<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financil information extracted from the
     June  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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         8,714
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    651,623
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         127,254
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           127,593
<LOANS>                                        648,922
<ALLOWANCE>                                    9,746
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,488,257
<DEPOSITS>                                     738,427
<SHORT-TERM>                                   575,028
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            13,162
<LONG-TERM>                                    4,657
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       98
<OTHER-SE>                                     156,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 1,488,257
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                27,081
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              1,311
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               23,576
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               51,698
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             18,674
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             33,570
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          18,398
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  35
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             986
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                9,367
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                11,547
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     11,547
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   6,657
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.69
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.67
<LOANS-NON>                                    3,532
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               1,551
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                8,854
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               9,656
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  602
<RECOVERIES>                                   657
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              9,746
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        9,746
        




</TABLE>