,702
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,702
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                             25
                                                      


</TABLE>