<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PEOPLE'S
BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US $

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          12,478
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    192,517
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        250,911
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,716
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 496,133
<DEPOSITS>                                     336,238
<SHORT-TERM>                                    12,900
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                883
<LONG-TERM>                                    111,020
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           356
<OTHER-SE>                                      30,708
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 496,133
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 19,993
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               13,614
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   154
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                33,761
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              10,435
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,595
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           15,166
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       75<F1>
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (19)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 13,678
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,444
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       5,444
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,559
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.09
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.34
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,900
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   355
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 3,813
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,131
<RECOVERIES>                                       307
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,716
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,238
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,478
<FN>
<F1>THE COMPANY RECORDED $1.7 MILLION IN LOAN LOSS ALLOWANCE FROM THE ACQUISITION OF
FIVE BRANCHES FROM SUBSIDIARIES OF FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. ON MARCH 8, 1996.
</FN>


</TABLE>