<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     September 30, 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         17,072
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    652,495
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         119,841
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           120,872
<LOANS>                                        645,192
<ALLOWANCE>                                    8,639
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,486,357
<DEPOSITS>                                     740,839
<SHORT-TERM>                                   568,885
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            13,177
<LONG-TERM>                                    4,176
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       98
<OTHER-SE>                                     159,182
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 1,486,357
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                41,047
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              2,272
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               35,632
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               78,951
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             28,303
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             51,373
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          27,578
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  (122)
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             1,246
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                13,907
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                17,410
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     17,410
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   10,087
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.04
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.64
<LOANS-NON>                                    3,349
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               1,532
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                4,500
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               9,656
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  1,629
<RECOVERIES>                                   734
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              8,639
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        8,639
        


</TABLE>