<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0001068300
<NAME> METROCORP BANCSHARES, INC.
<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>                                          21,606
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                14,287
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     83,623
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          39,567
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            40,330
<LOANS>                                        417,686
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,119
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 587,308
<DEPOSITS>                                     479,506
<SHORT-TERM>                                    25,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,778<F1>
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,000<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,005
<OTHER-SE>                                      43,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  50,024
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 39,219
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,276
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,201
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                47,696
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              19,308
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              20,052
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           27,644
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,377
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 202
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 20,980
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,896
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       8,896
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,119
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.06
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    9.50
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,329
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,291
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 3,569
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    (970)
<RECOVERIES>                                       143
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,119
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,119
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,325
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES ACCRUED INTEREST PAYABLE, INCOME TAXES PAYABLE, ACCEPTANCES
OUTSTANDING AND OTHER LIABILITIES.
<F2>INCLUDES TWO 10-YEAR LOANS FROM THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK -- DALLAS.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>