<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                                                
<ARTICLE>                                                            9
<CIK>                                                                0000752324
<NAME>                                       NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                              1,000
                                                                      
<S>                                                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JUN-30-1997
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<LONG-TERM>                                                            6,000
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
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<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.68
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                          8.31
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<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                   5,521
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                        0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                    0
                                                                  

</TABLE>