<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK>                                       0000740876
<NAME>                      First Western Bancorp Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          45,670
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           1,639
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    725,673
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         199,894
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           200,969
<LOANS>                                      1,113,732
<ALLOWANCE>                                     18,466
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,203,139
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,520,728    
<SHORT-TERM>                                   459,704
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             27,127
<LONG-TERM>                                     23,750
<COMMON>                                        59,263     
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      88,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,203,139
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 67,114
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               34,766
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    96
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               101,976
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              38,342
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              56,469
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           45,507
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,031
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 36,393
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,024
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      20,024
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,403
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.73
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,587
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,153
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                18,077
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,265
<RECOVERIES>                                       654
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               18,466
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,766
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         11,432
                                             
                                             
                                             

</TABLE>