<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<CIK>                         0000752324
<NAME>                        NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                      1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                          USD
       
<S>                                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                              JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                       1
<CASH>                                                           34,796
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                 21,107
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                           0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                          114,326
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                            116,192
<LOANS>                                                         349,344
<ALLOWANCE>                                                       7,210
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  603,013
<DEPOSITS>                                                      509,592
<SHORT-TERM>                                                     14,466
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                               4,127
<LONG-TERM>                                                      19,580
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<COMMON>                                                            517
<OTHER-SE>                                                       54,731
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<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                   9,035
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                 1,912
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                     60
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                4,227
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                             6,780
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                       322
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                1,229
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                   5,819
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   3,167
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                        3,167
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      1,889
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.36
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                     5.13
<LOANS-NON>                                                       5,064
<LOANS-PAST>                                                        641
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                      0
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<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                     2,494
<RECOVERIES>                                                        125
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                 7,210
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                              7,210
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                   0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                               0
        

</TABLE>