<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
unaudited  financial  statements  of SIS  Bancorp,  Inc.  for the  period  ended
September  30,  1996 and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          34,709
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              45
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                17,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    386,050
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         194,132
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           193,819
<LOANS>                                        592,051
<ALLOWANCE>                                     15,488
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,284,566
<DEPOSITS>                                     954,132
<SHORT-TERM>                                   199,333
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             31,015
<LONG-TERM>                                      3,026
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            57
<OTHER-SE>                                      97,003
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,284,566
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 35,946
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               24,724
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   380
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                61,050
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              24,338
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              29,777
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           31,273
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,200
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  64
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 10,617
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,719
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       9,719
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,650
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.82
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.51
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,061
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,143
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   887
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 15,600
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                14,986
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,616
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,918
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               15,488
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            15,488
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>