<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This Schedule Contains Summary Financial Information  Extracted >From (a) 
Item 7 - 'Financial  Statements And Supplementary  Data" And Is Qualified In 
Its Entirety By Reference To Such (b) Financial  Statements Included In This 
Report And Incorporated Herein By Reference.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0000921085
<NAME>                           CENTRAL COAST BANCORP
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          44,684
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 4,202
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    170,387
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        318,338
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 543,933
<DEPOSITS>                                     489,192
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              3,542
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        41,103
<OTHER-SE>                                      10,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 543,933
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 27,037
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,473
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,844
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                37,354
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              13,319
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,319
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           24,035
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      159
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  58
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 13,859
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,101
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      12,101
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,153
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.09
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.36
<LOANS-NON>                                        876
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,247
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 4,223 
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      177
<RECOVERIES>                                       147
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,352
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             4,352
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        


</TABLE>