<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     9
<CIK>                         0000752324
<NAME>             New England Community Bancorp, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                          US
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          44,780
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             693
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 5,057
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    175,330
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           6,634
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             6,815
<LOANS>                                        533,743
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,292
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 790,685
<DEPOSITS>                                     657,551
<SHORT-TERM>                                    28,991
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,542
<LONG-TERM>                                     27,441
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           703
<OTHER-SE>                                      71,457
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 790,685
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 11,829
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,974
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    99
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                14,902
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               4,938
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,693
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            9,209
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      387
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  87
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 10,375
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    506
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         506
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        80
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.01
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.23
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,799
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,205
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 19,245
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                12,081
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,656
<RECOVERIES>                                       675
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,292
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            10,292
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
                                               



</TABLE>