<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     March 31, 1997 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
     such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000926039
<NAME>                        Life Bancorp, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         8,401
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         2,728
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    574,168
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         133,034
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           132,120
<LOANS>                                        638,872
<ALLOWANCE>                                    9,992
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,407,861
<DEPOSITS>                                     738,709
<SHORT-TERM>                                   499,553
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            13,148
<LONG-TERM>                                    4,652
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       98
<OTHER-SE>                                     151,701
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 1,407,861
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                13,273
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              672
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               11,512
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               25,457
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             9,212
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             16,426
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          9,031
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  270
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             986
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                4,589
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,951
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     5,951
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   3,456
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.36
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.66
<LOANS-NON>                                    3,815
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               2,429
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                10,226
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               9,656
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  117
<RECOVERIES>                                   183
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              9,992
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        9,992
        


</TABLE>