<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     financial statements of American Bancshares, Inc. for the nine months ended
     September 30, 1996, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such 
     financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.000
<CASH>                                         5,659,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           133,000
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               5,000,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    30,318,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           0
<LOANS>                                        151,067,000
<ALLOWANCE>                                    971,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 201,124,000
<DEPOSITS>                                     169,084,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                   7,888,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            1,221,000
<LONG-TERM>                                    5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       4,588,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     11,268,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 201,124,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                9,058,000
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              1,375,000
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               10,433,000
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             4,964,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,262,000
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          5,171,000
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  207,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             60,000
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                5,248,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1,033,000
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     1,033,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   651,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .17
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 8.53
<LOANS-NON>                                    849,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                150,000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               946,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  219,000
<RECOVERIES>                                   37,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              971,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           971,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        28,000
        



</TABLE>