<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
EXTRACTED FROM METROPOLITAN FINANCIAL CORP. SEPTEMBER
30, 1997 FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION, CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CASH FLOWS AND THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          11,906
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,549
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    165,490
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        646,490
<ALLOWANCE>                                      5,418
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 865,572
<DEPOSITS>                                     686,816
<SHORT-TERM>                                    65,569
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             12,402
<LONG-TERM>                                     65,874
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                      34,911
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 865,572
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 45,014
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,141
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                50,155
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              24,980
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              30,211
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           19,944
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,755
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  89
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 14,904
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,313
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,313
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,993
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.13
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.45
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,660
<LOANS-PAST>                                       360
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  1,361
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 4,175
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      517
<RECOVERIES>                                         5
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                5,418
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             5,418
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>