<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SUCCESS BANCSHARES, INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          16,337                  17,353
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             564                     265
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 7,000                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     22,090                  18,350
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          31,664                  31,691
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            32,439                  32,313
<LOANS>                                        289,104                 265,900
<ALLOWANCE>                                      2,079                   1,892
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 378,719                 345,602
<DEPOSITS>                                     329,424                 303,507
<SHORT-TERM>                                     9,243                  18,473
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,482                   2,132
<LONG-TERM>                                      6,920                   9,942
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        24,154                   5,685
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,916                   4,354
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 378,719                 345,602
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 21,746                  15,299
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,743                   2,101
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   423                     174
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                24,912                  17,574
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              11,190                   7,770
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,861                   9,119
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           12,051                   8,455
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      766                     501
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 17,853                  12,979
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,586                     913
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       1,586                     913
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,087                     642
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.68                    0.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.65                    0.47
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.17                    4.14
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,479                   1,109
<LOANS-PAST>                                       341                     660
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  3,677                     474
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,425                   1,425
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      149                      74
<RECOVERIES>                                        37                      40
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,079                   1,892
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,079                   1,892
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            684                     661
        

</TABLE>